Diamond Jubilee Year

by D. J. LILLEY (L. 6)

    Our Diamond Jubilee Year commenced with an extension of privileges to the Upper School, especially to the Fifth Form, whereupon members of the latter, having been granted an inch, attempted to take a yard by invading the cloakroom corridor, exclusive to Sixth-formers during break. The battle raged fierce and long, before the noble order of Prefects had got the situation back under control.
    The first major event of the school year was Speech Day held on Thursday, 11th November. For the second year in succession the proceedings took place in the evening to enable more parents to attend. The Choir, under the expert direction of Mr. Best, was warmly applauded, as was the amusing report of the school year, composed by a group of Sixth-formers, giving the “common herd” point of view.
    In his Diamond Jubilee report, the Headmaster stated that the School had no fear of changes and indeed would welcome any alteration in the educational system which would bring it into more intimate association with the other schools in the neighbourhood. During his speech Dr. Hinton referred to the beneficial changes in the School which had taken place during the last sixty years, and spoke of the advantages which boys in the sixth-form possess over their contemporaries in the outside world.
    This year’s principal guest and speaker was no less than the County Education Officer, John Haynes, Esq., M.A. In his address he spoke of the 11-plus examination, which, he said, had recently been subjected to ignorant and spiteful criticism, although it had given good service. Its major fault he thought, was that it could assess a boy’s ability at the age of eleven, but could not predict what he would be like at seventeen or eighteen. In future, selection should be made after the views of the parents and teachers had been considered. Finally, he emphasised the purpose of a grammar school which, he said, was not only to strive after examination successes, but also to teach its pupils how to use their knowledge in a sensible way.
    The Autumn Term, too, provided the Sixth-form with a variety of useful and interesting lectures. The Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at the new University of Kent, W. Hagenbuch, Esq., gave a talk about university entrance, the types of university and in particular about his own at Canterbury—its foundation, aims and amenities. G. J. Court, Esq., of the Civil Service Commission, gave an enlightening and amusing lecture in which he succeeded in dispelling the popular image of the civil servant as either a corpulent, over-paid and under-worked gentleman wearing a bowler hat, or an under-paid and overworked Dickensian-type clerk. With the aid of colour slides Mr. Field presented a very strong case for nature conservation, the Headmaster gave an impressive talk on our starving world and we were all amused by the rather abstract entertainment provided by Lusk and Ashbee. J. A. Thompson, Esq., from the Ministry of Overseas Development, spoke from experience about the political situation in Africa and about voluntary service overseas. Captain Kirby told of the history and work of the Salvation Army and the Reverend E. R. Francis spoke about the life of the parish priest.
    The complete success of the school opera “The Pirates of Penzance”, held just before Christmas, was no more than just reward for the many months of work and rehearsals put into the production. Work on the opera commenced soon after Easter and continued with ever-increasing intensity until 10th December, when the first performance was given, followed by six more during the next six days—each performance playing to a packed house.
    Since its first showing eighty-seven years ago “The Pirates of Penzance” has always remained among the most popular of Gilbert and Sullivan’s works. We were given a helpful introduction to the lives and work of these two men in a talk by the Headmaster earlier in the term.
    A crew of unsuccessful pirates, some of whom seem incapable of shaving let alone of cutting anyone’s throat; a major-general obsessed with a paradox; his twenty-one beautiful daughters; and a force of ludicrous policemen all add to the confusion of the stilted and feeble plot. Nevertheless, it is an entertaining story which strikes a careful balance between moments of slapstick and others of quite serious and delightful sentiment.
    Jarvie gave a polished performance as the rather eccentric major-general, as did Newman in the role of Ruth, the pirate maid-of-all-work. Her rather noticeable masculinity could perhaps be attributed to the fact that she had spent many years among pirates. The part of Frederic, shared between Ashbee and Sanders seemed to be an exacting one, but was nevertheless admirably played. The singing of both Williams, as the Pirate King, and Wells, as his Lieutenant, was very good, though perhaps their acting left a little to be desired. The remainder of the cast gave solid, well-studied performances, and the singing of Powell and P. J. Smith deserves mention.
    Production, costuming, and make-up were accomplished with equal success and full credit should go to Messrs. Large and Bayley and their assistants for the excellence and realism of the sets, the rocky seashore on the Cornish coast and the ruined chapel by moon-light. In every way this was a most satisfying production and one of which all connected with it could be proud.
    Hard on the heels of the opera came the end of term, and with it the usual successful Prefects’ Dance. The decorations consisted of a very low-slung net-about seven or eight feet off the ground—piled high with holly and other seasonal sprigs. Everyone waited in vain for the net to drop at the end of the proceedings. Perhaps nobody could face the task of clearing up afterwards!
    At the beginning of the Spring Term it was announced that in December three boys—Ashbee, Lusk and Trice had won Open Scholarships to Oxford and Cambridge. The rest of the School was duly rewarded for their efforts by a day’s holiday in March.
    February was the month for Cross-country Running. Early in that month the S.E. Kent Schools’ Cross-country Championships were held over our course. The School had little success in the junior event but fared better in the intermediate section with Bruce third and Clark fifth. These two were chosen for the S.E. Kent School team. Our first success, however, was in the senior race for it was won by Bishop. He, Stevenson and Fletcher were selected for the senior team.
    Our own major Cross-country event—the Powell Cup race—was held this year on 28th February under new regulations. Each House had to enter a team of four for each event, but as many other members of each House as possible were also eligible—the more the better—for any non-team member who finished in the first half of the field was awarded a standard point. In each event each House was judged by its overall team position but by collecting many standard points a middle—placed House could collect more points than the winning House. This is best explained by the results:—
    Seniors Frith 20 points; Priory 15 pts; Park 7 pts; Astor 2 pts.
    Intermediate Frith 11i pts; Park 12 pts; Astor 7 pts; Priory 5 pts.
    Junior Frith 14 pts; Priory 18 pts; Park 8 pts; Astor 5 pts.
    Overall Result Frith 45 pts; Priory 38 pts; Park 27 pts; Astor 14 pts.
    Bishop (Frith) won the senior race in the same time—30 mins. 47 secs.—as he won the S.E. Kent Championships; Coade (Priory) won the intermediate race in 28 mins. 12 sees., and Hopkins (Frith) won the junior event in 17 minutes.
    The Senior Gym Competition was held on 30th March and won by Park, with Priory second, Astor third, and Frith fourth. The individual winner was Luff (Park) with P. Condon (Park) second and Crick (Frith) third.
    The main item of interest, however, during the second half of the Spring Term was our annual Lent Charity Appeal. In recent years the money raised by the Appeal has been donated to world- wide causes but this year we settled for a more local need—the Old People’s Welfare Centre which is to be built in Dover. At the beginning of Lent, Father Tanner attended Assembly and explained the needs of the town’s old people and the aim of the new Centre.
    Although the money-raising efforts of the Upper School as a whole did not appear so strong as of old, the devices used by the Lower School to extort—that is the only word for it—contributions from the more reluctant in our midst showed notable and surprising enthusiasm and ingenuity. During the lunch hour every Tuesday and Friday the lower corridor had the appearance of an Eastern bazaar. Amongst the usual spate of sales, raffles and competitions there appeared a number of innovations including “Suction Football”, “Treasure Hunts,” “Bingo” and “Robot Fighting.” In each of these some device was worked in whereby money could be extracted for the Charity Appeal.
    However, the Upper School was not wholly without energy in the field of money raising. A Basketball Competition was organized with an entry fee and was well supported. The ultimate winners were L. 6.M. and they received £1 towards their target. A School dance raised as much as £25. Perhaps the most ingenious device was produced by the brains of 5A. Mr. Salter’s wife was expecting a baby, so they organized a sweepstake on the name of the expected offspring.
    Despite the profusion of devices for raising money the backbone of the Appeal was provided by just plain giving by those who required nothing in return for their donations. During the first few weeks progress was rather slow but towards the end of Lent there was a very marked increase which brought the amount raised during the 5½ weeks to £185 which was made up to a round £200 by the School Council.
    A notable celebration of our Diamond Jubilee was the Service of Praise, Thanksgiving and Rededication held at St. Mary’s Church on the 28th March, and attended by the whole school and many of the parents. The Choir, which played a considerable part in the Service had some difficult pieces to sing and acquitted itself excellently. The Lord Bishop of Dover gave a lively and down-to-earth Sermon about the qualities of success, which few could fail to understand or appreciate.
    On the last day of the Spring Term was the Public Speaking Competition for which there were three entries: Bishop, Foster and, breaking the monopoly held by senior boys in recent years, Wheeler of 3A. As usual each competitor could rely on no more notes than could be written on one side of a post-card and had to limit his talk to roughly ten minutes. First to speak was Bishop, whose topic was the Monarchy. Putting forward his views on its role in Britain today, he was generally in favour of retaining it, for he saw that it still had several useful functions. However, he saw no point in retaining the “aura of mystique” and the “antiquated snobbery” associated with our monarchy. These were superfluous and should be done away with. Wheeler chose as his subject Religion. Although he showed a mature understanding of the subject, it was perhaps too vast a topic to be covered in the time allowed. Unlike the other two competitors he suffered somewhat from having no case to put. However, he will have plenty of opportunities in future competitions to correct this fault and he deserves credit for taking on such comparatively experienced opposition. The final speaker was Foster, who argued strongly in favour of Britain’s possible entry into the Common Market. His was by far the most emotional presentation with frequent use of the rhetorical question. His talk was well laid out but would perhaps have been better had he been able to supply his audience with more facts. The final decision—Bishop and Foster joint winners.
    An end of term innovation was the organization of Rugby and Soccer “sevens” matches to round off the season. Park won the Soccer and Frith the Rugby.
    During the Easter holidays, those of us in the Sixth-form studying geography went on a field-work trip to Keswick in the Lake District, with Mr. Ruffell and Mr. Carver. We travelled up on the 20th April and back on the 25th—for most of us an all-too-brief stay. We were adequately accommodated at a Youth Hostel in the town, overlooking the river Greta. On the 21st the weather was warm and sunny and we climbed Skiddaw (3055 ft.) a few miles to the N.E. of Keswick. At the summit it was cold and windy, the ground still being snow-covered. Below we could see Derwentwater and Bassenthwaite Lake and away to the north we could just make out Carlisle and the Solway Firth. The next day it poured with rain and we went on a coach trip right round the western perimeter of the Lake District, passing through Cockermouth, the drab iron and coal communities of Workington and Whitehaven, and on southwards to Barrow-in-Furness, with its shipbuilding yards. On the way back the coach travelled along the shore of Windermere. This area was well-wooded and the scenery much gentler than that further north. Passing through Ambleside we travelled alongside Thirlmere, amid the rugged beauty of the Borrowdale Volcanics.
    The mountains here were steeper and much more jagged than those around Keswick which had more rounded profiles, being composed of Skiddaw slates. When we returned to Keswick the rain had stopped and many of the group went rowing on Derwentwater. On the 23rd it was planned to climb Helvellyn (3118 ft.), but again it rained. We stayed at Grasmere till noon, when it brightened up and we went up to Grizedale Tarn. From there some of the party proceeded on to Helvellyn. On Sunday 24th various trips were organised. Some boys went with Mr. Ruffell round Derwentwater, others with Mr. Carver up to the head of Borrowdale and on to the Styhead Pass, and others still went on trips of their own. On Monday we returned to Dover, arriving at about 8.30 p.m., with happy memories but the thought of school the next day weighing heavily on our minds.
    Continuing with school trips, the Junior school had two interesting days out. In the latter part of the Autumn Term a group under Mr. Freeman visited the British Museum and on the way there the Roman Villa at Lullingstone. On 7th May, three coachloads of first year boys went to London Zoo with Mr. Field for the purpose of making notes on the animals’ behaviour. As regards the boys’ behaviour, one specimen managed to lose himself though fortunately he was later found.
    Undoubtedly the social highlight of our Diamond Jubilee was the Ball held on Friday, 13th May. For the superstitious this date did not augur well but thankfully nothing untoward happened. One of the most striking features of the occasion was the ambitious decorations. The bridge leading from the Masters’ car park to the upper corridor was strung with fairy lights. The Hall and balcony were adorned with potted plants, ferns and flowers, plus more coloured lights. From the ceiling hung coloured spotlights. At the bottom of the library stairs could be seen an ornamental pool surrounded by flowers. In the middle of the pool played a fountain. Finally the stained-glass window half-way up the library stairs was brilliantly illuminated by floodlighting from outside.
    The organizers were able to hire Al Clark’s very competent band for the evening and almost no dance was missed out. The participants in “The March of the Mods” could hardly be described as “mods”—nor even “rockers” for that matter. In the Hall there were tables around the walls which could be reserved for parties and in the library there was a running buffet. The “Cinderella” of the Ball was the Visitors’ Room—transformed for an evening from a mundane classroom into a licensed bar! The 200 or so people in attendance at the Ball testify to the success of the function, which could well be repeated.
    Though there were fewer guest speakers at the Headmaster’s periods during the Spring and Summer Terms than in the Autumn Term those that did come gave interesting lectures. Professor Brown of University College, London, spoke about the history and development of radio communications, though perhaps a little too esoterically for many of us. The most popular talk was given by Mr. J. A. Dawe, of London Observatory. With the use of slides and photographs he gave a lucid and comprehensive account of space research, in particular towards landing a man on the moon. In May, the Headmaster gave two useful talks on Democracy: what it is, what its benefits and faults are. The speaker with the largest audience was Chief Superintendent L. F. Pearce who spoke to the 4th and 5th Forms as well as the Sixth. He could not stress more the need for University graduates and sixth-formers with “A” levels in today’s Police force. He explained the opportunities for further education for school leavers in the police force but recommended that they should get their education first because of the strong competition within the police force for very few University places. Finally he spoke about the Police Cadet Corps which will start at the School in September. The boys taking part in this venture will see all sides of police work from traffic control and fingerprinting to the working of a real Operations Room.
    But the Police Cadet Corps is not the only youth organization which has got under way or is being planned this year at the School. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme has started under Mr. Freeman with a small group of keen adherents and arrangements have been made for a Scout Troop which will start in September operating on Wednesdays after school. So far about 20 boys in the first year have shown their interest and more are hoped for from next year’s new boys. Mr. Piddock will be the Scoutmaster and Mr. Field the Group Scout Master.
    Despite the growth of new organizations the C.C.F. has still gone on from strength to strength. The R.A.F. section now has a new commander in F/O. Wake, who takes over Flt./Lt. Peacock’s old post. During the Easter holiday the section visited R.A.F. Cottesmore for its annual training. Three cadets have passed Advanced Proficiency. W/O. Beney gained an R.A.F. scholarship to Cranwell and an R.A.F. Flying Scholarship and R. C. T. Bent was awarded an R.A.F. University Cadetship.
    But honours were not confined to the R.A.F. Section for Sgt./Maj. Burtenshaw of the Army section went to Sandhurst in January, followed later by Sgt./Maj. Fletcher. Annual Camp was held at Sennybridge in Wales during August (1965) and this year—26th July to 4th August—the section will go to Dartmoor. Innovations this year have been the inauguration of Signals and Motor Cycle sections. 2nd/Lt. Carver is now in charge of the Army section.
    The R.N. Section tinder S/Lt. Salter is flourishing and all the cadets have had some sea-time experience during the year, including a trip to Morlaix in Brittany in H.M. M.L. 2840. Various other training institutions were visited and the Section went for a trip on H.M.S. Agincourt and H.M.S. Rhyl.
    The Annual Inspection of the C.C.F. by Colonel G. W. Shepherd, O.B.E., on 27th May was as usual highly successful. Finally, it must be mentioned that the C.C.F. has a new hut.
    Whoever said rain never strikes twice in the same place—if I may be allowed to misquote the proverb—was wrong because for the second successive year Sports Day had to be postponed because of bad weather. However, when the events were held on Wednesday, 22nd June the weather was fine and sunny, though with some wind which aided the sprinters but harassed the distance runners in their last turn. The most memorable event of the morning was the Senior mile. Bishop, who had won in previous years, was the clear favourite again and he set out strongly to find himself with a fifty yard lead at the halfway stage. But unfortunately he lacked a strong finish and over the last lap Murton, running a fine tactical race was able to overtake him and reach the tape by 30 yards or more. Five records were broken during the day: the junior (13—15) 880 yards by P. Nash and the triple jump by C. Flood, and the junior (under 13) 75 yards hurdles and 220 yards by M. Clitheroe and C. Sawyer respectively. The final record-breaking event was the (13—15) relay where Park bettered Priory’s time of 53.2 seconds in 1961 by 1.6 seconds. At strategic points on the field could be seen members of the Army Section of the C.C.F. with walkie-talkie radios. They were not, as one might imagine, involved in some vast off-the-cotuse betting ring, but merely supplying the announcer with up-to-the-minute results. The failure of the system of having separate events for first and second strings was again shown by the fact that at least once the person who was officially placed fifth recorded the fastest time. For followers of the House Competition it was an exciting afternoon for the lead was continually changing hands but at the finish Frith just managed to hold off Priory by 1½ points: Frith 703, Priory 701½, Park 692, Astor 587½. Stevenson (Prior) retained the Senior Championship with 73 points, Bruce (Park) was Intermediate Champion with 70 points and Wilcox (Park) Junior Champion with 55 points.
    Instead of an Open Day it was decided to have a Jubilee Year Fete to raise £400 for repairs to the Organ. Originally planned for 20th July the Fete was actually held on the afternoon of Saturday, 16th July. In the morning there were several heavy showers but the rain held off during the afternoon though conditions were not really ideal. Nevertheless many friends, parents, and boys did come. As well as the usual stalls and attractions on the top field there were a number of items taking place inside the school, including a display by the Transport Club, a Revue entitled “Not Only . . . But Also”, a Gym display, and a show of transparencies of the Lake District Trip. The brown velvet curtains which once adorned the Hall came to an ignominious end as soggy, wet backcloths to some of the stalls. But despite the considerable enthusiasm and commendable improvisation displayed by masters, parents and boys in setting tip the Fete, the general lay out left much to be desired, for bits and pieces seemed to be scattered willy-nilly over the whole of the top field when only half of the available space was actually utilised. This gave the effect rather of a skeleton fete, and if the stalls had been more concentrated around the Tower, the Gymnasium and the changing rooms, the collective focus of attention—though with still enough room to allow people to circulate freely, then I feel sure there would have been a greater air of organisation and activity, more conducive to persuading visitors to part readily with their money than the actual set-up. Nevertheless the school did manage to raise about £300 from the Fete, though £85 of this total came from the sale of programmes.
    The final features of this school year were the Reading Competitions. I feel all who heard will agree that the judge, Miss Hood, from Canterbury Technical College, was one of the best in recent years, for she not only gave a critical analysis of each competitor’s performance but also helped everyone to understand the need for clarity and expression of speech. As usual each boy had to read a set passage of prose and an additional piece—prose or poetry—of his own choosing. Langford won the Senior Competition, Baker the Middle School Competition and Kitchener the Junior Competition.
    It would, I think, be wrong—let alone impossible—to draw definite conclusions from this Diamond Jubilee year, but it is fair to say that it has been a year of achievement and innovation in many ways—even on the last day it was announced that Frith had been toppled from its hitherto seemingly impregnable position as holder of the House Championship by Park. At Speech Day the Headmaster spoke of the achievements and beneficial changes which had taken place during the School’s history. We can but hope the same thing will be said at Speech Day forty year on.

Dover Grammar School for Boys 1905-1946
by Miss 0. M. Rookwood

    The saga of the school began in 1905 when, after 3 years of co-educational work as the Municipal Secondary School, the girls, under Miss Jessie Chapman, went to St. Hilda’s, Priory Hill and the boys, under Mr. Fred Whitehouse, began a somewhat nomadic life.
    There were only about 60 boys and they were housed, temporarily, in the Tramway Office in Ladywell—now the Weights and Measures department. About two years later the girls were transferred to what is now the School of Art, in Maison Dieu Road. The junior boys went up to St. Hilda’s and the seniors were accommodated in the Technical Institute. The Corporation Yard next door—now a car park—was their playground and what is now the Bowling Green was their playing field.
    An Old Boy of that time tells me there was a small toy and sweet shop where the Police Station now stands. He went in one day to expend a halfpenny. He bought some sweets for a farthing and spent the other farthing on a toy, a monkey on a stick. Mr. Whitehouse saw it and demanded how much he had paid for it. On being told he said, “Don’t waste your money, boy!”
    With so few boys, though the number soon rose to 80, the staff was naturally small. Old Boys remember Messrs. Coopland, Darby, Standring, Thomas and Tomlinson with Miss Ellis and part rime help from Miss MacNeille and Miss Forster.
    One large room at the Technical Institute had a gallery at one end and was used for Assembly and Prayers. The boys called it The Hold. A steep staircase led down to the floor level at the other end and this they called The Well. There was constant rivalry between the dwellers in The Hold and The Well and a frequent exchange of paper pellets and other ammunition.
    At Christmas 1908 the first Reunion was held and there was a large gathering of former Pupil Teachers, boys and girls of the Municipal Secondary School and of the County School. During that term the first number of Pharos appeared edited by Mr. Coopland. That same year saw the formation of the School Scout Troop with Mr. Thomas as Scout Master.
    The following year Mr. Whitehouse chose the School motto “Fiat Lux” and abolished the red caps with their white Kentish horse in favour of navy blue with the County arms.
    The school numbers rose and new masters were added to the staff. Mr. Schofield came in 1912 and Mr. Wheeler and Mr. Collier James who, as Art Master, designed a new cover for Pharos showing the Roman tower and combining the arms of the County and Borough.
    Until 1913 the girls shared with the boys the magazine, the playing fields and the Prize Distribution. A few of the outstanding girls also joined the boys for lessons, particularly maths, of which Mr. Tomlinson was a brilliant teacher. One of the girls, Lily Vass, now Mrs. Turnpenny, succeeded in passing Matric and Inter Arts and actually won a Major Scholarship to London University where, at Bedford College, she completed her degree.
    Mr. Whitehouse was not the sort of man to tolerate such housing conditions for long. He was capable, determined and ambitious to make the County School a power in the town. In a very short time he was agitating for a new building and though he had to wait some years the K.E.C. finally agreed to his insistent demands and by 1913 we read, “Money for the new school has been voted by the County Council and the buildings are now in existence—on paper.”
    Meanwhile the school had heard of the death of King Edward VII and had joined the crowd outside the Town Hall to hear the proclamation of the accession of King George V. The boys heard, too, of the tragic death of the Hon. C. S. Rolls whose double flight across the Straits they had witnessed.
    The Scout Troop must have been a great success for the Scout Master received a letter from the great Baden-Powell himself congratulating him on the Troop’s achievement in winning the Mayor’s Scouting Trophy.
    The first Prize Distribution was held in the Town Hall in 1910 when 1,200 people attended and “Forty Years On” was sung for the first rime. In the same year the first full Inspection was held when six H.M.I’s wandered from building to building criticising and praising the work being done under such difficult conditions. It was in that year, too, that the boys attended a lecture by Sir Ernest Shackleton describing his journey of exploration to the South Pole.
    Dr. Wace, Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, was the guest speaker at the next Prize Distribution. He congratulated the Headmaster on being appointed Director of Further Education and on starting Evening Classes in the town. “Land of our Birth” was sung for the first rime on that occasion and parents and boys were delighted when Mr. Whitehouse announced in his Report that school dinners were to be arranged and that the meals would be served at cost price, “certainly not more than sixpence.”
    The year 1913 proved full of interest. The first Inter-School Sports were held, five out of the six County Schools competing at Ramsgate. The boys heard the tragic story of Captain Scott’s disaster at the South Pole. Mr. Schofield conducted the first School Party on a visit to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway Marine Works. Mr. Tunnell was appointed as a History Master, Mr. J. F. Pascall “in charge of Drill” and Mr. Walker our first “Manual Work” Instructor. In the December of that year the boys were allowed to go to Swingate to watch a display of flying in which two biplanes and one monoplane took part.
    In 1914, when war clouds were threatening the long years of Victorian and Edwardian peace, the building of the new two-storey school in Frith Road actually began and, despite the fears and terrors of that First World War the new school was opened in 1916.
    For the first rime the boys were all in one building and the accommodation seemed adequate. We had a hall, a dining room and kitchen, an art room, two labs, a playground and plenty of class rooms. The numbers rose to 200. Most of the parents still paid fees (£12 a year) but some 20 or 30 Scholarship boys were admitted each year. The exam was held at the school and the staff was responsible for marking the papers.
    Now that we had a hall social events of all kinds were arranged. The Headmaster formed the first Parents’ Association in Kent and with their help we held dances, concerts and theatricals. They were generous in providing pictures, folding tables for whist drives and a complete set of crockery with the School crest and monogram.
    I organised a Pierrot Troupe in 1918 which was great fun and Mr. H. J. Taylor, music master and Borough Organist, arranged a concert in the Town Hall which began with the Triumph Song from the Dover Pageant of 1907.
    During the First World War when many of the masters and boys were in the Forces there were no concrete shelters in the town, for few people, apart from Lord Kitchener, realised the dangers confronting us. The ground floor of the school where the cloak rooms were was designated a shelter and when the siren wailed the space was quickly filled with mothers and babies. Many of the warnings were false and as Mr. Whitehouse was a stickler for work, he would nor allow us to take the boys down until gunfire began. By then there was precious little room for them. Most of us on the staff preferred to go out in the playground where we watched the dog-fights in the sky regardless of danger.
    As the war dragged on the age of recruitment was both lowered and raised. I remember seeing a company of middle-aged men marching down the Road of Remembrance in Folkestone to the transport ships. They looked grim and desperate; some were actually crying. They realised there was little hope of retuning to their homes.
    At the other end of the scale I recall a tall lad of twelve years old who had gone to visit relations in his Cadet uniform, for the 1st Cadet Corps, C.P. (Fortress) R.E. had superseded the Scout Troop in 1915. The Corps had temporarily run out of badges and the boy had no distinguishing marks on his tunic. On his return he was stopped at a guard post and arrested as a deserter. It was not till the next morning that he persuaded the officer to ring up the school. The Headmaster identified him and secured his release. That boy, now an elderly man, still lives at River. I wonder if he remembers the occasion!
    The numbers at the new school warranted the formation of Houses. These were first called after the house masters, Mr. Darby’s, Mr. Thomas’s, Mr. Wheeler’s and Mr. Tomlinson’s. In 1916 these were changed to the names of the house captains, Street’s, Costelloe’s, Bromley’s and Chase’s. In 1919 the names were again changed to indicate geographical areas—Buckland, Town, Maxton and Country. Recently a further alteration has been made, the names now being Frith, Priory, Park and Astor.
    In the summer holiday of 1918 we were hastily recalled by telegram as the school had been requisitioned by the Navy as a hospital, a large scale naval attack having been planned. We tried to find other accommodation unsuccessfully. So Mr. Whitehouse went to Fleet House, Admiral Keyes’ Headquarters, to ask if his decision were final. Sir Roger said the order had been given without his knowledge and that the work of the school should not be interrupted. The mansion at Waldershare Park became the hospital. That naval attack on the Zeebrugge Mole hastened the ending of the war.
    The year 1919 records the return of many of the masters and the departure of most of the mistresses. That year also saw a very severe outbreak of influenza. Boys and staff alike were smitten and one of the mistresses, Mrs. Clatworthy, died. An article in Pharos for that year recorded the presentation of the Freedom of the Borough to Admiral Sir Roger Keyes and another described the formation of the League of Nations on which our hopes of future peace so firmly rested.
    When the autumn term of that year began the school numbers had risen to 251, far exceeding the recognised accommodation. The Juniors under Mr. Willis were transferred to the old premises on Priory Hill and once again we had to warn them to beware of the guillotine. This was a very low doorway at the top of a staircase and to avoid striking one’s head one had to stoop.
    In the December of that year there were 230 boys at the Senior School and 77 at the Junior. At that time, too, plans were being made for a worthy Memorial in honour of the 25 Boys who had lost their lives in the war.
    Examinations still played a very small part in the life of the school. Oxford Local Senior and Junior were still taken and a few boys succeeded in gaining Matric.
    1919 also saw the first Old Boys’ Dinner at the Grand Hotel, over 60 boys attending. It witnessed, too, the first Cadet Camp held at Northbourne Park. The VI form was divided into Arts and Science and two boys were awarded Kitchener Scholarships. A concert in aid of the War Memorial realised £55 and the design by Messrs. Kelley & Co. was accepted—the total cost to be £200.
    In 1920 the St. George window was placed in the School Hall. This was dedicated by the Bishop of Dover as was also an oak-framed mural tablet in memory of Mr. Oliver Tunnell. In that year the school received permission for the boys to take the Oxford and Cambridge Joint Board exam. The academic standard was certainly on the upward grade!
    In those years the chief event of the summer term was Sports day and of the autumn term the Prize Distribution. Both of these lasted a full four hours. The Sports were enlivened by a military band and a long tea interval. The races ranged from the three-legged race and the slow cycle race to the Mile. Prize day was a glorious occasion. The prizes were distributed and the speeches made by such illustrious visitors as Bishops, Deans and Cabinet Ministers. Sir Roger Keyes came one year and the choir sang “The Old Vindictive”. Another year Lord Dunsany was the guest speaker and the seniors acted his play “A Night at an Inn”. On those evenings the staff, all in evening dress, were presented to the guest speaker in the Council Chamber before filing on to the platform. The Town Hall was always crammed and there was a junior play, various items by the school choir under Mr. Willis and a senior play produced by Mr. Watt. We rarely finished before 11 p.m.
    In 1922 an Old Boy, Charles Baldwin, joined the staff for one term. He was helping at the junior school—then housed in the Technical Institute with Mr. Langley in charge. One evening a fire broke out. Baldwin came along Ladywell on his way home from a dance. He realised the danger if certain chemicals caught fire and dashed up to the Lab. and removed the bottles to safety.
    On March 6th, 1924, the School assembled at Astor Avenue on what is now the lower playing field. Canon Elnor, Chairman of the Governors, cut the first sod and we stared at that high hill reaching up to Noah’s Ark Road and wondered how long it would be before the new school was built.
    The Army had at long last vacated Longhill Camp so we now had a playing field though at some distance from the school. Some of us remember the fire which broke out there when the Record Office was in possession. The more active of us raced ahead of the fire engine drawn by two prancing horses.
    This year, too, the Old Pharosians started a London branch which attracted many Old Boys who worked in the City.
    Christmas parties for the boys were arranged by the Parents’ Association, each boy being allowed to invite a girl. These were a great success, especially the Senior Party, the forerunner of the Prefects’ Dance.
    Each year on the School’s birthday, October 16th, Mr. and Mrs. Whitehouse held an At Home to which staff and wives and parents were invited.
    Swimming was included among the Sports activities. We used the old Sea Baths on the front until they were demolished by enemy action in the Second World War.
    In 1924 Mr. T. E. Archer joined the staff and is still there in this year of grace 1966!
    27 boys passed the Joint Board exam, 13 of them gaining Matric. 9 boys also passed in Inter Arts and Inter B.Sc.
    The work at the new site proceeded very slowly. Owing to the slope of the ground it was necessary to cut various terraces. The workmen found the chalk crumbled as they dug and a gardening expert advised the planting of valerian to hold the soil together. I was despatched to purchase packets of hairpins to hold the roots in position. One day the foreman rang up to say they had unearthed a skeleton. Mr. Whitehouse commandeered my car and I drove him to Astor Avenue. The thrill of a possible murder hunt died down when it was found the skeleton was that of a dog.
    The 21st birthday was celebrated in 1926 and was an occasion of great rejoicing. We assembled at the Town Hall on September 25th and a procession was formed, headed by the Town Sergeant, the Chief Constable, the Mayor, Aldermen and Councillors. Then followed the Headmaster and staff in full academic dress and the long, long line of boys. So to the Church of St. Mary where a service of Thanksgiving was held and a rousing sermon preached by Dr. Lyttelton, Headmaster of Eton. Then back to the Town Hall for the birthday tea party with a huge iced cake weighing 70 lbs. This was followed by the presentation of gifts amounting to £500 towards the provision of an organ in the new school which was still only a dream. After a brief respite the Town Hall was again crowded, this time by Old Boys and friends some of whom had travelled a hundred miles and more to be present at the coming of age dance.
    October 29th, 1927, witnessed an American sale when some 800 gifts were sold. No gift cost less than 6d. or more than 5/- and there was a real Yankee hustle to secure bargains. The result was nearly £60 with which a good, much-needed piano was bought.
    The following year we welcomed Mr. A. E. Coulson, who is still with us. We had a most enjoyable Leap Year Supper dance, the hostesses providing both the supper and the guests, and were given a detailed description of the new school on the hill which was to fulfil our most ambitious expectations. The building was to accommodate 500 boys. We little guessed that in less than 30 years over 700 boys would be in attendance and such carefully planned rooms as the Medical Inspection and the Visitors’ waiting rooms, would, with one of the cloakrooms, be needed for teaching purposes.
    Sports days continued to be held at Crabble Athletic Ground though the lower playing field at Astor Avenue was now available for practice games and matches. The pioneer work of digging and levelling was nearly finished and we confidently looked forward to the laying of the foundation stone in the summer of 1929.
    In the October of 1928 over 300 boys went on pilgramage to Canterbury. The Dean received us at the Cathedral and gave a short address after which we divided into groups and toured the Cathedral some of us being lucky enough to climb Bell Harry Tower. We attended Evensong when Canon Elnor read one of the lessons and a special prayer was said for the school. Then we repaired to the Chapter House where a splendid tea had been provided. When the Head thanked the Dean for his kindness he called for three cheers. Cheers in the Chapter House! The Dean glanced with apprehension at the roof!
    The name of H. A. Stanway as Captain of Country House frequently appeared in the Pharos. I wonder if he ever thought that “thirty years on” he would be printing the school magazine.
    At the Speech day in 1929 the Headmaster’s Prize was awarded to C. G. Jarrett. We little guessed that in 1956 he would be summoned to Buckingham Palace to receive the honour of Knighthood at the hands of Her Majesty.
    A number of Old Boys had contributed very interesting articles on their careers during the last few years. In that year Alex Henney gave one on the Merchant Service which he had joined on leaving school. In 1965 he reached the top of his profession being appointed Commodore of the B.P. tanker fleet and Captain of the new 100,000 ton British Admiral.
    The Parents’ Association continued to flourish, a Deal branch having been started as so many boys came from there. Exchange visits and joint meetings were occasionally held and the names of Captain Rowe, Mr. Landrey and Mr. Fea will be remembered as pioneer secretaries.
    The year 1930 witnessed several outstanding events. The Pharos Dance Band made its appearance with Eade as pianist and a variety of instruments was played by the Lewis twins, West-Oram, White, Martin and Magub to mention only a few. There was also the visit of the Headmaster to Cambridge as guest of honour to the Old Boys then in residence; dinner was served at Clare College and attended by Sanders, Garland, Stanway, Dilnot, Carpenter, Trist and Jarrett. A further excitement in that same year was the visit of a team of H.M.I.'s who came to inspect the Sixth Form work. This was rapidly developing, Commerce and Engineering having been added to Arts and Science.
    Socially—and financially—the highlight of 1930 was the first and only School Bazaar. For months beforehand boys, staff, parents and Old Boys had been making preparations. Acting on an inspiration of Mrs. Whitehouse the Maison Dieu Hall was transformed into an old Dover Street with a variety of shops on either side of the road. May 21st was the date and the Bazaar was opened by Lady Wake as Sir Hereward was then Constable of the Castle.
    Besides the stall holders there were other helpers who served teas, wrapped parcels, guarded lost property and lost children and arranged attractive concerts and side shows. Three senior boys wrote and produced one—act plays, Mrs. T. E. Archer, cleverly disguised, told fortunes in the Tent of the Soothsayer and the Meccano Club—one of the many then flourishing in the school—presented a fine display of working models.
    The proceeds which amounted to £355 were devoted to the Organ fund. This organ was to be built in the gallery of the Assembly Hall in the new school, which was gradually nearing completion.
    The months passed with their routine of work and play, an ever-increasing number of successes in the Joint Board exams and more Scholarships to the Universities. Speech day was made memorable by the Headmaster’s comment that this was “his 25th chapter of Chronicles”, and then, at long last, came the removal to Astor Avenue and the Official Opening on December 9th, 1931, by H.R.H. Prince George.
    The day began with a procession from the Town Hall to St. Mary’s Church led by the Town Sergeant, the Mayor and Corporation, the Headmaster and staff, the Cadet Corps and the seemingly endless line of boys. Small wonder the townsfolk turned out in force to line the streets. It was a Public Thanksgiving Service and every pew was crowded with boys, parents and visitors. A rousing sermon was preached by the Rt. Rev. J. V. Macmillan, Bishop of Dover and the school choir sang an anthem and led us in psalms and hymns.
    Then to the heights where the crowd assembled on the playing field to watch for the approach of the royal car. The Cadet Corps formed a Guard of Honour and fully deserved the Prince’s praise for their “extremely smart turn out”. A deafening cheer arose as His Royal Highness fitted the key in the Tower door and, with the Headmaster, proceeded to inspect the building.
    Lunch in the dining hall was a great success not a little added to by the music of the band of the 1st Battalion Seaforth Highlanders. Then followed the Official Opening in the Assembly Hall. The Commemorative Tablet below the Honours Board was draped with the Union Jack and as the Prince unveiled it rounds of Kentish fire tested the stability of the roof.
    His speech and the Votes of Thanks ended with the National Anthem which had a deep significance that day for among us was the Son of our Gracious King. The Weeping Beech which His Royal Highness planted before leaving survived the years of peace and war and still flourishes proudly.
    The new building seemed vast. Boys lost their way in the long corridors searching for labs, the Art Room, the Gym, their form rooms. The stage was used for the first time for a production of “Arms and the Man” and if some thought Mr. Watt was being unduly ambitious the success of the play justified his choice.
    Mr. Whitehouse asked me if I would open a Tuck Shop and a convenient room was allotted next to the cloak rooms. Windows opened onto the quad where the rank and file were served. The door by the counter was strictly reserved for the VIth form. The shop proved tremendously popular and a financial success. During the nine years it was open well over £300 was banked in the Tuck Shop account. The K.E.C. had promised when we reached £500 to build a swimming pool near the Gym. That never materialised for, during the period of evacuation, that fund was needed—and used—for other amenities.
    The staff as well as the boys appreciated the Tuck Shop. Not that they condescended to buy a halfpenny bar of chocolate or a bottle of Vimto or Sunecta but once a month I collected their orders for tobacco and cigarettes which I was able to purchase wholesale. Incredible as it may seem today a box of 50 Players cost 2/10!
    Being the only woman on the staff I was sometimes in demand for running repairs. I remember one morning after Prayers a distraught prefect came to my little room opposite the Library and explained that a nail on the saddle of his bicycle had caused a rent in his trousers. I inspected the damage. His dignity must not be allowed to suffer! He bent over a chair while I repaired the slit by stitching it nearly on to his pants. I told him to tell his mother it was only a first-aid job and warned him to remove his trousers and pants together!
    On July 14th, 1932, Mr. Whitehouse was presented with the Freedom of the Borough in recognition of his outstanding services to the town as well as the school.
    The secretary of the Old Pharosians announced that year that he could supply blazer badges at 7/- each and ties at 3/-. Has any Old Boy bought one lately?
    In the summer of that year the long talked of organ was erected and Dr. Charlton Palmer, Organist of Canterbury Cathedral, gave a recital on it.
    It was a great honour on that Speech Day to have as our Guest Speaker Lord Ebbisham, a former Lord Mayor of London. He gave special mention to Jarrett “who had created a record in the First Division Civil Service Examination.
    That year also saw the production of Barrie’s “Admirable Crichton” surely the best effort—so far—of the Dramatic Society.
    The year 1934 was one of steady all-round development. Rugby was added to Soccer and proved very popular. Speech Day recorded a State Scholarship to I. P. Watt, eleven London Higher School Certificates—seven of them reaching Inter Arts or Inter Science—and 35 London General School Certificates. More than half of those boys gained Honours Certificates and qualified for Matric. The academic standard was certainly going up and up!
    The name of Mr. Hugh Leney occurs again and again in old copies of Pharos. He was keenly interested in the School, attended all important functions, gave many books to the Library and left his name on the football pitch he provided which is still called “Leney’s”.
    At the Speech Day in 1935 Magub was awarded the Headmaster’s prize; he recently returned from the Royal Philharmonic tour of Canada and America with Sir Malcolm Sargent.
    The School heard with deep regret of the death of King George V and listened on the newly introduced radiogram to the Proclamation of King Edward. We little knew how brief his reign was to be; we vaguely realised that the resignation of the Headmaster was imminent; we were utterly ignorant of the war clouds which were slowly gathering. In fact we were living in a period of uneventful prosperity; we were living in the present and it was a time of enjoyment, success and prosperity. We believed in the utter stability of the British Empire.
    During that year the School congratulated Mr. W. E. Pearce on the publication of his “School Physics”—the first of a long line of science text books from his pen.
    Pharos for December, 1936, was devoted to tributes to the first Headmaster, expressions of regret at his resignation, good wishes and, chiefly, gratitude to the man whose life work had been the building of our School from its humble inception to its final goodly heritage.
    In his last Headmaster’s Notes Mr. Whitehouse wrote a simple farewell, expressed his thanks to the Governors, Staff and boys and especially to his wife and commended his successor to our love and loyalty. The Editor tried to enumerate the many offices he had held—all on behalf of the School. To mention only a few, Mr. Whitehouse was a member of the K.E.C., chairman of the Scholarship Examination Committee, President of the Head Teachers’ Conference. The Secretary of the Parents’ Association wrote, “We honour him for his untiring efforts to place Secondary School Education in the position it occupies in our town”.
    On the last day of the Christmas term a joint presentation to Mr. and Mrs. Whitehouse was made on behalf of the boys, Staff, Old Boys, Parents and Friends of the School. Mr. Gane, who as Chairman of the Parents’ Association, made the presentation, reminded us that the School itself would stand as a permanent monument to Mr. Whitehouse. As the father of two pupils he offered his grateful thanks for all the Headmaster had done for the boys of Dover. Mr. Tomlinson on behalf of the Staff said it was given to few headmasters to shape the destiny of a school for over 30 years and to even fewer was it given to leave such a tangible proof of steadfast purpose and continuity of control.
    The good wishes for a long and happy retirement were not to be fulfilled. Mr. and Mrs. Whitehouse had planned a world tour to visit Old Boys in many outposts of the Empire. That never materialised for in January, 1939, Mr. Whitehouse died and for the School and the town it was a personal loss. During that short time he wrote once in Pharos; a tribute to his old friend Mr. Hugh Leney whose death preceded his own by a few months.
    The School attended the funeral service at St. Mary’s and an Old Pharosian writing “In Memoriam” said, “His name will live long in the annals of education in Dover and his memory will endure in the hearts of all Old Boys”.
    The new Headmaster, Mr. J. C. Booth, also an Oxonian and an historian, had been Headmaster of Faversham Grammar School.
    Shortly after his appointment came the Coronation of King George VI when our Cadets were privileged to line the route at the foot of Constitional Hill and so obtain a close view of Their Majesties as they passed in the State Coach. The School was flood-lit for the first time and the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, Colonel and Mrs. Skey, presented to each boy a Souvenir Book of the Coronation generously given by the Corporation of Dover.
    The news of Mr. Darby’s resignation followed hard on this and boys, present and past, regretted his departure. The School presented him with a radiogram and the Old Boys gave other gifts to him and to Mrs. Darby.
    In July, 1937, we had news of Dr. Coopland, first editor of Pharos. He was appointed to a Professorship in Mediaeval History at Liverpool University. Dr. Coopland, now in his 90th year, maintains his interest in his old school.
    The same issue of the magazine refers to Canon Elnor’s Jubilee in Holy Orders. It also records Mr. Booth’s first staff appointment—that of Mr. K. H. Ruffell—and the hope that his stay with us might be a long and happy one. Evidently it has been as he is still at the School.
    Some 40 boys of the V and VI forms visited Germany. They were welcomed by the Rhineland District Youth Leader and by the Hitler Youth Band and Choir. The latter proved friendly and charming guides and everywhere our boys received hospitality and kindness. A few months later a group of German boys paid a return visit and showed great interest in I)over Castle and the docks.
    A contingent of our senior boys went to the Empire Rally of Youth in the Albert Hall where they were addressed by Lord Amery, by the High Commissioner for India and by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Stanley Baldwin.
    Speech Day, 1937, was as impressive and enjoyable as ever. But this year we had a new Headmaster giving his first report. Mr. Booth paid a generous tribute to his predecessor and surveyed the manifold activities of the School ranging from exams to games, from House Competitions to School excursions at home and abroad. The Guest Speaker was Mr. K. M. Lindsey, Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education who, in the course of his speech, revealed the fact that he and Mr. Booth were members of the same football team at Oxford.
    An interesting article was contributed to Pharos by D. W. R. entitled “My Impressions of Germany”. His visit was in the December of that same year. He noted that conscripts and regulars were forbidden to wear civilian dress, he mentioned the German passion for organisation and regimentation and he wrote that the wild enthusiasm of the people for their Fuehrer was remarkable. It was not to be very long before we saw the fulfilment of his remarks.
    At the end of the summer term of 1938 Mr. Tomlinson retired. He had been a member of the staff since 1905 and hundreds of boys had profited by his brilliant teaching of Maths. In that same term the first Paris visit was arranged. The party crossed to Boulogne where a special train was waiting to take the boys to Paris. They stayed at an hotel near the Luxembourg Gardens and saw as much of the city and its environs as was humanly possible in a week.
    In the December following a full inspection from the Board of Education was expected. Before the H.M.I’s. arrived, however, Europe was startled by the Czechoslovakian troubles, there was a murmured threat of war and here, in England, the words “Invasion” and “Evactiation” were whispered. But the air cleared and the Inspection was held. So, too, was the annual “At Home” when Mr. and Mrs. Booth and the Staff had the opportunity of meeting many parents and of conducting new boys’ relations round the buildings. There was also a Gymnastic House Competition when the P.T. Instructor from Chatham House came to judge the events. Mr. E. H. Baker, the School Secretary, left for an important post at Maidstone and his loss was keenly felt. As an Old Pharosian he had been a link between boys and Staff and his loyalty to the School and to both Headmasters had stood the test of time.
    Men and women began to attend First-aid classes and to talk about joining the A.R.P. No one quite knew why but there was a growing uneasiness abroad and people began to say, “It might happen, you know”.
    Boxing was introduced in the Gym and Mr. Dixon and Mr. Thatcher gave demonstrations and instruction. The provision of a tennis court proved as popular with the Staff as with the boys. Mr. Pearce and Mr. Slater rounded up the Old Boys and the annual dinner was a very great success.
    Then there came a pause. No Pharos was issued for a year because the sinister black clouds of war had broken and Hitler had revealed himself in his true colours. Yet when the magazine was next issued in December, 1939, there was still a record of progress, of examinations, of Prize Lists, though no Speech Day, and of a Cadet Camp at Sandwich. Perhaps the most significant event was the tunnelling of shelters in the chalk bank at the west side of the School. These were equipped with benches and electric light and a new emergency exit was made in the wall near the Headmaster’s study.
    When a warning of enemy action was received the alarm was given and the whole school could be accommodated in those shelters within two minutes when work proceeded as normally as possible. What seemed abnormal was the black-out rigidly imposed, the issuing of gas masks and the disturbing fact that senior boys on leaving school joined one of the Services, instead of proceeding to college or university.
    In January, 1940, we had news of the death of Stanley West, a Pilot Officer in the R.A.F. and the first Old Boy to be killed on active service. There were already some 150 of our boys in the Forces.
    There was still no thought of evacuation. The School remained in Dover all through the first World War and this time we had the additional help of those safety trenches just at hand. Staff and senior boys joined the A.R.P., training as Observers, working as Auxiliary Firemen, driving ambulances. Boys in the Middle School were enrolled in the “Dig for Victory” campaign and the ground above Leney’s soon showed promise of good crops.
    The Spring term of 1940 was a testing time. The phoney war was in progress; we had occasional air raids, Old Boys in uniform called to say Goodbye on their embarkation leave and we waited, listening to the news on the radio, wondering if worse was to happen.
    On the 9 p.m. news on Sunday, May 26th, an announcement was made that affected us deeply. France had fallen and owing to the occupation by the Germans of the Channel ports the Government had ordered the evacuation of all schools on the S.E. Kent coast. We telephoned other members of the Staff and asked if we were really to be sent away and next day at school we bombarded the Headmaster with questions. He knew little more than we did but very soon found out that we were to leave Dover the following Sunday, June 2nd, by special train for an unknown destination.
    That week was just a desperate rush. We were at school all day as usual. We had to make our own personal arrangements about our houses, flats, furniture, cars, etc. The married masters had to make plans for their wives and children. There were friends to be visited for a final good-bye and some of us drove down to the docks on those lovely summer evenings and watched the landing of the men who had escaped. We did not understand clearly what had happened nor why these soldiers were wounded, ragged, starving. We were to find out later when German guns were pointed across the Straits from Calais, Dunkirk and Boulogne. France had fallen indeed and nothing lay between England and the enemy but a narrow strip of water 21 miles wide.
    Looking back over a quarter of a century I realise the wisdom of that order. The worst might so easily have happened and the lives of thousands of children been in jeopardy. But at the time we only felt resentment at being forced to leave the School, our homes and friends and the voluntary work we were doing in the crisis.
    We assembled on the playing fields early on that Sunday morning and made our way to Priory Station by three different routes—a precaution insisted on by the Chief Constable, Mr. Bolt. A long empty train was waiting and the porters told the boys to jump in anywhere. They did and desposited suit cases, school books, gas masks and food packets on the racks. Five minutes before the train was due to leave Miss Gruer, her Staff and the girls of our Sister School arrived. There was not time to clear compartments for them for the guard stood ready to blow his whistle. An hour or two later I was talking to Miss Gruer and she said with a sigh, “All these years I have been trying to keep my girls away from your boys and now they are just co-educating each other in the corridor!
    Mr. Booth had learned that our destination was Ebbw Vale and that we were on a through train. We skirted London at Clapham Junction and turned on to the western line. The journey seemed endless. We encouraged the boys to read, organised games and competitions. Most of them ate too much and the water supply proved quite inadequate.
    On reaching Monmouth the train stopped and the Girls’ School alighted, their destination being Caerleon. Then we went on turning north up one of the many valleys and finally came to a halt at Ebbw Vale. The boys stepped out smartly and lined up on the platform in their forms.
    The Billeting Committee was there to greet us and their faces registered surprise and distress. Someone had blundered! A school of Junior Girls was expected and our arrival threw all the billeting arrangements into confusion.
    After much consultation we were put into buses, taken to a school and given a wonderful tea. More consultations! Finally each of us on the Staff was given charge of a group and whirled away in buses to different places up and down that seven-mile valley. I landed at Rassau in the north with my party and a harassed group of parents eventually accepted the boys in ones and twos. When the last one was disposed of someone asked where I was staying. No provision had been made for the Staff as our Welsh hosts thought we were leaving our pupils and returning to Dover.
    Some good soul offered me a bed which I accepted gratefully. I said all I wanted was a cup of coffee and a hot bath. My hostess looked blank. “We never drink coffee” she said “and we haven’t got a bath”.
    Next morning I met my boys as arranged at the local school where the Headmaster gave us the use of the playground. It was a long time before we were discovered by Mr. Allen who had come in search of me and my group. He explained we were to share premises with the local co-educational County School and summoned me to a Staff Meeting that afternoon.
    There we exchanged experiences and Mr. Booth begged us to impress on the boys the need for courtesy and gratitude while we were strangers in a strange land. The two schools were to work on a shift system and we were allowed the use of the Staff room.
    When I returned to Rassau I learned that one of my boys had been taken to hospital seriously ill. I set off at once and eventually found the hospital where the Matron and House Surgeon said the boy had acute appendicitis and an operation was imperative. They asked my consent. I hesitated to take the responsibility but had no idea where the boy’s parents were nor where Mr. Booth was to be found. Fortunately the operation was successful.
    The attitude of the boys to their new life was varied. Some of them regarded evacuation as emancipation from home control and were perfectly happy and very well fed. The seniors were accepted as voting men lodgers, given a key of the house and thoroughly enjoyed the society of their foster-sisters, Dilys, Gwladys, Myfanwy. A few of the younger boys were so happy they almost forgot their own homes. I remember one boy whose foster-father and foster-mother were childless and they adored this boy. The man was a policeman and he would stop me in the street to tell me how happy they were to have Brian in their home.
    A few boys, of course, were misfits, complained abour their billets and asked to be changed. One evening I was stopped in the town by a lad who begged me to come to the rescue of his friend, John, who had been turned out of his billet. I pushed my bicycle—my car had been left in Dover—up hilly streets and finally found John, frightened and crying. He admitted he had been “a little bit rude” to his foster-mother. I went to see the lady and found her furious. It was not until I said I would take John to the Police Station that she calmed down and agreed to have him back that one night. I fetched the boy, made him apologise and told him to bring his suit case to school in the morning. Fortunately he was quite happy in his next billet.
    Some of the staff were lucky in managing to get furnished houses. Most of us were in billets. I remember when I was living in a miner’s cottage receiving a card from my sister who had been evacuated with her school to Gloucester saying she was billeted in a castle!
    Misfortune overtook us in the form of illness. Mr. Froude had been unable to come with us as he was very ill. Mr. Watt came to school one morning, looking exhausted. He collapsed during Prayers and was taken to hospital where he died a few days later. Mr. F. F. Allin left because he was ill and not many months later we heard of his death. We lost one of the boys too, John Crux. He developed a strange disease which the doctor could not diagnose. He was removed to the Fever Hospital and his parents were summoned but he died before they arrived. He was buried in Ebbw Vale and we felt that spot would be forever Dover.
    The Vicar of one of the churches started a club for the boys which was much appreciated. We also arranged an occasional concert in the “tin tabernacle” which did duty for an Assembly Hall. Sports were not neglected and the Cadet Corps flourished.
    The vounger masters were gradually called up for active service and we were delighted to welcome Mr. Darby back among us. Mr. Baxter put his spare time to good use by learning the Welsh language from his host and, to our delight, actually broadcast one evening in Welsh.
    Occasional pathetic issues of Pharos appeared. They were typed and they contained growing lists of Old Boys who had made the supreme sacrifice. But these brave leaflets also gave us news of examination successes. Ye Chronycle” still appeared and we had strictly censored news of the doings of some Old Boys.
    In May, 1941, it was found possible to revert to our old familiar red Pharos actually printed in Dover while shells screamed overhead and bombs crashed. In this number Mr. Booth referred to the good work being done by senior boys in joining the Home Guard and mentioned the formation of a joint flight with the Ebbw Vale County School in the new Air Training Corps in which Mr. Archer held a Commission. There was also a glowing account of “Androcles and the Lion” produced by the Dramatic Society in the Workmen’s Hall.
    In 1942 it was found possible to take over a large building, Pentwyn House, big enough to accommodate most of our boys and so relieve the congestion in the Ebbw Vale school. A British Restaurant having been opened the foster-mothers were freed from the task of providing mid-day meals. Sports facilities improved and it was possible to re-start the East Cup Football Competition. We were also able to use some “blacked-out” rooms in Pentwyn House for the Debating Society, table tennis and chess in the evenings.
    Pharos of June, 1943, recorded with sympathy the death of Mrs. Whitehouse. Since the outbreak of war she had worked tirelessly on a Y.M.C.A. canteen van, visiting local naval bases and gun emplacements and keeping alive the Whitehouse tradition of public-spirited service. The editor then was Mr. Baxter and most of the pages were filled with news of Old Boys.
    Holidays for the Staff had to be taken in relays as some of us had to remain on duty to supervise the boys. Whenever I could I paid a fleeting visit to Dover. It was pitiful to see the widespread damage to the town though mercifully the loss of life was comparatively small. On one occasion I saw St. Barnabas’ Church a few hours after a naval shell had reduced it to ruins. The roof and one wall had fallen, the nave was littered with glass, bricks, broken chairs and tattered hymn books. Strangely enough the Rood screen was still in position and the carved figure of Our Lord looked down in sorrow at the scene of desolation. Another time shops near the Market Square had been bombed and I saw a jeweller—well-known to me—scrambling among the ruins searching for rings, watches and bracelets which had been hurled through the smashed window.
    Meanwhile the W.R.N.S. were in possession of our School. No damage was done apart from a few broken windows and when we returned in 1945 we found the Navy most unwilling to leave its comfortable quarters.
    As the time came to leave Ebbw Vale the School looked back with gratitude to the kindness and hospitality offered by our Welsh friends. An annual prize endowed by the Ebbw Vale County School will keep that name in our memory. On our part we presented a Plaque wrought in beaten copper to a design by Mr. Rowlands showing the name and motto of our School, the Kentish horse, the town arms and an inscription of gratitude from the parents of Dover to the foster-parents of Ebbw Vale. Perhaps it is not surprising to note that more than one exchange visit was arranged and that some of our Old Boys returned to Ebbw Vale to marry their charming foster-sisters.
    On our return to Dover near the end of the autumn term, 1944, we were compelled to work in 3 buildings—the Technical Institute, the School of Art and Hillersden House. The boys remained stationary, the Staff was mobile and it rained every day. We dashed from one building to another at change of lessons. I used my bicycle as, tired of paying garage fees for a car I never saw, I had sold it.
    The highest praise is due to Mr. Booth for his patience and cheerfulness during those grim years and we were all as thankful as he when the W.R.N.S. at last departed and, on June 11th, 1945, we retuned to our beloved School On the Hill.
    Pharos of March, 1946, was quite on pre-war lines. There was the exciting news that Raymond Efemey had been awarded a Domus Exhibition at Balliol College, Oxford—a happy augury. There was the Annual Inspection of the Cadet Corps carried out by none other than ex-Cadet Lt. Col. Alan Andrews, D.S.O. There was a photo of the 1st XI showing all excellent likeness of our good friend, Mr. Slater. The Old Pharosians met and revived the Association, arranging a Supper and also a Dance. The masters were gradually demobbed and rejoined us and school life became normal, except that now we were to be known as the Dover Grammar School for Boys.
    My health up to the time of evacuation had been amazingly good but the climate of Ebbw Vale and the discomfort of billets and the constant rain when we returned to Dover undermined my constitution. I had two spells in hospital with severe rheumatism and, fearing a third, I decided to retire at the end of the school year in 1946. While I was in hospital Mr. Booth frequently visited me and often brought me a packet of cigarettes or a bar of chocolate although sweet rationing was still in force.
    On one occasion I noticed two nurses peeping over a screen. As soon as he had gone they made a dive for my bed. “Say, who’s your boy friend?” asked one.
    “Nurse,” I said, “that is my Headmaster.”
    “Gosh!” remarked the other. “Why didn’t I take up teaching?”
    Mr. Booth tried to dissuade me from retiring but I told him that I loved the School too much to give it my second best. So my teaching days ended with that summer term and I was faced with the problem of finding fresh interests in retirement. I missed the School and the boys and my friends on the Staff. I still do, but life has been very good to me and there are many compensations in old age. I have never lost touch with the School and I appreciated the honour when the Old Boys elected me an Old Pharosian.

A Brief Survey of the History of Dover Grammar School for Boys between 1946 and 1965
by E. W. LISTER

Preface
    For the basic material of this outline I have relied mainly on Speech Day Reports, Pharos, The Dover Express, various numbers of Education in Kent (K.E.C. Publications), White Papers on Government Commissions on Education, the personal reminiscences of Staff, past and present, and my own experience in the School since 1949. Dr. Hinton and many of my colleagues have assisted me with information of one kind or another. They will know that I am extremely grateful to them all. However, I must acknowledge the extreme civility and co-operation extended to me, in the course of my searches, by the staff of The Dover Express, in particular Mr. Terry Sutton and Mr. G. Tutthill. My thanks, too, are extended to Terence Vardon for much unearthing of points of detail; and especially, to Mrs. Bailey, the School Secretary—an ever-present help ill trouble. Any imperfections or are entirely my own responsibility.

E.W.L.


CHAPTER I

Reconstruction 1946-49
    On Friday, 22nd November, 1946, before an audience which included about 450 boys and a staff of 23, Mr. J. C. Booth, the Headmaster, read the first Speech Day Address following the School’s return to Dover. The previous year had been one of resettlement: the prelude he hoped to a period of advance, of adventure and of further achievement. His speech contained a passage which was virtually a profession of faith: “The School is fiercely exposed to the charge, often too readily levelled, of being merely a camp for academic concentration. We have set great store by scholarship; we shall continue to do so, but in the classroom and out of it we shall continue to help each boy to live the fullest possible life within the community.”
    The Headmaster’s words were prophetic of the ever-increasing criticism that was to arise concerning the role of the grammar school. Little did he realise at the time that the entire system would be fighting for its very existence within a generation. But this is to anticipate. What of the everyday life of the School in those early post-war years?
    The Butler Act of 1944, based on the somewhat ambiguous Norwood Report of 1943, had already made the first breach in the old pre-war system; the County School had become the County Grammar School for Boys; the old Prep. Department had disappeared; the days of the fee-payers and scholarship holders were over; the School was soon to compete with several secondary modern establishments for the favours of Dover’s II plus age group—selection being based on standardized tests in English, arithmetic and general intelligence; and finally, local control passed to the Divisional Executive with its Divisional Education Officer. For the rest, apart from the statutory introduction of an agreed Syllabus of Religious Instruction, the way of life continued much as before. Societies and Clubs were re-formed; the School Orchestra and Choir took a new lease of life under the particular genius of Mr. Willis; the Dramatic Society reappeared and soon made its presence felt; while the 1st Cadet Company (Cinque Ports Fortress) was reorganized under the control of Mr. Coulson and the A.T.C. (Mr. Archer) joined the Dover Squadron.
    The influence of a school on its pupils can often be gauged by the strength of its Old Boys’ Association. Great efforts were made in 1946-47 to revive this School institution. Its beginnings can be traced to an Extraordinary General Meeting which was convened as early as December, 1945, to promote the revival of the Association. It was on this occasion that the Association was reborn under the temporary secretaryship of Mr. Frank Prescott. Plans were made for future social functions, and the proposal to erect a war memorial for the School’s 77 dead (Second World War) was first moored. Mr. A. Lewis (Secretary) and Mr. W. H. Darby (President) were subsequently elected to hold office.
    “Back to mormalcy might very well describe the state of affairs existing in the school year, 1946-47; however, in Pharos of February, 1947, the Editor lamented the sociological changes caused by war and rebuked the new attitude to school life. The shape of things to come!
    This year the School enjoyed its first full programme of football, rugby and cricket fixtures since 1938-39. Normalcy indeed!
    Speech Day, in November, 1947, witnessed a visit from the Hon. Norman Martin, Agent-General for Victoria. The Headmaster’s Report included reference to the fact that 7 candidates had been successful in obtaining Higher School Certificates and 49 had reached School Certificate standard. The former figure gives a clear indication of the small number of box’s in the sixth form at this transition state; but numbers were soon to grow steadily.
    In 1948 the House System was recast. With the movement of population the old names, Buckland, Country, Maxton and Town, no longer provided a reasonable basis of division. In future, boys were allocated to houses irrespective of their local domicile. The new houses perpetuated associations with the school as it had grown: Frith House (Frith Road); Park (Ladywell); Astor (present site), and Priory (Priory Hill).
    Paradoxically in the same year whilst the Debating Society was enquiring into the alleged decline of organized religion in Britain, a religious discussion group was formed to affiliate with the Student Christian Movement.
    The progress of the use of Visual Aids by 1948 was made manifest, as well, in an interesting article in Pharos, written by Mr. Coulson. It appeared that the School possessed one Sound Projector, one Film Strip Projector and one Epidiascope. In the following year the School was used for practical tests in Visual Aids; this was not so surprising when it is remembered that men of such practical skill as Mr. Pearce, the Deputy Headmaster, and Mr. Coulson held sway.
    Pharos for this year also records the holding of an Open Evening in March. Parents and friends visited form rooms, laboratories and workshops; the Orchestra and Dramatic Society rendered items in the Hall, and refreshments were available. This created a precedent which was to be repeated annually. In the same issue was published a letter from Oxford. Its author, an Old Boy, maintained that College small talk no longer revolved round Sidi Barrani or D Day. “Oxford is being reborn in a new generation . ... fashion is changing with the bright spotted bow ties of freshmen”. World War II might be quietly forgotten but the combustible fuel of the Cold War was beginning to kindle with the Berlin Blockade and with internecine strife imminent in Korea.
    Late in 1949 a General Meeting was held, attended by a representative gathering of parents, to draw up provisional articles relating to the formation of a Parents’ Association. By 1950 the Association was operating, and its subsequent service to the School in providing funds for so many useful purposes has been of untold value. Mr. A. H. Gunn was elected its first Chairman and the late Mr. A. R. Taylor became honorary secretary; in addition, an Executive Committee was set up.
    In his Speech Day Address (November, 1949), Mr. Booth gave notice of new regulations for the General Certificate of Education examinations, to take effect in the school year 1950-51. It would be no longer necessary to pass in English and 5 other subjects to obtain the Certificate. The new Certificate would simply indicate the number of subjects passed. The pass mark would roughly compare to the old Credit standard of the School Certificate. A pupil could thus obtain a Certificate of Education in one subject only, or ten! Another controversial feature lay in the age limitation for entrance. No boy tinder the age of 16 Oil 1st September following the examination might enter. These changes in many ways constituted a landmark in secondary school examinations and were indicative of the pressures exerted by the new thinking in education. They were designed to encourage a wider range of choice and to enable pupils to specialize in certain subjects before the sixth form with a view to raising academic standards and to the building up of a 7 year rather than a 6 year course. This system still generally pertains although the restriction on the lower age limit was removed in 1953. The publication of a Ministry of Education pamphlet “The Road to the Sixth Form” (1951) elaborated on these proposals and gave rise to a good deal of mixed criticism.
    In his 1949 address the Headmaster also referred to the wider field of opportunities that were becoming available to school leavers, in particular the increase in the number of places at Training Colleges and Universities consequent upon the post-war growth of emergency establishments and university extensions. The country was concurrently undergoing a minor economic crisis but the prospects in education appeared brighter.
    In this period of post-war reconstruction mention has already been made of the formation of the Old Pharosians’ and Parents’ Associations; in addition, a proposal to form a Masonic Lodge for Old Pharosians was mooted as early as 1948 and reference to its consecration in 1950 is included in the next chapter.
    Within the body of the School itself a number of societies appeared such as the Chess Club, Philatelic Society, Junior Dramatic Society and Gardening Club. The School Orchestra and Dramatic Society generated activity and gave much pleasure, both co-operating in successive years to present ‘Aladdin’, ‘Twelfth Night’ and ‘St. Joan’. These were in turn produced by Mr. Hyde, Mr. Mittins and Mr. Murphy, ably assisted by Mr. Willis.
    School football, rugby and cricket soon flourished, and provided anew, not only inter-school and inter-house rivalry, but also the engaging spectacle of the annual Old Boys and Staff matches against the School. Statistically, during these three years, football achieved the best results in terms of victories, but school cricket bathed in the reflected glory of such honours as Eddie Crush’s opening maiden over in his first appearance for Kent, in August, 1946. School rugby was slowly improving in standard but was still less popular than the other two major games. Sports Day with its full pre-war programme reappeared in 1947.
    A feminine figure familiar to thousands of Old Boys gave up her post in 1946. Miss Rookwood, Originally appointed to the School in 1917 on a temporary basis (“for the period of the war!”), became indispensable and remained to survive the rigours of teaching in a boys’ school for the next thirty years. She is well remembered as Form Mistress of the old Preparatory Form, for her whole-hearted efforts on behalf of School Dramatics, for her lively contributions to Pharos, for her part in the introduction of the School pre-war Tuck Shop, and above all for her skills as a teacher of English and Divinity. Of a forceful personality, Miss Rookwood’s influence on her pupils was considerable; she was entirely dedicated to her profession, devoted to her pupils and extremely proud of her School.
As she herself wrote at the time of her retirement: “The School has been the biggest factor in my life. I have tried to serve it to the best of my ability, and in service I have found great happiness.” Few would question the sincerity of her words.
    These years witnessed the retirement of several long-serving teachers, the return of a few from war service and the arrival of a number of men of a younger generation, most of whom had themselves seen military action. Messrs. Constable and Willis had retired from full-time teaching by 1949, and Mr. Baxter and the late Rev. Uncles were to follow suit in the next year. To label them “Masters of the old School” would be ridiculous; in their day they were just as progressive, adaptable, energetic and tolerant as their counterparts today. Limitation of space does not permit justice to be done to the labours of these men; but it must be recorded that most of them taught in the School for over thirty years as well as giving freely of their time to various out-of-school activities. Mr. Constable will be remembered not only for his teaching of chemistry but also for his help with the School Corps and swimming. Such was the spirit of the man that he turned our for the Staff Football XI when he was over the age of sixty! Mr. Willis was a teacher of lively personality and wit; he was noted for the skill, patience and great good humour by which he was enabled to cultivate such a high standard of music in the School. Much could be written about the achievements of Mr. Baxter, too—a remarkable man of amazing energy. Naught but a few of his services can be listed here: Senior French Master for so many years, editor of Pharos and games coach. His service covered all stages in the development of the School: Ladywell, Frith Road and Astor Avenue, including the introduction of Sixth Form Studies.
    These then were the men who handed on the torch to such as Mr. King, Mr. Ruffell (both of whom had joined the School prior to the War), Mr. Marriott, Mr. Murphy, Mr. E. G. Smith and Mr. Jacques. Above all there remained a hard core of “Inrermediaries”—those who had joined the School during the late twenties and eary thirties. In this category could be included Messrs. Coulson, Kendall, Rowlands, and Coveney. As links in the chain of continuity their role was of inestimable value.
    Surveyor and architect in those formative years was, of course, Mr. Booth. He gave a sincere and generous salute to those passing out of commission and a kindly and considerate welcome to the new.

CHAPTER II

The Early Fifties; Consolidation
On 10th March, 1950, the School remembered the past. A mlagnificent bronze plaque was unveiled to the memory of the first headmaster, Mr. Fred Whitehouse. The regard in which he had been held can be measured by the fact that many came long distances to be present, and telegrams were received from as far afield as Australia. The plaque was unveiled by Miss Elnor, daughter of Canon Elnor, the first chairman of the School Governors.
    An event of considerable interest—at least to Old Pharosians—was the consecration, in April, of the new Pharos Masonic Lodge, and the installation of its first Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Llewellyn Langley, another legendary figure in the School’s history. In the years ahead many of the School’s most constant and generous friends were to become members and hold office in this Lodge; it is no mere coincidence that the same men have virtually kept alive the Old Pharosians’ Association. The School owes a considerable debt to such men as the late Frank Prescott, A. H. Gunn, A. S. Lewis, H. A. Stanway, E. Crush, the Slater brothers and R. W. Winter, for their exertions on behalf of many School causes and their example to others; their pride in Dover Grammar School has been clearly patent to all who have known them over the years.
    To return to the chronological development. In 1950, fifty boys obtained passes at School Certificate level and 18 at Higher level. These figures implied that the disruptive effects of war were fast disappearing and that, academically, a period of consolidation and expansion was beginning. The pattern was very similar in 1952 and 1953. Although the total number of boys in the School by 1953 had only risen to 470, the Sixth Form was growing; indeed, it was above the national average.
    Three points were recurrent in the Headmaster’s addresses in these years: first, the necessity for greater determination on the part of those boys who might find the course difficult; second, the need to retain a hard core of studies demanding mental discipline and persistent effort—despite the intentions of University Examining Boards to broaden the curriculum; and third, the desirability of all increase in the number of boys participating in out-of-school activities (particularly boys living outside Dover).
    In 1952-53 the rising standard of academic attainment was clearly indicated in the award of two Open Scholarships at Oxford and Cambridge respectively, and two more were to follow within a year. Another event, which many will recall, took place in 1952: the 21st anniversary of the School’s removal to Astor Avenue. A Commemoration Service was held in December at Sr. Mary’s Parish Church, conducted by the late Rev. Stanley Cooper, Chairman of the Governors, while the address was delivered by the Lord Bishop of Dover. Meanwhile two related events of a more lively nature had taken place at the School earlier in the year: an American Supper and a Commemoration Ball.
    In the summers of 1952 and 1953 respectively, two masters who might be described as the last of the patricians, ended their long teaching careers at the School. These were Mr. Pearce (Deputy Head) and Mr. Slater, both of whom had first joined the School as far back as 1915. Mr. Pearce had graduated from teaching science and mathematics at Ladywell to the position of Second Master, succeeding the late Mr. Tomlinson in 1938. His services to the school were manifold. He founded the Cadet Corps; he introduced rugby, and he had a splendid record for producing scholars. Possessed of an ingenious mind, he invented Original apparatus for original experiments; in his spare time he was the author of many textbooks. By any standards, Mr. Pearce will remain on the records as one of the School’s most outstanding teachers.
    Mr. Slater was beloved of two generations. He exercised a tremendous influence both within and without the classroom; his personality projected itself on boys and staff alike; in almost every sphere of school life he was in the vanguard. His retirement coincided with the Coronation Year of Elizabeth II; it was “the end of an auld song”. Sadly, he did not long survive his thirty eight years of unselfish service; but his like must never be forgotten. He believed that education was of the heart as well as of the head.
    By 1953 a number of new societies and clubs had appeared: the Phoenix Club (which replaced the Debating Society)—subjects for debate included The Continental Sunday, China, Defence, the Novels of Nigel Balchin and H. E. Bates; the Film Club (whose founder Mr. M. V. Salter is now a School Inspector); the Puppet Club where Mr. Rowlands was the presiding genius; and the Gym Club (founded by Mr. Bailey, successor to Mr. Butcher). Also, the Unicorn Club had appeared in 1952 under the supervision of Mr. Denham and Mr. Payne; it concerned itself with matters of general interest in the Lower School and was very popular.
    The Dramatic Society, capably directed by Mr. Murphy, continued to thrive, producing in turn ‘Julius Caesar’ (1950), ‘The Government Inspector’ (1951), ‘The Rivals’ (1952) and ‘Noah’ (1953). The performances of leading players such as Halsey, Maynard and Barrett will be pleasurably recalled. On two occasions, even the Staff took the stage, and producer Mr. Ruffell, scored a notable triumph in persuading the Headmaster to take the spotlight for the nonce. The School Orchestra and Choir played its part as well, not only in conjunction with Dramatics, but also at public functions such as Open Evenings.
    By the close of this period a considerable growth in the membership of the School’s Savings Group was apparent, as evidenced by the following statistics:

    In the sphere of games, sports and physical training, the School was fortunate enough to produce some exceptional young men in the early ‘fifties’. In D. G. Simmonds the School possessed probably the finest all-round sportsman in its entire history; he simply excelled at everything on the playing fields. Later in life he all but gained an England rugby cap. Other champions of this era included Jackson—a great miler, P. S. Hearn (javelin), now one of Britain’s greatest parachutists, and Carran, of massive proportions (discus and weight putting). These were halcyon days for sport. Small wonder that so many records were broken at the Annual Sports, including nine in one year, 1950, and that the School won the Triangular Sports twice in successive years.
    The 1st and 2nd XI’s (football) lost very few matches; in fact they remained undefeated in 1953. By now under 15 and Junior XI’s were also representing the School. Rugby improved in standard; but cricket records indicated a minor slump in fortune. Our continued increase in the standard of School gymnastics was clearly discernible at the Annual Inter-House P.E. competitions, first introduced by Mr. Butcher in 1949. By December, 1953, the C.C.F. had increased its membership to 138, including twenty naval cadets; and the Corps received the first of many such distinctions when Sgt. Reader was awarded an R.A.F. Flying Scholarship.
    The Old Pharosians steadily maintained their activities during these years, the December School Dance being the annual highlight. Mr. Archie Lewis relinquished the Secretaryship after three years of hard spadework, to be replaced for a spell by Mr. Terry Sutton; membership of the Association was increasing, but the sterling efforts of its pioneers merited considerably greater support.
    The School remained very much in debt to the efforts of the Parents’ Association, which was gradually developing the scope of its interests. Messrs. A. Gunn and the late A. R. Taylor left office in October 1953, and were succeeded by Mr. Rhodes and Mr. Belsham, as Chairman and Secretary respectively.
    What of the School’s own publication? On Mr. Baxter’s retirement the Editorship of Pharos passed to Mr. Mittins, who subsequently left the School in December, 1952. The editor for the year 1953 was J. R. Taylor. The first pupil to achieve this distinction, he certainly upheld the accepted standards and later proceeded, via Cambridge, to become a leading journalist with The Times.
    There were several staff changes, especially in 1952 and 1953. In the former years, besides those already mentioned, Messrs. Willis and Constable finally severed their part-time connections, while Mr. Butcher was replaced by Mr. Bailey as master in charge of Physical Education (the latter, in turn, being succeeded eighteen months later by Mr. Elliott). The versatile Mr. P. Downs—better known as a clock repairer than as a clock watcher, and who loved “messing about in boats”—retired for a season to nurse his wounds. At the same time the jovial Mr. Walker, the present Deputy Head, arrived as Senior Physics Master; he proved not unworthy of his distinguished predecessor. Mr. Dale took over as Music Master, and the much-travelled Mr. J. G. Dixon came to teach Science and Mathematics. In 1953, Mr. Horne, present Editor of Pharos, joined the School, as did Mr. Woollett.

CHAPTER III

The Middle Fifties; The Forces of Continuity 1954-56
    This chapter, also begins on a note of dedication, to the past. The School seemed reluctant to forger its forebears; and rightly so. Thus, on 27th June, 1954, a Sports Pavilion, situated on the playing fields and a memorial to 77 Old Boys who died ill the Second World War, was dedicated by the Chairman of Governors and officially opened by Major Eddie Crush, M.C. This building cost about £1,500 and contributions towards its cost were received from all quarters both inside and outside the School, including a grant from the Kent Education Committee.
    A highly competent article on “The Ecumenical Movement”, to be found in Pharos for this year, serves as a reminder of the link that was in process of being forged with the local secondary modern schools. The contributor, J. G. W. Hogben, was one of the first of many boys to transfer to D.G.S. He came from Astor School and his subsequent career has done credit not only to himself, but to the system of which he was a pioneer.
    The school year 1954-55 proceeded on the even tenor of its way, untill the tragic death of Graham Piggott, an outstanding athlete and promising scholar, came, like snow on a blossoming tree, to mar its passing.
    The School celebrated its Golden Jubilee in 1955, and congratulations poured in from far and near. The appropriate celebrations and remembrances were duly held, including a Thanksgiving Service, an American Supper and a School outing to London. To quote from Pharos, the mood was one for “reminiscence and self-congratulation”. Nevertheless, such occasions probably have the effect of imprinting—even on the most indifferent of boys—some little sense of the past.
    The wide divergence between the high level of attainment reached by some boys and those at the other end, was again stressed by the Headmaster in his Speech Day Address (1955). He was clearly motivated by the fact that, while 21 boys had gained A.L. passes in at least 2 subjects with 6 candidates obtaining State Scholarships (a School record), 85 candidates had taken O.L. with less happy results in many cases. Yet this was not Mr. Booth’s main theme. He continued: “By what standards does the School in 1955 set store? It is not a matter of running the hundred yards in so many seconds or of obtaining so many marks in a certain examination. It is an attempt to assess an attitude of mind, to measure conduct in the finest sense, to enquire into the atmosphere which pervades the School and to find out the extent to which such standards influence boys in their relationships”. These sentiments ought to be relevant to any age!
    On a bitterly cold morning on the last day of January, 1956, the School was subjected to the initial stages of its first post-war General Inspection by H.M. Inspectors. Their ensuing report was published in the following April. Since their findings are of a confidential nature, it is not permissible to disclose details of the subject matter contained in the report; nevertheless, the general concensus of opinion of all concerned seemed to reflect not only relief but sober satisfaction. Most certainly, the School Governors seemed pleased.
    Perhaps this is a convenient point at which to make a very tentative comment on the influence on the young mind of the characteristic developments of English society in the early and middle ‘fifties’, Television had not yet made its fullest impact, but modes of dress and postures had undergone a post-war metamorphosis. It was the time of the so-called ‘Teddy Boy’. However, apart from the appearance of pointed shoes, boys of this School appeared singularly unimpressed and continued to content rhemselves with the wearing of regulation school garb without the semblance of a protest.
    In any case, the ‘Teddy Boy’ cult, as such, was relatively short-lived, and never became so generally accepted as its sartorial successors in the 'sixties'.
    In respect of the corporate life of the School this was also a period of continuity rather than of innovation, and for the most part existing organizations held sway. But there were at least two noteworthy innovations. Le Cercle Français was founded in the autumn of 1955, about the same time as the School established a connection with the College Moderne de Garçons at Douai. This resulted not only in many boys exercising their talents more frequently in written French but also in the arranging of a number of successful exchange visits. Mr. Marriott, for one, was certainly kept busy during the early days of this enterprise!
    Thanks almost entirely to the initiative and enthusiasm of Mr. Large, himself one of the most skilful yachtsmen in the area, a Sailing Club appeared in the mid-fifties. The great gusto of the founder was infectious, and the Club, despite the lack of adequate funds, quickly developed in popularity with the boys and in its competitive reputation. The use of a Heron class dinghy or two, provided by the Naval Section of the C.C.F., gave members the opportunity to acquire the basic skills, while they also busied themselves with building their own craft. Soon they were competing successfully with older established clubs from other schools and in the process produced some highly competent yachtsmen; in this respect D. Bevan, A. Lock, W. Hutchison and M. Hudsmith are names to be remembered. In addition to Mr. Large, Mr. Horne gave generously of his time in this cause. The club has been fortunate enough to enjoy the facilities of the Royal Cinque Ports Yacht Club, and it received its first trophy for annual competition from Mr. R. G. Lock. The Sailing Club has continued to exist in a very healthy state.
    It is clear that the C.C.F. made considerable progress in these years, particularly in regard to the Naval Section. By 1956 it was almost as strong as the R.A.F. Section; and since it possessed two Heron dinghies in addition to a cutter, it is not surprising that much time was devoted to marine activities. In general, under the continuously determined leadership of Squadron Leader Archer, the Cadet Force was now assuming mature proportions; besides twice-weekly training, cadets were given the opportunity of annual training at military camps, R.A.F. bases, naval training establishments, and at sea or in the air. And there was always the impending and inevitable Annual inspection to discourage a surfeit of indolence.
    On the playing fields standards were generally maintained: the 1st XI (Football) only lost to the Old Boys in 1954, and this was another good year for Athletic records, while Cricket, too, fared well. Inspired by two fine players, J. Ellis and R. West, the 1st XI had a most successful season in 1954. By 1956, these two stalwarts had departed, but players such as J. Booth and K. Marsh showed skill and courage in adversity. The latter, a natural ball player, was probably as good a wicket keeper and as hard hitting a batsman as the School has ever boasted. Rugby had its ‘ups and downs’, the visit to Ebbw Vale in 1956 falling within the latter category. Visitors to Sports Day in the same year were privileged to see Lees—another fine athlete—equalling the long jump record.
    The School Choir and Orchestra performed many services for the School over this period, entertaining its audiences as well as ever. The Dramatic Society produced ‘To Live in Peace’ in 1956, a production noteworthy for the fine acting of K. A. Finnis.
    The Old Pharosians continued to meet at Annual General Meetings and Annual Reunions; yet membership increased but slowly. The Parents’ Association remained very much alive to the needs of the School and maintained a steady service in a multiplicity of ways.
    There were relatively few Staff changes between 1954 and 1956. Messrs. Dale and J. G. Dixon departed in the summer of 1955, to be succeeded by Mr. Best and Mr. Knapp. Mr. Walton left in the following December for service in Africa, his place being filled by Mr. Pitceathly, newly arrived from the same vast continent. A fair exchange!

CHAPTER IV

The Late Fifties (1957-59); External Pressures
    The School was fast growing in numbers: by 1959, 620 pupils were enrolled, including almost 100 in the Sixth Form. The Headmaster and staff had now to do battle with “The Bulge”, as educationalists termed the problem of coping with the gradual rise in numbers qualifying for secondary school places as a result of the rapid rise in birth rate in the first postwar decade. As a result the School became a four-stream entry grammar school in 1957 (although it temporarily (one year only) reverted to a three-stream school in 1958). Beginning with the new entry it was decided to rename the several streams. Under the previous three-stream system Forms I to V had been designated Upper, Middle and Lower; in addition, there was V Remove. The first forms were to be known as A, B, X and Y, and the change would gradually involve all Forms up to the Fifth. The Sixth Form, however, retained its traditional nomenclature: Arts, Science and Economics. Also beginning in 1956, a Technical Stream was instituted.
    The weathercock of educational opinion was now to fluctuate in the gales of change; and soon, winds of storm force were to gather on the horizon, preparatory to an onslaught on the entire foundations of the Grammar School. The idea of the Comprehensive School had come into vogue since the war; and already there were a goodly number of schools scattered throughout the land which were, or could claim to be, comprehensive (all-purpose) in nature. The controversy, which this development instigated, was to bedevil relationships, nor only within the field of education but also within the political arena for the next decade.
    Fortunately, as far as Mr. Booth was concerned, these problems did not come to a head as yet, and his last years as Headmaster were not conspicuous for any great upheaval, apart from the increasing problem of accommodation; nonetheless, the increasing effect of outside social changes, especially in so far as the influenced ‘teenagers’ habits, was beginning to percolate into school life, albeit almost imperceptibly; and Mr. Booth’s anxiety was scarcely concealed. His feelings were clearly shared by the Chairman of the Governors, Canon Cooper, as witness his remarks at Speech Day in 1957, in the course of which he warned pupils against wasting their time in coffee bars; in like manner he admonished those parents who were in the habit of watching television all evening, to the detriment of their children’s homework. Some years later, in 1962, the Pilkington Report had some interesting comments to make on the social effects of television.
    This was destined to be Canon Cooper’s last Speech Day; he died suddenly in the following year. Canon Cooper deserved well of the School; he had been Chairman of the Governors since 1946 and had given unsparingly of his time and energy. He was the School’s stoutest defender on all needful occasions, uncompromising in his attitude towards all who dared to denigrate it. He was succeeded as Chairman by Mr. David Bradley, whose agreeable disposition and quiet, yet obvious concern for the School’s best interests, fitted him admirably for the position which he still fills. He has already given the School yeoman service and remains as sprightly as ever.
    In November, 1959, Mr. Booth gave his final Speech Day Address and it was typical of the man that he showed not the least sign of emotion. He looked to the futuire rather than the past; and his insistence that the School must endeavour to correlate science studies with the demands of modern technology was a fair sample of his subject matter. And so he quitted the stage.
    In the realms of School activities, some observations on the increase in the scope of the work of the Physical Education Department are overdue in this narrative. One of the features of post-war education has been the broadening of the whole conception of physical education; its activities now spread over a wide field. Under the conscientious and highly efficient direction of Mr. Elliott, the pupils of D.G.S. have been given every opportunity to discover their individual talents; and the result is that they now have a great variety of pursuits from which to choose.
    Under the aegis of Mr. Elliott, significant developments came in the late fifties, and in addition to an increase in the scope and standard of House competitions, much progress was made in the skills of Basketball, and a School Team was eventually formed.
    It must not be forgotten that tennis and cross-country running were alternate forms of sport in all these years. They were nor so widely supported as the more accepted pastimes such as football, rugby and cricket, but always interested a minority and produced some useful performers. Mr. Kendall was the tennis enthusiast on the staff and Mr. Horne supervised cross-country running.
    Football, rugby and cricket remained predominant, however, and the records show that football retained its supremacy in terms of successful results. The C.C.F. continued to cater for the interests of many boys; it probably reached the apogee of its success by 1959, producing some first class cadets. Bolton (Sandhurst), Jarvis (Cranwell) and subsequently Hutchison (Dartmouth) were typical of the fine standards reached during this period.
    Between 1956 and 1959, the School Choir and Orchestra, under the control of Mr. Best, were kept very active with heavy demands being made on their resources. They were called upon to perform on innumerable occasions, particularly on Speech Day and Open Evenings; they also gave a good account of themselves at the annual Carol Concerts.
    Most activities fared well in this period and contributions to Pharos showed an increasing rise in literary standards. For some years now Pharos had been produced under the joint editorship of two Sixth Formers, and names like Mummery, Clipsham, Binfield, Mason, Knowles and Hendy are readily recalled to mind.
    In his final address Mr. Booth had paid a warm tribute to the work of the Parents’ Association for all its efforts in the previous ten years. This was no more than this hard working body deserved. Meanwhile the Old Pharosians continued to hold their annual functions; the incoming President for  1959-60 was Sir Clifford Jarrert, an Old Boy’ of considerable distinction. Nevertheless, the Secretary, Mr. H. R. Slater disclosed that only about 5% of Old Boys were members of the Association.
    As well as the great break caused by “dropping the pilot” in 1959, there were several other staff changes in these years. Messrs. Cowell, G. Dixon and Knapp left in the summer of 1957 and Messrs. Bird, Evans and Lloyd-Jones arrived to fill their places. A year later Mr. Hopkins joined the staff. He was followed, in 1959, by Messrs. M. Smith, Peacock and Peach. Mr. Cowell had taught science and mathematics at the School since 1947. Of an exceedingly sociable disposition, he was very popular with the boys, particularly those in the C.C.F.

Valete

THE HEADMASTER

    During the twenty three years of his leadership, Mr. Booth had constantly aimed at the inculcation of ethical principles based upon steadfast convictions. It was always his object to implant in his pupils a sense of self-discipline, restraint and concern for others; at the same time he strove to fashion a community with a real sense of purpose. Most of those who knew the School in his day would agree that he hardly failed.
    He had fixed views in priorities, and academic success was dear to his heart; but he was always conscious of the broader aims of education; and he continually stressed the need for a just balance between the essential work of the classroom and valuable outside activities.
    As a headmaster his greatest strength lay in his ability to distinguish between what was desirable and what was practicable; he knew his pupils, their potential and their limitations; he showed caution streaked with an idealistic desire to extract the best out of boys, good, bad or indifferent. Firmness tempered by’ understanding was the keynote of his attitude, and none of his pupils could ever forger his kind but searching glance.
    His experience and tact were evident in his relations with the Staff; he understood their difficulties and never asked too much of them; and his rare criticisms were couched in the most apologetic of tones. All his masters held him in the greatest respect and affection.
    It would be no exaggeration to state that, apart from his family and his wholehearted service to his Church, the School was his very life. What more needs to be written?

Mrs. Booth

    Throughout the twenty three years of her husband’s Headship, Mrs. Booth had always shown a lively and active interest in School affairs. Her cheerful, free and pleasing personality always contributed to the success of the many School functions she attended and often helped to organize. With her own two sons attending the School for a decade between them, Mrs. Booth was naturally’ very interested in the affairs of the Parents’ Association, to which organization she contributed much. The School would not wish to forget her services and many kindnesses to boys and staff.

CHAPTER V

The Sixties; The Forces of Change, 1960-1966
    Dr. M. G. Hinton, who began his duties in January, 1960, completed the trinity’ of headmaster-historians from Oxford. To write that his arrival heralded the birth of a new era is to be guilty of a trite understatement. As Metternich said of Canning: “The man is a revolution of himself!” In the next five years the School was to become almost unrecognizable—from an educational rather than an architectural point of view!
    Educated at Bristol Grammar School, he gained an Open Postmastership to Merton College, Oxford, whence he emerged with a First Class Honours degree in History. After a year at the Institute of Education, he joined the staff of Reading School for a brief spell, during which time he began to work for his Doctorate, which he ultimately obtained in 1959. In 1953, he proceeded to Lancaster Grammar School as Senior History Master, where he remained until his appointment as Headmaster at Dover Grammar School.
    After a few months of reconnaissance, during which time staff and boy’s were lulled into a false sense of security, Dr. Hinton began to unleash his ideas with all the zest, vigour and determination of the reforming idealist.
    The modern historian, A. J. P. Taylor, once wrote: “He who seeks a quiet mind should not study history”, and the writer has been only too conscious of the truth of this dictum while engaged in the task of unravelling, simplifying and reducing to some semblance of ordered development the welter of detailed material which, in its digested form, serves as the basis of this present long chapter. It is to be hoped that the account which follows not only does justice to the magnitude and extent of the new Headmaster’s work, but makes plain to the reader the remarkable powers of intellect, organizing ability and drive possessed by Dr. Hinton.
    What has been the extent of Dr. Hinton’s revolutionary changes? In retrospect, it would seen that, reduced to fundamentals, their importance has been of a sevenfold nature; a reorganization of the curriculum at all levels; the introduction of Activities and Subsidiary Courses; a reorganization of the form system, including the Sixth Form; a revision of the House system, with a division of the School into three distinct sections; the formation of a School Council; the granting of greater freedom of action to members of the Upper School, particularly to Sixth Formers; and lastly a sincere and bold attempt at education in personal relationships. The foregoing summary constitutes the bulk of the major refoms; there have also been many of a less radical nature, yet, in sum, all contributing to the forces of change.

1960
    As the impact of change was not felt for a year or so, and indeed took several years to implement, it might be better to begin with an account of the corporate life of the School in 1960.
    Socially, it was an interesting year. It was an outstanding year for Athletics. A number of boy’s competed in the Kent A.A.A., the Kent Youth and the Kent Schools’ Championships, and two in particular distinguished themselves; W. Bloomfield, who won the Junior Pole Vault in the Kent A.A.A. Championships, and J. Whetton, winner of the High Jump in the Kent Schools Championships. Subsequently, Whetton was selected for Kent in the All-England Schools’ A.A. Championship. Meanwhile, on Sports Day, both Bloomfield and Whetton broke existing records in their chosen events. The fine sprinting of M. Hudsmith and of the more junior C. Borley, were other features of the Sports held on a glorious June day.
    Basketball continued to gain in popularity, but such sports as Swimming and Cross-country Running reported but moderate success, as did the three major games, Football, Cricket and Rugby.
    This seems a convenient point at which to pay a belated tribute to the labours of Mr. Ruffell not only on the games and sports fields, but also in respect of related administrative and clerical involvement. Thousands of boys have had good cause to be grateful to him. The amount of his own time devoted to refereeing and umpiring over many years ought surely to entitle him to an early retirement on full pension! And he still soldiers on.
    All three sections of the C.C.F. were kept busy especially’ in the summer months; and the display of aerobatics performed by F/S. Jarvis, on the occasion of an Inspection by the Mayor of Dover, was a unique event. For the Sailing Club the season was one of mixed weather and reasonable results. “The dinghies are getting a bit frail, but they still win!” Thus Mr. Large, in Pharos.
    It was to be a memorable year for music and drama. One of the highlights of the year for the Choir and Orchestra was assuredly the performance, at the end of the Spring Ter, of much of Part II of ‘The Messiah’, and the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’. On this occasion the Choir was augmented by a number of the Staff and Old Boys. As for drama, the year culminated in the production and performance of the Gilbert and Sullivan Opera ‘Trial by Jury’. This was the first attempt in the School’s history’ at a production based on the works of the “House of Savoy”, and, of those who saw it, he would be a churlish fellow indeed who would deny that it was an outstanding success. As Mr. John Ayling wrote in Pharos: “This was a successful production because the enjoyment of the cast bubbled over into the audience it is a tribute to the skill of the producer that the arduous grind of rehearsals was nor allowed to dull the colour of his characters.” The producer was none other than the Headmaster, and this production proved to be the first of a long sequence of successes under his direction. The entire production involved at least 100 boys either in front, or behind, the scenes, and A. Bushell, as the “Defendant,” ushered in an era of starring roles.
    The S.C.M. had another busy and successful year, including in its calendar a visit to the Sixth Form Conference at Harvey Grammar School. This society had held its position in the life of the School throughout the ‘fifties’ and much of the credit for its continued welfare belonged to Mr. Payne for his faithful perseverance. Other established societies continued with their separate activities, but what was probably of greater import for the future was the mushroom-like growth of new clubs and societies. These included: the Middle School Literary and Debating Society; the Cine Club; the History Society; the Geographical Society and the General Knowledge Club.
    Mr. H. R. Slater, Secretary of the Old Pharosians, writlng in Pharos gave an encouraging report of the year’s proceedings; in particular he claimed that the Annual Reunion held on the previous New Year’s Eve had been very successful. On this occasion the Association had presented the retiring Headmaster, Mr. Booth, with a television set.
    The Parents Association remained very active, and the account of its proceedings for the year 1959-60 is illustrative of the splendid service it has given to the School. At this time it was concerned with the following matters: raising funds for the purpose of engraving the School Trophies; selling outgrown clothing and sports gear at Open Evening; holding a jumble sale to assist in the purchase of a Cine camera for the School; contributing towards the cost of producing a film of School Events, and providing Public Address equipment for Sports Day and the Triangular Sports. Lest that were not enotuh, the Secretary, Mrs. G. M. Hudsmith, appealed for more parents to join “and help us to do more for the School”!
    It now remains to deal briefly with the more academic aspects of 1960, and to return to the central theme: change. But first a few statistics. In 1960 there were 640 pupils in the School, almost 200 more than in 1946. 40 boys obtained passes in subjects at ‘A’ Level and 119 passed in subjects at ‘0’ Level. Three Sixth Formers obtained State Scholarships. Incidentally, the award of such scholarships ceased after 1962.
    The Headmaster introduced his initial changes in the Autumn Term, 1960. These innovations were chiefly concerned with the Sixth Form and the gist was as follows: a Science Course for boys in Lower VI (Modern); a Use of English as well as Foreign Language Courses for most boy’s in Lower VI; a Headmaster’s Period for the whole Sixth Form, usually’ devoted to lectures from visiting speakers and two Activities Periods for the whole Sixth. In addition the system of subject options for the Fifth Year was revised, and an experiment was begun with a Modern Studies Course in the Fourth Year.
    To sum up: the Sixth Form Subsidiary Course was in the embryo stage; Sixth Form Activities had been established and a beginning made with Modern Studies. The situation was alive with possibilities for the future.

1961
    The multifarious activities of all the many and varied clubs and societies which the School now boasted continued to occupy the boys in out-of-school hours, but details must be confined mainly to new ventures. Of these, two are especially’ worthy’ of mention: the Historical Unit and the Guild of Printers.
    Initiated by the Headmaster, a Historical Unit had been formed by the beginning of 1961, for the purpose of compiling a card index of about 5,000 Old Boy’s with the dual purpose of maintaining an accurate record of their careers and encouraging a renewed interest in the affairs of the Old Pharosians. Later the Unit was to provide a News Letter service for the School’s Old Boys. A number of boys volunteered to assist in this mammoth undertaking and they were kept fully occupied throughout 1961. It fell to Mr. Horne to organize the Unit. He possessed the required qualifications in full.
    Tile Guild of Printers, formed by Mr. Carter soon after he joined the School, quickly established itself in popularity with senior boys; in addition to the individual interest and activity that it provided for its members, the operation of its printing press has been of considerable benefit to the School in general. It has furnished the School with many printed requirements, including Christmas cards, programmes for various functions, the official School letter headings and much else.
    This year’s Open Day marked a break with tradition; it was held on all afternoon, thus allowing a wider range of activities than previously. The programme included Old Boy’s and Parents’ cricket matches, and various outdoor displays by the C.C.F.; indoor display’s and musical entertainment proceeded as was customary.
    R. G. Thorpe was now Senior Cadet in the C.C.F.—a fitting reward for his fine services to the Corps. This remarkable young man had always played a very full part in the life of the School, and the fact that he gained an Open Scholarship in Natural Science at Balliol College, Oxford—a rich prize indeed—seems almost incidental. The School records clearly indicate that scholarship and service have been complimentary to each other.
    The year was not a particularly outstanding one for the "muddied oafs and flannelled fools” of the playing fields. However, one happy wartime association was again renewed with the visit of Ebbw Vale Grammar School 1st XV. It was an occasion of much entertainment and mutual goodwill, and included a Civic Reception to the guests by the Mayor and Corporation.
    To return within School. By the end of the year Mr. Murphy, the School Librarian, and his staff of assistants had completed the change-over to the Bliss Classification of books; this had involved long and tedious work on the part of all concerned. Mr. Murphy still remains in charge of the Library, a position he has filled with conscientious efficiency since 1952.
    An article in Pharos for 1960-1 underlined both the considerable cultural value of the Leney Travelling Scholarships and the generosity and public-spiritedness of the donor, Mr. Hugh Leney. It described the journeys and the experiences of seven boys who were fortunate enough to be awarded grants to visit places of their own choice. Some went to Fair Isle, Scotland, for ornithological observation, another to Holland to study land reclamation schemes, while yet others travelled as far afield as Italy (Opera and the visual arts) and Greece (Artens). Since them many boys have taken advantage of this financial endowment to pursue their own varied interests.
    The Headmaster intensified the process of reorganisation in the Autumn Term. The boys returned from holiday to find themselves confronted with an eight period day, or thirty nine period week. For many, at first, including both staff and pupils, it might have been better termed “the thirty nine (weary) steps to Friday afternoon”! This term also saw the development of Dr. Hinton’s schemes for other internal reforms. Better gifted boys were given the opportunity of taking ‘0’ level in certain basic subjects at the end of the Fourth Year; at the end of the Third Year boys in 3X and 3Y might choose to enter either 4 General (where the emphasis was to be on studying subjects of a generally academic nature) or 4 Technical (where more technical studies were to be followed for the most part). A further revision of Fifth Form courses was applied, with the more able boys being permitted to by-pass ‘0’ Level in certain subjects (history, geography, physics and chemistry), and
to concentrate on preparatory work for the Sixth Form; moreover, a selected few very able boys from the Fourth Year were to hurdle Form V altogether. The Remove Form was renamed 6 General and its members given certain Sixth Form privileges. This disposes of changes below the Sixth. In the latter Form (both Science and Modern) the principal subject alternatives were regrouped and amended Subsidiary Course schemes were introduced. The Activities Scheme, now extended to the Fifth Form, was amplified by the introduction of additional choices of pursuit.
    For rile benefit of the uninitiated, a list of some of the options open to Sixth Formers follows. Subsidiary Courses Statistics Logic Economics English Literature and Foreign Languages and Literature. (Since 1961 a number of additional subjects have been added, including: Political Theory; History of Science; Speech and Drama; Ancient Civilization; Art; Metalwork and Use of English. Divinity has always comprised a compulsory part of the course). Activities: Games (various) ; Gymnastics; Art and Musical Appreciation; Speech and Drama; Film Appreciation and Current Affairs. A number of boys were subsequently given the opportunity of raking control of Lower and Middle School activity groups.
    Subsequently, in his Speech Day Address, the Headmaster defined the three fundamental of the principals of the amended curriculum. They were, he declared: to introduce as many fields of experience as possible; to give experience of aesthetic pleasure and creative activity; and to train healthy and useful citizens, and, so far as possible, to train Christians. “Education is what remains when a boy has forgotten everything he has ever learned, declared Dr. Hinton. He compared the Ordinary and Advanced Level examinations to two Beechers Brooks which it was his aim to replace by a sequence of low hurdles spaced for the needs and abilities of individual boys.
    In the same speech Dr. Hinton disclosed plans for the introduction of a system of self-government in certain aspects of the boys’ life at School. It was chiefly to concern itself with organizing the House Championship (games and sports only), while at the same time it was intended to give boys experience of democratic procedure. In his explanation, the Headmaster made plain the latent difficulties: “the School had to steer between the Scylla of an elaborate organization which possessed no powers and the Charybdis of a body possessing wide powers which it might use unwisely.” However, he remained confident of finding a middle way in a School Council with real powers and real freedom in the appropriate fields.
    A distinguished Old Boy of the School, Professor George Curry, travelled all the way from South Carolina to give the address on this occasion; he was accompanied by Mrs. Curry, who distributed the prizes. Professor Curry was the donor of what became known as the Anglo-American prize, first won by W. Knowles.
    By the end of 1961 there were 682 boy’s in the School, together with a staff of 36. In July, 1960, Mr. Rowlands had ended his full-time career but continued to teach part-time. His position as Head of the Art Department was taken by Mr. Carter. Charles Rowlands was held in great affection and regard by all those who came into contact with him; whether boys or staff; he was a dedicated teacher and devoted a considerable amount of his spare time to School interests. Of cultured mind and courteous and gentle disposition, his manner belied the fact that he had been a vigorous player of out-of-door games in his younger days, including county cricket. He loved to indulge in botanical expeditions. He still does!
    Mr. Hull and Mr. Lloyd-Jones departed in the summer of 1961. Mr. Hull had taught Geography in the School since 1947. He was a man of many parts: historian, archeologist, traveller, author and photographer. He left many friends behind him in Dover, as did the quiet, self-effacing Mr. Lloyd-Jones.
    The following masters joined the Staff in September, 1961: the Reverend E. H. Yates, G. Wallace, D. C. Page, D. H. Comber and C. P. Singer. Mr. M. G. Downs had arrived in the previous January.

1962
    By mid-1962 most of Dr. Hinton’s earlier measures had become a ‘fait accompli’ and gradually a new line of boys ‘who knew not Joseph’ took possession of the School. Meanwhile, the Headmaster, still unsatisfied with the flexibility of the revised curriculum was introducing more alternatives and further innovations, more especially in the Upper School. Sex education was being taught to Fifth Formers by July.
    The School Council was constituted in this year and an outline of its constitution seems appropriate. Its constituent parts are briefly:-
    A. (1) The Council consists of the Head Prefect and the Second Prefect; House Captains and Captains of all the main sporting and athletic activities; one member of each House additional to any of the above from the Upper and Middle Sixth, the Lower Sixth, and the Fifth; one member of each House from the Middle School.
        (2) Apart from the prefects, all members are popularly elected from the bodies which they represent; but masters-in-charge have the right of veto.
        (3) The Headmaster or his Deputy to attend all meetings.
    B. (1) The officials: a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer to hold office for one year; elected by whole Council.
        (2) Standing Committee: consisting of above officials and two others.
    C. Meetings: to be held terminally.
    D. Powers of the Council.
        (1) To organize the House Championship (games and sports only).
        (2) To decide disposal of School Charity Fund.
        (3) To receive a regular income which it may use to assist School societies or to improve any needful amenities.
        (4) Has the right to make suggestions to the Headmaster regarding matters of School routine and can have its opinion sought on certain other matters at the discretion of the
Headmaster or Staff.
    Dr. Hinton had promised a happy compromise; and since the School Council has now existed harmoniously for almost five years he has had every reason for satisfaction.
    Yet another prominent Old Boy, Sir Clifford Jarrert, Secretary’ of the Admiralty, was the guest speaker in November 1962. By this date the numbers in the School had risen to 702, including 158 in the Sixth Form. There were 90 ‘A’ Level passes and 476 at ‘0’ Level. The School was now within one year of possessing four streams throughout. In his own address, the Headmaster stressed the need for greatly increased accommodation, maintaining that, at the very minimum, the School required another gymnasium, a larger library and twelve other class and specialist rooms. It was a ‘cri de coeur’ that had already become familiar to Speech Day audiences; but it was a voice crying in the wilderness. Or perhaps the title of the Gilbert and Sullivan opera performed at Christmas suggested the operative word: “Patience”!
    On the 8th June, 1962, Squadron Leader Archer took his final parade as Commanding Officer of the C.C.F. He had given 21 years to cadet service and he had always been held in great respect and affection by cadets and fellow officers alike. At the time of his retirement one of those who knew hull well wrote: “At General Inspections we saw T.E.A. at his best. I have always relished the skill with which he adopted diversionary tactics to prevent the Enemy penetrating our weak points, and the aplomb with which he was ever ready to demonstrate wherein lay our strength! However, Mr Archer was still to carry on as Deputy Head for another campaign.
    On the games field, the 1st XI (Football) had an indifferent season but the more junior XIs played quite brilliantly, auguring well for the future. The Rugby XVs’ reports were, as usual, highly flippant, suggesting that they played the game in the true British fashion: for fun not for fame! Nor did Cricket XIs fare too well; but the Cross-Country Captain, J. Gardner, led his team to its most successful season for many years. Here, surely, are found the tough men of sport; one of the team’s matches was run in “a blizzard and knee-deep iced mud.
    Gymnastics continued to make progress in the School and the status reached by Basketball can be measured by the fact that an annual match against the Old Boys was now an established fixture. Swimming, too, appeared to be taking on a new lease of life.
    Several new clubs and societies were formed in this year, including the Music Listeners’ Society, Society for Experimental Physics, Junior Scientific Society, Fencing Club and Camera Club. All the established activities appeared to have had full programmes and were generally well supported. Christmas, 1962, witnessed the performances of Dr. Hinton’s third production, ‘Patience’, which was described by Mr. R. Winter in Pharos as “another polished performance and outstanding success amply rewarding months of hard training and rehearsing”.
    Mr. Ruffell’s account in Pharos of a School journey to Southern Germany—when visits were made to Oberammergau (of Passion Play fame) and to various sites and cities in Bavaria, including King Ludwig’s ‘Fairy Castles’—illustrates concisely the incalculable cultural value and aid to international understanding that such enterprises engender. Mr. Denham, who accompanied Mr. Ruffell and the party of boys on this occasion, is now a veteran of many such excursions.
    Finally, in the 1962 copy of the School magazine, will be found what must surely qualify as one of the most amusing articles ever written in Pharos. This article entitled “First Job” describes the experiences of P. Muskert as a bank clerk trainee until such time as his tenure of service was suddenly foreclosed, and he decided to return to the comparative security (and sanity!) of the Sixth Form. Its humour certainly vies with anything to be found in Punch. Muskett subsequently succeeded in becoming the first pupil of D.G.S. to enter the new Universiry of Sussex.

1963
    The winter of 1962-3 will be well remembered. It snowed very heavily; it was very cold; but the School never closed. Caretakers and groundsmen had an anxious time; yet they executed their thankless tasks well. However, Spring Term was virtually over before outside activities could be resumed; as a result, the mastet in charge of Rugby found difficulty in awarding Colours!
    The range of societies in the school was now extensive: no less than 21 recorded their activities in Pharos. As the Headmaster stated in his Speech Day Address, “One club meets to hear the first performance of “Overture to a Cuckoo”, composed by a Sixth former, and another to listen to gramophone records of railway engines; the History Society discusses ‘Mediterranean Trade in the Middle Ages’, the Phoenix Society discusses ‘Jungian Psychology’; one club experiments with a magneto-hydrodynamic generator and another with three-dimensional chess”.
    Likewise sports: boys were now engaged in at least twelve different categories. Footballers continued to uphold the School’s reputation, particularly the juniors, who also gave a fillip to School Athletics by winning both the Powell Trophy and the S.E. Kent A.A. Championships. Regretfully, the customary strenuous efforts of the C.C.F must be digested into the following extract from Pharos: “The Annual Inspection went very smoothly and all sections received favourable reports from the inspecting officers”.
    Of the annual functions, Open Day was considered a success and four records were broken on Sports Day. Frith carried off the coveted House Championship for the fourth consecutive year. Finally, the Headmaster’s Prize for Public Speaking was awarded to T. Lacey, later to become a television personality acting on behalf of the Liberal Party!
    “Charity suffered long and is kind”: so runs the Authorized Version. For some years now the pupils of D.G.S. had taken St. Paul at his word, and with each successive year School collections had continued to increase in amount. In 1963, no fewer than 23 good causes were assisted and the annual Lenten Appeal raised no less than £200 in aid of the Freedom from Hunger Campaign. Doubtless, too, the Rev. L. C. Sparham, Old Boy, and Headmaster of St. Joseph’s College, Tanganyika, appreciated the good works of those boys who collected about £30 with which to purchase reference books for the library of his struggling College.
    Possibly one of the most beneficial of all Dr. Hinton’s innovations—and one that was introduced as early as 1960—has been his practice of inviting a visiting speaker to give weekly talks to the Sixth Form. Experts of various levels of distinction from all walks of life—politics, economics, science, law, medicine, theology, sociology and many other branches of human advancement—have delivered informative and sometimes controversial lectures, followed by open discussion. The list of speakers has now become a long and illustrious one, and no school of similar standing could have offered its senior pupils better fare. In this respect, the quality of the speakers for 1963 was no exception.
    Two other matters of considerable interest must be noted. From the Summer Term onwards a number of boys of various age groups were actively engaged in the preliminary readings of ‘Hamlet’, later unanimously accepted as Dr. Hinton’s ‘chef d’oeuvre’ in dramatic production. Second, work on the building extensions began in November.
    In his annual address at the Town Hall, the Headmaster dealt at length on what has been unquestionably the outstanding phenomenon of grammar school development in the ‘sixties’: the growth of the Sixth Form. Dr. Hinton maintained that this tendency had led to the declining importance of the Ordinary Level of the General Certificate of Education, since he held that the real aim of the majority of selective school pupils might to be to undergo a seven year course in preparation for the Advanced Level examination. He argued that those less suited would be better advised to prepare for the new Certificate of Secondary Education. Dr. Hinton suggested that the next most important implication arising out of the rapid growth of the Sixth Form was the need to cater both for the individualistic and communa1 instincts of the older boys. He stressed the importance of continuing with the experiment of endowing the Sixth with distinctive privileges and duties, to go hand in hand with a relaxation of discipline. At the same time, he considered that they must be allowed to think for themselves; they must be given more freedom to plan their own work; and the study of specialized subjects must be the core for wider interests. In short, the liberal thaw must continue. The Headmaster believed that the growth of the Sixth Form was the most exciting aspect of the School’s development: “I look forward to the day when every boy who enters the School will become a Sixth Former.”
    In his analysis of the new outlook on selective school curricular, examinations and functions of the Sixth Form, Dr. Hinton was being exceedingly modest. Within the previous year a group of Headmasters subscribed to new proposals which became known as the Agreement for Broadening the Curriculum. Briefly, those supporting it were prepared to accept the principle that about one third of the Sixth Form curriclum ought to be devoted to general studies. As far as D.G.S. was concerned way to this agreement was already well on the full implimentation.
    The Newson Report, also published in 1963, although chiefly confining its attention to the specific problems of the less able pupils up to the age of 16, had certain observations to make concerning the principles and problems of adolescent education in general. Inter alia, the Report held that the inculcation of both spiritual and moral development is by statute obligatory on the part of authorities and teachers; it met a felt personal need. Again, the teacher’s main problem in the larger schools was to preserve the pupil’s personality. By word and deed, Dr. Hinton’s policy since his arrival at Dover had conformed with the fundamentals of this Report.
    Final thoughts at this stage must concern those beasts of burden: the staff; their exits and their entrances. In the previous year, Mr. Baxter, the apotheosis of the schoolmaster, finally decided to hang up his gown for the last time and to retire to his flat and his fishing. In 1962, the very likeable Mr. Peach also moved on, while Mr. Fry and Mr. Salter moved in. Sadly’, another former teacher and fine servant of the School died, in 1962, in the person of Mr. W. H. Darby (1908-1937 and 1940-1944). In 1963 Mr. M. G. Downs left to teach at nearby Canterbury, and Mr. Seeds was welcomed in his stead.

1964
    By this year Britain had moved well into the ‘Swinging Sixties’. It was a time of social ferment. Its characteristics remain familiar: ‘Bearle’ haircuts; ‘Ton-tip’ youths on motor-cycles; Pop Music and Pop Culture. The once despised ‘teenager’ had arrived. He or she had never had it so good’.
    The whole moral ethos was changing; the Victorian admonition had been reversed; it now read: “Be clever sweet maid and let who will be good”. In the year before the Bishop of Woolwich’s ‘Honest to God’ had called for a revolution in Christianity, to make it meaningful to the new generation, and the theme of this particular tract soon became the subject of much controversy in the Church. By 1964, there was much talk of ‘The New Morality’. Such was the background to the School events of this year.
    Certain of the new fashions soon infiltrated into the School. Some boy’s began to grow long hair: the car park began to fill up with scooters, and even some cars with youthful owners appeared.
    Small wonder that an additional car park had soon to be provided! There was never a dull moment in Sixth Form Divinity periods. Pop music blared forth at lunch time; even the resolute orthodoxy of the Music Master wilted before insistent demands from all age groups for the introduction of the latest favourites. It was all very exciting, if at times slightly disturbing. But the School survived.
    Meanwhile a new, or rather revivified, vocabulary had appeared amongst the intelligentsia. Particular words became over-worked, and not only among  journalists. ‘Conception’ had become 'concept'; images were rife; angry men were classified as paranoiacs 'traumatic' experiences were frequent. This was evident in the essays of Sixth Formers, where inconsistencies in the characters of famous historical personages were suddenly attributed to such maladies as schizophrenia.
    More than one epithet might be applied to describe the age into which the country was now moving. Some might refer to it as “The Age of the Computer and Comprehensive”; others might simply dub it yet another “Age of Progress”; while the cynics might think of it as an age when a moiety of the youth of the nation was nourished, bodily, on baked beans, and spiritually, on the antics of “half-baked’ beatniks.
    Speech Day, 1964, was held in the evening. This was, of course, a return to old custom; yet there did occur one interesting and successful innovation, a highly philosophical account of the events of the School year by members of the Sixth Form. This was followed by a lively speech from the Headmaster. After providing the customary statistics, he referred to the courses now being followed in the Upper Sixth, and he considered that they would help to produce more mature University undergraduates, fitted to rise their freedom more wisely. He also mentioned the New Extensions which had become available for rise in September, 1964. They consisted of a new laboratory, two dual-purpose rooms equipped both as drawing offices and class-rooms, and two purpose-built studios with special bays for pottery and printing. Dr. Hinton publicly thanked not only the outside authorities, such as the K.E.C. and Local Divisional Executive, but also the School’s Art and Craft staff for their help in designing and organizing the new premises. Yet the School remained vastly overcrowded, he declared.
    The Headmaster then spoke out on the subject of Comprehensive Education. He accepted that its imminence in some shape or form was inevitable, and in certain respects advantageous, but held that four principles should be borne in mind. First, the needs of able children must nor be forgotten; second, a comprehensive system required comprehensive buildings, but not at the expense of primary school building; and it would require a great increase in teaching staff; third, schools should remain communities; fourth, local authorities should be free to apply general educational principles in the most appropriate way.
    In 1964, Proposals for Secondary Education in Dover and District had been drawn up, after joint consultation between a Council of Heads, established by the K.E.C. and representing all types of schools, and the Divisional Executive and other bodies. This was primarily concerned with co-ordinating and improving secondary education in the neighbourhood. It is nor to be confused with the subsequent scheme for Comprehensive Education which appeared in 1965; it was something quite distinct.
    By the Scheme the structure of secondary education in the district was to be revised with special reference to the C.S.E. and G.C.E. courses and the possible routes to the Sixth Form and Technical Colleges. Most important of all, it proposed a new system of transference from Primary Schools at 11 plus. By this method the initial choice of parents would be moderated by Primary Heads, and final allocation to Secondary schools would rest with the Council of Heads meeting at a Divisional Conference. As far as Dover was concerned the days of the controversial 11 plus examination were numbered, and in this respect, the Dover Scheme was first put into operation in the School Year beginning September, 1965.
    While none of these proposals had any effect on the School in 1964, one novel experiment was begun in September. This was the introduction of Audio-Visual Methods into the French Language syllabus. This course is French—produced and consists of teaching by tape recorder and film strips; it involves no writing in the 1st term and no textbook in the first year. The system gradually evolves into a more conventional course by the third year.
    Space forbids any worthwhile account, either of academic success or the corporate life of the School in this year. To quote Dr. Hinton again: “There were more boys in the School; more boys in the Sixth; more entries and more passes at ‘0’ and ‘A’ Levels of the G.C.E.; more societies; more activities, and more games successes.
    However any chronicler who did not give prominence to the production of ‘Hamlet’ in March, of this year, would be guilty of the worst crime of omission. The production received lavish praise at the time, and later in Pharos. It was difficult to believe that the players were but schoolboys (and schoolgirls!). The performance of E. J. Dane, as Hamlet, was nothing less than highly professional: “there was something authentic, mature, superbly right” (Mr. A. J. Woolford). Dr. Hinton’s production was a tribute to his skill and endless patience.
    The retirement of the Deputy Head, Mr. Archer marked yet another milestone in the School’s history. Forty years on in very truth! Many fitting tributes were paid to him at the time both the public platform and in Pharos. They were nor undeserved. Consider the record. Mr. Archer had joined the School in 1924; since then he had taught Biology and General Science throughout the years with splendid success. But that is merely academic. In the war years he had acted as guide and mentor to many homesick boys and had taken charge of the School Flight of the A.T.C. attached to Ebbw Vale Squadron. In 1950 he became Commanding Officer of the newly-formed C.C.F., and was appointed Deputy Head, in 1952. He had understudied two Headmasters; the one, of his own generation and understanding; the other of another age and outlook. It was the measure of Mr. Archer’s achievement that he was able to adapt himself to the new without sacrificing all the principles of the old. Too human to pursue restless ambition, Mr. Archer had devoted forty years of his life to the best interests of the School. He had influenced for good many boys by his exertions and many of the Staff by his example.
    The earnest and erudite Mr. Wallace also left the School in the summer of 1964, and the following September saw the influx of four very energetic and capable young men, whose diverse personalities were to win them popularity with the boys and respect from their colleagues. They were Messrs. Field, Wake, Carver and Pickering.

1965-66
    1965 was officially the Diamond Jubilee Year, but as the School year overlaps, the narrative will be extended to include selected events and significant developments in the year 1966.
    To begin with a sketch of the social scene. It was another crowded and eventful year for Drama and Music. Towards the end of the Spring Term ‘Housemaster’ was presented; this was the fifth successive production to be undertaken by the Headmaster, and although School audiences had been spoiled by the excellence of “Hamet” in the previous year, they did nor depart disappointed. P. Lyons in the title role performed a feat of endurance and generally gave an able performance; and the supporting cast gave him every assistance.
    Orchestra and Choir again figured prominently on several public occasions. “The full choir was at its best this year at the School Service at St. Mary’s in April. Bach’s ‘Chorales’ were rendered with quiet confidence, Handel’s ‘Messiah’ with rich sonority, and Benjamin Britten’s ‘Jubilate’ was presented with clear rhythmic articulation” (Pharos). Choir and Orchestra finished the year in a flourish by their contribution to the production of yet another successful Gilbert and Sullivan Opera, ‘The Pirates of Penzance’, performed at Christmas, 1965.
    The amounts collected in aid of Charity continued to demonstrate the generosity of the boys. In 1964 £220 had gone to Oxfam for relief work in India and in 1935 £155 was raised on behalf of the British Empire Cancer Campaign. To swell the funds of the Lenten Appeal, the School Council organized an American Supper.
    Under the articles of its constitution, the Chairmanship of the School Council was to become open to election from among the boys themselves after two years, and the honour soon fell to M. C. Azoulay for the year 1964-65. At the same time the constitution was amended to remove some of the restrictions on the Council’s power to propose changes in matters of school routine. This tentative experiment in the ways of democracy would seem to have justified itself.
    After one postponement, Sports Day was eventually held in somewhat gloomy conditions, but provided some exciting events with Chapman breaking two records; yet it was not one of the School’s best years in Athletics. School Football, Rugby and Cricket enjoyed varying degrees of success in 1965, with Rugby raking its well deserved share of the limelight, winning 5 out of 6 matches played. Well served by such as Pond, success was nevertheless primarily the result of harmonious team work rather than individual brilliance. Cricket had an indifferent season but the form of the 1st XI (Football) was on a par with that of some of the fine teams of the ‘fifties’. Enthusiastically coached by Mr. Evans, who imparted some Celtic fire to add to their Kentish craft, the team reached great heights at times. T. Glanville and Anderson were outstanding in a very fine eleven, and the former player, together with M. Johncock, was chosen to represent Kent at the Bognor Festival.
    Inspired by the determined leadership of J. Bishop, the School Cross-Country Team won most of its contests, including the Senior Section of the S.E. Kent Championship. Bishop, himself, ran for the County in the National Championships. Other fine runners in this team included Gregory and Dyer.
    In the House Competition Frith carried off the Championship for the sixth successive year! This achievement deserves, and has been given, a distinguishing paragraph.
    In the twenty years covered by this outline, thousands of boy’s have passed through the school. It has been possible to mention but few. There remain the rest, the remembered faces and forgotten names, to refresh the memories of masters and boys. They were not as ships that pass in the night. On the seemingly endless voyage of their schooldays, they sailed together in convoy, closely-knit; some few in occasional distress for steering off-course; others serenely ploughing forward, relying on their ever-watchful escorts.
    Besides those who have brought great distinction on themselves, the School has had its misfits, its bullies and its failures; but for every delinquent there have been many of solid worth; whose collective social conscience has made cowards, not of themselves, but of the recalcitrants.
    The masters of any school are always a topic of conversation for the average schoolboy, and certainly when Old Boys are gathered together; thus, some more remarks concerning the Staff of D.G.S. may not seen out of place.
    In the Spring of 1965, Mr. Peacock and Mr. Singer left the School for other posts, and in the following summer Mr. Kendall retired, Mr. Rowlands finally relinquished his part-time employment and Mr. Coveney, following a long and serious illness, decided to confine himself to part-time service.
    Mr. Hopkins who had been teaching mathematics in the School since 1958 also left in 1965, as did Mr. Melville, a temporary teacher of Art. In addition to his chosen metier—Physical Education—Mr. Singer gave much of his time and knowledge to the advancement of School Rugby, and also introduced Fencing into the School. During his stay of six years, Mr. Peacock proved himself to be a first class teacher at all levels, a splendid organizer of activities, an inspiring leader of the R.A.F. (C.C.F), and a solid, reliable character at all times. His contribution to the corporate life of the School was considerable.
    Mr. Coveney had taught Craft for 31 years and many Old Pharosians will remember him as a highly competent teacher and kindly friend. He had been responsible, among so many other services, for organizing the studies of the Technical Stream which was introduced in 1956, and he also advised on the planning of the new workshops. He is still to be seen on the premesis at his chosen times. Mr. Kendall first joined the School in 1929. He became Senior Chemistry Master in 1945, and his scholarly and conscientious devotion to his subject over the years, before and since, have benefited countless pupils now scattered up and down the land. The scope of his activities was wide and included School Orchestra, Tennis and Swimming; moreover, he was Priory House Master for many years. He worked tirelessly to cement good relations between the School and its Old Boys by his active membership of the Pharos Lodge. Happily, he remains within reach of those who like to remember his affability and great good humour. Mr. Kendall belongs to the aristocracy of the profession which he has for so long adorned.
    This seems an appropriate point at which to refer to the careers of a number of other long serving masters who have given the best years of their working lives to the greater good of Dover Grammar School. Mr. Coulson, longest—serving member of the present full-time staff, can best be described as the Common Room’s leading consultant on all matters educational. The catholicity of his interests in this whole field has to be experienced to be believed. An accomplished teacher of Mathematics, he has a penchant for the practical approach to his problems, and his outlook is essentially modern: he must possess a knowledge of computers and their intricacies second to none in the district. Mr. Coulson lives a very full life: motoring, gardening, and the writing of textbooks occupy any time he has left after attending his various mathematical and scientific courses.
    Mr. King’s service dates back to 1934. His has been the world of Commerce and Economics: and he has produced some talented young men in his rime. Of firm Liberal beliefs, Mr. King is the School’s expert on Current Affairs, and he has devoted much of his own time to furthering the activities of the Phoenix Society—best described as a twentieth century miniature of the eighteenth century ‘Salon’, without the female company! He formerly assisted with School games, especially Rugby, and in recent years has been responsible for seat bookings at all School shows.
    Reference has already been made to Mr. Ruffell’s magnificent contribution to the sporting life of the school. In short, Saturday has simply meant another working day for him. Of recent years he has interested himself—and many boys as well—in foreign travel.
    Mr. Murphy and Mr. Marriott, Heads respectively of the English and French Departments have each served the School for over twenty years; and served it well. The long grind of language reaching has soured neither their tolerance nor the goodness of their natures. Both have had their well-deserved successes scholastically, and both have given freely of their time to out-of-school pursuits. In addition to his onerous duties as Librarian, Mr. Murphy is also a House Master; while Mr. Marriott has given many hours to clothing and robing countless budding actors, as well as organizing School Sports for a number of years.
    Mr. Jacques, of indomitable demeanour and generous nature, is never a man to take the limelight; but if conscientious application to work, allied to firm bur fair—minded principles, constitute the main characteristics of the good schoolmaster, then Mr. Jacques qualifies absolutely. He, too, in his day, has spent long hours on the rugby and cricket field; he, too, is a House Master—and a successful one in terms of Championships!
    Mr. Denham and Mr. Payne must be mentioned together for several good reasons. They joined the School within a year of each other; they have been interested in many of the same activities, within and without the School; and they are also very good friends. Outside the classroom, Rugby, Cricket and Dramatics have owed a great deal to the efforts of Mr. Denham, while Mr. Payne, in addition to his devoted attention to the affairs of the S.C.M., has coached many a fine junior Football and Cricket XI.
    Mr. E. G. Smith, who left the School in the summer of 1966, had taught Latin since 1946. Not all his pupils found that subject difficult: he produced some very fine scholars; but he regarded all with his ready wit and dry sense of humour. A man quick to mirth and slow to anger. For many years he was a familiar sight on Sports Day in his capacity as Starter. Mr. Smith also acted as a ‘backroom boy’ in the R.A.F. section (C.C.F.) for most of his stay at the School, and many youngsters first learned the rudiments of Chess at his hands.
    The ebullient Mr. Pitceathly arrived just in time for the General Inspection in January, 1956. An inauspicious welcome, no doubt; but it was not long before this dour Scot recovered his equilibrium, and was to become a personality in the School. He was a versatile teacher of many subjects, and despite advancing years, coached Football and Cricket Junior XIs to the end; in addition he was Master-in-Charge of the Lower School from its inception in 1963. When he left the School in 1966, his place in this post was filled by Mr. Seeds, a mathematician, son of Derbyshire, and a meritorious successor to Mr. Pitcearhly.
    Mr. Woollert, Mr. Horne and Mr. Elliott are all masters who have been connected with the School since the early-middle fifties. Mr. Woollert has invariably stood for the quietly-conscientious type and is most self-effacing. Apart from his association with everything progressive in the School’s French studies, he has been a House Master (Priory) for some years and remains the organizing force behind Le Circle Français. The tremendous contribution of Mr. Home and Mr. Elliott in so many facets of the School life since their arrival is self-evident in the narrative. Suffice it to record that the School should be more than grateful to both of these masters.
    Mr. Bird and Mr. Evans have taught at the School since September, 1957. Almost from the date of his arrival Mr. Bird has been associated with the C.C.F., eventually succeeding Mr. Archer as Commanding Officer in 1962; at a later date he also became master responsible for the general welfare of the Middle School. Possessing a highly-developed sense of the value of the community spirit in a school, his contribution has been considerable.
    Mr. Evans, is in many ways, a man of similar outlook. His approach to the problem of education certainly gives the lie to the erroneous belief that Grammar School masters are concerned more with work than with people. On principle, Mr. Evans can always be calculated to defend the cause of the young delinquent, however anti-social may be the offence. Of late he has contributed much to the advancement of School Football, and he was largely concerned with the formation of the Social Studies Society. However jaded he may become by the cares of teaching, Mr. Evans’ powers of rejuvenation are always given a tonic at the time of General Elections!
    The School has always been fortunate in its choice of Art and Craft masters and the more recent additions to these departments have continued this happy succession. Mr. M. Smith, who joined the Staff in 1959, has proved a real asset to the School. A young man of tremendous energy and bustle, he arrived shortly before the new Metalwork Shop was completed and alterations made to the Engineering Workshop. One of Mr. Smith’s special interests is in foundry work, and the making of castings in various alloy’s has greatly extended the scope of the courses offered. At present, experimental work is being developed in the engineering department with a view to correlation with the Sciences. Mr. Smith has the assistance of Mr. Bray, who is mainly responsible for Technical Drawing.
    Mr. Large remains the unruffled monarch of all that he surveys in the Woodwork shop. The supreme example of the competent, confident craftsman ashore and afloat, it is difficult to imagine what the School would do without him.
    Mr. Rowland’s successor, Mr. Carter, is another young man of energy, initiative and imagination. Fortunate to obtain premises which provided him the scope to develop his talents, he has certainly made the most of his opportunities. The range of his work in the Art Department would take too long to describe in this outline; suffice it to record that much has been attempted, much achieved. Exhibitions of the artistic skills of his pupils have been put on display, both at Maidstone and the Dover School of Art. He has a highly competent henchman in the person of Mr. Bayley, who specializes in pottery.
    Mr. Page, now Senior Chemistry Master, the Reverend Yates, and Mr. Comber, who all joined the Staff together in 1961, have each in their several ways contributed to the welfare of their pupils. Mr. Page, an Old Boy of the neighbouring Harvey Grammar School, quickly made his mark as a teacher of no mean distinction and moreover, his other talents, especially on the games field, have been of additional benefit. The Reverend Yates is a very cheerful figure of wide interests, who, besides his main interest in Divinity, is very happy to teach History, with a penchant for all things medieval, especially architecture. The boyish Mr. Comber, a son of the valleys, is a Biologist and rugby enthusiast. He is in fact, an all-round sportsman who, in typical Welsh manner, has the ability to impart his love of games to the boys in his care.
    Messrs. Salter (P) and Fry, who also arrived in 1961, the one to teach mainly German and other Physics, have both acquired popularity with their pupils. Mr. Salter is about to relinquish command of the R.N. Section (C.C.F.) after five years good service, and Mr. Fry interests himself in anything scientific or theological.
    The more recent arrivals at the School have been: Mr. Fields, a highly competent Senior Science Master of progressive outlook and a Scouring enthusiast; Mr. Wake, Senior Physics Master and Officer-in-Charge of the R.A.F. Section (C.C.F.); Mr. Carver, assistant geography master and fine games player; Mr. Pickering, successful pioneer in Speech and Drama and play producer; Mr. Freeman, historian and expert in the organization of school journeys; Mr. Gloster, young and enthusiastic science master; Mr. Piddock, mathematician and Old Boy of the School; Mr. Nice, general scientist and also an Old Boy; Mr. Searle, capable assistant to Mr. Elliott and a skilful football coach; Mr. Dicks, Latin master of varied educational experience; Mr. Quick, who divides his talents between the teaching of history and geography; and the Reverend Mace, temporarily teaching English.
    There remains Mr. Walker, Deputy Headmaster since the retirement of Mr. Archer. Before his appointment, Mr. Walker had already gained for himself a splendid reputation as Senior Physics Master, with a long list of academic successes to his credit. Assuming a high degree of responsibility at an important stage in the development of the School, his intelligence, tact and imperturbability have been his principal attributes and have stood him in good stead; at the worst of moments it seems that nothing can freeze the genial current of his nature; and he possesses, to a degree, Mr. Archer’s great gift of having the ability to maintain harmony in the Staff Room. As it has been with Headmasters, so it has been with their deputies. The School has had inspiring leadership.
    In 1965, the great national debate on the Comprehensive system continued, and both educationalists and laymen of Dover took part. It was no longer a question of its desirability, but rather a question of the timing of its introduction, its general form and local organization. In respect of this narrative, its details are only relevant in so far as they are to affect the School, but some reference must, of necessity, be made to the district as a whole.
    Early proposals favoured the transformation of the School into nothing less than a Sixth Form College; but after many months of meetings and negotiations primarily involving the Local Divisional Executive and the local Council of Heads, something in the nature of a compromise was reached. Under the final proposals both the Dover Grammar Schools would become co-educational; the Grammar School for Girls and all the secondary modern schools in the division would become comprehensive schools catering for the 11 to 16 age range. The Grammar School for Boys and Sir Roger Manwood’s School would become upper schools taking one entry at 14 and another at 16. Such remains the position at present, and the date of implementation has already been subject to postponement.
    In the preceding paragraph, mention has been made of the Grammar School for Girls, and it would be singularly ungallant nor to refer to the exceedingly cordial relations that have always existed between the School and its feminine counterpart at Frith Road. Under the successive regimes of the late Miss Gruer, Miss Sergeant (now Mrs. Horsfield), and Miss Kay, the two Schools have co-operated on many occasions and in many ways. Like sentiments apply to the School’s connections with the local Schools, their Heads and their staffs. Every boy passing through the School owes much to the preliminary work of the Primary Schools. It is there that the foundations are laid; Dover Grammar School does not forget this simple truth.
    Responsibility for the general administrative problems of local education rests primarily with the Local Divisional Executive, and here the School received its due share of the time and labours of Mr. Hewlett, the Divisional Executive Officer, Mr. Baker and the staff at Cambridge Terrace.
    In his Diamond Jubilee Speech, Dr. Hinton brought his views on the Comprehensive issue up to date. Most of his arguments were so irrefutable that ‘even the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer’. He declared that the School would welcome any changes that would bring it into closer association with neighbouring schools. (He might have added that he himself, had already done more towards this desirable end than anyone!). As for the rest, the School would welcome some of the proposed changes, while it could absorb others; but the deciding factor must be the best interests of the boy’s. Again, he made the highly rational point that any scheme of reorganization ought to preserve what was most valuable in all existing schools. “The Te Deum at the next Jubilee Service would not be turned into a Requiem Mass!"
    The audience of this anniversary occasion had already heard a lively report of the year’s events in the School, compiled by Sixth Formers P. Newman and A. Williams, and admirably delivered by P. Lusk; later in the proceedings they were to listen to a spirited defence of the grammar school system by the guest of honour, Mr. J. Haynes, County Education Officer.
    The School continued on its normal course in 1966, and its academic attainments were at least on a par with past performances, although Ordinary Level successes could never reach the high figures of the past, for the reason, as Dr. Hinton explained in his November Address, that some paper price had to be paid for what he held was educationally desirable, the School’s policy of discouraging the taking of a large number of subjects at ‘0’ Level. Even so, nearly half the 101 leavers in the summer of 1966 possessed two ‘A’ Levels or better. In this year, too, Dr. Hinton must have been very gratified to learn that the School’s scheme of General Studies (Subsidiary Courses) in the Sixth Form had been selected for inclusion in an official publication of the National Schools’ Council. (Very recently, this selfsame School scheme has been accepted for the most part by a representative Conference of Kent Teachers as being the most practicable and most desirable among a number of alternative schemes devised by schools throughout the country).
    By 1966 it was becoming patent that more boy’s in the School were taking full advantage of the facilities offered, to join in the numerous journeys, expeditions, projects and field courses which were a feature of this year. Visiting lecturers continued to provide good fare as well, and talks ranged from “the Civil Service to the Salvation Army, from service overseas to advances in astronomy”.
    Of the social scene in this final year nought but two outstanding highlights can be mentioned: the Diamond Jubilee Ball and the premier performance of the School Film.
    The Jubilee Ball, organized jointly by Old Boys, Parents’ Association and Staff, was held at the School in May. It was a great success. “School on the Hill”, the story of a day in the life of the School was shown to over 200 parents at the Parents’ Association annual meeting early in the Autumn Term. The film, the first the School has done in colour with a synchronised sound track also formed part of the Jubilee celebrations. Directed by Mr. Bernard Harrison, the full was shot by Mr. Denham and Mr. Home, with commentary by Mr. Pickering, while a number of boys were responsible for the sound track. As might be expected, the Parents’ Association gave financial assistance to the enterprise.
    Finally, to return to the Headmaster’s address, in November. Dr. Hinton concluded with very sobering thoughts. He regretted that there were still a number of boys who refused to take advantage of all that the School had to offer. There remained a selfish minority who were concerned with their rights than with their duties. The Headmaster concluded: “I believe that every boy learns lessons of conduct and character from his stay with us; but the day is in the future when every boy will give the best that is in him to the community and in return receive the best that the community has to give. Until that day comes we shall not allow the pride we feel in our achievements to blind us to the obligation which it remains our duty to fulfil”.

Afterthoughts

    “We are of the same humours and inclinations as our predecessors were: you shall find us all alike, much at one, we and our sons".

            Robert Burton: The Anatomy of Melancholy.

    It is clear that in the twenty years covered by this outline the School has witnessed sweeping changes in several general respects: curriculum extensions and modifications; administrative reforms in the everday life of the School; the attempt to broaden the field of experience, particularly in the case of older pupils; and a bold attempt to give greater freedom of action to the boys. Yet the contrasts viewed in terms of the avowed ends of a grammar school education may be seen as differences of emphasis rather than of two worlds in conflict. Continuities count for more than contrasts, and in this respect, the main aspects of School life remain unchanged, despite a rapidly changing social background. There are still the brilliant boys and the strugglers; there are still the solid, reliable characters and the dodgers; examinations remain to dampen the already weak spirit of the pessimist,
and arouse the hopes of the optimist; and games and activities continue to attract similar types as of yore. Change there may have been, but as the French put it so succinctly: “Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose!" The motivation and spirit of both Headmasters and Staff remain constant: to produce responsible citizens in a peaceful, prosperous society.
    The supreme question at the moment concerns the future of the grammar school in general, and that of Dover Boys’ in particular. The issue remains clouded. Yet, if the grammar schools in their present form must perish, then at least, this School will not be unworthy of a decent obituary notice. It will be difficult to destroy its influence overnight, or to erase completely the evolving pattern of its ways.
    Let the final thought rest with a former pupil and editor of Pharos: “Although the future may seem more relevant to our lives than the past....... tradition is not something which smothers originality and enterprise, but rather something from which we can draw strength for our new ventures”. (J. R. Taylor, 1953).

GAMES AND SPORTS

Soccer

1st XI

Played 23; Won 16; Lost 6; Drawn 1.
The team was chosen fro:- Hover, Pullan, Falconer, Duffield, Knight, Chapman, Bent, Mitchell, Jones, Ellis, Liddell, Lofts, Duncan, Palmer.
Colours:   Re-awarded         Mitchell, Pullan.
                Awarded             Jones, Ellis, Lofts, Knight, Falconer.
                Representative     Hover, Bent, Liddell, Chapman, Duncan, Palmer.

2nd XI

Played 13; Won 12; Lost 1.
The team was chosen from:- Burtenshaw (Capt.), Collard (Vice-Capt.), Best, Fletcher, Anderson, Rutherford, Briggs, Fisher, Campbell, Stevenson, Palmer, Pay.

Under 15 XI

Played 11; Won 5; Lost 3; Drawn 3.
The team was chosen from:- Marsh (Capt.), Beeden, Flood, Dixon, Middleton, McHugh, Drurrant, Frost, Meehan, Dean, Robinson, Coles, Cook, Shepherd, Cunliffe, Snow.

Under 14 XI

Played 11; Won 7; Lost 2; Drawn 2.
The team was chosen from:- Piddlesden, Morris, Hinton, Kemp, Summers, Ridgwell, Burgess, Elder, Silk, Amos, Russell, Flood, Nash, Greenfield.

Under 13 XI

Played 13; Won 12; Lost 1.
The team was chosen from:- Towe (Capt.), Flood, Allcock, Beeby, Comley, Hastie, Oxenham, Penney, Akers, Gill, Hall, Hopkins, Horton, King, O’Dwyer, Pilcher, Roberts, Smallwood, Wilson.

Under 12 XI

Played 8; Won 6; Lost 1; Drawn 1.
The team was chosen from:- Carroll (Capt.), Hart, Baile, Taylor, Scott, Padfield, King, Campbell, Clements, Hearn, Plews, Stroud, Banks, Hilton.

Rugby

1st XV

Played 12; Won 5; Lost 5; Drawn 2.
The team was chosen from:- Bishop, Garrity, Pond (Capt.), Crombie, Goodburn, Bruce, Hemmings, Harris, Grosse, Stevenson, Waters, Alcock, Barry, Friend, Barratt, Mitchell, Judge, Roser, Fletcher, Rutherford, Bartlett, Winthrop, Smith.
Colours:    Re-awarded         Bishop, Garrity, Pond.
                 Awarded             Crombie, Goodburn, Bruce, Hemmings, Harris, Grosse, Stevenson, Waters.
                 Representative     Alcock, Barry, Friend, Barrart, Michell, Judge.

2nd XV

Played 6; Won 1; Lost 5.
The team was chosen from:- Fletcher (Capt.), Jones, Harvey, Bartlett, Robinson, Rutherford, Langley, Catt, Blackman, Dunkley, Clark, Smith, M., Redman, Batty, Roser, Buhlman, Parkinson, Brazier.
Played 12; Won 5; Lost 7.
The team was chosen from:- Brazier, Brown, Cable, Davies, Dean, Elgar, Hall, Jones, Kilmurray, King, Luff, McHugh, Parkin, Rainsley, Reason, Ritchie, Robinson, Skingle, Steed, Williams, Marsh, Lowe.

Under 14 XV

Played 7; Won 6; Lost 1.
The team was chosen from:- Greenfield, Dutton, Summers, Wilcox, Kemp, Flood, Amos, Ainger, Hinton, Nash, May, Batty, Smallwood, Piddlesden, Morris (Capt.), Duncan, Bruce, Moore.

Under 13 XV

Played 9; Won 8; Lost 1.
The team was chosen from:- Akers, Allcock, Barrett, Burrows, Beeby, Comley, Clare, Clark, Hastie, Hopkins, Horton, Hall, King, Oxenham, Pilcher, Roberts, Smith, M.R., Towe, Wilson.

Cricket

1st XI

Played 9; Won 4; Lost 4; Drawn 1.
Colours were awarded to the team as follows:-
    Re-awarded         Mitchell, Palmer, Murton.
    Awarded             Andrews, Durrant, Russell.
    Representative     Sandham, Flood, Ellis, Letts, Clark.

2nd XI

Played 8; Won 2; Lost 5; Drawn 1.
The team was chosen from:- Falconer (Capt.), Cooper, Jones, Coleman, Drake, Duncan, Gorringe, Taylor, Frampton, Parkinson, Bowley, Pay, O’Donovan, Milton.

Under 15 XI

Played 8; Won 1; Lost 5; Drawn 2.
The team was chosen from:- Durrant, Brown, Garner, Flood, Shepherd, Coles, Meehan, Middleton, Goodwin, Medgett, Mills, Dean, Dixon, Dry, Robinson, Sconer, Ashington.

Under 14 XI

Played 5; Won 3; Lost 2.
The team was chosen from:- Summers (Capt.), Barling, Beeby, Burgess, Carter, Dean, Elder, Flood, Hinton, Hopkins, Kemp, Oxenham, Pickering, Piddlesden, Russell, Soilk, Smallwood.

Under 13 XI

Played 7; Won 6; Lost 1.
The team was chosen from:- Hastie (Capt.), Alcock, Akers, Beeby, Comley, Franks, Gill, Hall, Hopkins, Horton, Johnson, Oxenham, Parrett, Roberts, Towe.

Under 12 XI

Played 6; Won 6.
The team was chosen from:- King (Capt.), Oxenham, Hilton, Campbell, Plews, Horne, Carroll, Coles, Scott, Humphries, Hart, Taylor, Hearne.

Athletics

Inter-School Competitions
14th May        Match v. Sir Roger Manwood’s at Dover
                      Seniors: School 84 S.R.M. 56
                      Juniors: School 68½ S.R.M. 70½
18th May        Seven schools match at D.Y.R.M.S.
                      Seniors: 3rd             Juniors: 4th
28th May        S.E. Kent Championships at D.Y.R.M.S.
                      Juniors: 3rd             Intermediates: 4th
11th June        Match v. Dover College and Chatham House at Dover.
                      Seniors: D.C. 100 C.H. 76½, D.G. 75½
                      Juniors: D.C. 118 C.H. 74, D.G. 6o
18th June        Kent Schools’ Championships at Maidstone.
                      Chapman was 2nd in the senior 120 yds. Hurdles.
                      Flood was a member of the winning junior relay team.
28th June        Match v. Junior Leaders’ at Whitfield.
                      School: 142 J.L. 178
2nd July          Powell Trophy Meeting at Aylesham.
                      The School team finished 2nd to D.Y.R.M.S.
9th July           Duke of York’s Cup.
                      The school team was placed 6th our of eight.
Full colours:    Re-awards:         Stevenson, Sanders, Mutton, Bishop.
                       New Awards:     Harris, Chapman, Duffield, Pond
Team colours: Clark, Johnson, Hover, Kinsley.

Sports Day

The competition was extremely close and exciting.
    Result: Frith 703; Priory 701½; Park 692; Aster 587½.
Junior Champion: Wilcox. Intermediate Champion: Bruce. Senior Champion: Stevenson.

Swimming

Results of Swimmlnng Sports: Park 68, Priory 54, Frith 50, Astor 38.
Intermediate Champion: Carroll. Senior Champion: Dixon.
Result of Match versus Simon Langton at Canterbury: Seniors lost 53—31; Juniors lost 50—31.

Gymnastics

House Competition Results;
                        Juniors:        Park         1003     Individual.
                                           Astor        871         1st Wilson
                                           Frith         842         2nd Clark
                                           Priory       263         3rd Towe
                        Seniors:       Park         683      Individual.
                                           Priory       619         1st Luff (Pascall Cup)
                                           Astor        612         2nd P. Condon
                                           Frith         568         3rd Crick
Kent Schools: Gymnastics Championships
School ‘A’ team was 3rd; ‘B’ team was 8th.
I. Luff was 4th. He was selected for the Kent team and competed in two matches.
Kent Schools: Trampoline Championships
The School team was 3rd in the Intermediate section. P. Condon was runner-up in the senior competition.

Basketball

Results of the House Competition
Juniors: Astor, Frith and Park each won two games.
Seniors: 1st Frith; 2nd Priory; 3rd Park; 4th Astor.

School Team Records

Full colours were re-awarded to Pond, and newly awarded to Peall and Mitchell.
Team colours were awarded to Anderson, Campbell, Collard, Grosse, Murton and Russell.
Aldridge, Bishop and Fisher also played.

Lent Charity Tournament
Eighteen teams entered: Lower 6M were the winners.

Cross-country Running

After cancellations 5 matches were held. Two were won outright, we were 2nd in one, 7th in another and in one failed to close in. Bishop, Stevenson and Bruce ran in the County Championships. Full Colours were awarded to Bishop and Stevenson, and Representative Colours to Bruce, Fisher, Fletcher, Jones, Murton, Mitchell, Owens.

Sailing

Results to July

May 17th            D.G.S. v. Maidstone Grammar (away)         Lost
June 2nd             D.G.S. v. Maidstone Grammar (Home)        Won
June 18th/19th     Royal Cinque Ports Y.C. Regatta.
                          Heron. 2nd—M. Linsley. ‘Pharos’.
June 26th            Kent Schools’ Sailing Association Regatta—Whitstable.
                          Herons     1st P. Brothwell and N. Fright. ‘Pharos’.
                                          2nd P. Chambers and O. Chapman. ‘Invicta’.
                          Enterprise 1st J. Aylen and J. Morris. ‘Square’.
                                          2nd R. Fancourt and R. Bruce. ‘Miss Fytte’.
(J. Aylen, P. Brothwell, K. Belfield and A. Symons selected to represent the County at Schools’ National Championship at Brancaster, Norfolk).
June 25th/26th     Fleetwind South East Area Championship.
                                          2nd A. Mitchison. ‘Scallywag’.
Certificates Awarded:    Crewhands         O. Chapman, A. Symons, P. Roy.
                                    Helmsmen          F. Catt, A. Symons, O. Chapman.
                                    Single Handed
                                        Helmsman      P. Chambers.

Fencing

Seniors: Played 3; Won 1; Lost 2.

Juniors: Played 3; Won 1; Lost 1; Drawn 1.
R. Horth reached the quarter-finals in the Kent Senior Schoolboys’ Championship.
A. Edwards reached the semi-finals in the Kent Junior Schoolboys’ Championship.
Colours were awarded to Beney, Smith and Finch and Representative Colours to Parsons.

House Championship, 1965-66

The Parents’ Association

Chairman: Mr. R. J. Franklin, “The Firs”, Glack Road, Upper Deal.
Hon. Secretary: Mr. D. F. Grosse, 76 Mount Road, Dover.
Hon. Treasurer: Mr. D. S. Baker, “Northside”, Eves Road, Dover.
Committee:   Dover: Mrs. King, Mrs. Mitchinson, Mrs. Sanders, Mr. Clark, Mr. Tutthill.
                    Deal: Mr. Sayer.
                    Other Districts: Mrs. Trice, Mr. Longley.
                    The School: Dr. Hinton, Mr. Walker, Mr. Payne, Miss Beets.
    Association membership is still increasing. During the year 1965/66 we totalled just under 650 members and we are hopeful of further improvement in the coming year. Already, the response from parents of new boys is encouraging, and 700 members should be an attainable target.
    The Association continued to give its services at most school functions, and in addition approximately £130 was donated from our funds.
    This, being the School’s Jubilee Year, has tempted the Committee to try new ideas. Co-operation between The School, The Old Pharosians, and ourselves resulted in a most successful Dance held during May, and plans are well under way for the forthcoming School Fete.
    The Association thanks parents for their continued support and looks forward to the presence of a large number of members at the Annual General Meeting which will be held in October.

D. F. Grosse,
Hon. Secretary.