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(tbe Ellestnerian

Vol. LXXXV OCTOBER, 1973 No. 310

Edited

by:

ANSTEy-Senior Editor M. G. ANDERSON P. J. LLOYD MR. R. P. GRAVES-Advisory

C. R.

JANE DAVIES} Art Editors J. D. SKELLY T. A. JACKSON-Photographer Editor

([ontents
EDITORIAL ELLESMERE FAREWELLS STAFF NOTES W. L. SUMSION SPEECH DAY HOUSE NOTES

2 2
5 7 8 11

THE YEAR'S MUSIC DRAMA VI FORM NEWS CREATIVE DESIGN LIBRARY NOTES CLUBS AND SOCIETIES

19 24 29 31 32 33

COMBINED CADET FORCE 39 SCOUTING 43 OTHER GROUPS 46 GAMES AND ACTIVITIES 49 DATES OF TERMS 72 72 CREDITS

THE ELLESMERIAN

Vol. LXXXV, No. 310

Qfbitorial
As was promised in last year's magazine the Editorial staff have made a brave attempt to alter the layout of the articles and at the same time make them more interesting. More photographs have been inserted with the intention of livening up the format and to provide variety. It should also be pointed out that the over-all organization of the magazine is no longer in the hands of a master but instead members of College have taken over. In an effort to bring news more up to date, a sister magazine, the Review, had been inaugurated and this comes out in the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. In this venture we hope to produce a far more informal view of events at the College, with boys writing wherever possible. We were also pleased to see keen competition from rival magazines like Sin and Enat Revived, which showed the initiative of people in the College other than ourselves. We are still far from happy with the system we have now created, but it is hoped that if the enthusiasm can be found within the College to continue what we have begun, then the end result will be satisfying. The Editors.

QfUtsmtrt .1artwtlls
EXTRACTSROM H.M's SPEECH: F

R.P.G.
" ... The junior play, Morning Departure, provided harrowing scenes following the fate of a doomed submarine. This, I am sad to say, has proved to be Richard Graves' last production. He retires to Whittington, where he was recently elected councillor, to write scripts for television. I am sure you all join me not only in wishing him well but also in scanning your screens with eager anticipation." B.H. " ... The scouting at Ellesmere owes much to the enthusiasm of Bryan Hooton, who is moving on after giving ten years of unstinted service to Ellesmere. In 1963 Mr. Hooton came to teach physics. He rapidly gained the respect of the School for his ability with the clever, his patience with the less able, and his consistent insistence on high standards at all levels. When, two years later, he faced the daunting task of taking over Wakeman House from Mr. Jackson, who had become a legend, the same qualities made him more than equal to the task. He will long be remembered, for every boy in Wakeman has known exactly what is expected of him-there is nothing boys like more-and has also known that when he has needed help of any kind, nothing would be too much trouble to make sure he got it. Mr. Hooton moves on to join our Senior Economist of last year at Eton. My thanks are due to him for his unfailing support and I know you all join with me in wishing a happy and successful career in the south .... "

OCTOBER

1973

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ELLESMERIAN

~taff Jiotes
At the start of the year we welcomed back Mr. Wright from his sabbatical year at Oxford. He brought back some stimulating ideas. We also congratulate him and his wife on the birth of their son Caspar.

* * *

* * *

* * *

We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Boothroyd on the birth of their daughter Susannah.

We congratulate Mr. and Mrs. Scorer on the birth of their daughter Sally.

We congratulate Mr. 1. D. Gregory on his marriage during the summer holidays, and we welcome his wife into the community. We gather that they will be living out at Wem. We would also like to welcome Mr. Gregory into closer collaboration with us, as he is taking over Mr. Graves' post of Advisory Editor on the staff of the Ellesmerian.

German Architects visit Ellesmere Col/ege

On 21st May, 1973, a group of German architects and engineers visited Ellesmere. They came from lserlohn, the twin town of Wrexham, and were spending a return courtesy visit as guests of Wrexham architects. Here they can be seen with Mr. Skipper, and with their guide, Mr. Basil Moreton of Oswestry.

THE ELLESMERIAN

Vo!' LXXXV, No. 310

We say goodbye to Mrs. Barbara Morris, Mrs. Jennifer Peake and to Miss Janet Morris, and we welcome Mrs. Linda Done to the Chemistry Lab., and Mrs. Eileen Horton and Miss Elizabeth Webster to the Office.

We welcome Mrs. V. Vernon, S.R.N., R.S.C.N., and hope that her stay with us is long and enjoyable.

On the teaching staff, we welcome Mr. A. E. D. Dowlen, a graduate of Durham University, who is our new Director of Music. We also welcome the Honorable M. C. Penney, a Master of Arts from Caius College, Cambridge, who will teach physics. We welcome Mr. W. C. Newbold, a Leeds graduate, who will teach English and History. We welcome Mr. J. P; Redman, a Master of Arts from Caius College, Cambridge, to teach Modern Languages. And we welcome back F.S.G., who needs no introduction!

We welcome three part-time teachers: Mrs. Susan White, who will assist with remedial English teaching, Mrs. Maureen Ratcliffe, a B.Sc. from London University, who will teach Geography, and Miss M. M. Kirk, who will teach English.

On the 25th May, 1973, the Russell Hatch Room was simply opened at 4.00 p.m. The Headmaster said thank you, Mr. Nankivell said something of Russell Hatch, and Mrs. Holmes opened the door. There was tea inside for Mrs. Holmes and her escort, the Headrnaster and Mrs. Skipper, the Second Master and Mrs. Howard, Mr. and Mrs. NankiveIl, the Bursar and Mrs. Chambers, and Paul McCullough.

We welcome Mr. M. C. Gowdey, Mr. W. H. Barnett and Mr. C. A. J. Veal into the ranks of the fully certified-in the best sense of the word, of course! They have just completed a particularly gruelling two years in which, in addition to all their other duties and pursuits, they have been travelling regularly to Keele to study the most up-to-date educational techniques.

OCTOBER

1973

THE ELLESMERIAN

w. lL. ~um5ion: 1896=1973


On Speech Day, the Headmaster said:
" ... Leslie Sumsion gave his whole life to Ellesmere, a fact evidenced time and again as I look through the files and find his superb copper-plate writing on all manner of subjects. From distinguished war service in 1917, he returned to College and was Secretary, Bursar and much more besides until his retirement in 1963. One of his great achievements was the building of the golf course, and it is fitting that the Old Ellesmerians have presented two cups in his memory to be competed for annually .... " On the lIth February, in the College Chapel, a service was held "to praise for all that was pure and true, beautiful and good in the life of Walter for the examples he has left of faith and hope and duty; for his many years service to the School, and for the hope we have, through Christ, that he his rest." give thanks and Leslie Sumsion; of love and loyal has entered into

The service began with a reading of William Penn's words - ending so beautifully - "This is the comfort of friends, that though they may be said to die yet their friendship and society are ever present, because immortal. Psalm 15 was then sung, followed by Robert Bridges' hymn: "All my hope on God is founded" The Reverend Prebendary Egerton Walters, former Chaplain and Housemaster of Meynell, delivered an address. "This service today is not a formal occasion, but a spontaneous tribute of affection and gratitude by those who knew Leslie as a very dear and trusted friend". After mentioning his work under D.R.Evans and especially referring to the difficult period between 1928-1938, when his loyal help to the school was of great value, the Revd. WaIters indicated the breadth of his other school interests, which reached out to all aspects oflife in the Ellesmere community. He then spoke of his special gifts, his home life and his life outside the school-his interests in art, music; his delight in his holiday painting and gardening. "I have never known any man in whose complete integrity I have been more confident. Leslie was a perfectionist-that is to say, only the best was good enough in anything to which he set his hand .... this artistry "was shown as an example in his house by Overton Bridge," an abiding memory for all who had the pleasure of sharing its beauty and peace-a haven of hospitality ... To those whose lives were enriched by the friendship of Kate Bristow ... her daughter Kath, who seems doubly dear to us today, and her husband Leslie; for whose life we thank God-truly it was a home from home ... from visiting which we returned refreshed . . . . able again to see things in the proper perspective. The secret. . it was basically a Christian household ..... " He took an active part in the parish of Overton . "he really cared for people .... he had a simple deep faith, which inspired his kindness, his ununstinted giving of himself, and his service to all who needed his help ..... We thank God for giving us a splendid Character, utterly sincere, utterly loyal; we give thanks for a friendship which enriched the lives of his friends; we commend his soul to the loving care of the eternal God." After the Chaplain had said the closing prayers and we had sung Allington's hymn "Ye that know the Lord is gracious," the choir sung the final prayer, "Christ be with me". Among the congregation were the Provost, the Custos, past and present members of the Common Room, the Captain of School, old boys who were at Ellesmere from 1911 onwards and several representatives of the domestic staff, past and present. This was a beautiful service, choir, organist, participating clergy helped to make for us an unforgettable memory of a man who gave much to Ellesmere and who was deeply loved by his friends. I.W.N.

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After an introduction by the Custos, Colonel S. M. Hollway, the prizes were presented by Mrs. F. W. Cocks, assisted by Mr. V. H. Howard. The Headmaster then made his Report, which was followed by a witty address by the Bishop of Shrewsbury, the Right Reverend F. W. Cocks. Finally, there was a vote of thanks by the Captain of the School, D. C. Hedley. In his Report, the Headmaster began by saying that he was pleased that progress had continued in the directions indicated to the Speech Day assembly in 1970, but that much remained to be done. "This is not to say," he went on, "that life must be one of constant change, for stability is an essential ingredient of any community, particularly one in which more than a few find their only roots. This stability must come from a fixed set of axes, but it will become stagnation unless there is also a set of variables under continual review." "For me," he said, "the axes are clear. First is the basic teaching in the fundamentals of the Christian gospel, for I believe that the survival of all that is best in the life of this country and, indeed, Western civilisation, depends on the survival of the Christian family and a re-acceptance of Christian standards in society; this cannot come from wishful thinking but is only possible in a disciplined life where there is regular time set aside for quiet meditation and the regular taking of Holy Communion. "This is why I set such great store by the various activities in Chapel, and the syllabus of divinity teaching. It is also why I am delighted that the Assistant Chaplain, Michael Gowdey, has agreed to take charge of the General Studies programme." The Headmaster hoped that our approach to the twentieth century could be relevant without abandoning the vital ingredients of our beliefs, and that the planned course could be examined partly by continuous assessment and by an extended essay, a method pioneered in a top English set by Neil Wright. The second fixed axis was, he said, "insistence on the economic use of time, where the teaching of the habit of hard work goes alongside encouraging creative use of leisure." It was essential to teach use of leisure to produce whole men and women who could cope with the pressure of modern life, and found a stable Christian family. The test of success in teaching the habit of hard work was whether a boy or girl, on leaving, could push himself to the limits of his energy and ability. He wondered whether too many employers concentrated solely on examination results-"If we are not careful," he said, "many industries and professions will soon find themselves landed with a large number of highly intelligent nonentities, while many worthy young men have been forced to seek other forms of employment, and the country will be much the worse for it." The third axis, said the Headmaster, was "that of a constant striving for excellence. Here the only variable that can be allowed must be the limitations of each individual, never forgetting that at the same time we must present absolute excellence as an ideal." The Headmaster then considered the academic achievements of the past year. "In October," he mentioned, "four young men went up to Oxford or Cambridge; twenty-five went to other universities or polytechnics, while four moved on to professional training.

OCTOBER

1973

THE ELLESMERIAN

Our A-level results were the best in the history of the College, with 80 per cent success for those sitting the examination for the first time." He also mentioned the 100 per cent success rate in the last Use of English paper, and the 67 per cent pass rate at O-level-"the latter may sound unimpressive, but when you examine the potential of our weaker candidates and compare the performance of their prep. school contemporaries who moved elsewhere, I think Common Room can be justly proud of their achievements. Give us first-class brains and we get first-class results; give us lesser lights and we make them shine more brightly than most; I am proud of the work we achieve with the latter, for it is one of our prime functions, and while I am Headmaster, it will be my policy to keep it so." Another pleasing academic achievement was in the Business Game, where we reached the last nine out of two hundred and sixty-eight schools. Another area of academic activity was in the discovery and remedial teaching of those with reading difficulty, and here Jane Wright, soon to be joined by a second part-time teacher, was rapidly extending her work in the field. "Outside the classroom," the Headmaster went on, "music and drama have continued to flourish. On stage we have had two sombre productions which gripped the audience in a remarkable way: the senior play, Hamp, and the junior play, Morning Departure." Moving on to sport, the Headmaster outlined the various successes of the year. He mentioned in particular the success of the football under-14 team, of the First XI cricket team, of the senior athletes, of the swimming team, and of the shooting VIII. The Headmaster then summarised the activities of the C.C.F., the Social Service, the O.T.U., and the Scouts. He mentioned in particular that "in all these outdoor activities personal safety is a constant consideration. At Easter four men took part in a Headmasters' Conference Mountain Leadership course, one as instructor, three as students. All the time we are re-appraising safety factors involved in expedition work. Those of you who were here yesterday will have seen an exhibition giving some practical examples of the methods we use. It was more than reassuring to find that on an expedition weekend, our senior boys were able to take part in rescuing an injured Lieutenant Commander who had fallen high up in Snowdonia. Not only did they call out the Mountain Rescue Team, but led them to the scene of the accident and carried down the stretcher in darkness." Then the Headmaster mentioned the vital part played by schoolmasters' wives in schools of this kind. "Not only do they arrange flowers in Chapel and on Speech Day, but, far more important, it is only their understanding of the time and energy involved in their husbands' work that makes it possible." After mentioning the others who helped "behind the scenes", the Headmaster turned to modernisation. "Progress in modernisation continues and will be for domestic staff as well as boys. Since we last met, the bathrooms have been refurbished, and I am happy to say that Chapter have agreed to finance the dormitory improvements ... the Appeal can now give undivided backing to the new Arts centre, of which the first phase will be a block of music practice and teaching rooms." The covering of the swimming pool would have to wait for a generous benefactor-that such benefactors existed was proved by the kindness of Mrs. Holmes, who had opened the new Visitors' Room in memory of her son, alongside the School Shop. The Headmaster concluded his speech by saying that independence in education should continue to prevent a State monopoly. "The one change I would like to see in the independent sector is the widening of its entry to all who need and want to come .... The

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Vol. LXXXV, No. 310

solution lies in massive endowment." A suitable fund could revive the original vision of our Founder and, said the Headmaster, "new strength could be given to his final wishes: 'That for all future time the sons of Her then Majesty's subjects should be taught, together with sound grammar learning, the fear and honour of Almighty God'."

School Prize List


SHELL LOWER SIXTH

P.H.Gilbert (English, Geograpy; French) T.F.Ellis (History) P.C.L.Emberton (Latin) I.R.Attoe (Mathematics) S.G.Clay (Physics) S. F. Carey (Chemistry) A. C. Bonell (Biology) J. S. Gowdey (Greek) R. C. Anderson (German)

P. J. D. Lloyd (English, History, Economicsry Jane Davies (Geography, Biology) D. G. Chapman (Mathematics) M. R. O. Jones (Physics) R. S. Gregory (Physics, Mathematics) D. N. Brown (Chemistry) R. E. Bull (Economicsi T. R. W. Jenkyn-Jones (French, German) P. J. T. Hobbs (Prenchr) N. J. Litherland (Ancient History)
SIXTH FORM

FOURTH FORMS

N. J. Phelps (English) J. A. H. Booth (History) V. G. Gwillim (Latin) C. Tri. Nguyen (French) C. V. Atkinson (German, English) F. W. A. Crouch (Mathematics) K. Alamouti (Physics, Biology) P. W. S. Skinner (Chemistry) N. J. Lomax (Techntcal Drawing) M. G. Handley (Geography) O. T. Cooke (Technical Drawings) R. P. J. Robinson (Mathematics") D. K. B. Smith (Germall*)

H. T. Ashton (English, Frenchi C. V. Marsh (German) T. S. M. Hopkins (History) Isabel Riddell (Geography) D. C. Hedley (Latin) R. O. Manby (Mathematics, Physics) S. M. Agnew (Physics, Mathematics, R. J. Thurgood (Chemistry, Biology) K. S. N. Pettegree (Economicsi R. A. Patterson (Ancient History) R. H. Lloyd (Economics*)
SPECIAL PRIZES

Chemistry*)

Smith

Historical

Essay: Society:

Shakespearian

P. J. D. Lloyd C. R. Anstey J. A. Harvey

FIFTH FORMS

N. St. L. Kyrke-Smith

D. I. Harrison (Goegraphy, Biology) W. D. Bew (Latin, Germany H. G. Millington (French, Divinity) C. Schofield (Mathematics) A. McPherson (Physics) S. Alamouti (Chemistry, Mathematics*) R. H. Dutton (Technical Drawing) A. C. J. Ward (Chemistry*)

(English,

History)

Music Instrumental: Higher Grade: S. E. Nickson Lower Grade: A. Raybould Music Art: Pottery: Vocal: Senior: Junior:

S. M. Agnew P. H. Gilbert

C. L. Lee
Design:

Creative

A. C. J. Ward M. Khayami
Prize

Improvement

OCTOBER

1973

THE ELLESMERIAN

11

~OU5t ~Ott5
LAMBART
J. M. Scorer, Esq. B. W. Poll Esq., N. R. Panting Esq., C. A. J. Veal Esq., I. D. Gregory Esq. R. J. H. Whitworth (Michaelmas Term) Captain of House R. G. Smith (Lent and Summer Terms) R. J. H. Whitworth, W. N. Lamberton, R. G. School Prefects Smith. R. A. Patterson, P. M. A. Jones, C. L. Lee. House Prefects The year began with a new tutor, Mr. Gregory, who took over from Mr. Wolters, and Lambart's first girl members, Patricia Jonathan and Felicity Corbett. Rugby was the only House competition in the Michaelmas Term. Despite having in R. G. Smith the House's first ever captain of a major School sport, we enjoyed no success in the Senior Rugby. The junior team, led by S. A. McAuley, who also captained the School under 16 team, was defeated by Talbot in the final. Success came in the Lent Term. The Colts cross-country team won their section for the second year running, and the senior squash team, captained by I. Lamb, won a fine victory over Woodard, to maintain a tradition in the sport. In the first round of the hockey we were defeated by Wakeman after extra time, and after an interminable succession of penalty flicks. This is the second time in two years we have had this misfortune. There is House Competition a-plenty in the Summer Term. C. J. U. Jagger and A. J. W. Hill won the junior tennis, making it three times in a row we have won this Cup. The junior cricket final proved most exciting. Woodard scored 138 off their 30 overs. We batted steadily but seemingly too slowly until the last over; four runs were needed from the last ball, but this proved too much, and Woodard squeezed home. The instrumental music competition was held this term. A. Raybould and R. J. Pritchard led our challenge here and did extremely well to help us into second place. There was again considerable enthusiasm for the Shell and IVth athletic standards, but we could not repeat last year's performance and had to be content with third place. Games, of course, are not the whole picture. Many members of the House have been active in other fields. It is pleasing to note the foundation of the "Forum," a society for junior boys in the House, which meets from time to time to hold debates, discussions, read plays, etc. During the summer holidays Lambart is going to receive a "facelift" to the downstairs quarters. We are turning the "New Dayroom" into a kitchen, and "Old Dayroom" will again become the main Dayroom. Some structural alterations will be necessary. House Colours have been awarded to R. G. Smith, R. A. Patterson, P. M. A. Jones and C. L. Lee. The following left us at Christmas: D. E. I. Bottomley, G. W. Clarke, W. N. Lamberton, J. A. Leese and R. J. H. Whitworth. The outcome of G.C.E. exams being unknown as yet, the Summer Term's leavers are uncertain. We certainly say goodbye to T. D. C. Caldicott, P. C. Conner, R. H. Dutton, P. M. A. Jones, C. L. Lee, S. Nicol. To all of them we wish every success in their careers. Housemaster Tutors

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Housemaster Tutors School Prefects House Prefects

Vol. LXXXV, No. 310

MEYNELL
J. C. Wolters, Esq. R. A. Kingdon Esq., J. N. M. Wright Esq., R. A. Clay Esq., R. P. Graves Esq. A. F. T. Sheppard. R. K. Dodwell. E. A. M. Ashworth, K. S. N. Pettegree, R. O. Manby.

Under the new management of Mr. J. C. Wolters and his wife, various changes have been seen around the House-we have welcomed two girls mto the Sixth Form, Isobel Riddell and Jane Davies, and accepted the newly Initiated "open house" on Tuesday evenings with gratitude. A wining and dining society for Sixth Formers was inaugurated at the Hand Hotel, Chirk, and it was good to see Tutors and their wives present as well. Most of our successes have been achieved by the seniors, though many juniors strove harder for lesser rewards. The senior Rugger teams, under E. A. M. Ashworth, with strong backing from N. E. McIlveen, K. S. N. Pettegree, R. K. Dodwell, R. O. Manby and R. R. Syrn, won both the 15- and 7-a-side competitions-the latter without a point being scored against us. The hockey team, led and trained (!) by D. H. Keen, won the competition after close matches against Talbot in the first round and Wakeman in the final. An enthusiastic basketball team, with K. S. N. Pettegree as Captain, were victorious despite being underdogs in both matches. In the Summer Term our efforts to achieve the Grand Slam by winning the three major sports, Rugger, hockey and cricket-something we believe never done-were foiled by Talbot in the final. Sterling work by D. H. Keen, R. R. Syrn and R. O. Manby with the bat, and K. S. N. Pettegree with the ball thus went unrewarded. Our minor sports teams-squash, swimming, water polo, athletics, cross-country and tennis-have not proved so successful, despite the untiring work put in by the respective captains. M. J. Ball's senior tennis team did manage to recover some lost pride. Away from the playing fields, N. R. Syrn encouraged the unison choir to sing well enough to take first place, although our soloists could not achieve such success. The social aspects of the House have also seen changes. In the Michaelmas Term parents were invited to a Punch Party, which was enjoyed by all, as was the Summer Term Barbecue. This term we say goodbye to Mr. and Mrs. R. P. Graves, who leave the field of education for that of television. We thank both of them for all that they have done, and wish them every success in the future. Full Colours for Rugger were gained by E. A. M. Ashworth and N. E. McIlveen, and for cricket by K. S. N. Pettegree and C. D. Butler. Half-Colours for Rugger were achieved by K. S. N. Pettegree, R. O. Manby, R. R. Syrn and R. K. Dodwell. Minor sports Colours were awarded to R. K. Dodwell, D. H. Keen, C. D. Butler, M. J. Ball and B. S. Murray. House Colours were won by R. K. Dodwell, K. S. N. Pettegree, R. O. Manby, B. S. Murray, N. E. McIlveen and D. H. Keen; Junior Colours by J. C. Syrn, J. T. Keable and R. C. M. Ashworth. Leavers this year, to whom we wish every success in the future, were: Isobel Riddell, A. F. T. Sheppard, E. A. M. Ashworth, R. K. Dodwell, K. S. N. Pettegree, B. S. Murray, M. J. Ball, N. E. Mcilveen, N. R. Sym, C. P. Greig, D. H. Keen, J. H. B. Beaumont, P. C. Crewe, A. D. Cradduck, W. L. Jennings. R. K. DODWELL.

OCTOBER

1973

THE

ELLESMERIAN

13

TALBOT
Housemaster

House Tutors Captain of House House Prefects ...

H. R. Hill, Esq. K. J. Shuttleworth Esq., L. P. Beard Esq., M. J. Boothroyd Esq., A. F. Thompson Esq. D. C. Hedley (Michaelmas), P. C. Ellis (Lent), R. D. Meredith (Lent and Summer). R. A. Campbell, T. S. M. Hopkins, C. D. Main, C. V. Marsh.

We were glad to welcome Mr. A. F. Thompson as a House Tutor in place of Mr. T. J. Powell, and we hope that he will have a long and happy association with the House. We were fortunate this year in having a strong nucleus of capable Sixth Formers in the House, and thanks to their efforts and organisation, the running of the House has been very smooth-in spite of having three different House Captains! We congratulate D. C. Hedley on becoming Captain of School and P. C. Ellis on becoming a School Prefect, both of whom retained a lively interest in House affairs. The modernisation of House premises has brought problems with it, which have not been completely solved during the year. The freedom of access to a number of smaller rooms and bedrooms, although enjoyed, has not so far brought a corresponding increase in pride or responsibility, and there still exists a challenge to be met, in terms of maintaining a high standard without constant supervision. A pleasing feature of the year has been the readiness of the younger members to organise themselves, and they have shown a liveliness which will stimulate the House into greater activity in the future. Once again the Summer Term proved to be the most successful in terms of visible success. The swimming maintained the previous year's successes. The water polo league was won for the third successive year, with the team once again winning all their matches comfortably. In the senior swimming we had a runaway victory, winning every event but one, and finishing with a lead of 45 points-the highest margin ever. The Junior Competition turned out to be most exciting. We eventually beat Lambart by It points, having to win both relays to do so, and succeeding by a touch in both cases. Congratulations to P. C. Ellis (Captain), R. A. Campbell, T. R. W. Jenkyn-Jones and R. P. J. Robinson who, throughout the season, repeatedly broke School records. R. A. Campbell, T. R. W. Jenkyn-Jones and R. P. J. Robinson were also selected to swim for Shropshire. In the athletics field special mention must be made of R. D. Meredith, who was unbeaten in all School matches, captained Shropshire, and came third in the All-England Championships, and was subsequently chosen to represent England in International matches. In the Shell and Fourth standards we came second to Woodard in a close contest. We also came second in all three levels of the Athletic Sports, which was a fine effort in view of our limited talent. The senior cricket team again won, thanks to some fine batting by D. C. Hedley in the final against Meynell. When it looked as though Meynell would win, they were bowled out. The juniors, with a very young team, were unable to adjust to the limited overs game, and were well beaten, but should be virtually unchanged for the next year. In the 6-a-side competition we emerged joint winners with Meynell, thus maintaining our unbeaten sequence in this event.

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In the remaining minor sports (tennis, squash, cross-country) we did not enjoy much success. The shooting team-on paper very weak-performed creditably, holding the lead until the last round, in which they were beaten into third place. The House choir was in good voice again, winning back the Cup which had been temporarily out of our possession, but in the instrumental competition we were so thin on the ground that our "trio" consisted of the only musicians in the House, and even though they did themselves justice, we were unable to compete with the other Houses. The junior Rugby team again excelled by winning both the Junior Cup and, for the second year, the 7-a-side competition, and although the seniors had a good team they were unable to progress beyond the first round. In the basketball, where we hoped to r~rd further success, we were narrowly beaten by Meynell, allowing ourselves to be hustle.t of our usual fluent style. Senior House Colours were awarded during the year to R. D. Meredith, R. A. Campbell, T. S. M. Hopkins, C. D. Main, C. V. Marsh and S. Morpuss. Junior Colours were given to P. L. Brereton, C. D. Edwards, R. P. J. Robinson, R. Yarwood, C. T. Nguyen, C. V. Atkinson, C. Tri Nguyen, R. G. Scotter. Congratulations to D. C. Hedley for being Captain of the 1st Xl Cricket for the second year, P. C. Ellis for captaining the School swimming team for the second year, and C. D. Main for obtaining Cricket Colours. Minor Sports Colours were won by R. A. Campbell, T. A. Jackson and R. D. Russell for swimming. We are very sorry to lose Mr. L. P. Beard, who has been a Tutor in Talbot for five years. During this time he has been deeply involved in the work and activities of the boys of the House, and many will remember in the future his interest and encouragement. We wish him and Mrs. Beard much happiness in their new life at Canford School. We said Auf Wiedersehen to N. K. Hufschmidt at the end of the Michaelmas Term after five years, and he will be remembered for his musical talent and success in cross-country running. We say farewell this summer to D. C. Hedley, P. C. Ellis, R. A. Campbell, N. D. Johnson, C. D. Main, C. V. Marsh, S. Morpuss, P. S. Rickaby, J. W. D. Roberts, C. B. Spencer, P. J. Thompson, S. J. B. Heynes and C. G. N. Cowper. We wish them every success in the future.

WAKEMAN
Housemaster Tutors Captain of House School Prefect House Prefects ... B. Hooton Esq. D. T. Walker Esq., P. B. Privett Esq., T. C. HowittDring Esq., C. H. Jones Esq. S. M. Agnew. S. E. Nickson. E. F. Lewis, C. L. Sutton, R. A. Fisher, P. N. Higgins.

We started the year with a fine field of sporting enthusiasts. In the Rugby competition our first match, for once, was not against Woodard, and we defeated a powerful Talbot side, but finally lost the Cup to Meynell after an extremely tough final. We again finished

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behind Meynell in the sevens, despite beating every other House. In the hockey, basketball and cricket, we defeated our old rivals, Woodard, in the first round, but didn't win any of the semi-finals. Just to show that we can win something, the first ever electrically amplified blowing, banging and plucking brigade captured the House Instrumental Cup-a good effort on the part of all the House musicians. On the academic front, congratulations must go to M. G. Anderson, M. H. AbeJIRichards, S. P. Nichols, C. W. Thompson and C. Smith for gaining eight or more O-Ievels last July; to N. J. Davenport on being accepted by Sandhurst, and to M. A. Vincent and R. F. Gill on gaining places at Durham University and Manchester Polytechnic respectively. The House Dayroom now has an excellent television provided by Mr. Berrisford, and Mr. Gwillim has supplied material to curtain both dormitories. To both parents we express our sincere thanks. The House Plays, held on two nights in the Lent Term, were a roaring success. Supper for the House followed the second performance, and the guest of honour, Mr. Jackson, was able to tell us that this was the first occasion on which Shakespeare had been performed in the Dayroom. By the end of the Summer Term, House Colours had been awarded to S. M. Agnew, S. E. Nickson, E. F. Lewis, C. L. Sutton, R. A. Fisher, N. J. Blakey, C. P. Booth, Mr. D. T. Walker and Mr. P. B. Privett. We say goodbye to the first seven in this list and wish them well in the future. Special thanks go to S. M. Agnew for the way he has captained the House and maintained the friendly atmosphere. Goodbye also to Mr. B. Hooton, who has abdicated from his throne as Housemaster of Wakeman after a reign of six years. We wish him all the luck that Wakeman can give in his new venture down south, but we will all miss that booming stentorial Lancashire accent and the clouds of dense smoke which always seem to precede and succeed him. Instead we shall have clouds of French smoke as Mr. Privett takes over. We welcome him and hope that he will be happy in his new post. The final high spot of the year was a Punch Party held in the Dayroom on June 24th. Most of the Wakeman parents were able to meet Mr. Privett in a very cordial and less academic atmosphere.

WOODARD
N. R. Ainscow Esq. R. A. Brown Esq., R. R. Jagoe Esq., W. H. Barnett Esq., P. J. N. Knowles Esq. Captain of House R. T. Hughes (School Prefect). Vice-Captain of House P. H. McCullough (School Prefect). House Prefects ... J. P. Eddy, J. C. H. Codling, R. W. Evans. This year's activities began with something of a repetition in that we gained second place in the House Music Competition for the second year running. Practices for this event took place, for the first time, in the House Dayroom on our recently acquired piano. We owe our enjoyment and partial success in this to our patient House Choregus, J. D. Harvey. Our solos in the competition were D. J. Davies, P. M. Norman and J. D. Harvey. Housemaster House Tutors

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We were again unsuccessful in the House Rugby competition. The Christmas Term culminated with the traditional House Party. Much hard work was put into its organization and performance, which were enjoyed by all. The Lent Term started off badly with our losing the hitherto held Hockey Cup. This was partially a result of the age of the team which, I am assured, has good prospects for the future! Perhaps the highlight of our sporting year was the House Cross-Country Competition, in which we won both the Senior and Junior Cups, but not the Colts. For this success we must thank D. J. Davies, M. J. Timmis, T. Beard, H. M. Chambers and R. L. Toon. Another competition in which we excelled was the squash: the seniors, unfortunately, lost to Lambart despite the efforts of J. C. H. Codling and D. J. Davies. For the winning of the Junior Cup our thanks go to the whole team, whose all-round effort made this possible. We congratulate J. K. Finn, P. H. McCullough, J. P. Eddy and J. C. H. Codling on being awarded their Senior House Colours, and M. J. Clews on being awarded his Junior House Colours. In the Summer Term, although the Senior House Cricket Competition was lost in the preliminary round, we won the House League Cup for which the Captain, N. J. Crane, deserves special mention. Other successes in the term included the winning of the Shell and Fourth Form Athletics Standards Cup, for which we congratulate not only the team, but also T. Beard, whose excellent coaching and administration was commendable. We also won the Shooting Cup under the captaincy of M. J. Timmis. Our hopes are fairly high for the House Athletics Competition at the end of the Summer Term. The Junior House Cricket Cup was won by a very narrow margin dependent on the opposing team not scoring six runs in the last over-they scored four! The House Punch Party in the Summer Term served as a pleasant "calm before the storm" of external examinations. It was also a token of our appreciation of the hospitality we have received from our Tutors and other members of Common Room. At the end of the Summer Term the following were awarded Senior House Colours: R. W. Evans, D. J. Davies, R. J. Thurgood, R. L. Toon, T. Beard and M. J. Timmis; Junior House Colours were awarded to C. M. Pacey, J. C. Higgins, P. W. Skinner and O. de Lisle. Finally we say farewell to R. T. Hughes, J. P. Eddy, J. C. H. Codling, R. W. Evans, A. R. Mason, R. J. Thurgood, C. R. C. Pugh, R. H. Lloyd, P. J. Cross, M. J. Timmis, A. c. Ward, R. Moore and o. Leschallier de Lisle; we are grateful to them all for their support and wish them every happiness in the future. (Old Woodardians will be saddened to learn of the death of Colonel Hunter-Watts, O.B.E., sometime Housemaster of Woodard, on the 5th April 1973; his obituary may be read elsewhere in the magazine.) R.W.E.

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1973

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Chapel Notes
Many tributes may be found in this Ellesmerian to R.A.L.L., but it would not be fitting if the Chapel notes did not contain one also, for of all the spheres of School life, the Chapel lay closest to his heart. He was a stickler for everything that was "good" in the practice of worship, be it music, reading, preaching or ritual. It was being offered to the "greater glory of God" and therefore it had to be the best. He had no time (and less patience) with the "modern" approach to religion, believing that it was essentially ephemeral in character and therefore of little or no lasting value; he could never be satisfied with "Instant-God," holding that it was a poor substitute for the real thing. This may have seemed to some a rather rigid and unsympathetic attitude, but it was prompted by a genuine and lasting devotion to the cause of the worship of God in the College Chapel; he cared deeply-and therefore he will be deeply missed. I can only add my thanks to those of many generations of Ellesmerians for the love and service he has given to the Chapel over more than twenty-five years. 1 must also thank those who work for the Chapel in their various ways: the ladies who do the flowers, especially perhaps Mrs. Skipper and Mrs. Nankivell; the servers, and especially Nigel Sym, the Sacristan, who has been a tower of strength on the one hand and an unending source of "Heath Robinson" -like gadgets on the other; the Choir, and especially Stephen Agnew, who has been the lynch-pin this year, holding it all together and who, as Prefect of Chapel, has always ensured that everything has been done "decently and in order, i.e." in a way of which R.A.L.L. approved!

Christian Meeting Point


This year the group has increased in size to accommodate a greater age range. Mr. Gowdey has again undertaken the supervision of the group. Under his direction we have looked at the life of Paul from the time of his conversion, in a study of extracts from his letters, concerning the methods of teaching the Gospel which make up the New Testament. We have taken a step away from Bible study and considered the Second Coming of the Lord; basing our ideas on a paper from a Bible College. Also over a fortnight we discussed evangelism out of Chapel. There is talk of breaking the group into two as our numbers increase and as discussion becomes more difficult-the year has not been "a bed of roses" all the time. Plans are already being made for next term, and we hope to see the Christian Meeting Point flourish in the future. PETER GOATES, L.VI.

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Choir Notes
The following new members of the Choir were enrolled at the beginning of the Michaelmas Term: R. C. Anderson, J. N. Bartholomew, J. H. T. Beach, M. H. Birch, J. M. P. Codling, F. W. A. Crouch, P. G. Forster (Chester Cathedral), P. H. Gilbert (Llandaff Cathedral), J. S. Gowdey, A. P. R. Hammersley (S. Michael's, Tenbury), W. L. Jennings, R. E. Stuffins and R. S. Tudor. P. M. Norman sang with the Choir during the Michaelmas Term only. In January we were joined by M. J. Brammer, C. I. Chegwen, S. J. Davies, M. P. J. Pargeter and R. o. Williams. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols attracted its usual large complement of visitors on 9th and 10th December. Newcomers among this year's carols were the Provencal Carol, Within the vale of Eden, and the Neapolitan Carol, The stars were clear and bright. A Huron Carol, 'Twas in the moon of winter-time, with genuine tom-tom accompaniment (played and supplied by A. P. R. Hammersley) was a novelty; and, once again, Silent Night (or should we say Stille Nacht?) was sung in German. The Prefect of Chapel, S. M. Agnew, ably conducted the small choir in the Lady Chapel as they sang a Carol of the Annunciation, Ah! Gabriel. Once again the generous contributions of visitors enabled us to send large sums to the Children's Society and Help the Aged. The previous Sunday the Service of Advent Readings and Music had again taken its accustomed place. In the Lent Term, Handel's Messiah was our big choral event in Chapel, when the Choir were supplemented by other members of College, Common Room and their ladies, and singers from Moreton Hall and Prestfelde. We were fortunate to be able to have the services of the same soloists as in our previous performance of Haydn's Creation (Joyce Rogers, soprano; John Corbet, tenor; and Bryan Harper, bass) with the addition of Margaret Darlington, contralto. The String Orchestra, led by Mr. Vincent Priestley, with Mr. Sydney Williams playing the trumpet obligato, and Mr. Rex Lumley at the organ, were under the baton of Mr. John Naylor, who conducted with his accustomed vigour and attention to detail and enabled the singers to give of their best and be welded into a coherent whole. Our visitors were liberal in their contributions towards the same kind of charity for which Handel himself did so much during his lifetime; the Save the Children Fund benefited by some £66. J. D. Harvey has entered the realm of organists assisting in playing for Morning Chapel, and we look forward to his soon being joined by those others whose skills are approaching this point. The end of term sees one of the largest "leaves" for many years: S. M. Agnew (ex-Chester Cathedral), H. T. Ashton, M. J. Ball (ex-Saint Mary's, Shrewsbury), D. P. Dowswell and W. J. Dowswell (both ex-Chester Cathedral), J. P. Eddy, S. E. Nickson and P. J. Thompson (ex-Lichfield Cathedral). To these must be added the name of N. Hufschmidt who left us last December. They have all contributed richly to Ellesmere's long tradition of Chapel Music, and we cannot be sufficiently grateful to them for all the time and labour they have devoted to making our Chapel Services as worthy as possible of their skills. In doing this, their names are added to the mounting numbers of those who have preceded them over the years-names which will certainly never be forgotten by all those who have had the privilege of working with them. May their ability to make music for the joy of themselves and others continue for many, many years to come. R.A.L.L.

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1973

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School Music
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"Oh no! It's me on next. Keep calm, remember; deep breathing. There's nothing to worry about, you've done it before, you can't go wrong, ... well shouldn't go wrong . . . what if I do go wrong? I can't do it, I've got to get out! Drat, now they've stopped clapping, I've got to go on. Now, remember your music, and don't forget the tricky diddiley-um-tum bit."
P. W. S. Skinner, IV.

The House Singing Competition took place on Thursday, 23rd November, when we welcomed David Grundy, Esq., Director of Music at Adams' Grammar School, Newport, once again as adjudicator; he had previously visited us to judge the Instrumental Competition in March 1972. In the solo section, Talbot and Woodard emerged with the same totals (59), slightly ahead of Wakeman. There had been memorable performances by S. M. Agnew (WA) singing The Two Grenadiers, D. J. Davies (Wo) The Drummer and the Cook, J. D. Harvey (Wo) Stone-cracker John, and P. J. Thompson (T) When a maiden takes your fancy. Then followed the House part-song, when Meynell's The Ash Grove scored 36 against Talbot's 35 for The Farmer's Boy. In the final round, the House Unison Songs, the position was further pressed by Meynell (Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines) scoring an equal marking with Talbot (On the Banks of Allan Water), with Woodard in second place with Consider yourself. The sum total of these factors was that Talbot emerged as Cup-holder with 130 points, Woodard in second place with 118, only two ahead of Meynell with 116. Wakeman and Lambart scored 111 and ·94 respectively. The House Instrumental Competition had to be deferred from the Lent Term because of the performance of Messiah (this is recorded under Choir notes) and eventually took place in the Summer Term on Friday, 25th May. The adjudicator on this occasion was Richard Jones, Esq., Assistant Director of Music at Shrewsbury School. In the keyboard-instrument section, highest-scoring entries were played by J. D. Harvey (Wo), S. E. Nickson (Wa), R. J. Pritchard (L) and A. Raybould (L). In the instrumental section, similar successes were achieved by N. J. Cousins, Clarinet (Wo): A. P. R. Hammersley, Trumpet (M); S. E. Nickson, Double-Bass (Wa) and N. R. Sym, French Horn (M). At the end of the solo section, Woodard was in the lead with 67 over Wakeman's 62. In the Ensemble section, the position reversed, with Talbot and Wakeman tying with a top marking of 37, and Lambart and Woodard tieing in second place with 33. Meynell came only 2 behind with 31. This meant that the Instrumental Cup is held for the current year by Wakeman. An informal Concert on Saturday, 27th January, attracted an appreciative audience of both visitors and members of College. Two-piano works were played by J.D.N. and R.A.L.L. (Poulenc's L'Embarquement pour Cytherei, and J.D.N. and N. R. Sym (Arthur Benjamin's Jamaican Rumba). Other combined efforts were a nicely-balanced trio for two flutes (R. P. B. Appleton and A. Raybould) and piano (J. D. Harvey) by Beethoven, and Purcell's Sound the Trumpet played by P. W. S. Skinner and A. P. R. Hammersley as a trumpet duet, accompanied by J.D.N. on the piano and S. E. Nickson on the double-bass. There were piano solos by J. D. Harvey, A. Raybould, R. J. Pritchard, P. L. Brereton, S. E. Nickson and N. R.

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Sym; a trumpet solo by P. W. S. Skinner; a hom solo by J. D. Harvey; violin solo by P. L. Brereton; and flute solo by R. P. B. Appleton. Two songs sung by S. M. Agnew, accompanied by S. E. Nickson, provided welcome variety in the midst of all this instrumental activity. A much-enjoyed finale to the proceedings was an instrumental ensemble (relentlessly pursued by Mrs. R. Brown during the previous few weeks-who we have to thank for this particular musical offering) playing pieces from My Fair Lady. In this, most of the instrumental soloists mentioned above were joined by N. J. Cousins and o. T. Cooke (Clarinets), P. H. Gilbert and N. R. Syms (Horns), J. R. D. Moore (Bassoon) and A. R. Blakeley (Trombone). The piano part alternated between R.A.L.L. and Mrs. Brown who, when dispossessed of the piano stool, took her place at the drums. The County School of Music has had representatives from Ellesmere in its three Orchestras -So E. Nickson (Double Bass) in the First Orchestra; A. P. R. Hammersley (Trumpet) in the Second Orchestra; and J. R. A. Moore (Bassoon) and 'N. R. Sym (Horn) in the Wind Band. The annual concert took place in Shrewsbury on 13th July and was, as usual, of an exceedingly high standard. We are grateful to the County Music Adviser, Mr. Richard White, for making this co-operation possible. We have been sorry that Mr. E. V. Priestley and Mr. Bryan Harper, both members of our valuable Visiting Music Teachers Staff, have been absent through illness during this term. Happily they are now about again, and we look forward to having them with us in September. On the other hand, Mr. D. S. Sutton, who has taught woodwind instruments

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with great skill for us for the last five years, finds himself so fully committed elsewhere that he will not be able to come to us after the end of this term. Similarly Mr. S. H. Williams, who has taught Brass Instruments for us with great devotion every week for the last ten years, has also ceased to come to us during the year for similar reasons. To both of them we are much indebted; their willingness to help us week by week, in spite of long journeys, and their unswerving loyalty to our musical life, will be remembered with gratitude by all those who benefited from their tuition. To Mrs. R. Brown, Mr. R. Jones, Mr. P. A. Lewis and Mr. R. L. Williams we also offer our warmest thanks for all they continue to do for us-often in the face of heavy pressure of work from outside, since they all have regular obligations to other schools. The following have been successful in the examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music during the year: S. M. Agnew Singing, Grade 4, With Distinction S. M. Agnew Singing, Gade 5, With Distinction A. R. Blakeley: Organ, Grade 4 A. R. Blakeley: Singing, Grade 4, With Merit A. R. Blakeley: Trombone, Grade 4, S. P. Boulcott: Oboe, Grade 3 P. L. Brereton: Violin, Grade 5, With Merit N. J. Cousins: Clarinet, Grade 3, With Merit F. W. A. Crouch: Violin, Grade 4 S. R. Forster: Theory, Grade 3 J. D. Harvey: Organ, Grade 4 N. Hufschmidt: Piano, Grade 4 J. R. A. Moore: Bassoon, Grade 4 R. J. Pritchard: Theory, Grade 5 R. J. Pritchard: Theory, Grade 6, With Distinction R. J. Pritchard: Organ, Grade 4, P. J. Thompson: Singing, Grade 4

Celebrity Concerts: Eleventh Season


Opera, Violin and Piano, Harp and Flute; once again variety (both of music, instruments and artists) was combined with the highest standards of professional ability. Opera can always be relied upon to have a wide appeal, and the Opera Players' production of Die Fledermaus was so popular that not only was Big School packed almost beyond capacity, but several latecomers had to be turned away. The same sense of a real theatrical performance which characterised their previous visit at our very first concert in 1962 made the evening most enjoyable. "Top Artists Give Recital" was the headline in a Shropshire paper for an account of the recital by Max Rostal (violin) and Colin Horsley (piano) on November 18th. Sonatas by Mozart, Beethoven (the Kreutzer), Debussy and Lennox Berkeley gave ample scope for this well-matched duo. A piano recital by Iris Loveridge on February 3rd attracted a large audience with whom she immediately established that personal rapport which so facilitates the communication essential for a true understanding of the music. As a person she was charming, vivacious and sincere, qualities which characterised her playing. Her programme, including works by Beethoven (Waldstein), Debussy, Chopin and Dohnanyi also enabled her to display her very considerable technical accomplishment.

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The last concert of the series had a two-fold significance: being both the 50th concert in the series, and the last at which Rex Lumley would be present as Director of Music, having founded the concerts eleven years ago. Marisa Robles (harp) and Christopher Hyde-Smith (flute) provided a sensuously satisfying blend of sound, and it was a renewed pleasure to hear Miss Robles play some of the Spanish pieces which displayed both the rich tonal resources of the instrument and her own virtuosity. It was a most successful season both musically and for the fact that in spite of rising prices, we managed to cover all costs. Next year's prices will be the same, but it remains to be seen whether the infliction of VAT will result in any serious loss. As always, our thanks are due to many willing helpers both with the stage, the ticket desk and the stewarding.

Flamenco Guitar
A sizeable audience enjoyed a very comprehensive selection of Flamenco styles played with marvellous interpretation and competence by Michael Trory. This mixture of Eastern music and Western interpretation, which is now known as Flamenco, was unquestionably popular with our audience. Not only the music, but also the amusing anecdotes of the guitarist, won their appreciation. I personally look forward to more concerts like this one, and to another visit by Mr. Trory. M. G. ANDERSON, L.VI.

Organ Recital
The organ recital this year was given by Dr. Francis Jackson, organist of York Minster and President of the Royal College of Organists. The programme began with a Cornet Voluntary by William Walond. This delightful little piece tinkled along at a lively pace and involved a dialogue between the Great Cornet and an echo effect. After this "appetizer" we were involved in the lengthy Prelude and Fugue in E flat (St. Anne) by J. S. Bach. The prelude made use of some excellent discourse between different registers whilst the fugue firmly resolved the piece as one of Bach's most noble compositions. The Andante in G by S. S. Wesley provided a welcome interlude though it lacked the sparkle it might have possessed. Perhaps one of the most enjoyable pieces of the recital was the Modal Suite by Flor Peeters, which displayed Dr. Jackson's ability to contrast one passage against the other. By special request, the Sarabande for the Morning of Easter by Herbert Howells was played. This piece has all the Howells characteristics and came over very well on the College organ. The short Scherzo by Percy Whitlock gave us a frivolous respite from the serious vein before the Sonata Giocosa by Francis Jackson. The sonata was commissioned for the Builders' Festival in York Minster in April 1972, and its three movements are intended to portray the stages of the Cathedral's Restoration. First the feeling of concern at the precarious state of the fabric; secondly, the turmoil and upheaval by the repair work; and lastly, the joy at the completion and rebirth of the Cathedral. The first two movements adequately fulfilled their intentions but the last movement did not quite reach the climax that one expected. On the whole then, the recital was interesting and varied, but stressed perhaps too heavily the English school of organ music. C.R.A.

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Quite apart from important public occasions such as our Celebrity Organ Recitals, the Chapel Organ has continued to attract visitors from far and wide. During the Easter holidays in April, some fifty members of the Organ Club of London came to the College to see, to hear and to hear about the present instrument in Chapel. They also heard something about our previous organ there. Their visit was part of a tour of the North-West, in the course of which they also visited Chester Cathedral and the Anglican and Metropolitan Cathedrals at Liverpool. On Saturday, 19th May, the Shrewsbury and District Organists' Association met at the College when they heard a recital given by Mr. John James and Mr. Andrew Beaizley, both of the Royal Normal College for the Blind in Shrewsbury. On Sunday afternoon, 24th June, a large number of the Parochial Church Council of S. Mary's, Market Drayton, came to the College for a demonstration of and information about the organ, as they are facing the question of replacing the one in their own parish church. Other interested visitors this term have been from S. Mary's Church at Stafford (on whose magnificent four-manual "Harrison" organ the writer did a lot of his early playing nearly forty years ago!); our own builders, Messrs. Hill, Norman and Beard, have recently been asked to install a smaller two-manual organ in this church as an addition. The organist of S. Peter's Collegiate Church, Wolverhampton (who is also on the Music Staff of Tettenhall College) has been another interested one; the big "Father Willis" organ in his church has recently been rebuilt and attracted recitalists such as Flor Peeters and Fernando Germani. It is rewarding to realise that our own "new" (1969!) organ in the College Chapel has lived up to the intention of its designers of being an instrument of modem design capable of fulfilling a number of different functions (i.e. services, teaching and recital purposes) equally well, and has become a centre of interest which continues to attract an increasingly large number of people. R.A.L.L.

Vile Bodies

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It would hardly be fair to complete our account of the Year's Music without mentioning the successful Pop Concert given a few days before the end of the Summer Term by a College Group known as "Vile Bodies." The evening was a tre mend ous more.

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11Brama
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"My part as the Orderly Officer comes near to the end when I announce to Ramp that he is to be shot the following morning. It is the climax of the whole play ... " J. R. A. Moore (LVI)

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'Mistress Man.lj;ger

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25 Hamp is the story of a British soldier in the First World War who is tried for desertion and shot. The play began most effectively. We heard off-stage the noise of gun-fire and shelling and then the curtain went up to reveal Hamp, under arrest, playing his mouth-organ. It soon becomes clear that the continual strain of three years in the front line has brought him to the point of breakdown. The final blow came when he was nearly drowned in a muddy shell-hole, and a friend of his was blown to bits at such close quarters that Hamp was covered in gore and had to get a new uniform. "After that," he tells us, "I just couldn't stand it any more." At the first opportunity, he turned from the sound of the guns and started walking home. As "Harnp," Bill Spencer must be applauded for mastering an immensely long and difficult part. Difficult because Harnp is, by his own admission, "gorrnless" and inarticulate. But the structure of the play demands that we feel sympathy for him in his predicament. Enough sympathy to carry us through the lengthy court-martial scene, in which, for the most part, he has to sit and appear to be unable to follow what is happening, and not even really interested-almost as if it was somebody else's case which was being heard. Spencer was at his most successful in the third act. There he managed to convey the shock and despair of a simple man who comes to realise that he is to be shot for doing something which he was unable to avoid. Captain Hargreaves, the defending officer was played by Christopher Anstey. This was the other major role, and a most demanding part. He was thoroughly at home where the role required him to be forceful; and indeed, this was the most vivid and successful performance of the evening. Of the supporting players, mention must be made of Richard Smith, as the practical Lieutenant Webb, who believed that Hamp was not really to blame, but must be shot to encourage the others; of David Hedley, as the narrow-minded M.O., whose medical answer for the depths of physical and nervous exhaustion was a "Number Nine"; and of Christopher Smith as the padre, who had to prepare Hamp to meet his Maker. As usual, the make-up and costumes were impeccable, and the technical side of things in good hands. If there was one slight disappointment, it was that the set for the second act was a little too clean and clinical to convey the atmosphere of a requisitioned chateau which had seen better times. Hamp is a difficult play, but it poses very serious moral questions, and we must thank the producer and all those concerned for bringing it before us.

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Christopher Anstey,

Michael Anderson,

Christopher Smith

and

Courtesy Shropshire Star Christopher Spencer

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"Morning Departure"
Morning Departure is a classically constructed play. Nine survivors of a mine-damaged submarine wait 80 feet down, fouled on a wreck, whilst on the surface shore staff fight their battles against red tape and the "rule book" to save them before time runs out. Here then are all the ingredients of drama; a cross-section of Humanity responding in their different ways to the challenge of disaster. We see the clash of personalities sharpened by tension as the seconds tick away in the doomed sub. We identify with the trapped men and ask ourselves uneasily how we would react in similar circumstances. Would we cave in like Snipe or maintain the phlegmatic calm of Mcfee? Would we draw on reserves of inner strength like Stanford and Manson or find release in impish humour like Able Seaman Higgins? Throughout, the audience are involved in the tightening tension: concerned not only in a "will they, won't they" reaction to the possibility of escape, but also in the moral dilemma the predicament poses. It is a tribute to Mr. Graves's production that the interplay of character came through as strongly as the battle with circumstances. Every member of the cast emerged as a clearlydrawn individual, even those who had no more than a few lines. Petty Officer Barlow, for

Courtesy Shropshire Star Julian Beach, Vivian Gwillim, Peter Skinner, Bruce Edwards

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example, and the clerk Bradley, made the most of their chances to come across as real characters, rather than random purveyors of dialogue. The ratings in the sub. were completely convincing in the little they had to do, and an object lesson in how to complement a scene without seeking to dominate it. Of those fighting their battles by telephone, Julian Beach was movingly eloquent as Commander Gates, striving to galvanise bureaucracy into action, and he found admirable foils in the various "brass-hats" he encountered; John Higgins, exasperatingly dogmatic as Fenton; William Crouch concerned but cautious, as Whateley, and finally David Hudson, roaringly dynamic as Marshall. It is not easy to establish a living character when rooted to a desk and wedded to a 'phone-so much depends on intonation and phrasing-and the producer had done wonders with his cast here. Below the waves Vivian Gwillim was suitably dominating as Commander Stanford, imposing his will on his men by sheer force of personality. This was a fine performance, impressive in the disciplined restraint the actor imposed upon his interpretation, never allowing himself to topple into melodramatic histrionics. He was well supported by Andrew Greenall and Peter Skinner and Simon Boulcott as his officers, all establishing separate identities with the last-named to be particularly commended on maintaining a Scots accent impeccably until his untimely end. Hugh Lambert did well in the difficult and unsympathetic role of Snipe-it is never easy to "crack-up" on stage-and Bruce Edwards was perfectly relaxed and natural as the irrepressible Higgins. His sparrings with Manson were finely timed, and brought spontaneous laughter to relax the tension at crucial moments. Over us all hung the image of the doomed sub. What a magnificent job John Harvey and his assistants had done in creating the steel-grey shell of bulkheads, dials, flashing lights and pipes which entombed Stanford and his men. This was a set worthy of a professional company. It is a tribute to the cast, lighting men, wardrobe mistress and make-up team that they were worthy of it. As the lights faded on the last three survivors awaiting the end, the tension in the audience was eloquent tribute to the efforts of those who had created-if one may borrow from another story of naval disaster-a night to remember. D.G.M.J.

Wakeman House Plays


The Wakeman House Players under the direction of B. H. and P.B.P., provided many of us with an extremely entertaining evening in the Easter Term. First the junior members of the House presented Pyramus and Thisby an extract from Shakespears's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Shakespeare's comic scenes are not always readily appreciated by modern audiences, but Mr. Privett's skilful addition of stage "business" brought new life and meaning to the jokes of a by-

'A scene from the Wakeman Junior House Play'

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gone century. Stephen Hartley was suitably wooden as Quince, the Carpenter, and Simon Hogan managed to make Starveling a real figure of fun. But the best performance was undoubtedly from Peter Gilbert as Bottom, the Weaver. Clearly, we shall see more of him in School productions. Next we watched AlIova-Dinn and his Wonderful Gamp, a modishly up-dated version of the Aladdin story. Michael Anderson gave the best "stage" performance as the Genie of the Gamp, while Mark Williams was surprisingly convincing as Meesoh, the Emperor's wife. Nigel Blakey was Mrs. Dinn, Allova's mother, and played the part with gusto despite virtually losing his voice before the second performance. Allova himself was played by Mark Abel-Richards. Let us hope that more Houses are encouraged to follow Wakeman's example in this sphere.

The Business Game 1972-3


The College now has a remarkable record in this game, having reached the semi-finals in 1971, the quarter-finals last year, and the semi-finals again this year. Alas! all hopes of making the finals this year were dashed by a ghastly mistake at a very hasty and unprofessional Board Meeting on the last day of the Easter Term, when our management's collective mind was very much on other things! As a result, having made a profit of about £12 over the preceding rounds, we managed an impressive crash of almost £4t million-an echo perhaps of the Rolls-Royce catastrophe! Only in the previous round the adjudicator had written of our board: "Their crafty policies enabled them to end up winners by a very handsome margin .... " Ah, well! Better luck next time. What is the Business Game? Run each year by the Institute of Chartered Accountants with International Computers Ltd. assistance, it is a knock-out contest, and in 1972/3, 268 schools entered. In each round, groups of three to five schools compete, over five distinct "periods," to see who can make the most profit (or lowest loss!) by manufacturing an unspecified product (perhaps a dish washer-its retail is £40 at the start of each game). The only information received about competitors are their period by period prices they are charging in the different areas and their profit or loss figures. The "Boards of Directors" therefore requires a number of skills: the ability to interpret figures on a balance sheet and profit and loss account, to make rational and consistent marketing and production decisions; last, but not least, to anticipate and counter the probably tactical decisions of your opponents. P.H.Mc.C.

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Sixth Form Lectures


The Vlth Form lectures in the Michaelmas Term 1972 were once again concerned with "Power and Influence in contemporary Britain." C. Sandground, Esq., who is editor of the Scottish Daily Express and an Old Ellesmerian, returned to talk about the Press. Mr. Jack Wood, who had previously spoken at an Industrial Conference last year, also returned to talk about the Trade Unions. Other topics included the Police, Television and Industry. The highlight of the series was "The Ulster Talk-in," in which soldiers, fresh from the trouble spots in Northern Ireland, gave the VIth Form a most interesting account of the events in Ulster. Unfortunately, this year, the VIth Form of Moreton Hall were not present, but it was nevertheless encouraging to see members of our VIth Form taking such an active part in the discussion. Thanks must go to Mr. Wolters and Mr. Jones for arranging these lectures. D. C. HEDLEY.

Biology Field Course: Pembrokeshire, Easter 1973


Eight members of the Lower Sixth plus R.R.J. and P.B.P., took part in a marine biology field course in Pembrokeshire this year. The course was based on Orielton Field Centre, situated in a large estate four miles from Pembroke. From here we studied the marine life of three beaches in the area. The course began on Wednesday, 11th April, with R.R.J. driving six of the eight to the field centre in a hired mini-bus, where we met up with the remaining members of the party. On Thursday morning we started a routine which we attempted to disrupt at most times! It began with us collecting samples and specimens from the beach at Freshwater West, and we spent the afternoon and early evening in the labs identifying them. By Saturday evening we had spent two more hard-working days on the two other beaches, Angle Bay, a sheltered beach opposite Milford Haven, and West Angle, an exposed shore. A comparison was made between these two beaches, using the technique of line transects. During these three days a large number of algae, fish, molluscs, etc., were collected and identified, a captured horseshoe bat providing an interesting diversion. On Sunday R.R.J. and P.B.P. decided that we needed a rest, and we spent an enjoyable day on cliff tops and isolated beaches, where some of us swam. Later we visited one castle that should have been open but was closed, and another that should have been closed but was open! The climax of the day came when the majority of the party were so engrossed in the delights of a cave that they were cut off by the rising tide and had to wade, thigh deep, back to safety. On Monday we were back to work on the beaches, this time doing our own personal projects on such diverse things as the direction in which barnacles point and the shape of dog-whelk shells, culminating in everyone giving a five-minute lecturette on their personal project. W.L.M.

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([reatibe 1iBesign
Report
This year the Creative Design workshop has been engaged in the development and construction of a wide variety of articles. The products have involved traditional woodwork, forming "perspex", expanded polystyrene and metal. We have also been swamped with fibreglass resin. The resulting artifacts in this medium have ranged from a very successful water scooter to a series of simpler articles from the Shell! The fourth formers' water scooter started life as a series of drawings to study hull design. Compromises were then made and an eleven foot mould constructed of plywood resulted-just to show people we still knew what wood was! The fibreglass laminated hull was produced and soon had grafted to it such trivia as prop-shafts, rudder and rigid stiffeners. The engine unit was not such a simple matter and ended up taking as long as the hull to produce. The engine itself, a 250 c.c. l.L.O. (ex-hovercraft), had to be grafted to a very alien 2 : 1 gearbox and the whole assembled on rubber blocks in the hull. After much noble filing, the parts came together. The sea trials were completed very successfully only days prior to this article going to print. The maximum speed was a creditable 20 knots and to date it has survived a total of some three hours in the hands of delighted Ellesmerian pilots. The only design fault to have shown itself concerns the silencer, which to many is unnecessary weight anyway! Summarizing, a very successful year terminating with an enjoyable afternoon out at a local mere, where many members of both the Shell and lVth had a chance to tryout the scooter, which is still without a name. Future plans for next year are definitely a moulded top for the water scooter to cover up the brilliant "craftsmanship" inside, and many more items, the nature of which will have to remain a mystery until next year.

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Headmaster's Competition
The quality and quantity of entries this year was very good indeed. Keen competition was displayed by all years in all the entry groupings. The Creative Design Prize was won by R. Dutton, who entered a superbly made oak coffee table involving almost every skill in the carpenter's book. I am sure many of you saw the competition and, as I did, were delighted by the diversity of the entries. The Ellesmere Model Club had enough entries for a competition of their own. It is unfortunate, however, that many of those noble creations are now little more than nylon bags of balsa wood or the crumbled remains of mother's dusting. The Club President, J.M.S., assures me they will carryon undaunted; when next term's pocket money appears in the vaults!

lLibratp 1aote.s 1972='73


From the Headmaster's Speech
One facility which is essential in teaching independence in work is a Library, and we are fortunate with our light and spacious modern building. We were even more fortunate in securing Mrs. Kay Nankivell to found it. Alone she arranged, catalogued and cared for its 12,000 volumes from its opening until last September. Ellesmere owes her a great debt and as she begins a wellearned rest, I would like to thank her publicly for all the love and devotion that have gone to provide such a magnificent heritage for future Ellesmerians.

Library Report
This year Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Nankivell retired as librarians. The present library was opened in 1965, and Mrs. Nankivell had the arduous task of starting a new venture. She was later assisted by Mr. Nankivell. We all thank them for their devoted and efficient service to the library, and hope they enjoy a happy retirement. We have had a very generous gift of books on many subjects from Dr. Burton, and wish to express our thanks. Mrs. Holmes sent a large consignment of books, which includes a set of Encyclopaedia Britannica, and these will be well used. We are very grateful for them. From Mr. C. Tate two interesting volumes on Shrewsbury and Shropshire have been received, and Mrs. Turvey gave us some books before she left for Canada. A painting of Founder's Gate by Mr. Galliner, a previous art master, has been donated by Mr. T. Hughes, and adds to the pleasantness of the library. All these gifts are much appreciated and we offer our sincere thanks. R. J. H. Whitworth was the Prefect of Library during the Michaelmas Term, and was a great help to a new librarian. For the Lent and Summer Terms his place was ably taken by P. H. McCullough, who has been very efficient and helpful. I thank them both. My thanks, too, to all the boys who take an interest in the library and help in many ways. Best wishes to all leavers. MRS. V. H. HOWARD.

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~lub5 anb ~otietie5


The Chequered Flag Club
The Chequered Flag Club, after lying dormant for too long, was revived this season with Mr. R. A. Brown as President, R. L. Toon as Vice-President, R. J. Thurgood as secretary, and H. M. Chambers as treasurer. The Club visited the Jensen car factory at West Bromwich on the kind invitation of the Sales Director, Mr. R. A. Graves, who is an Old Ellesmerian. We split into two groups, and he and his assistand showed us round the factory. Jensen at present are only building three types of car: the Jensen SP, the Jensen Interceptor III and the Jensen-Healey. We were shown the manufacturing process involved in all three. Jensen build hand-made cars, and the precision of the craftsmen they employ has to be seen to be believed. Each car was being made to individual specifications which the owner-to-be had asked for. After finishing our tour of factory we were given tea in the Press room. Then we were led outside to have our photo taken and to return to Ellesmere Luckily I was dragged away before my cheque book suffered -my bank manager might have had something to say about a £7,000 overdraft! The Club also visited the Donnington Collection at Castle Donnington, Derby. We were soon engrossed in the large collection of single-seated racing cars dating from the early nineteen-thirties on. We were particularly impressed by the cars driven in great races by drivers like Jackie Stewart, Chris Amon and Jack Brabham. There are fifty cars in the collection at the moment with another twenty-five still being worked on. We were all delighted when the treasurer arranged for Will Sparrow, of General Motors rallying fame, to come and give a talk. He brought along a Ford Escort Mexico, and gave us a very interesting talk, the fuIl text of which appeared in "Review". The Club rounded off the year With a series of films. This was a relaxing break after examinations.
H. M. CHAMBERS AND R. J. NEILL.

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Young Farmers' Club


Chairman: C. G. NORBURY Secretary: R. C. SMITH Treasurer: C. R. H. SMITH Committee: I. N. BALLARD, M. G. JOB, J. R. HOLT, R. L.

GILMORE

During the year we have had a number of outings and lectures concerning several different aspects of agriculture. . In the Michaelmas Term a group of Y.F.C. members visited the Ellesmere branch of Fullwood and Fabdecs. We toured the Fabdec factory first and saw how bulk milk tanks were filled as well as the method by which the milk is kept at a certain fixed level. Following this, we jvent around the Fullwood works, where they make all their own equipment, and we saw the Rotary Milking Parlour in production. At a later date the Club visited Mr. G. Williams' farm at Llangernyw, Abergele. He owns a hill farm with eighty suckler cows of the blue-grey breed and a Charolais and South Devon bull. Also he keeps 1,500 Welsh ewes, some border Leicester rams, and sells 700 store or fat pigs. The Club also showed three films: one about the drying and cubing of grass, another dealing with the various forms of farmyard manure, and a third about the activities of some Y.F.C. Clubs around the country. The last event of the term was a visit to the A1lscott sugar beet factory. In the Lent Term the Club visited Longslow dairy, at Market Drayton. Here we saw the milk being sterilised, pasteurised and finally bottled. Following our visit to Fullwoods, a party of us went to Mr. Arthan's farm at St. Martin's, where we saw a rotary milking parlour in action. As an extra event the Club held a lecture. Mr. Hutchinson-Smith spoke to us about cheese, which we all found interesting, especially the samples, which were greatly appreciated. The term was rounded off by the visit to the Ruthin Artificial Insemination Centre. Throughout the Summer Term the Club has been on various outings. A visit to Llysfasi Agricultural College gave the Club an insight into the workings of one of these establishments. There followed trips to the West Midland Show, enjoyed by all, and to the Cheshire Show. Perhaps the most important factor of the year has been our joining of the National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs, which may help to broaden our activities in many different ways.
THE COMMITTEE.

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Arts Visit Report


Early in the Summer Term the Art Group visited two very interesting places in Liverpool. Namely, the Walker Art Gallery and the Roman Catholic Church. The Art Gallery proved

to be full of unknown treasures both to those studying a particular style of painting and to those with a more general view of Art. We were lucky to go at the time of the Lowry Exhibition. Over eighty of his works were there for our enjoyment-our imaginations were captured by his men with enormous "club-like" boots and his dogs, apparently made up of sticks. This certainly was a bonus, and the larger part of the morning was spent in this room. Also Mark Lancaster, a Liverpool art student, was exhibiting his latest paintings. A selection of splashes, blobs and drips in many colours taxed the mind in seeing the engineering thoughts! After lunch we moved to the other side of the city and to the recently completed Roman Catholic Cathedral. The circular building looked impressive and massive on the outside but we were dumbfounded at the architecture of the interior. The lighting effects obtained by stained glass brought out the simplicity and yet the cleverness of design of the building. The altar in the middle, looking so clean and bright, completed the view. After a cup of tea in the "Cathedral tea shoppe," in the basement, we left Liverpool to another evening, and chattered our way home on the sights we had seen. Our thanks go to Mr. Brown for an enjoyable day. PETERGOATES, .VI. L

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Horse Riding
Every Wednesday several boys are collected at the Lodge to go riding at the local riding school. We arrive at about 3.30 p.m., when we find the ponies all ready to be ridden. Many people dislike horses and caIl them vicious animals with sharp teeth to bite with at one end and hoofs with iron on to kick with at the other end, and so have never wanted to ride. But this is not the case with boys from this School, who, after a few faIls and a lot of patience, are able to enjoy things such as gaIloping across fields and jumping. Why not try it yourself some time? P. M. NORMAN,Shell.

The Wargame Society


This year has not been quite as active as one would have liked, but the Club has increased in numbers and now totals fifteen. With the introduction of the Marlborough period, we have a new aspect in war-gaming developed by T. M. W. Rocholl. This brings the total of different games to seven. The Club is now getting a fine collection of white metal pieces together, thus adding numbers and colour to our ranks. In the Michaelmas Term 1972 a competition was held, and won by A. W. Olive. On the whole this has been a good and interesting year, although more active participation by new members would be most appreciated. G. J. EDWARDS.

The Thespian Society


At the beginning of the School Year our Vice-President, Mr. J. C. Wolters, was forced to resign owing to growing commitments. We thank him for his support, and at the same time welcome his successor, Mr. P. B. Privett. This year's selection of plays has included Alec Coppels' I killed the Count-a thriller in which, apparently, four people have committed one murder. Also read were Bernard Shaw's Captain Brassband's Conversion and Christopher Fry's The lady's not for burning. For the theatre visits, we were drawn on both occasions to the Gateway, Chester: in the Michaelmas Term we saw a very up-to-date version of Under Milkwood, by Dylan Thomas, and in the Lent Term, W. Somerset-Maughan's Lady Frederick. Both of these performances were greatly enjoyed by all. Our Secretary, S. E. Nickson, was forced to resign earlier on in the year, and R. W. Evans took over as Acting Secretary. I think it is true to say that members have enjoyed the Society'S activities, and we hope our successors will reap as much benefit and pleasure as we have. R. W. EVANS.

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The Seven Club


President: H. R. HILL, ESQ. Vice-President: R. A. CLAY, ESQ. Members: R. O. MANBY (Secretary), S. E. NICKSON, R. J. H. WHITWORTH, A. F. T. D. C. HEDLEY, R. D. MEREDITH, R. G. SMITH

SHEPPARD,

We were sorry that Mr. J. C. Wolters, who had been Vice-President for several years, was obliged to resign in view of his new commitments, and the Club is grateful for his past support and wise comments. We were glad to welcome Mr. R. A. Clay as the new VicePresident, and he soon showed how much he had to offer the Club. Five new members joined the club at the beginning of the Michaelmous Term. There were four meetings in the term. First S.E.Nickson read a paper on Factory Farming, the case for which was argued forcefully, although no converts were gained, the club being divided in its opinions. This was followed by R.O.Manby talking about Free Movement as a Basic Right of Man, in which the principle and the practicability were discussed. The necessity of some form of control was generally accepted. A.F.T.Sheppard next read a paper on Mining and the Environment in the U.K., about which he felt strongly, and members on the whole felt that we were content to utilize mineral wealth without considering the after-effects of mining. The last meeting of the term was taken up by R.J.H. Whitworth, who talked about the Population Explosion, which generated some heat over the question of birth control in under developed countries. In the Lent Term, S.M.Agnew and H.T.Ashton filled the places vacated by R.J.H.Whitworth and A.F.T.Sheppard. R.D.Meredith read the first paper on Abortion, in which both the moral and social aspects of the problem were discussed in some detail. R.G.Smith then talked about "Does God exist", in which he attacked vigorously the proposition. His arguments however were generally rejected, and there was a stronger belief for the existence of God than against it. D.C.Hedley then gave an interesting account of the Rhodesian African problem, in which many new aspects were presented, of which members were generally unaware. In the Summer Term only two meetings were held, because of impending examinations. S.M.Agnew presented a paper on modern Spiritualism which stimulated considerable interest and a fair amount of scepticism-the timing of the meeting-Walpurgisnacht-was most apt. Finally H.T.Ashton talked about Drugs and Drug Laws, which covered a wide range of methods of 'escape' and whether they were desirable or detrimental to society and the individual. During all the meetings all members followed with interest and contributed to the ensuing discussions. It could not be said that opinions were changed at the time, but wider perspectives were gained and interest stimulated, and it was felt that the meetings were enjoyable and enlightening. The general standard of the papers was good and members had taken time and trouble to present a good case. -}I,R.H.

Angling Club
Dr. Johnson's views on fishing were that fly fishing was tolerable, but that float fishing was no more than a rod and a line, with a worm at one end and a fool at the other. At present there are about fifteen fools, or anglers, in the School, kindly presided over by Mr. Gowdey, who go to make up the Ellesmere College Angling Society.

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Most weekends one can see anglers on the canal, fishing patiently away with varying degrees of success. The fish which are caught are at present being used to stock top golf course pond, and at the moment twenty-five fish are thriving in it. An outing was arranged to the River Vyrnwy, and nine boys embarked on a trip which yielded plenty of colds, but no fish. The party moved off after Chapel one Sunday, amidst rain, and arrived eventually at Llanymynech. After a long tramp over fields, we reached the correct stretch, and set to with fishing rods. Everyone settled down to a cold and miserable session, relieved only by the cheerful sound of thermos flasks. This state of affairs seemed to go on for about six hours, but according to reliable sources it was only two or three. Eventually we returned to Llanymynech and phoned up D.G.M.J., who collected us, and we returned to College. During the year a library was organised in the Treasurer's study, and, as members of Ellesmere Angling Club, members can and to take out punts on most of the meres.
H.

T.

HOPKINS,

VI.

Film Society
The Christmas Term programme was beset by so many technical and administrative difficulties that in the end only one film was shown. This was yet another beloved offering from the "Spaghetti Western" stable: For a Few Dollars More. Nobody could pretend the film had any great artistic merit, and the acting was strictly of the Cardboard School, but the mixture of violence and action was neatly blended and slipped down nicely enough. These are the sort of films one ought to dislike, but the basic ingredients are so adroitly assembled one ends up quite enjoying them; "compulsive rubbish," as one critic has remarked. The Lent Term saw an altogether more interesting programme. We began with John Ford's Sergeant Rutledge. The touch of the master was evident in the strong handling of the court room drama and the inevitable Western action. There were even some pointed lessons to be drawn on racial discrimination in the film, and on its different levels the plot had something for everybody. The Wild Bunch is technically a brilliant film. Some might wish that such brilliance might have been put to less violent ends, but in the cinema of the 70's, this film is significant and it was worth showing. The term ended with Charlton Heston in the Omega Man, a futuristic look at a post-nuclear Los Angeles. Although the demands of the Junior Play obliged us to screen this on a tiny portable screen, the impact was not correspondingly reduced. It made for an interesting and even disturbing evening. No account of the Society's activities would be complete without tribute to the gallant work of the Committee. In particular one must pay tribute to the prolonged struggle of the technicians to master our temperamental equipment (even if one suspects a touch of Parkinson in their day-long preparations !). Most of all, as they say in the Music Hall, thanks must go to our patrons whose continued support makes it all worthwhile. D.G.M.J.

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<!Combineb <!Cabet jforte


"It

certainly reflects great credit on the School" Inspecting Officers Report

There can be few members of the C.C.F. who did not enjoy last year's training. The number of recruits opting for the C.C.F. each year reflects the high standing the organisation has in the School, and in the last year or two we have had to start refusing entry to some new boys until the following September. Our strength last year was 140, the highest figure for many years, and next year the total may well approach 160, our maximum. One of our strongest points last year was the large number of Sixth-formers who wanted to remain members of the Corps. We started the year with no fewer than fourteen very capable sergeants, and we were able very quickly to entrust them with a major share of the in-company training. Add to this our officer strength-there can be very few units (C.C.F. or otherwise) whose officer strength exceeds establishment-and it was apparent early on that great things could be achieved.

When we came to the camp we pitched tent and waited for the other parties to come, then we cooked our meal. It was goulash, mashed potatoes, tea, bread and butter and sweets. When we had cleared up the mess tins, we got ready for the night exercise. My friend got a cork and burnt it, then camouflaged my face, neck and hands with black burnt cork. My face was in streaks of black, with one dark blob of black covering my left eye. I felt rather funny in my make-up. I then blackened my gaiters and took off my cap badge and belt. I was all ready for the night raids. We saw headlights of a car which drew up. Mr. Wright got out ... J.Keable, IV ... I was named leader of one group, so I took my men aside and made them jump up and down to checkthat they did not jingle. V.GwiIIim,IV

The Autumn Term started traditionally enough with the usual post-Proficiency training: R.E.M.E., Signals, Advanced Infantry, First Aid, as well as a new section, "The Demosquad," whose syllabus included climbing and mountain work as well as slick demonstrations for younger Cadets. Meanwhile the Fourth Form were knuckling down to the APEX syllabus and the Shell were receiving a gentle introduction to the fierce military arts. The expedition weekend was spent romping at Nesscliff. The expedition weekend at Leek in March was by far the biggest we have ever tried to organise. We were joined by an Old Boy and five Mercian Yeomanry sergeants, who assisted with the training. On the Sunday morning Brigadier Goodwin, Commandant of Donnington, inspected the programme. It consisted of a single exercise in three phases spread over the 24 hours; the weather was terrible, the terrain rugged, the transport arrangements complicated in the extreme. But at the end of it all nearly everybody there must have felt a

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sense of pride that he had taken part in a very successful weekend. Certainly the Brigadier was impressed-he made some very appreciative comments. Then, three weeks later, a party of sixteen Cadets moved to Skye for Adventure Training. Two years previously, when we were last there, we got wet once: this time we were rarely dry. The journey coincided with a threatened rail strike, so we went by minibus-with the result that the main party arrived before the advance guard. Terrible thoughts passed through the O.C's mind: "Not another three-tonner, please God"; but fortunately all was well. Traumatic highlights included Major S - - r - r leading his men down the wrong side of Blavern, C.S.M. Campbell being very nearly catapulted into the 'oggin on the end of a guy-rope (the tent was lost), the near demise of Captain V - - 1under a boulder (then another) loosed by the O.c. (who cracked up) on the Cuillin Ridge; while the Church finally confessed that his ideal day on the hills was rounded by a bath, a steak and a comfortable bed. However, all safely returned to the bosoms of their families, even if two tents G.S. Mk. II will never be quite the same again. The Summer Term saw the accumulation of a considerable collection of silver. The two pots earned last year at the District Patrol Competition were safely retained even after the drill (sic) had been taken into account. Mind you, ultimate success did depend on a modest reshaping of the score system for the orienteering. And a fortnight later we carried all before us at the District Skill at Arms Meeting at Lichfield: three more pots were added to the C.C.F. shelf in Hall. At the time of writing, we are looking forward to Bisley, to a Greenfields Camp in the Lake District, and to an attachment to 32 Engineer Regiment in Germany. All promise to be very successful: for the first time in recent history all were over-subscribed. Senior Cadet last year was Under Officer R. A. Campbell. J.N.M.W.

Shooting
When Mr. Barnett had checked that the rifles were empty we went to put up our own targets on the sand-spattered and splintered bit of wood at the end. I hoped I would not be adding to the ventilation. T. P. Hoggard, Shell
Smallbore Shooting

This year the headline must certainly be "Boom in Ellesmere Shooting." The Club has more than doubled in strength, and with the help of Mr. A. F. Thomson as an additional range officer, more members are shooting more often than before. Through the kindness of the Ellesmere A.C.F., we have been able to use their range as well as our own, and this has enabled non-C.C.F. juniors to do some shooting at last. The Junior Scouts and the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Group have made good use of this opportunity. This expansion is clearly an endorsement of my principle that shooting is an activity to be enjoyed by as many people as possible, and in as many forms as we can manage. New activities this year include the ·177 and, 22 air rifle club, energetically revived by Forster and Clews. In the' 22 shooting, we have given much more time to internal competitions, particularly those in which not only the best shots are likely to win a prize.

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It is impossible, with over a hundred members, to give everyone individual coaching so this year we have sucessfully introduced a system of club coaching. In December, after a series of training sessions, ten of our boys were examined by the County Coach of Cheshire for the N.S.R.A. Club

Coaches Diploma. Since then all ten have proved their worth by taking over various different teams and running them entirely unaided. The competion results speak for themselves: the Under 14 team coached by Mike Timmis and Mark Cumpston won the Dent Cup in their division of the Schools Under 14 League; two under 15 teams coached Duncan Furness, Ian BaIlard, Hutchinson Smith and Andrew Greenall (who was himself a member of one team) came second and third in their respective divisions of the British Schools League. Bernard Murray, helped by Kevin Nesbitt coached the Venture Scout teams to a good pitch eventually reaching a score only six points behind last years highly successful team (which was coached by the Shropshire County Coach himself). Last year the Venture Scouts were placed third out of seventy four teams from all over the Commonwealth, so this year we might hope again for a similarly high position. Another innovation was the entry of a Junior team in the Commonwealth Scouts match; Cummings and Phelps were the top scorers, with Lole and Massey close behind them. At the Summer Half-term a number of fathers were brave enough to compete in a Fathers Match, during the afternoon the scores mounted and the prize went to Mr. Lole who just edged ahead of a closely bunched field. Regrettably no Mothers were prepared to fire in a parallel Mothers Match so the prize will have to wait until next year. This year the house matches were fired in five separate rounds during the summer term and provided a thrilling finale to the year's small bore shooting. After four rounds Talbot and Wakeman were in the lead with equal scores and Woodard just two points behind out of a possible total of 720 points. An equally close final landscape section just enabled Woodard to win the Cup by a single point.

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This year has been as successful for the fullbore shooters as for the small bore. Training began in January, in the customary Welsh hill drizzle, and by the start of the Summer Term there was a hardcore of practised shots who acted as the nucleus for the Bisley squad. This year, instead of training a bare team of eight, a group of twenty-four was signed on, four of whom were non-C.C.F. buttmarkers. This scheme worked well so that by the end of the Summer Term there was a strong team of fourteen for Bisley. I am particularly grateful to our buttmarkers: Paul Thompson, Hugh Ashton, Weenson 00 and Ian Ballard for their hard work on the range.
As the summer term progressed shortage of ammunition and of range time became acute. We supplemented our firing with rifle exercises and 'dry practice'. This practice was soon to prove its worth for, in the West Midland District Skill-at-Arms meeting at Lichfield in June, the team swept all before it, winning the team cup, the falling plate cup and the overall score cup. The only disappointment was for Mike Timmis, who scored one point less than the captain of the Malvern team, and thus became the runner-up in the Individual competition. After the exeat training continued, ending with a long shoot on the last Sunday, followed by a garden party at Lee Farm when the Bisley Squad were 'at home' to a number of people who have helped the club during the year. Mr. Beddoe stole the limelight by bringing a collection of firearms with him which fascinated everyone. The party was a great success and a good send-off to Bisley, Bisley 1974

This year the whole programme was far more complex than last: we had a team nearly twice the size, and we had entered sixteen competitions, compared with four last year. However, with our experience from last year, and with the able help of Mr. A. F. Thomson, the week went perfectly.
Our practice days on Tuesday and Wednesday were encouraging, four of the team won Classifications, Mark Cumpston with 101/105 won our first Marksman badge. In our maiden entry to the Marling and Snap we were placed 17th and 22nd out of 24 entries (from 72 schools at Bisley) not devastating but something to build on for next year. In the WelIingtonCumpston and Hughes both won cash prizes, Cumpston also won a prize in the Cadets pistol and Nichols was placed 8th in the Schools Clay Pigeon. Ashburton Day dawned, as last year, cold, grey and windy. Patrick Parsons captained the team excellently and our score at 200 yards was an improvement over last year. Nichols again headed the score sheet equal with Parsons on 33/35, Cumpston and Smith were one point behind. Andrew Greenall ran out of time on his last shot in the Cadets losing five poiots. Spurred on by this the rest of the shooting went smoothly and we moved back to 500 yards with a total of 229. Wrekin firing on the one side of us were 232 and Eton on the other side, with Mr. T. J. Powell in charge, were also just ahead of us. In the afternoon the sun came out, the wind fish-tailing down the range and to add to our difficulties the scoring rings had been made smaller this year than last. Nichols again fired well making a total of 65 which put him 15th out 720 Cadets. Both he and Parsons with 63 were awarded Schools Hundred badges. Our team total was 453 which put us 44th out of 72 schools and pulled us above Wrekin. Although our score was equal with Eton's we had a better tally of V bulls and were so placed above them. We had fired almost as much in the few days there as we had in the whole of the summer term, we had improved on last years position by eleven places, collected four individual prizes and four Classifications and best of all we had got two into the Hundred. With nearly all the team still here next year we should do better still and we can now begin to think of places in the Athelings Team for Canada. W.H.B.

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~couting
Scout Group Notes
As will be seen from the accompanying notes, a good deal has gone on this year. If a boy puts his back into Scouting at Ellesmere, there is an amazing amount he can get out of it, and the bewildering variety of activity in the Venture Scouts this year is ample proof of this: typing, cooking, vehicle maintenance, photography, fencing, shooting, riding, sub-aqua and water-skiing come immediately to mind, on top of the usual courses that prepare boys to tackle adventurous activities safely in Snowdonia and elsewhere. The Scout Troop have had their share of variety as well, and a circus of six outdoor activities during the Summer Term was most worthwhile. Earlier in the year the newcomers formed a semiseparate group because of the present large demand for Scout places, and they completed the Scout Standard course, the compulsory First Aid course for new boys, and watched the "hillcraft" series of films.

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Whether we can maintain this momentum next year is a matter for speculation. At one fell swoop we lose a third of our Scouter team, our entire Venture Scout staff. Bryan Hooton has been AVSL for good whilenow, with occasional sorties into other spheres, and latterly he has dealt most responsibly and effectivelywith the role of group treasurer. His part in expeditions to Africa and the Arctic, as well as many closer at hand will be well remembered by Old Ellesmerians who read this article, and they will I am sure join in the wishing him well at Eton, where sadly Scouting does not feature in the very diverse activities of that remarkable place. Laurie Beard has had less time to make a name for himself, but he has worked hard to catch up, and he leaves behind a thriving and distinctive Venture Scout Unit, in whose activities and achievements he can be justly proud. His insistence that the unit is their unit has made the members think about their Scouting, and not achieve their awards almost by accident. Both these men have consistently set high standards in their own Scouting, and as we bid them farewell, we will remember with gratitude their enormous contributions to the group. Naturally we hope others will soon emerge to fill their places, and already Rev. Michael Gowdey has been iniatited into the mysteries of the financial world as he prepares to take over as treasurer. Meanwhile, Nigel Panting moves to the Venture Scouts, with strict instructions not to take this high office too literally as he gazesin his dreams at the Lake District hills: this dream very soon becomes a reality as summer camp getsunder way. If it goes as wellas last year's, we shall all have a very good week.
K.l.S.

Group Scout Leader

Venture Scout Unit


Probably a wider range of activities has been attempted this year than before, and much of this has been due to the kind co-operation of many people in and out of College. As in previous years, the Michaelmas Term was occupied with Firefighting and First Aid courses, and we are grateful to the respective organisations for their continued help. In the Lent Term, Mr. I. D. Gregory gave an introductory course in photography, and Mr. T. C. Howitt-Dring initiated other Venture Scouts into the mysteries of the Internal Combustion Engine. Three members will undoubtedly have cause to remember Mrs . . Chambers, who so kindly allowed them to use her kitchen to practise their culinary talents. The Summer Term saw more activities taking place outside College-including horse riding at Whittington Castle with Major Halstead, and sub-aqua, which took place at Shrewsbury Baths each Friday evening, with the aim of obtaining the Snorkeller's Award. Fencing once again became popular, and a course was arranged with Mr. Brookes, of Shrewsbury. Unfortunately he suffered a bad injury in a car accident, and it was at this point that Mr. and Mrs. Thompson (parents of one of the Venture Scouts) were kind enough to maintain the enthusiasm engendered by Mr. Brookes by coming to the College every Tuesday afternoon. This I know was much appreciated by all those taking part. Once again Mr. Barnett encouraged members of the Unit to shoot for the Duke of Connaught's Cup, in which we came third last year. In addition to these activities, much unselfish service was given by the more senior members in training and testing Scouts and also assisting with the running of the Scout Troop programme, for which the Leaders were very grateful. On the first expedition weekend, the more senior V.S. went with Mr. Hooton and Mrs. Gray on a barge trip. The other V.S. accompanied Mr. A. King and the V.S.L. to Snowdonia to climb and practise basic map and compass work. The weekend took on a particular significance when they became involved in a mountain rescue.

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... After much deliberation the camp was pitched. Soon after this Messrs. Neil Brown, Phil Lawson, Chris Higham and Tim Beard appeared at a very fast trot, telling the rest that they had been asked by a climber to go and alert the Mountain Rescue Teams because there was a Royal Naval climber who had fallen and broken his leg and gashed his head badly about 300 feet from the top of Y L1ewidd (2,947 feet). Higham, Lawson and Brown ran down in nine minutes (it had taken us 45 minutes to get up) and alerted the mountain rescue teams. Meanwhile, five others went up to various points to mark the way for the Mountain Rescue Teams when they came. These markers were also assisted by two members of staff from Eton College, who were handing out coffee to all parties concerned. When the rescue teams arrived, they went up the mountain, halting at nothing and rendering the route-markers useless as they already knew the way; so the five returned from the mountain to the camp, where Neil Brown had annexed the back of a rescue team Land Rover and most of the camp supplies, and was brewing some very welcome tea. It didn't take long for the mountain rescue teams to get to the top of the mountain-but the difficult part of the rescue was getting the patient up to the top of the cliff-a feat which was accomplished by carrying him "piggyback" in a sling, by someone small of the name "Peanuts." During the slow descent the rescue parties came across four more climbers who were uninjured but stuck, and who had to be guided down to safety. Down at the camp the duration of the waiting was interrupted by the coming and going of fresh and weary rescuers, frequent radio calls (this team was in radio contact with their base, the police, and so on) and other small incidents like the removal of one Land Rover from several feet of mud, and conveying several gallons of tea. Towards half past one the rescuers radioed to say that they were tiring and that their torches were dimming, so, after much deliberation, a party comprised of the Venture Scout Leader, Neil Brown, Colin Maddison, Phil Lawson, Tim Hobbs, Dave Roberts and Pat Parsons (the latter two being reinforcements from the C.C.F. camp) left the camp accompanied by a large Welshman, who led us at a terrifying speed that many people would not normally have considered possible even in ordinary conditions, and the fact that it was dark did not have any dampening effect at all. All the members of our party joined in with the carrying at various stages, changing every time they stopped to examine the casualty. When we returned to base the patient was speeded on his way to hospital in an ambulance, and was later heard to be recovering satisfactorily. P. J. T. HOBBS, L.VI.

'"

'"

The following terms saw expedition work in Snowdonia and the Berwyns, and the end of the Summer Term sees six Venture Scouts attempting to join Burnett Murray as Queen's Scouts by completing their fifty mile hikes in Snowdonia. We wish Robert Fisher and Tim Beard every success as they go to Corsica in the summer as the first representatives of Ellesmere College Venture Scouts Unit in the Explorer Belt Scheme. Our thanks go to all those people who have given of their time so freely to enable so many activities to take place. V.S.L.

Scout Troop
The last twelve months within the Troop have been busy without being spectacular. A small group attended an enjoyable summer camp at Dolgellau, favoured by the best weather of the summer. It was a pity that more Scouts were not there. The School year began with a programme designed to train members of the Troop in expedition skills-route planning, map reading and compass work. These essential skills cannot be learnt without persistent practice. After a weekend camp at the Wrekin site, a camp

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made memorable by the aerial acrobatics of N.R.P., the emphasis switched to simple pioneering. The assistance of members of the Venture Scout Unit during this term was invaluable. Help was again available during the Lent Term, when Mr. David Webb, a student from Keele University, joined us. One of the high points of the term came with the construction of oil drum rafts when, surprisingly, only one person got wet during these crafts' maiden voyages. In this case sabotage was strongly suspected! The expedition weekend was held under damp conditions at Cannock Chase. During the Summer Term the Patrols rotated about a circuit of activities around the themes of pioneering, backwoods cooking and mapping. Few of those present will forget the sight of the Headmaster suspended halfway across bottom pond on an aerial runway. A large weekend camp was held in the Ceiriog Valley, the absence of the S.L., who has having a fit of histrionics, being compensated for by the return of Mr. Webb, who will also be joining the Troop for their Summer Camp in the Lake District. I am most grateful to all those who have assisted in the running of the Troop during the last twelve months, and particularly to the P.L's, without whom the programme would not have been possible. P.B.P.

C!E)tber C!Eroups
Social Service
The Social Service has enjoyed another year of hard but worthwhile work. The list of people we visit has been stepped up and we have not had any under-employment! Some surplus funds we had were spent on a special "Parker-Knoll" chair, which was presented to Ellesmere Cottage Hospital in February. Again we visited the Cheshire Home at Christmas and gave the residents an evening of entertainment which we hope they enjoyed. Unfortunately the Christmas Party we had planned for the Old People's Home in Ellesmere had to be cancelled owing to a careless error in my diary! However, the Social Service evening this year, a North Country evening, was very successful. We look forward to our holiday camp for fifteen boys from Salford, and hope that it is as successful as last year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people whose invaluable help has helped to make this year's activities so much more worthwhile; to all of them, both staff and boys, we say thank you.

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Finally, mention must be made of Mrs. A. H. Gray, who has organised the Social Service Group for some years. Unfortunately, growing pressure of work has meant that she must spend less time with us, and so the Reverend M. C. Gowdey has kindly agreed to take overall charge of the Group while Mrs. Gray will still give us her invaluable support when she can R.W.E.

Forestry
This year the Forestry Group has continued with the ambitious programme of planting begun in 1971 under the leadership of Mr. Graves, to whom, sadly, we said farewell at the end of the summer. The avenue of limes has been extended, and is flourishing. At the other end of the School grounds, more beech trees have been planted. By the cricket pavilion, plane trees have been planted to fill the gap left by the felling of dangerously decayed timber. Finally, thanks to the generosity of Major Topham, we planted a cupressus Leylandii and two sycamores beside the golf course. During the Summer Term, a number of projects were planned and executed by the Foresters in and around Ellesmere.
THE COMMITTEE.

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Police Cadets
The year-long course has proved to be an exciting and eventful one for the Police Cadets. We would like to thank not only Mr. Brown for organising the course with Sgt. Quinton, but also those members of the Police who came to lecture to us. The course has been a valuable experience for those who are contemplating law as a future profession, and also to those who are not, but who might encounter it one day! Most of the course consisted of a series of lectures on various aspects of police work which included mountain rescue, vehicle inspection, traffic wardens, and the duties of the Coroner's officer. Valuable points were made interesting by amusing anecdotes and practical demonstrations. Drugs were handed round for examination at one lecture, and another required Mr. Brown to drink a glass of Common Room whisky and then to be breathalised. The result provided great amusement. Outings were the highhghts of the course, and included a trip to the Crown Courts, a visit to the new Shrewsbury Police Station and also a Borstal. The Police also demonstrated some of their equipment, such as speed traps and radio vans. Alsatian "Rip" and handler successfully tracked Cadet Morpus over the golf course. The year's Cadets included R. Meredith, S. Morpus, N. McIlveen, P. Rickaby, R. PatterThe police demonstrate unarmed combat son, R. Lloyd, C. Pugh and P. Cross. R.L.

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@amt5 anb ~dtbtttt5


~ugb!, jfootball 1st XV Rugby
The 1st XV had a very hard but enjoyable season winning 9 and losing 8 of their 17 matches. Of the 8 matches lost, only 2 were by more than 12 points. Out of these the team was unlucky to lose 4. Training started, as in previous years, two days before term began, with eighteen boys returning keen and eager to start the season as fit as possible. The sacrifice of two days of the holidays proved well worthwhile when, in the first match, five tries were scored and the game won easily. Against Belmont, their first real test, the side showed some inexperience; however, valuable lessons were learnt, and these were to prove useful in later weeks. Memorable in this game were the peels by Paul Ellis, who left opposition players strewn in his wake as he charged down the field. The match against Bromsgrove followed, and the team really clicked for the first time. Fred Hughes and Bill Booth both showed their pace on the wings and scored two tries each, These two runners, with vastly differing styles, provided wonderful entertainment for spectators throughout the season. Hughes showed his power by brushing aside tackle after tackle on his way to the line, while Booth, with his wonderful jinking runs, baffled opponents and persistently kept going even after being tackled. There are no excuses for what happened at Rydal. After two quick tries in the first ten minutes, and with Rydal on top in every phase of the game, the Ellesmere side seemed to give up, imagining the task to be hopeless. Richard Smith, the Captain, was the only one to emerge with his reputation untarnished. Following the Rydal defeat, the team improved steadily, gaining victories over Wrekin, Cotton and Conway, before setting out on a half-term tour to Lancashire. The match at Stony hurst was uninspiring; had the team played at anything like their normal standard, the match could have been won easily. There were several injuries as a result of this match, so it was with a side containing nine changes that Ellesmere took the field two days later to face a strong Rossall side. The team played remarkably well, showing great pluck and determination in both attack and defence. However, sheer size, relentless pressure and skill told in the end, with the final score 21 points to 3. Nevertheless, the tour was a great success in that it bonded the team together for the remainder of the season.
After Half-Term the matches followed in quick succession, with the team producing a good standard of play on almost every occasion. The high spot of the season was undoubtedly the match against Birkenhead, when everything the team had worked for seemed to go right. Richard Sym, playing outside half, instead of the usual immaculate full back, wiggled his hips and sliced through the opposition to score two brilliant solo tries. Nigel Blakey, a stocky, hard-running centre, scored

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three tries, the best of which resulted from a superb scissors executed by fellow centre, Neil Lamberton. Lamberton, who had made a remarkable recovery from appendicitis, showed the fine touches one would expect from a player in the side for his second season; had he been able to play in the matches at the beginning of the season, his experience would have been of great value to the younger members of the side. Throughout the term the pack remained virtually unchanged, showing skill in the rucks and mauls, power and drive in the tight, but lacking any real skill in the line-out, although the packs were conspicuously successful. The back row of Manby, Ashworth and McIlveen showed their ability in attack, but were rather vulnerable when opposed by a serum-half who liked to run close to the serum. Ellis and Campbell worked well together and were always to be found where the fighting was the thickest. The front row of Roberts, Morpuss and Pettegree performed superhuman feats in the tight and gave the backs some really good balls in the loose; Morpuss and McIlveen in particular were superb "smugglers." In the backs, Patterson demonstrated his excellent pace, judgment and his eye for the gap on many occasions. His use of the ball and his kicking improved considerably during the season, as did his ability to read the game. The team was lucky to have in Dodwell a reserve of considerable talent. When called upon, he always rose to the occasion and gave of his best. His ability to play almost anywhere in the backs was a great asset in times of injury. A superb tackle of the Rossall full back in full cry for the line will be remembered by all who were there. "And e'en the ranks of Tuscany could scarce forbear to cheer." The final words must go to Richard Smith, whose inspired leadership and devotion to his team have been the perfect example of fine captaincy. He never had a bad game, and was largely responsible for the happy atmosphere that existed in the side while his help and suggestions proved invaluable to players and coaches alike. COLOURS Full Colours were awarded to : R. G. Smith, E. A. M. Ashworth, P. Ellis, N. Mcilveen, N. Lamberton. Half-Colours were awarded to : Syrn, Manby, Patterson, Roberts, Blakey, Booth, Campbell, Pettegree, Dodwell.

2nd XV Rugby
This year's Second XV did not have a very successful year results-wise: played 11, won 4, lost 7. But they were often unlucky to lose, particularly against Rydal and Wrekin. The original team stuck together throughout the whole season, apart from the departure of R. K. Dodwell to the First XV and the arrival of D. N. Keen, who was taken from the First XV to replace Dodwell. Consequently the team spirit was very high, which is very important in a Rugby team, and everyone in the team got on well, both on and off the pitch. The results seem to indicate a certain lack of talent, but this was definitely not the case: several players showed great flare and potential in the backs, especially the goal-kicker and fly-half, D. H. Keen, and R. D. Meredith and J. P. Eddy were very fast and determined on the two wings. Although the pack was rather small in weight, they made up for it with enthusiasm: particularly impressive were D. N. Higgins in the line-outs and T. W. D. Roberts, wing-forward, in the rucks. The following played: C. Lee, M. J. Timmis, D. N. Higgins, P. C. Leake, C. P. Greig, J. W. D. Roberts, C. V. Marsh, C. D. Main, J. Davies, D. N. Keen, G. Clarke, J. D. Eddy, R. D. Meredith, J. C. N. Codling, D. N. Brown and R. K. Dodwell. The following were awarded Colours: P. N. Higgins, R. K. Dodwell, C. V. Marsh, D. N. Keen, J. W. D. Roberts, J. P. Eddy, J. C. M. Codling. C. V. MARSH.

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Colts Rugby
" ... For the first fifteen minutes of the second half, there was no scoring, until Lamb, who had played so well, was unlucky enough to have a kick charged down. Their outside centre went over to score another try, which was converted, and gave Birkenhead a 12 points to 6 lead. Bad passing lost a lot of good chances, but eventually Lamb made a break, and Jenkyn-Jones scored under the posts. Lamb levelled the scores with a conversion." S. McAuLEY, V Form. Played 12, won 8, drawn 2; points for 197, points against 98. At the end of a successful season T look back with a variety of emotions: pride in a team that played as a team and always gave of its best; regret for lost opportunities that could have brought victory; relief that the hard grind of the training sessions over for another year; sadness that the season has ended and that this team will never playas a team again; but, above all, gratitude for the enjoyment of the game. Both players and coaches have learnt much from this season, and success has been won by an increased awareness of the game and by team work rather than individual brilliance. Much of the attacking force of the team lay on the wings, but before this could be utilised, the ball had to be won and moved swiftly and surely down the line. The value of repetitive training drills for both forwards and backs became increasingly obvious as the season progressed. Tactical kicking is of little use unless the whole team is prepared for the situation and knows where the attack is to be made. The practice gained in semi-opposed Rugby training proved invaluable. Whilst many opposition teams kicked hopefully and gave us possession, our kicking was rarely aimless, and by its nature an attacking more rather than a defensive one. The key to victory in any match is possession; without the ball you cannot score. Though our pack was smaller than average, they rarely failed to get a good supply of the ball, both from the tight and the loose. Time spent in sorting out correct foot positions at the scrummaging machine was of more value than any practice game. To win the ball from the loose it is essential to get there quicker than the opposition, and the physical pain of a strenuous training session faded into insignificance to the joy of beating the opposition to the ball. Rugby is an attacking game, but defence must not be neglected; the short sessions spent in ensuring that every member of the team knew his specific job in a defensive situation frustrated many opponents. I have said nothing about the matches themselves. Most of our time was spent on training, and the team came to the matches hungry for the game. Each game was different, and we each have our private memories. Team from: S. McAuley (Captain), S. Nicol (Pack Leader), Alamouti ii, Baker i, C. S. Bowers, C. D. Butler, R. M. A. George, Harrison, T. R. W. Jenkyn-Jones, M. R. O. Jones, I. C. Lamb, P. A. Lawson, J. P. Lee. J. L. Leslie Miller, M. McDade, H. C. G. Miller, Nguyen i, Osborne, J. R. Pond, Riddell, I. Stockfis. P.B.P.

is

Under 15 Rugby
In terms of results, 1972/3 was not a successful season. The record of played 17, won 4, lost 13 cannot be disguised in any way. Size was perhaps the most significant factor contributing towards the lack of success. These were the boys who, in the previous season, had been dwarfed by their opposition and had won only two of their matches. Once again they proved unable to match their opponents in size, and stood at an immediate disadvantage in the lines-out and the scrummages. It was thus difficult to create scoring chances, and the defence was constantly being put under pressure. Another important factor was that of injury. Several key players were injured during the season, and the final blow came when Collins, who was the only forward capable of matching the opposition in the lines-out, broke his arm and was out for the rest of the season. Although lacking in size, the team was not often outclassed in terms of Rugby skills, courage and determination. In their darkest hours, notably against Bromsgrove and Birkenhead, they refused to give up. For this much credit must go to their captain, R. Yarwood, who led the team splendidly throughout the season and drove them on when it would have been easier to bow to defeat. The forwards, ably led by Williams, although regularly losing players through injury, stood up well to the often severe tests to which they were put. They found it difficult to win good ball for their

52

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backs to use, but they managed to deprive the opposition of much of theirs. Notably among the forwards were Clews, who, despite his size, tackled and covered brilliantly; Williams, who improved considerably as a hooker, well propped by Bishton and Pacey. Sym iv, while not the fleetest of foot, played with enthusiasm and determination. Yarwood, often put under great pressure, played well at serum-half, but the backs, despite some good individual performances, generally lacked penetration in attack. The back unit was noticeably improved later in the season by the inclusion of Leschallier de Lisle, from France, who was prepared to run at the opposition and their line. Defensively, however, the backs gave a good account of themselves. Brereton developed into a very competent full back, and Robinson proved a valuable asset on the wing-when he was not being seconded to the forwards. Although they must have been disappointed to have scored so few victories, I am sure that the team can look back with satisfaction at their efforts and the improvement which became apparent as the season wore on. Three of their victories came in the latter half of the season, culminating in that snatched in the dying seconds from Grove Park after a particularly hard fought game. Team: (from) R. Yarwood (Captain), P. L. Brereton, S. M. Hogan, R. P. J. Robinson, J. W. Hudson, C. T. Nguyen, C. D. Edwards, D. E. Collins, C. Bishton, G. N. Williams, C. M. Pacey, M. J. Clews, J. T. Keable, J. C. Sym, L. de Lisle, J. A. H. Booth, A. J. W. Hill, D. M. Brown, N. J. Cousins.

Under 14 Rugby
"As we walked on the field they looked very formidable in their red track-suits. The whistle blew and we were away. We started badly, fumbling the ball in perfect scoring conditions. Eventually after much hard attacking, we scored. From then on we were in control. ... " R. ASHWORTH,IV Form. This was undoubtedly the best Under 14 side there has been for some years, and their results were outstanding, winning 13 of their 16 matches, and scoring nearly 500 points in the process. The season contained many pleasant memories, amongst which were the fight back to victory in the Belmont game, the triumph over Rydal, and the scintillating Rugby played against Wrekin, when 72 points were scored without reply. The side was admirably captained by Ashworth, who showed a fine sense of leadership throughout the season. He had under his control a very strong pack of forwards, amongst whom Massey was outstanding, and his all-round play was sadly missed during the middle of the season, when we suffered two of our three defeats. Chambers did many good things in the front row, although he tended to be too individualistic at times, while Gilbert provided us with a good supply of the ball in the set serums, Hilling and Thomas put in a great deal of work in the lock positions, and Thomas was probably the hardest worker in the pack. His speed around the field would probably be more of an asset in the back row next season. The back row of Corp, Farebrother and Ashworth were sound both in attack and defence, although their tactical awareness was not all that it should have been at times. Attoe and Smith competed for the serum-half position and there was little to choose between them, but both must endeavour to improve their service from the base of the serum, Hull was a very reliable outside-half with good hands and a sound tackler, but he must pay more attention to his kicking if he is to develop into the complete player. Ellis and Anthony-Jones were the pick of the backs, and Ellis scored a remarkable number of points during the season with his strong running. Unfortunately, he did not bring the best out of his wingers because he did not always time his passing as well as he might have done. Edwards provided some nice touches in attack but his defence was weak, and Davies came into the side after Christmas to strengthen this aspect. Brown's handling on the wing was a little suspect, but he scored some determined tries. Anthony-Jones ran with great power, whether playing in the centre or on the wing, and should develop into a very useful player indeed. Clarke at full-back was erratic, but at his best he was very reliable in the tackle and able to turn defence into attack most effectively. Looking critically at the side, they did not always playas well as they were capable of doing, and they would do well to remember that you cannot play "Lions" Rugby until you have mastered the basic skills of the game, and some of the team must be more prepared to practise these skills if they are to realise their full potential in the years ahead. B.W.P.

OCTOBER 1973

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53

Seven-a-Side Rugby
This year the Sevens Squad had more matches than usual in preparation for the Public School Sevens at Rosslyn Park. In the Minor Sports the "A" team were winners with the "B" team almost beating Shrewsbury "A." At the Herefordshire Sevens the "A" team narrowly lost to a strong St. Brendans side in the first round, whilst on the same day the "B" team won the Plate at the Shropshire Sevens. On the following Wednesday the "A" team won the Whitchurch Sevens, beating Ludlow G.S. in the final. This year, for the first time, it was decided to enter both the Festival and the Open at Rosslyn Park. This was a venture well worth while, as it guaranteed at least four matches. The team fought their way through to the last 16 in the Festival, and were unlucky to lose to Wimbledon. In the Open, Ellesmere beat Sevenoaks quite easily, but in the second round were beaten in the last two minutes by Mount St. Mary's, the team they had previously beaten in the Festival 21-0. However, a lot of valuable experience came out of a very hard but enjoyable week. RESULTS FESTIVAL Ellesmere v. Oratory. Lost 6-10. Ellesmere v. Mount St. Mary's. Won 21-0. Ellesmere v. Trinity, Croydon. Won 16-10. Won Group on the highest points for Round 4 (last 16): Ellesmere I'. Wimbledon. Lost 6-10. THE OPEN Ellesmere v. Sevenoaks. Won 18-4. Round 3 : Ellesmere v. Mount St. Mary's. Lost 4-6.

"A" Team: Hughes, Dodwell, Sym, Smith, Ashworth, Morpuss, Blakey. "B" Team: Booth, McAuley, Meredith, McIlveen, Ellis, Pond, Roberts.

P.J.N.K.

Rugby Results: 1972-73 Season


Date 23 Sept. 27 Sept. 30 Sept. 7 Oct. 11 Oct. 18 Oct. 21 Oct. 21 Oct. 11 Nov. 15 Nov. 18 Nov. 22 Nov. 22 Nov. 29 Nov. 29 Nov. 2 Dec. 9 Dec. 15 Dec. Opponents Manchester G.S. Belmont Abbey Bromsgrove Rydal Wrekin Cotton Conway Priory Liverpool Merchant Taylors Ruthin Wrekin Denstone Oswestry Birkenhead Old Ellesmerians Christ's Coll., Brecon 1st W L W L W W W XV 29- 0 7-16 28- 0 7-57 15-10 64- 3 15- 3 2nd XV W 20- 3 L 0-32 W 18-15 L 7-19 L 10-16 W 10- 7 W 12- 9 L 0-12 L 7-14 L L 4-28 7-11 3rd XV Uj16 W 19- 3 W 20- 4 W 9- 8 L 13-31 L 0-18 W 41- 0 W 10- 4 W 7- 6 W 30- 6 D 6- 6 W 30- 0
D 12-12

L 3-28 L 11-24 L 4-26

U/15 L 0-42 L 8-28 L 0-64 L 0-24 L 0-32 W 14-10 L L L 9-14 3-38 0-32

U/14 W 20- 6 W 26-14 L 12-16 W 22- 0 W 72- 0

W 34- 6 W 12- 7 L 3- 7 W 6- 3 L 7-11

W 25- 0 L L 4-18 4-16

W 16- 3 L 8-31 L 12-16 W 48- 0 W 22-10 W 8- 6

L 0-14 W 10- 4 L 0-68

W 38- 0 L 0-12 L 7-10

54 1973 20 Jan. 24 Jan. 24 Jan. 27 Jan. 31 Jan. 31 Jan. 3 Feb. Adams G.S. Priory Denstone Lindisfame Denstone Grove Park Wrekin

THE ELLESMERIAN "A XV "B' XV D 0- 0 D 4- 4 L 8-15 L 4-34 W 21- 3 L 9-10 W 4- 0 L 7-16 L 4-20

Vol. LXXXV, No. 310 L 0-12 W 14- 8

L 0-19 W 24- 8 W 22-10 W 38- 6 W 13-10 W 25- 0 L 0-34 W 24- 4


Pts. agst.

1st XV 2nd XV 3rdXV U/16 U/15 U/14

PLAYING RECORDS P. D. L. Pts.for W. 15 9 0 6 272 11 4 0 7 95 6 1 0 5 51 12 8 2 2 197 17 4 0 13 79 16 13 0 3 491 1STXV TOUR


v. Stonyhurst... v. Rossall

145 166 112 98 455 128

L. 4-13 L. 3-21

Senior Junior

HOUSE COMPETITIONS ... Meynell 19; Wakeman 0 ... Talbot 11; Lambart 3 HOUSE SEVENS
Meynell

Senior Winners Junior Winners

Talbot

~ocke!, 1973

Senior Hockey

This has been a good season, both from the point of view of matches won, and of the amount of hockey played by senior junior andclubsides. Admittedly one would hope to be able to record the first of those achievements when as many as eight of last year's XI returned, and the 1st XI settled down with a line-up which changed remarkably seldom during the season, despite some illness in the School. This membership was: goal-Agnew (Capt.); backs-Lee, Stockfis and Sutton; halves-Hedley, Nickson and Thompson; forwards-Keen, Patterson, Butler and Q) Farzanehfar or Higgins. Durant also played, and Marsh and Manby had one game each. The season divided inself into two halves, from the beginning of term to the Shropshire Schools Festival, and the latter part of the term. In the early period the less daunting opponents were on the calendar and we had a row of successes

OCTOBER 1973

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55

against the Junior Leaders and Oswestry High School, and King's, Chester, though none were easy victories. A match against Wrekin at "A" XI was drawn 0-0 in a tense game. At the Schools Festival on 10th February, we played four games (of 20 minutes' duration each) and won all of them; Adams O.S., 1-0, Priory "B" 2-0, Shrewsbury Tech. 2-0, and in the final we beat Priory "A" 1-0. There followed a period of bad weather, and matches against Adams, Priory and Oswestry Club had to be cancelled, which interrupted the training also. The latter part of the term saw games against schools with skilful and well-drilled teams, and there were some close and hard-played matches. At Denstone, on 28th February, we won by 2-0 with a beautiful goal by Hedley from Keen's centre, and a first-time stroke by Farzanefar on a penalty hit, which passed several defenders across the goal mouth. This was a victory slightly against the run of play, by taking the opoortunities when offered. At Wrekin on the 7th March we were lacking Agnew in goal, and lost the grip on the game in the first 20 minutes, and allowed a powerful side to strike in three goals. After that our team woke up and fought very hard to dominate and, in fact, did so for much of the second half, and Keen broke away by himself to score a determined goal. However, a fourth and feeble goal was allowed to the Wrekin centre forward in the closing minutes. Both Liverpool and Newtown H.S. brought teams of good hockey players on the 10th and 14th March, but the former were held to a draw, 1-1, and Newtown were defeated 1-0, both after slightly disappointing games, without much controlled combination on our sides. However, Butler scored both goals, coming into form personally and showing a long-awaited ability to do that most necessary thing in this game: to score the goals. The Common Room hockey team turned out on 16th March and held the School one-all at half-time, then, as expected, slowed up and were defeated 3-1. Finally, the O.E's brought a team on the 17th March, which won against the School 1-3. Keith Bayliss showed his speed and acceleration into the circle to score two of the goals in the second half.
One must record how much the team owed to Agnew for his experienced and competent defence of the goal, so that only the outstanding goal shots by any opponents could beat him, and to this much of our success in the season is due. One must acknowledge, too, that the backbreaking training sessions, led by the Captain, however painful, contributed to our successes. The weaknesses which could be noted remain the lack of some basic skills, so that first team players were not as reliable as would be hoped in hitting and ball play, and also a lack of combination and tactics in forward attacking play. Both are skills which need to develop over some years.
1ST

Xl RESULTS

Won 5

Lost Drawn Cancelled For 2 3 4 24 (excluding Schools Festival games)

Goals Against
13

Goal scorers: Hedley 5, Butler 4, Nickson 3, Patterson Higgins I.


2ND

3, Keen 3, Durant

3, Farzanehfar

2,

XI RESULTS Cancelled For 279

Won
I

Lost 4

Drawn

Goals Against
R.R.J.

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Vol. LXXXV, No. 310

The House Competition was won by Meynell, who defeated Woodard, the holders, by 4-0, then Talbot by 1-0 from a goal scored in the closing seconds of the game, and finally Wakeman by 2-1 after a match in which dominance changed from one side to the otherseveral times. The whole competition was notable for the even spread of good players between most Houses, and while Wakeman may have started as favourites, Meynell deserved to win with the fast and skilful play and combination between Keen, Butler, Booth and Blakey in the forwards, with Sym playing coolly in midfield. Lambart lost to Wakeman in the first round after a game which had no score at the end of play and was decided by penalty shots in front of goal.

Junior Hockey
This has been the second year in which younger boys have had the opportunity to play hockey seriously, and already this has improved the overall standard in the School. There is a flourishing league in the Shell and IVth Forms, and this season we have been fortunate in having good weather for hockey in February and March. The Under 15 team has played several fixtures, but there is difficulty in obtaining fixtures at this age group. Thus in two matches we were up against opponents a year older than ourselves. Nevertheless the team gave an extremely good account of itself, being particularly strong in midfield, where Jagger, Burns and Ellis were skilful and industrious. The forwards lacked penetration against good defences, and only Higgins was a potential goal-scorer, though Cousins, Handley and Hudson showed some fine touches. The full backs, Crozier and Blakey, were very sound, if a little slow, and in goal Davies brought off some fine saves. RESULTS v. King's School, Chester Won 5-0 "B" XI v. Belvidere .. , Lost 2-1 v. Liverpool College Lost 3-2 v. Junior Infantrymen Lost 1-0 The following played in the team: J. C. Higgins, W. J. Cousins, D. J. Hudson, M. G. Handley, I. R. E. Burns, C. J. U. Jagger, P. L. Brereton, S. M. Blakey, M. R. Crozier, D. H. Davies, T. F. Ellis, A. P. Grenall, J. T. Keable, G. Th. Nguyen. J.M.S.

([ticket, 1973 The First Eleven


It was a very good season indeed. It was the first time the College has had an unbeaten season in a major sport at first team level, and so there is reason for a certain amount of pleasure. Some would say that we should have won more than we did, and certainly we enjoyed a number of favourable draws. However, it is a very difficult thing to teach a side to change gear and launch the attack once the base has been established at exactly the right moment. Acceleration is an art, and the fact is that in the draws in which we were involved favourably, our challenge was at most three overs out, and in most cases only about one-not bad calculation for a school side. In addition we suffered from some poor

OCTOBER1973

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57

declarations which ensured a draw, and it was good to see the XI not committing hari-kari but, instead, showing the declaration up for what it was really worth, and taking some useful batting practice-essential this May, as we got no practice but lost only one match to the weather! The factors involved in a declaration have to be taught too! All last year's side returned and, though two failed to hold their places, there was a good deal of experience. The wickets, even in May, were good for batting, and so the strength of the XI was able to blossom. We were not bowled out-it only happened once last year -and were never really in danger of being dismissed. The batting went all the way down, but only the first six had regular opportunity to make runs. Keen began the season in great form by taking a hundred off Oswestry, but then an over-generous and crooked backlift gave the opposition a chance to shift him early, which they took. By the end of the season he had disciplined himself sufficiently to make batting look elegant and easy. With a little more experience he will get a lot of runs. Patterson, again very consistent, was at his best against good bowling. He gets right behind the ball in defence, and attacks in a sensible arc and along the ground. He cut extremely well.
Syrn, who replaced Keen as opener for a while until injury put him out, took his opportunity well. He played straight, being very good on the off-side, but a little less secure on the on, where he does not yet present enough of the face of the bat. Hedley, Captain for a second year, not only skippered well, but also played some high-class innings-those against Birkenhead and Shrewsbury stand out. A slight impetuousity prevented him from dominating an attack, and when well set, he often got himself out. Butler was also very consistent, though he never made the big scores of which we know he is capable. He played himself in well, and made some beautiful shots, but he is a little unbalanced, and this is hampering his footwork and, hence, his timing. Pettegree improved out of all recognition, and made a fine hundred against Denstone. His defence is now sound and, provided he can eliminate the agricultural heave over mid-wicket and instead hit straight-again there is more to hit with-he should make many runs. The rest of the batsmen had few opportunities, though Main, Stockfis, Hopkins, George, Smith and Davies all made important runs on occasion. Disciplined exposition of the art of batsmanship, coupled with hardness born of experience, contributed greatly to the success of the side.

The bowling was usually much tighter than in the past. Our great lack was perhaps of a really penetrating bowler, though there was much variety and skill. Line and length were better, arms were higher and legs straighter. The bowlers were meaner and hence, no side really collared the attack. Main bowled accurately and well, drifting it away nicely; Davies not only quickened up but also discoveredthat length did pay; Stockfiis, with his fine high action got many wickets moving the ball both ways and late. He must not get frustrated when things do not always go his way. Hedley, though too open-chested got valuable wickets and bowled intelligently. George and Smith shared the spin. George is a little flat but is developing good control; Smith flipped it a lot and bowled many excellent balls but had a tendency to drop it short. The whole side could have bowled and in many yearsmight have had to! The fielding, though it lost its zip towards the end of the season, was usually of a very high standard and attracted much favourable comment. Catches were held, batsmen were run out and and runs were stopped. There was a degree of aggression which was good to see and the bowlers should be grateful for the support they received. Hedley set a fine example, Pettegree kept wicket extremely well and Patterson rarely missed anything. Davies improved on the ground and held some sharp chances close in, as did Main,

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The results are summarised below but perhaps the M.C.C. game needs some mention. It was good of Mr. Keen to bring a distinguished side which included Brian Statham and Jim McConnon and it was good to see George and Smith withstand these two for the last 20 minutes. If we had had to lose it would not have been a disgrace to lose to them. "The best school batting side I've seen in six years" was how Jim McConnon summed it up (and not in our presence). High praise! Next year is another year but if future Ellesmere sides show the willingness to practice seriously so that the various arts can be perfected and the same determination to get enough runs to bowl at as this one has over the last two years they too will taste success. We had few bad moments and my ulcer is safe for another season! My thanks are due to Eddie Rowe for the immaculate wickets - "They shouldn't get out on there" he says regularly and for once they didn't, to Major Taylor for his food, Brooks for some marvellous scoring (and to Hudson who understudied on occasion), to those who supported us, to my colleagues for all their work, and last, but not least to the XI for the pleasure it has given me, and I hope them, in showing that cricket is a business as well as a game - and if you cannot achieve the primary object of winning, you don't lose. 1st XI : D.C.Hedley, R.A.Patterson, C.D.Main, D.Keen, K.S.N.Pettegree, C.D.Butler, Stockfis, Sym, Smith, Davies, George, Hopkins. J.C.W.

SUMMARY OF MATCHES 1st XI v. Ellesmere C.C. Won by 4 wickets. Ellesmere C.C., 134 for 8 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 138 for 6 wkts. (Hedley 37; Butler 37 not out). Wed., 2nd May 1st XI v. Oswestry School. Won by 127 runs. 1st XI, 174 for 2 wkts. dec. (Keen 112, Patterson 47 not out). Oswestry School, 47 (Main 8 for 25). Sat., 6th May 1st XI v. King's, Chester. Match drawn. King's, Chester, 100 (Main 4 for 17). 1st XI, 91 for 7 (Butler 46). Wed., 9th May 1st XI v. Birkenhead School. Match drawn. Birkenhead, 146 for 9 dec. 1st XI, 86 for 5 wkts. (Hedley 72 not out). Sat., 12th May 1st XI v. M.T.S. Match drawn. M.T.S., 183 for 5 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 115 for 4 wkts. (Pettegree 56 not out). Wed., 16th May 1st XI v. Denstone College. Match drawn. Denstone, 189 for 8 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 175 for 5 wkts. (Pettegree 100 not out). Sat., 26th May 1st XI v. Rydal School. Match drawn. Rydal, 217 for 8 wkts. dec. (Stockfis 4 for 56). 1st XI 136 for 3 wkts. (Patterson 57, Butler 38 not out). Wed., 30th May 1st XI v. Shrewsbury School. Match drawn. Shrewsbury, 141 for 6 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 90 for 6 wkts. (Hedley 55). Sat., 2nd June 1st XI v. Liverpool College. Match abandoned. 1st XI, 95 for I wkt. (Patterson 50 not out, Sym 33). Wed., 6th June 1st XI v. Wrekin College. Won by 104 runs. 1st XI, 191 for 9 wkts. dec. (Butler 36, Keen 35). Wrekin, 87 (Stockfis 4 for 14). Wed., 13th June 1st XI v. Shropshire Gentlemen. Won by 2 wickets. Shropshire Gentlemen, 133 (Stockfis 4 for 25). 1st XI 134 for 8 wkts. (Hedley 49, Patterson 34). Sat., 16th June 1st XI v. Common Room. Match drawn. Common Room, 145 for 6 wkts. dec. (Stockfis 4 for 35). 1st XI, 141 for 8 wkts. (Keen 42, Patterson 3 I). Wed., 20th June 1st XI v. M.C.C. Match drawn. M.C.C., 196 for 5 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 152 for 8 wkts. Fri. and Sat., 13th and 14th July. 1st XI v. Old Ellesmerians. Match drawn. Old Ellesmerians, 126 for 7 wkts. dec. and 170 for 6 wkts. dec. 1st XI, 165 for 3 wkts. dec. (Keen 94, Butler 36 not out) and 129 for 7 wkts. (Keen 31). Played 14, won 4, drawn 9, abandoned 1 Sat., 28th April.

OCTOBER 1973

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1ST XI LEADING
BATTING

59

AVERAGES Highest Score


46 100 not 112 57 72 not 33

Innings C. K. D. R. D. R. D. Butler S. N. Pettegree H. Keen A. Patterson C. Hedley R. Sym


13 12 14 15 14 9

Not Out
3 3 0 2 1 3
BOWLING

Runs
298 243 368 337 334 103

Av.
29.80 27.00 26.29 24.92 25.69 17.17

Overs C. D. Main R. M. George I. R. Stockfis D. C. Hedley R. Smith D. J. Davies


177 63.3 164.2 84.4 66 94

Maidens
47 7 43 17 7 18 CATCHES

Runs
471 234 431 223 172 260

Wickets
31 9 25 12 8 11

Av.
15.19 16.00 17.40 18.58 21.50 23.64

Pettegree 7 (5 stumped); Stockfis 6; Hedley, Patterson, Butler 5; Keen, Hopkins, Main, Sym 2; Lamb 1. Prizes: Washbrook Bat: D. C. Hedley Batting: R. A. Patterson. Bowling: I. R. Stockfis. Fielding: K. S. N. Pettegree. House Matches: Senior: Talbot beat Meynell. Junior: Woodard beat Lambart. Six-a-Side: Meynell and Talbot shared the Trophy.

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Second Eleven Cricket


The results this season do not reflect the potential of this spirited team. After the first two weeks of the term, rain played an important part in preventing us from holding any type of practice; it held off in time for matches, however! This variation of English cricket weather is not really conducive to good play on the field, and consequently we lost against Denstone by one wicket and followed this with two further defeats against Merchant Taylors' and Rydal. After these abysmal failures, the team produced two very exciting victories: against Liverpool and Shrewsbury we were left to get about 100 runs in about 25 overs, and in both cases the objective was achieved in the last over. Some of the strokes were hardly copybook illustrations, but the excitement was infectious and many spectators witnessed the end of the matches. Great credit should be given to George for the way in which he bowled in the first part of the season, and it was with regret that we lost him to the 1st XI. Lamb and Dutton were the two opening bowlers and collected many vital wickets. Batsmen who deserve special mention are Kyrke-Smith for his unbeaten 57 against King's, Chester, and Roberts, who, apart from getting 51 against Denstone, proved invaluable in getting runs quickly. The following played for the 2nd XI: Agnew, Kyrke-Smith, Manby, Nickson, Lamb, Roberts, Gregory, George, Maddison, Dutton, Coulthard, Hopkins, Higgins, Berrisford. RESULTS 2nd XI, 113 for 6 wkts. (Kyrke-Smith 57 not) King's, Chester, 35 (Lamb 5 for 8) Birkenhead, 138 for 6 sec. 2nd XI, 102 for 7 wkts. 2nd XI, 121 (Roberts 51). Denstone, 123 for 9 wkts. (George 4 for 11). 2nd XI, 84 (Lamb 34). Rydal, 85 for 5 wkts. 2nd XI, 68. M.T.S., 69 for 4 wkts. Liverpool, 94 for 8 dec. (Dutton 4 for 33). 2nd XI, 96 for 4 wkts. Shrewsbury, 107 for 6 dec. (George 3 for 38). 2nd XI, 108 for 8 wkts. (Agnew 39 not). Wrekin, 118 (Coulthard 5 for 30, Lamb 3 for 32). 2nd XI, 69.

v. King's, Chester v. Birkenhead v. Denstone v. Rydal v.M.T.S. v. Liverpool v. Shrewsbury v. Wrekin

Won Drawn Lost Lost Lost Won Won Lost

Colts Cricket
RECORD: Played 8, Won 2, Lost 4, Drawn 2 Two wins in eight matches does not argue a good season for the Colts. This was, however, a very young side, and there is plenty of cricketing talent there. With a bit of luck and greater steadiness in the batting, the results could well have been much better. The main weakness was the batting, characterised usually by an inability to put bat to ball firmly. If Edwards failed to make runs, this invariably meant trouble. An effective though not a stylish bat, he made nearly 200 runs with an average of 24. Higgins often threatened to make runs, but only once succeeded. Cousins disappointed with the bat, Jagger and Brereton were usually worth a few. Then there was Pacey, an unscientific hitter who played a splendid innings in the Wrekin match. Cousins amply compensated for his lack of success with the bat by leading the bowling averages· Taking 23 wickets at under 6 runs apiece, he was far and away the pick of the bowlers, his greatest merit being his accuracy of line. Higgins, who shared the opening attack with Cousins, at times bowled well, but was too often unreliable. Edwards bowled steadily but not enough, and there was little else to back these three up.

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In the field we could look very good. The throwing and catching were sound. Brereton was the pick of the fielders. There are, however, two or three "old men" who shall be nameless. Jagger's wicket-keeping improved steadily as the season went on, though he still lacked confidence when standing up to the wicket. Under Cousins' keen captaincy, the team enjoyed its cricket, and always gave of its best. It is a pity that the number of School matches was not greater, especially towards the end of the term, when the team was beginning to play its best cricket. RESULTS v. Wrekin College. Lost by 57 runs. Wrekin, 89 (Edwards 4 for 14). Ellesmere, 42. v. King's School, Chester. Match drawn. King's, 107 (Blakey 4 for 44). Ellesmere, 77. v. Birkenhead School. Won by 133 runs. Ellesmere, 179 for 5 dec. (Higgins 56, Edwards 47). Birkenhead, 46 (Cousins 7 for 28). v. Merchant Taylors'. Lost by 19 runs. Merchant Taylor's, 104 (Cousins 5 for 14). Ellesmere, 85. v. Denstone College. Lost by 7 wickets. Ellesmere, 122 for 8 dec. (Edwards). Denstone, 123 for 3. v. Rydal School. Won by 77 runs. Ellesmere, 111 for 8 dec. (Edwards 59). Rydal, 34 (Cousins 4 for 0). v. Shrewsbury School. Lost by 7 wickets. Ellesmere, 70 (Edwards 29). Shrewsbury, 71 for 3. v. Wrekin College. Match drawn. Ellesmere, 134 for 9 dec. (Pacey 61). Wrekin, 114 for 7. Team: N. J. Cousins (Captain), c. D. Edwards (both Colours); S. M. Blakey, P. L. Brereton, J. C. Higgins, A. J. W. Hill, C. J. U. Jagger, C. M. Pacey, R. G. Scotter, J. C. Syrn, R. Yarwood, S. R. Jevon and C. Schofield also played. J.M.S.

Under 15 Cricket
A final tally of 5 matches won and 5 lost is in the end a fair reflection on this team's performance: the batting rarely looked sound enough to win any matches, but the bowling was as good as most encountered on the circuit, and as successful as in any recent Under 15 side. Given fielders who could be relied on to hold their catches, and a greater awareness all round in the field, and a couple more victories may well have resulted : as it was the bowlers rather lacked the imagination and technique to set and adjust a field, and this was also largely true of Keable, the captain, whose field settings often failed to exploit the bowlers' potential to the full. Watching the batting was usually a nervous business. Keable and Attoe gave the side a reasonable start more often than not, though neither played a major innings: after that, apart from a good partnership of 75 between Whitaker and Ellis against Wrekin, and one of 62 between Booth and Corp against Oswestry, the batting was decidedly brittle, and we were often grateful to Chambers for an improbable rescue act-notably against Merchant Taylors' after a slump to 16 for 8! Only once during the season was the captain faced with a declaration problem - fortunately this was also a rare event for our opponents, for which thanks to the quality of the bowling of the quartet which sent down all but five of the overs. Only ten opposition wickets failed to fall in 12 matches. Of those that did fall, 32 went to Hull - the highest total in an Under 15 season for many years - he bowled his off spinners with an excellent control of flight and direction. Smith also topped the 30 wicket mark, his medium pace costing well under 2 runs an over, and his 7 for 21 against Liverpool were the best figures of the season. Whitaker took five wickets in an innings twice, both times against Shrewsbury, and his left arm fast medium developed a great deal as the season progressed. Less in the limelight, but with several important wickets and a hat trick against Denstone to his credit, was Chambers. his slow left arm bowling again improved a lot, and it provided an important contibution to the variety of the attack. These four were largely responsible for victories against Rydal, Wrekin and Denstone - a rare trio in one season - as well as Chester and Oswestry.

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Mention must be made too of Attoe, who came as an all-rounder but who turned into a more than competent wicket-keeper : nine stumpings off the slow bowlers proved invaluable, and his nimble footwork disguised the fact that at times the bowlers were straying down the leg side. In the field, Smith consistently picked up well and threw in accurately - a couple of run outs from the boundary rocked the opposition - and several of the others possessed a good arm. However, many singles were conceded unnecessarily because of poor positioning and lack of aggression-here is one area where any fielding side can improve with practice. Finally, a word for the future. This is a promising side: if it works at its batting, particularly defensive technique, it will become all the harder to beat, and it does possess the bowling to win a lot of matches. Team (from) J.T.Keable (Capt.), I.R.Attoe, T.F.Ellis, G.A.Whitaker, G.P.Chambers, S.L.Smith, R.N.A.Hull (all colours), D.C.Corp, M.B.Stevens, J.H.A.Booth, B.M.P.Edwards, N.C.W.Tavenor. K.J.S.

Under 14 Cricket
Played 8, won 1, drawn 2, lost 5 The season has been memorable, if for nothing else, for the enthusiasm of the players, not least that of those boys who could not command a regular team place. The solitary victory over Wrekin must take pride of place The manner in which it was achieved seemed miraculous. A team whose previous highest total was 44 scored 118 for 2 in very quick time. The openers, Wynn and Owen, probably won this match in the first four overs of our innings, from which 28 runs flowed and the morale of the opposition collapsed. They were not separated until 85 were on the board, at which point both batsmen were at one end and the ball at the other Clarke's hostile bowling and captaincy contributed much to the spirit of the side. His bowling was ably supported by the slow spin of Owen, who was by far the most consistent of the bowlers and perhaps not used to the full. The ground fielding left a lot be desired, but was compensated for by some superb close catching. My thanks as the end of an enjoyable season are due to Mr. Walker for his assistance, and all the clubside for their support. Team (from) : I.Clarke*, Jinks. G.Owen*, R.G.Wynn*, Athony-Jones, Bosanquet, Bums, Davies P., Frazier, Lambert, Ward, Williams. Also played: Birch, Blakeway, Edwards, Jevon, Hales. P.B.P. (*denotes colours.)

Squash Rackets 1973


Not a bad season at all: four out of eight matches were won and the Colts won all their four matches. It was a young side, and only three had any experience at all of first team squash. Hence, two strings were ideally playing too high and, as so often happens in these cases, the extra pace and accuracy told adversely. It was, however, pleasing to see the improvement made by all during the season. Thought and accuracy became more general features of play and there was a more general willingness to play long rallies -nowhere was the skill developed better illustrated than in the House matches, where the squash players annihilated the casual players. This was only right and proper.

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Codling, the Captain, played extremely well on all occasions and was very hard for schoolboys to beat. Fast and mobile, if sometimes unorthodox, he was too strong for most of his opponents. He deserves much high praise for the determination, enthusiasm and skill he displayed. He has a rosy future. Davies improved steadily : he practised very hard, hit strongly and improved his courtcraft. Sometimes prone to involvement in slogging matches, he must learn to play the drop more often and use his wrist. Lamb, young, found the going hard at third string. He began to get used to the pace as the season went on and slowly his footwork got better. Curiously his best game was one in which in terms of points he suffered his worst defeat. Edwards played with intelligence and skill. He is very young but has abundant talent and, once he improves his footwork, should prove very difficult to beat in schoolboy competition. Jackson, also very young, is handicapped as yet by lack of power but he made up for this by fine use of the drop shot and lob and his mobility and court-craft improved steadily. George has talent but he must learn to fight and concentrate. Rallies against good players are won by hard work and not by searching for quick and outright winners. Bew, Nesbitt, Dutton and Pacey all showed much skill and encountered few problems, except perhaps those of temperament and inexperience. They must learn not to relax until their opponents are ground into the earth. Therefore an encouraging season and one which augurs well for the future - provided theplayers work and train hard. Mental approach and physical fitness are all important in a game in which ball-playing ability and flair count for so much if one is to reach the top. In the house matches, Lambert defeated Woodard in the Senior and Woodard won the Junior Competion. J.C.W.

Tennis 1973
The season was not as successful as one would have liked, but ended up by being less of a disaster than one might have feared. In the last three matches two victories were gained, against Priory ~~ and the Ellesmere Town Club, and the return match with Shrewsbury was drawn. The reason for this late run of success was the availability of several "cricketers", of whom Jagger was the most promising. The earlier heavy defeats were no more than could be expected at the hands of Schools where tennis has equality of choice with other sports. Of our regular performers, Ball and Nguyen II always looked like tennis players, although inconsistency marred some stylish stroke-play. Chapman and Baker battled away at their game without ever really convincing. They will need to work at their ground shots if they are to capitalise on their undoubted enthusiasm. At third pair, a number of permutations were operated, but Bew must be congratulated for sticking at a thankless task in the earlier part of the season, when he never knew where his next partner was coming from. I hope he, and the other stalwarts, were not discouraged by failure for, in a year when professionalism degraded the game, it is important to remember that enjoyment lies in playing, not in winning.

1~

1.

D.G.M.J.

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Canoe Club
This year can be summarised as one in which the Club The beginning of the year saw us losing all the experienced canoeists except R. Manby, and the task of running the Club fell very much on the shoulders ----.... ---.,,;;;,....; __ ~ ... of R. Gilmore, A. Ward and G. Edwards, with R. Manby supervising rolling practices as often as his other commitments permitted. My heartfelt thanks are due to thse four Committee members, who are largely responsible for the success of the Club this year.

1!III.~r.-"ft. ~~~IIIIIi

••

d was being rebuilt.

As usual, the main activities have been white-water based, although, with transport difficulties and the large number of novices, we have not made such a mark on the canoeing scene as in some previous years. However, we now have a nucleus of keen canoeists, several of whom have mastered the art of "rolling," and so we can look forward to a better season next year. This is especially true because Michaelmas 1973 sees the return of F.S.G. to the fold, complete with boat, paddles, experience, and a towing vehicle! The most notable success of the year was Anthony Ward's fine run oil the two-mile-long Dee White Water race, where he came fourth in his class, defeating three distinguished Old Ellesmerian canoeists in the process. Since then we have visited Ironbridge on four occasions, and members have attended the slaloms at Ironbridge, Chester and Swachestone, thus gaining valuable experience. Next term sees a fairly heavy schedule of slaloms and white water races, while a new development is the acquisition of a number of kits to make special boats for the swimming pool. These should reduce swimming pool damage to a minimum, make it possible for more people to canoe at once, and ultimately see the establishment of canoe polo. I have thoroughly enjoyed this year at the helm, but in the autumn will be handing over to F.S.G., who has always been so closely involved with the Canoe Club, even during his Germanic exile. I hope to assist him then in what will, I hope, be a vintage year for the Club. N.R.P.

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Cross-Country
Good relations have been set up between members of the team this year, and I think this is largely due to Mr. Boothroyd, who right at the beginning of the term invited us down to his house for a nibble and sip. I think this is an important aspect of cross-country, not so much the drinking but the relationship with the master, who is, after all, inflicting the tough training routine on us. T. B. BEARD, L.VI. Pre-season training started the first full day back at College and continued throughout the few weeks before our first of many away matches. Mr. Panting helped the squad with advice on weight-training techniques. Success evaded the teams a number of times due to minor ailments and other factors too numerous to mention here. Hence, the senior team especially was never really at its full strength, although a few matches were won with the strong support of two Colts runners, "Herby" Miller and "Oz" Osborne, who were consistent leaders in every race. Vice-Captain T. Beard had an unlucky season with an injured knee, but the Captain of the juniors, M. J. Clews, led the junior team magnificently throughout the summer. B. S.
MURRAY,

Captain of Cross-Country.

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I saw a muddy lane looming up through my periscope. This was it, after months of hard training, the time had come to put it all to the test. My feet fought to grip on to the slippery ground. Eventually I made it and raced on over the hedge, brook and hill and road until I reached the main gates and the finish -.I sped in hard and fast and checked in past the timekeeper, another mission successfully completed.

F. W. A.
Who was going to win the first match? It was old feet pounding away along the road and down to win? We caught up the opposition and made for place where we could get a decisive lead. Keep faster ....

CROUCH,

IV.

the familiar junior course yet again. The on to the muddy lane ... were we going the Duke of York's hill, the only possible going, don't let him win ... faster ... at the end of the season M. J.
CLEWS.

N.B.-Unfortunately the opposition did win that match-but we looked back to it as the only match which we did not win.

TEAMS Seniors: B. S. Murray*, T. B. Beard+, D. G. Chapman, P. C. Osborne, H. C. Miller, D. C. Sheldon, C. Maddison, R. L. Toon. Colts: P. C. Osborne+, H. C. Miller], V. G. Gwillim*, C. Th. Nguyen, J. D. Harvey, H. G. Millington, I. Duke, P. J. T. Hobbs, C. J. U. Jagger, I. R. E. Burns, G. Coulthard, R. L. Gilmore. Juniors: M. J. Clews*, R. N. A. Hull*, S. G. Clay, J. W. Hudson, J. F. Bosanquet, M. C. Jones, S. L. Smith*, J. R. Hawkins. t Old Colours * New Colours RESULTS 51-27 pts. 62-25 pts, 57-86 pts, 5 59-59 59-58 67-21 55-30 pts. pts. pts. pts. Repton Denstone Oswestry School Cotton Repton Denstone Oswestry School Cotton Repton Lost Won Won Lost Lost Won Draw Won Lost 57-30 pts. 35-57 pts. 35-89 pts. 88-73 pts. 88-26 pts. 55-67 pts. 55-55 pts. 73-76 pts. 73-29 pts.

Seniors Won 3, lost 3 Rossall Lost Shrewsbury Lost Cotton Won Colts Won I, drawn 2, lost Repton Draw Malvern Lost Rossall Lost Shrewsbury Lost Juniors Won 3, lost 2 Repton Lost Rossall Won Shrewsbury Won

46 -33 pts. 38t-43t pts, 25 -58 pts.

Seniors: Colts: Juniors:

1st, Woodard 1st, Lambart 1st, Woodard

INTER-HOUSE COMPETITION 2nd, Meynell lOt pts. 16 pts. 2nd, Meynell II pts. 12 pts. 2nd, Lambart 13 pts, 17 pts.

3rd, Wakeman 3rd, Talbot 3rd, Talbot

9t pts. 10 pts. 8 pts.

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Swimming Team Report


At the start of the Summer Term land conditioning, in the form of very strenuous, rapidly repeated exercises for maybe an hour's duration, was used extensively to bring our swimmers up to the level of other schools on our swimming "circuit." The introduction to actual aquatics brought with it strange sounding terms such as "twenty fifties, every sixty." After only eight days of swimming, a three-cornered match with Denstone and Wrekin presented itself. Denstone beat us, but we had scored twice as many points as in the same match last year. This improvement was maintained in the next match, when the College had its first win for several years, and broke ten School records. Although the juniors won their half of the next match, against Rydal, the overall win was secured by the senior freestyle relay team, who pulled out all the stops and swam to an amazing first place, breaking the four-day-old record by over a second and returning a personal best for this quartet. The team also beat Liverpool College in a well-earned victory. Flatness then descended on to the watery super-stars, along with exams., which made the conditioning approach to the House competition rather less efficient than was required. However, high standards were maintained. The outstanding performance came from a non-team member, School Captain Hedley, who, in the final of the 50 m. butterfly, powered his way straight from the gun to touch first in 35.7 secs., only half a second outside thee School record. Another non-team member, Blakey, won an individual title in the 50 m. breaststroke. He led from a very fine dive and his time was 39.4 sees, OTHER RESULTS Senior 100 m. F/S.: Campbell, 1 min. 6·7 sees. Junior 100 m. F/S.: Elkington, 1 min. 7·1 sees. Junior Breaststroke: Hilling, 1 min. 33·2 sees. Junior Backstroke: Jenkyn-Jones, 1 min. 21·8 sees. The Senior Championship was won by a very wide margin of points by Talbot, The Junior Championship was a close battle between Talbot and Lambart. The final result depended on the outcome of the last race, the 4 x 25 m. F./S. team race. The two teams swam neck and neck for the first three "legs," but a superb take-over by Robinson, Talbot's anchor man, took them into a 2 feet lead, which Elkington was unable to close. The winning time of 57·9 sees, equalled the School record, and gave Talbot the Junior Championship by 1t points, and the "double" for House swimming. A handful of boys were entered in the Shropshire Schools' Championships. Hilling was second in the U.l6 Individual Medley; Jenkyn-Jones was second in the U.19 Backstroke, and Robinson and Campbell were third in the U.l6 and the U.19 F./S. respectively. These swimmers, together with Elkington, have been selected to represent the County against Hereford and Worcester in September. Their selection is a satisfying reflection of the work which they and the rest of the team have put into their swimming this term and which, with one week still to go as I write this, has already produced 46 School records. CLIVE RUSHTON.

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Water Polo: Summer 1973


The positions in this year's League competition were the same as last year. Talbot, winning all their games by comfortable margins, were the most skilful team in both shooting and passing, as well as having the strongest swimmers. The other Houses were very well matched and there were some close games. The difficulty of finding time to practise led to a lack of teamwork, and too often the ball was thrown hopefully forward rather than to a player of one's own team. Woodard, without many strong swimmers, were courageous and never gave up trying. The League matches continued to draw good support from the rest of the School, and were enjoyed by players and spectators alike.
P. 4 4 4 4 4

Talbot 2. Lambart
1.

LEAGUE TABLE W. D. L.
4

For

4. Wakeman

3. Meynell

5. Woodard 2 2
0
3

2 2 2

0 0 0 0 0

2 2 2

27
11 11 3

Ag.
13

22 2
1

14

Pis. 8 4 4 4 0 4

RESULTS Lambart Meynell Lambart Woodard Meynell Meynell 3 Wakeman 4 Wakeman 1 Lambart 4 Woodard 1 Woodard Lambart Talbot Meynell Talbot
0 9

Wakeman Talbot Woodard Talbot Wakeman

0 6

5 H.R.H.

Senior Athletics Again the College Senior Athletics team has had a very successful season, winning ten out of their eleven matches. This achievement is remarkable when one realises that the team was made up of only ten boys. We were, indeed, lucky to have athletes with all-round ability, and of these three were particularly outstanding. R. T. Hughes, the Captain, ran hurdles, 100 m., 200 m., high-jumped and threw the discus. R. D. Meredith ran 100 m., 200 m. and 400 m., while J. C. H. Codling ran hurdles, jumped long, triple and high jump, and threw the discus and put the shot. It can be seen that the results depended a great deal upon these three. Meredith and Hughes could always be relied on to gain I st and 2nd places in the 100 m. and 200 m., while Codling almost always won the high, long and triple jump. It was in these events that new School records were set. Meredith's times of 10·6 in the 100 m. and 21·9 in the 200, must be ranked with Codling's 1·89 m. (6 ft. 21 in.) as the outstanding performances of the season. Three men, no matter how good they are, do not make a team, and we were lucky that the remainder were versatile. N. J. Blakey, a convert from cricket, ran in the relay, and improved his javelin-throwing and shot-putting by constant practice and hard work. C. J. P. Booth ran in the relay and the 400 m., gaining valuable points for the team. J. Lindell proved to be a useful back-up man in the javelin, and in the long and triple jumps. Murray and

Athletics

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Priestner both ran some good races in the 800 m., while Nicol, really an Under-I 7, did some excellent running in the 400 m. Over 1500 m., T. Beard worked hard to beat the School record, and only just failed. S. Morpuss proved a useful second string in this event. The year's fixtures included a match at Shrewsbury against a much-improved Shrewsbury School, and Rugby School, against Junior Leaders at Park Hall, and at Denstone. All these were won in fine style.
Colts Athletics

The Colts had a moderately successful season, winning seven and losing four of their matches. Outstanding was H. C. Miller, who set new Colts records for the 100 m. and the 200 m. Other up and coming track athletes have been D. N. Brown, P. C. Osborne and I. R. E. Burns; while in the field events, M. R. O. Jones, R. A. Lawson, S. A. McAuley, J. L. Leslie-Miller and J. P. Leake consistently improved their performances. With these athletes and a number of junior boys who were "blooded" in the three U.-15 matches, prospects look fairly bright next year.
BEST PERFORMANCES
SENIOR

R. D. Meredith: 10·6 sec., 100 metres. R. T. Hughes: 16·2 sec., Hurdles. N. J. Blakey: 10·63 m., Shot. R. D. Meredith, 21·9 sec., 200 m. S. E. Nickson, 12·54 m., Discus. N. J. Blakey, 46·05 m., Javelin. S. P. Nicol, 52·9 sec., 400 m. P. S. Rickaby, 23·80 m., Hammer. J. C. H. Codling, 2·97 P.V.* T. B. Beard, 2 min. 11·4 sec., 800 m. J. C. H. Codling, 12·86 m. in Triple Jump; 6·54 m.* in Long Jump. T. B. Beard, 4 min. 34·3 sec., 1,500 m. J. C. H. Codling, 1·89 m., High Jump. R. T. Hughes, C. J. P. Booth, N. J. Blakey, R. D. Meredith, 45·8 sees, in the Relay.

H. C. G. Miller, 11·1 sec.*, 100 m. S. A. McAuley, 16·6 sec., Hurdles, and (,52 m. in High Jump. H. C. G. Miller, 23·1 sec.*, 200 m. H. C. G. Miller, 6·05 m., Long Jump. I. R. Stockfis iii, 11·43 m., Shot. S. P. Nicol, 52·0 sec., 400 m. R. M. A. George, 11·83 m., Triple Jump. I. D. Priestner, 2 min. 13·4 sec., 800 m. I. R. Stockfis, 36·10 m., Javelin. P. C. Osborne, 4 min. 46·3 sec., 1,500 m. J. L. Leslie-Miller, 29·96 m., Discus. S. A. McAuley, S. P. Nicol, M. R. O. Jones, H. C. G., 48·7 sec. in the Relay.

JUNIOR

* denotes

a new record

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HOUSE ATHLETIC RESULTS Senior: 1st, Woodard, 111 pts.; 2nd, Talbot, 66; 3rd, Wakeman, 57t; 4th, Meynell, 36t; 5th, Lambart, 14. Intermediate: 1st, Lambart, 96 pts.; 2nd, Talbot, 58t; 3rd, Meynell, 47; 4th, Wakeman, 41t; 5th, Woodard, 40. Junior: 1st, Woodard, 79 pts.; 2nd, Talbot, 77; 3rd, Wakeman, 42; 4th, Meynell, 38; 5th, Lambart, 36. THE SEASON'S RESULTS On 9th May, at Ellesmere, Seniors and Colts beat Oswestry School and Oswestry High School. At Shrewsbury on 12th May, Seniors beat Shrewsbury and Rugby, but Juniors and Colts were beaten by both schools. At Ellesmere on 26th May, Seniors beat Ratcliffe College, but Colts were beaten. At Rossall on 30th May, Seniors and Colts came second to Rossall, but defeated Rydal. At Repton on 2nd June, our Seniors and Colts beat Repton and K.E.S., Birmingham, but Repton beat our Under 15. At Ellesmere on 6th June, Seniors and Colts defeated Denstone and Wrekin. At Park Hall on 16th May, Seniors beat Junior Leaders. At Denstone on 16th May, the Under 16 beat Denstone, John Talbot's School and William Hulm, while the Under 15 came third, beating only John Talbot's School. ATHLETIC HONOURS R. D. Meredith, R. T. Hughes, J. C. H. Codling, H. C. G. Miller and S. P. Nicol were in the Shropshire team at Warlet, and were also selected to represent Shropshire in the English Schools Athletic Association Championship. At Bebington, Cheshire, where the "Nationals" were held, R. D. Meredith came third in the 200 metres in 22·3 sec., and has now been chosen to represent England in the meeting at Blackburn. R. T. Hughes and H. C. G. Miller reached the finals of their events, and J. C. H. Codling came seventh in the High Jump. P.J.N.K.

Golf
The main item in our autumn programme is now the "FourAways" Competition: a mixed party of staff and boys play four different courses in the county using the Stableford system of scoring, and the Cup goes to the player who scores most points in his best three rounds. This year R. M. Owen won with 112 points, beating the Captain, M. A. H. Scott (104 points) by returning 45 points at Hawkstone Park on a day when wind and rain ruined most cards: a fine performance indeed. The Autumn Term junior competition for members of the Shell and IVth was won by J. C. Higgins, who went round the nine holes in 35. P. A. Brooks was second with a gross 38. On March 7th we played Shrewsbury School at Oswestry as part of the Minor Sports fixture. M. A. H. Scott and A. R. Mason won their singles, but A. R. Litherland and P. A. Brooks lost the foursomes match by 4 and 3. The annual fixture against the staff at Oswestry was won by two matches to one. The School lost the first match, won the second, and the last match was all square on the 18th tee. However, Mr. Shuttleworth and Mr. Gregory managed to bunker themselves to the left of the 18th green, and so A. Raybould and P. A. Brooks won an exciting game, 1 up. The Captain, M. A. H. Scott, won the Bratby/ Cotterill Cup at Oswestry on March 14th with a gross 82-a good score in the circumstances. We sent M. A. H. Scott and three promising juniors, P. A. Brooks, A. Raybould

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and M. B. Stevens to compete in the Aer Lingus Competition at Edgbaston on March 20th; the Captain, unhappily, had an off-day, so we finished only I Ith in a field of fifteen schools. M. B. Stevens won the Summer Term Junior Stapleford Competition over nine holes on our own course, returning 21 points; C. V. Atkinson, a promising new member, was second with 20 points. We lost our away fixture to Birkenhead School at Arrowe Park by 5-1; halved 41--41-with Merchant Taylors (and then lost the "sudden-death" play-off); defeated Rydal 5t-3t; but lost to Wrekin 5-4. We were very pleased when the Old Ellesmerian Golfing Society offered us a Cup in memory of Mr. W. L. Sumsion, who did so much for golf at the College before the war. A mixed group of staff and boys playa medal round at Oswestry on the O.E. day, and this year the Cup was won by P. A. Brooks, who played extremely well on a very wet afternoon to return 92-24-68. At the end of term the match-play Cup, the Brackwell/Haworth, was won by M. B. Stevens, who defeated P. A. Brooks in the final at Oswestry by 3 and 2. The Club now has 85 members; and the following boys have played in fixtures or major competitions this year: M. A. H. Scott (Captain); M. C. Moseley; A. J. Collinge; R. M. Owen; A. R. Mason; A. R. Litherland; N. J. Litherland; A. Raybould; P. A. Brooks; M. B. Stevens; M. C. Lewis.

Sailing
1973 saw the return of Mr. Wright as Commodore of the SailingClub, assisted by Mr. Gregory. Much hard work had been done during the winter and as a result six boats were launched at Whitmere at the start of the summer term. Success in our matches was hard to come by-we lost all matches sailed, against Bromsgrove, Birkenhead and Liverpool-but it was encouraging that many younger boys began to show much enthusiasm and promise. Not only were they keen to do all the hard work which sailing involves but they also showed an improvement in their sailing which should provide for a successful future. The Sailing team consisted of; J. P. Eddy (capt), C. V. Marsh, N. R. Syrn, R. Toon, R. Fisher, C. H. Clarke. The Lysaght Cup was won by C. H. Clarke.

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ELLESMERTAN

Vol. LXXXV,

No. 310

mattS of ~trms
Michaelmas 1973

Term ends: 12th December. Lent 1974 9th January to the 20th March.
Summer 1974

24th April to the 13th July. Half-term: 8th to 11th June.

~rtbfts
We would like to thank all those who have helped us, and especially Mr. R. A. Brown. We would also like to thank N. J. Lomax, J. J. Phelps and H. J. Lambert for their drawings. We would like to thank the following for photographs: The Shropshire Star, The Border Counties Advertizer, Mr. I. D. Gregory, Mr. Graves (Sales Manager, Jensen), T. A. Jackson, T. Beard, N. R. Syrn, R. C. Anderson, o. T. Cooke, R. W. Evans, A. W. Olive, P. G. Forster. We would also like to thank the Headmaster's Secretary for her help.
THE EDITORS.

O.E. CHRONICLE Autumn 1973


Officers of the Club, 1973-74
PATRON SIR OFFLEY WAKEMAN, Bt, CBE, DL, JP PRESIDENT S. CHEETHAM (1925) VICE-PRESIDENTS C.F.AuSTIN (1897), SIR HARRY TRUSTED QC (1905), T.S.LouCH QC,MC, (1905), C.H.SCOTT (1908), A.C.SHEPHERD MC, (1911), MAJOR GENERAL L.R.H.KEATINGS CBE, (1913), MAJORGENERAL W.R.GOODMAN CB,DSO,MC, THE REV.J.W.J.STEELE CBE, (1915), R.W.RABY (1916), R.E.BRABYN (1916), LB.BARTER (1918), J.C.COPELAND (1918), G.HAWORTH (1918) COL. S.M.HoLLWAY OBE,MC,TD,DL, (1922), A.MACLEOD-SMITHCMG, (1930), DR.D.C.M. YARDLEY (1933), H.C.RIGBY DFC,(I932), J.R.H.NEWEY QC,(I937), A.P.DEAN MP,(1937) R.A.EvANS-PROSSER (1924-1961), C.HOWARD (1926-1967) I.D.S.BEER (1961-1969). TRUSTEES S.CHEETHAM, N.A.PLUMMER, H.C.RIGBY, EXECUTIVECOMMITTEE DFC, A.G.SHEPHERD

No. 119

Chairman: S.M.HoLLWAY;

Vice-Chairman: G.HAWORTH; THE HEADMASTER,THE PRESIDENTAND VICE-

PRESIDENTS, THE TRUSTEES, THE LOCAL SECRETARIES,THE GOLF, SQUASH AND CRICKET SECRETARIES, THE HON. TREASURER, THE HON., SECRETARY, PETER SCOTT, THE BURSAR, A.G.SHEPHERD, M.U. NEWBOLD, F.BERRISFORD, A.G.McG.LuNN. LOCAL OFFICERS

London:

A.MACLEOD-SMITH CMG,(Chairman), P.ANSTEY, Fiveways, Chenies Avenue, Little Chalfont, Bucks: (Secretary). Manchester: S.CHEETHAM (Chairman), W.A.PYKE, 71 Windle Grove, St. Helens, Lanes: (Secretary) Liverpool: B.BANCROFT (Chairman), T.A.McD.WILLIAMS, 140 Liverpool Rd., Chester, (Secretary). West Midland: C.T.SNAPE (Chairman), D.J.LATHAM, Valetta, Stockwood Lane, Inkberrow, Worcester (Secretary). East Wales: R.E.BRABYN (Chairman), 40 AIteryn Rd., Newport, Mon. West Wales: I.B.BARTER (Chairman), 3 Castle Acre, Norton, Mumbles, Swansea. Hon. Secretary O.E.Golf Society: C.T.SNAPE, 4 Landsdowne Rd., Wolverhampton. Hon: Secretary O.E.Cricket Society: D.WAIN, 27 Park Rd., Alrewas, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. O.E. Squash Club: R.S.CARVER (Chairman), W.R.A.WOODWARD, Broadacres, Chapel Choriton, Chorlton, Newcastle, Staffs: (Secretary). HON. TREASURER T.J.CARTER, 16 Hartley Rd., Altrincham, Cheshire.

HON. SECRETARYAND EDITOR O.E. CHRONICLE J.W.NANKIVELL, Ellesmere College, Shropshire.

N .B.-For this year only, the Annual Dinner will be held on 20th October in the Dining Hall at the School. The dinner next year will be held at the usual time, the Saturday preceding Whit.

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Editorial Notes
The Memorial service to Leslie Sumsion on 10th February is noted elsewhere in this issue. We had many letters referring to the service and to Leslie. A typical comment "a very remarkable and memorable day-first and foremost because of that fine service; somebody with fine taste and original touch had done some work on the service itself". It was very pleasant to see R.A.Evans-Prosser and Caryl; old colleagues, such as Kenneth Todd, Egerton Waiters, Fred Field and many former workers here such as Miss Christopherson, former inside and outside workmen who had known Mr. Sumsion for over fifty years, and many from the Common Room who had worked with him in recent years. The O.E.Golf Club have presented two trophies, one to the School and one for competition amongst their members in honour of Leslie Sumsion, the founder of the School Golf Club. At his funeral service in Overton Church on 18th January and at the Memorial Service here, in the many letters received by his widow and by us at Ellesmere and in constant personal messages, especially at the annual golf meeting, tributes of sorrow for his passing and expressions of gratitude for what he had acheived here and in Overton show how greatly he was appreciated and loved. Mrs. Sumsion has now left her old home to live in Overton itself, quite near the home of Miss Bates.

..

..

An outstanding event in the Masonic history of the Old Ellesmerian LodgewiII be held at the school on 6th July 1974, when the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Shropshire is being held for the first time under the Banner of our Lodge. All Ellesmerians who are Masons, in any part of the world, are cordially invited to be the guests of the O.E.Lodge, No. 5368 on 6th July next year. Luncheon will be held in the new Town Hall in Ellesmere at 12·45 and the meeting will be held in Big School in the afternoon. All who wish to attend should write to R.W.Raby, Rhiw Jal, Bryneglwys, Corwen, North Wales or J.W.Nankivell at the College, so that luncheon can reserved for them.

Once again the school has been granted gifts by Mrs. Holmes, mother of the late Russel Hatch. The "O.E. and Visitors Room" was opened by her to his memory on 26th May in a simple ceremony. The Headmaster introduced Mrs. Holmes to the small assembly and J.W.N. spoke briefly a word of thanks to her after recalling Russel's Ellesmere days. Mrs. Holmes has also given the school a magnificent pianola-grand piano for the new Music School and a large number of books to the library .

..

* *

Another welcome visitor to the school this term was Cecil Howard, for so many years Second Master, Housemaster of Talbot and Senior History Master. He also has given the Library a number of very handsome books.

.. ..

The Executive Committee have agreed to form an O.E. Squash Club, mainly to bring together enthusiastic players, and to arrange fixtures. The main match against the school will be played on the same day as the O.E.Hockey game is played. The organiser is W.R.A.Woodward (Woodard 1966(971) now reading Law at Manchester University, and his home address is Broadacres, Chapel Chorlton, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffs. Will all squash players who wish to be on his mailing list please contact him (or J.W.N.) so that Woodward can make arrangements for a future meeting? Roy Carver has consented to act as Chairman of the Club. Roy was Captain of Staffordshire for 3 years, also Captain and for the past six years, Chairman of Wolverhampton Squash Club. He represented Staffordshire at least 15 times. The formation of this Club is welcomed by the school and it is hoped that this will strengthen the interest in squash now growing so strongly at Ellesmere .

.. ..

..

The sudden death of Mr. Albert Ashworth, father of three boys- one is still in the schoolwas a cause of great grief to all who knew him, and perhaps especially grievous to the members of the Appeal Committee. His vitality, original approach and practical ability were most impressive. To his widow, Marjorie and to his daughter (who only a year ago married Terry Powell, then on the Staff and now at Eton) and three boys, we have sent the sympathy of the Club in their sad bereavement.

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Their many friends will wish to congratulate John Newey, QC, and Cecil Rigby on their appoinmen ts as Recorders in the Crown Courts. Cecil is a graduate of Liverpool University, was admitted as a solicitor after the war, becoming a partner in H. P. & H. C. Rigby of Sandbach. He has been very active in public life, and for long served on the Cheshire County Council. Currently, he is Chairman of the South Cheshire Hospital Management Committee; he is also Chairman of Sandbach school governing body. Cecil took part in the evacuation at Dunkirk, served throughout the war, gained the rank of Wing Commander and was twice awarded the DFC At school, he will be remembered as a strong and vigorous Captain of school, Talbot House, the Rugger XV, Cricket XI and much else. John Newey is, amonst many things, Commissary General of the City and Diocese of Canterbury, and he has held not only many and varied legal offices, but was alternate Chairman of the Burnham, Pelham and other bodies. John was a Scholar of Queen's Cambridge, got a first in LL.B., and was decorated during the last war.

The sudden death of John Hunter-Watts OBE, "The Colonel" as he was universally known, came as a shock, even though he was 85 years 'young' really, for apparently he never changed in outward appearance in the last forty years. A younger colleague here has written of him-"Literary aphorisms would jostle for first place in the mind of any writer of our memories of the Colonel, and although they might evoke a dry chuckle from the most delightful of humanists, one must reluctantly forego them, for such stratagems are no longer fashionable. To the younger members of the Common Room in the fifties, he was a stimulating and witty souce of inspiration and a lively mind, who set an example of pugnacious exactitude in everthing he undertook. As the years go by and the tales are told, one realises that those members of Woodard, but little younger than we were, have been as proud to have had him as their Housemaster, as we were charmed to have known him".

Since Miss Bronwen Lloyd Williams took over the direction of Moreton Hall, in succession to the founder, her mother and sisters, the contact with her school and Ellesmere has been closer,and, the two schools have often worked together in VIth form study, in lectures, music, on socal occasions and in academic life. Her death, in sad circumstances, this term came as a great shock to all, and not least to many at Ellesmere who had learnt to appreciate her unique personality. She will be missed in many spheres of life, and amongst Ellesmerians there will be felt a sorrow that she has died.

Mrs. Cutting had many friends at the school and her death last October from an accident was deeply regretted, as was made clear by the enormous congregation present at her funeral services in Ellesmere and Criftins. To Mr. Cutting and and her family we have sent our sympathy.

The school and the Club have benefitted from many generous gifts in recent years, and some members have intimated that they would like to remember the school in their wills. All monies are now to be put in the Trust the club has formed, and the income (and in some cases the capital) is to be used for the benefit the school. Bequests should be made to the 'Old Ellesmerian Charitable Trust' .

The late Mrs. Marth Lucretia Joliffe, of Parkstone, Poole, Dorset, has bequeathed to the School a legacy of £100.

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We must congratulate the Captain of Cricket and his team in achieving what the Editor of the Chronicle believes to be the first time the School XI has not lost a cricket match-we write before the XI meet the Old Boys whom we may ignore for record purposes- and indeed has won a majority of its games. The experts will have written elsewhere of their achievements, but we know the members of the Club will wish to congratulate Mr. Wolters, Eddie Rowe and the team on their success. The Captain of Cricket (and of School) is Rhodesian born, son of John Hedley and great nephew of Robert Lane (Captain of School, 1921) and Mrs. Nankivell, Bob Lane's sister.

N.B.-The Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday, 26th April, 1974, at 5 o'clock, following the Executive Committee meeting to be held earlier on the same day. The agenda will consist mainly of reports from the Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer (with financial statement for year 1973), the other Club officials, and the election of officers for 1974-5.

The Annual General Meeting


The Annual General meeting of the Club was held on 14th July 1973, just before the "Wine and Cheese" party held that evening. The President, A.McLeod Smith CMG, was unable to attend owing to motor car trouble on his way from Kent to Ellesmere, so Col. Hollway presided. The Hon. Secretary read his report and the Hon. Treasurer submitted his statements of accounts and the balance sheet. They were accepted. The president for 1973-74 then took the chair and expressed feelingly the honour he felt in being selected for the office, and expressed his hopes of meeting club members at all the meetings held in the coming year. All the present office holders were elected, and two new Vice-Presidents (John Newey Q.C., and Cecil Rigby) and one Honorary member, Brian Hooton, were elected. The Squash Club was given a Chairman (Roy Carver) and a Secretary (W. R. E. Woodward). The Golf Club Secretary reported on the generosity of the Golfing Society in subscribing enough money to purchase two silver cups to commemorate the work of Leslie Sumsion, one cup to the school golfers and one for competition amongst the Club members. Martin Newbold referred to the playing of the O.E.Cricket XI in the smaller Public Schools competition. The XI lost to Trent College in the first round, played at Trent, a most hospitable school. He appealed to the younger cricketers to support the Club, which was in need of support for future fixtures and our own cricket week-end. The President and Stephen Hollway asked all older members to help the finances of the Old Ellesmerian Charity Trust by bringing up to date their Life Subscriptions to the new subscription of£12. The Honorary Secretary reported; he referred to many activities of the past year-there have been meetings at London, Manchester and in the West Midlands, and the Club has had a successful cricket week-end, played golf, hockey, rugger and squash. The Secretary referred to the deaths of many old boys, notably W.A.Allen: aged 98, H.Slaney Hilton, 95, T.O.Colbeck, 89, N .A.Kay, 85, and Leslie Sumsion nearly 77, E.Rowan Davies, C.B.Benstead, J.C.Macfall, T.G.Carter and C.B.Lattin CBE, were over 70, and D.Wynne Jones and P.S.Cureton were in their early fifties. He then referred to the three important meetings of the Executive Committee held in the past year, when the finances of the Club were rigorously discussed. Now that the joining Life Membership fee had been raissd to £12, immediate difficulties were surmounted. There was no obligation on any former Life Member to pay an increased subscription, but hopes were raised that those who realised our difficulties would voluntarily bring their Life Subscription up to date. The chief problems are caused by inflation, especially in printing this Magazine, postage and other costs. The Hon. Secretary and his wife felt that increasing age and weariness made the arrangements which had taken place over the past years now too difficult for them to do the routine office work, and the Headmaster and the Bursar had stated that the school office would take over much of this work. On these conditions the Hon. Secretary was willing to carry on for a further period. The Committee paid tribute on his retirement from office in the Club to the work of Cyril Scott, who for thirty years had been such a keen worker as Chairman of the Liverpool area and later of the Executive and most recently as Trustee.

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year had to meeting on the school's Committee

The Executive reported on their sorrow that the dinner at Whit, arranged for this be postponed until October, as Whit coincided with the school half term holiday. A 14th July was arranged, partially to replace the summer fixture. It was also decided, if the meeting agreed, to hold the A.G.M. on the first Friday of summer term, but that in future the Annual Dinner should revert to Whitsuntide. The also recommended the formation of a 200 Club.

The Hon. Treasurer's report was presented by John Carter for the year ending 31st December 1972. The setting up of the O.E.Club Charity has simplified the preparation of the Accounts. The Income and Expenditure Account shows an excess of Income over Expentiture of £232, compared with £234 the previous year. All expenses have been paid from the funds of the Charity. The amount brought to credit in the Life Member Fund Account is £1,680, compared with £680 in 1971, £126 in 1970, £598, in 1969 and £782 in 1968. The increase is due to the new method of collecting Life Subscriptions; however the figure of £1,680 is unusually high, and in due course will adjust to about £1,000 p.a. The balance Sheet shows assets of £13,065, and on 31st December there was a credit balance of £979. The auditors -Booth Ainsworth & CO.,-were re-elected and the Hon. Treasurer and School Bursar were both thanked for their services. The Wine and Cheese party The Headmaster and Mrs Skipper, by their kindness initiated on 14th July a new type of meeting for Club members at the School when they invited the newly elected President, Stanley Cheetham and his wife, the retiring President Alastair Macleod Smith and his wife, the Chairman of the Committee, Fellow and Custos of Ellesmere, Stephen Hollway and his wife and the members of the Club and their ladies to a Wine and Cheese Party in the school grounds. A number of members of the Common Room, the O.E.Cricket and the School XI were also present. Unfortunately it was a wet day and many people watched such cricket as could be played in some discomfort, but wandered away disconsolate towards evening. However, there was a considerable number still left to meet in the Library Cloisters and Big School, the new President and Mrs, Cheetham, Mr. & Mrs. Skipper and their guests, a very good cross-section of Old Boys representative of over sixty years. Amongst O.E.'s present were Mr.G.B.Jackson, Dr. and Mrs. A.T.Rogerson, John Carter, Mr. and Mrs. Brockwell, and son, Mr. and Mrs. Clipston, Mr. and Mrs. Parton, Mr. and Mrs. Ivey, Mr. and Mrs. Hilton, Mr. and Mrs. Moran, Dr. and Mrs. Laithwaite, Mr. and Mrs. Fraser Smith, Mr. and Mrs. Raby, Mr. and Mrs. Brian Edwards, M.Teeton, W.Hammond, W.Woodward, J.Anderson, A.Monk, F.Berrisford, P. Snape, B.Annandale, R.Drake, M.Bennett, M.Newbold and the House Masters. This party gave your Secretary and his wife particular pleasure. In their view, this was one of the most delightful O.E. parties they had attended, and we, and all the visitors are most grateful to Major and Mrs. Chambers and to Mrs. Gray, the Domestic Bursar, for their hard work. We can assure them it was deeply appreciated. Other Club Meetings The London Dinner was a great success, partly because of the company, partly because of the setting (The United Oxford and Cambridge University Club), partly because of the excellent dinner provided and not least to the quality of the speakers. The President of the Club (Alastair Macleod Smith) who presided, proposed the toast of the Guests, and Ian Beer, lately our own Headmaster and now at Lancing, responded. J.Senior reminisced happily in proposing School and Staff and the Headmaster, David Skipper succinctly surveyed the events at Ellesmere during the past year. Amongst those present was the Secretary of the Club, and of course, the Local Secretary, Peter Anstey who had organised the dinner with his accustomed charm and efficiency. Others present included Col. Greenwood,D.Bryden-Brown, Col. Morcombe, F.W.A.K.Gregson, W.A.G.G.Goodwin, Dr. H.M.Hughes, D.O. Wynne-Jones, N.K.Spurr, D.Pritchard, L.M.Pilot, G.Stringer, ("The Rugger"), G.Evans, R.M.Ashworth, T.Powell, D.Suckling, R.Bird, D.Bradley, R.O.L.Drummond, E.Mayhew, R.Walker, L.W.Robin Hughes, A.E.B.Perrier, Captain G.L.Davies, Group Captain G.Donaldson, Brian J.P. Edwards, and D.G.Keniston. Manchester The annual dinner was again held at Lyrnm, following a meeting of the Executive Committee. The Chairman, Stanley Cheetham, presided for the first time and was supported by the former Chairman G.Haworth, the President, the Custos and other officials of the Club. The Headmaster and J.W.N. were guests. K.Moran proposed the toast of the O.E.Club, and Alastair Macleod

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Smith (President) responded. M.U.Newbold proposed the toast of ' School and Staff' and took the opportunity of referring to the O.E.Cricket Club (see Editor's Notes). The Headmaster replied to this toast. The following also enjoyed the evening, so well organised by the new Local Secretary, Arthur Pike: his predecessor, R.B.Butterworth, D.G.Twist, G.C.Twist, M.J.Harden, T.Green, P.G. Warbrick, S.M.Hollway, P.C.Clarke, J.M.Anderson, P.C.Nelstrop, H.A.Flewitt, F.H.Barber, A. Smith, Rev.J.B.Rigby, F.Berrisford, T.J.Carter, D.Johnson, D.Broadhurst and six guests. The West Midland Area held their first dinner at the Lyttleton Arms Hotel, Hagley, Worcs: with their new Chairman, Peter Snape presiding. His guests were the Headmaster, J.W.N., and Peter's elder brother. Derek Latham was the admirable Secretary, the arrangements were perfect and the dinner excellent. Roy Carver proposed the toast of 'School and Staff', and the Headmaster responded. Richard Graves proposed the Club and J.W.N., in the absence of the President, replied. It is hoped that more of the members who live in the Birmingham area, and in the districts west of the city will support this annual meeting. As it was, a number had come from areas far to the north and south of the venue. It was pleasant to have John Copeland supporting the new region's officials, as former Chairman of the Birmingham region. Others present included R.Allen, F. Berrisford, P.Bevin, John Carter" Roy Carver, and his father,-the oldest O.E. present, he came here in 1909-N.Cope, Richard Graves, M.Hammond, W.Higson, G.Latham, J.Parry, D.Parton, D.Peel, W.Pheysey, J.Ross, I.Scott and his brother, M.Smith and Lawson Tolley. Both the Liverpool and the Cardiff dinners were cancelled this year. Despite circularising many hundreds, the organisers were promised so little response they perforce had to cancel dinners. Golf The O.E.Annual Tournament took place on the 10th May 1973, once again at Aston. It was very wet until the evening, but the company seemed to your correspondent to be as happy as ever. The Headmaster, Mr.Sutterby and several colleagues and boys from the school were also present, and Mrs. Sumsion and Mr. and Mrs.Nankivell were guests of the Club. Before the presentation of the Cups, Peter Snape spoke in moving terms of the late Leslie Sumsion, to whom all golfing Ellesmerians owed so much. He read a letter from Mr. Evans-Prosser recalling the early days of golf at the school and of the gratitude he and others felt for Leslie's work. Peter spoke of the generosity of fellow members whose names he read out, who had contributed sufficint money to present two cups, suitably engraved, one "Leslie Sumsion" cup to the School and Staff, and one to the O.E.Golf Club. The first was played for during the day and prizes were presented to Phillip Brookes (92-24=68»; Ian Scott (88-18=70) was second and Mr. Sutterby (88-16=72) third. The other cup was half won- i.e. the nett score 1973 will be added to the nett scores in 1974 and the best aggregate wins the cup for the year- Derek Latham's nett score was the lowest this year. Mrs. Sumsion presented the prizes and cups to the winners of the two senior competitions. Derek Latham (77-10=67) won the Cyril Scott Cup, Bill Woodward (81-11 =70) was second and Roy Carver (89-18=71) was third. Derek (77 gross) also won the John H.Barker Cup, Harry Barber (80) was second and Bill Woodward (81) was third, Michael Butterworth won the visitors comppetition (90-24=66), Ken Byers (89-17=69) was second and Geoffrey Vickers (89-19=70) was third. Derek Latham thanked Peter for his services to the Club on once again arranging the excellent days programme and Peter thanked the Oswestry Golf Club committee and their steward for their generosity and splendid services. Amongst those present were also Mr.Clay and Mr. Gregory from the Common Room and four boys (Scott, Collinge, Stevens and Brooks). O.E.s present included Stanley Cheetham, Geoffrey Haworth, Gordon Bancroft, Richard Graves, Derek Evans, Geoffrey Sale, Brian Westrop, Graham Twist, Roger Willcock, Barrie Keenan, Richard Woodward, Don Wynn, Pip Jenkins, Robert Pattison, Conrad Whitehead and ten other visitors. The O.E.Rugger match was played on the last Saturday of the Michaelmas term. Our team was not so strong as usual and the School played well-see School Rugger notes-but our XV were strong enough to win. Those wishing to play on 8th December should write to the Chaplain immediately. He is kindly looking after the arrangements this term. Carols will be sung that evening. The O.E.Hockey match was played on 17th March, a beautiful day; it was an exciting game, won by superior skill all round (especially in the forwards) by the Old Boys against a very good school XI. Amongst the players were P.Tinker, D.A.Halsall, D.Bradley, K.J.Millward, B.Reid, T.Longford, K.Bayliss, S.Bunting, P.Patterson, J.Pilkington. The game was organised by R.Taylor, of School House, Oakham, Rutland. Hockey enthusiasts, please, write to him or to J.W.N.

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Squash W.R.E.Woodward brought together a team ofO.E.'s to play the school on the same day as the Hockey XI were playing. The school just won the match. Those playing also included I.A.Lewis, I. A. Finn, R. G. Williams and C. T. Walsh. See "Editorial Notes" above concerning the formation of an O.E. Squash Club. All correspondence to the Secretary of the O.E. Squash Club, W. R. E. Woodward, Broadacres, Chapel Choriton, Newcastle, Staffs. Roy Carver, the Staffordshire County player, who is so well known in the West Midlands, is Chairman of the new Club. O.E. Cricket 1973. Iamie Sharp reports on the season: "As many of you will already know our life in the Brewers Cup Competition was a short one, we we were unfortunately knocked out in the first round by Trent College. I regret to say that once again the O.E.'s were unable to field a full side and two boys from the current 1st XI at Ellesmere had to be co-opted. The festival at Ellesmere at the end of the Summer Term was curtailed to the two day match against the school due to bad weather. Although over 90 boys had been notified re the O.E. oricket only 18 players were available for the proposed three matches and again the O.E.'s were short against the school and had four guests in the side to meet The Shropshire Gentlemen. O.E.'s v. School 1st XI The school winning the toss put the O.E.'s in to bat on a perfect batting wicket. This proved to be a justified decision when Balmer, Scott and Bayliss were back in the pavilion with the score at 13 for 3. However, a good stand between Sharp 54 and Bunting 33, took the score to 95 for 4, thus enabling the O.E.'s to declare at 126 for 7. In reply the school started off in a grand style with Keen 94, Butler 36 and Hedley 24 reaching a figure of 165 for 3 declared. In their second innings the O.E.'s attempting to score runs quickly managed to reach 170 for 6 declared, Balmer 22, Bayliss 15 and a 4th wicket partnership of 100 between A.Bunting 27 and I.Sharp 97. This left the school 24 overs to score 132 for victory and after a thrilling finish when both sides looked as though they could win the school, finished with 129 for 7. Tony Balmer being the most successful O.E. bowler with 3 for 53. For the school Keen 31, Hedley 23 and Patterson 23 were the most successful batsmen. Andrew Bunting captaining the O.E. side did a grand job engineering such a good finish. In conclusion the O.E.'s would like to thank Eddie Rowe for providing us with an excellent wicket, C. W.B.Sharp for once again umpiring throughout the game. May I once again request all O.E.'s to do their utmost to join us next year for our festival, it is getting to the stage now when serious thought must be given to the validity of holding this cricket week-end, bearing in mind the amount of work that is put in by D. Wain in organising this occasion."

Masonic Notes
The Lodge's first meeting fo the new session took place on September 9th 1972, when Philip Oldfield assumed the chair in the absence of the Worshipful Master. The business scheduled for this meeting was a Third Degree ceremony, the candidate being F.G.Hammond and the work was very expeditiously performed by the Acting W.M., a most remarkable achievement considering the fact that he had undertaken it literally at a moments notice. At this Meeting the new Lodge crest was formally approved, this being the School arms and thus we come into line more with the School, whose Arms were changed some sixteen years ago. Our former Banner, bearing the old Crest, was now placed in the archives. We elected our W.M. for the ensuing year, Charles Tattershall, who thus became our Master twenty years after having been installed previously; he had been Director of Ceremonies for many years between. The installation Meeting was held on 14th October when the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Dr. Harold Temperton, was present, accompanied by the Provincial Senior and Iunior Deacons. Our retiring W.M., Hubert Powell, was assisted by H.G.Wilks, S.C.Bradley and G.H.Ravenscroft. We were honoured by the presence also of a large number of W.M.'s of other Shropshire Lodges and many private visiting brethren. We had to wait until March 10th this year for our next Meeting, a Second Degree ceremony for Derek Latham. It would be superfluous to say that we expected a high standard of efficiency from such a perfectionist as Charles Tattersall and when assisted by a ritualist of the calibre of Philip

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Oldfield, a memorable ceremony was assured. During the following business, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Dr.Temperton, and R.E.C.Dommett, the present Master of Brownlow Lodge, Ellesmere, were elected Honary Members. Mr. Dommett has acted as our Organist for us for many years and this was a measure of our gratitude. The final Meeting of the session was held on May 12th and once again Derek Latham was the candidate, this time for the Third Degree, and the W.M. was assisted in this ceremony by R.W.Raby. There was much other business to be dealt with, the most important being the election of the Masters and Secretaries for the time being of our Mother Lodge, Brownlow Lodge in Ellesmere, as Honorary Members. We understand that Brownlow Lodge have elected this Lodge's Masters and Secretaries similarly. A pleasing feature of this meeting was the fact two younger members stepped into the place of two Officers who were unable to come and both S.R.Oldfield and David Parton are to be congratulated on the excellent way they carried out their duties at short notice. In July, Provincial Grand Lodge met in Shrewsbury, and we shall have the pleasure of seeing Daniel Gibbs-grandson of John H.Barker-honoured by being invested as Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary, and our Honorary Member, Robert Dommett, as Provincial Grand Organist. Masons who are members of the Club, but not of our Lodge, are asked to read the notice of next years Provincial Grand Lodge in the Editorial Notes of this Chronicle.

The EUesmerian : Seventy-five years ago


From the Editorial and School Notes Mr. Hare, Custodian of the Playing Fields, announced that the levelling of the ground and the making of the terrace had made steady progress. Total sum subscribed for buying material £75. (Mr. Hare, with volunteer boy labour, laid out Top field and the Terraces.) The resignation of Mr. John Garland, sub-custos, on the ground of failing health, has deprived the College of a loyal and able helper. (Mr. Garland was clerk of the works from the laying of the Foundation Stone until 1897, so he supervised all the buildings which form the core of the school. He was long remembered at Ellesmere for his devotion to duty and rigorous attitude to builders and workmen. The Fellows appointed him to the office of sub-custos when the school opened in 1884). "We sincerely regret the departure of Mr. Hare, who for ten years has been Senior Classical Master; and Mr. Lea". (Mr. Hare as a teacher, and as the real designer of the schoool grounds, based upon the original ideas of Mr. Bullock and Mr. Boldero, had enormous influence on forming the traditions of the school in the first fifteen years of its existence. Mr. Lea was a good cricketer, but is mainly remembered for his influence on the school drama). At the end of the Lent term the Rev. B.R.Hibbert left the staff to become Curate to the Provost at Eaton. (RR.H. was one of the chief founders of the Club in 1890, and the Hon. Secretary from 1895-1920). School Officers: C. D. Harvey (Captain of School, Cricket and Rugger), E. Fearenside, E. P. S. Thomas, R. E. Roberts, R. H. Walker, J. A. W. Day (Prefects). A. Hume-Smith was Editor of the Ellesmerian, (C. D. Harvey, one of the five brothers who made their mark in life, played Rugger for Ireland. E. Fearenside was our first Oxford Blue and Hume-Smith became Professor of English in Canada.) Number on School Roll 1898 : 190. Extracts from the 'EUesmerian' Fifty Years Ago At last the longed for laboritories are an accomplished fact ... the four rooms, two laboratories and two lecture rooms are very commodious . . . there is a useful balance room . . . the exterior of black and white has a very pleasing effect among the trees .

...

...

We should like to congratulate Mr. Long on the very able and inspiring work he has done for the Scouts, at present they number 55-a record. They look very neat in their grey uniforms and their drum and bugle band would do credit to any O.T.C. . .. profited by instruction from Sergeant Cross ... thanks to Headmaster also for gift of silver bugle, engraved with Scouts' badge, Motto and the name of its donor.

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We regret to record the departure from the Staff of Mr. Palgrave, who has been here for seven years; also Mr. Hepple and Mr. Breakell. We welcome Mr.J.J.Brown of Durham. Mr. R.G.Dixon of Exeter College, Oxford, and Mr. R.G.T.Arthur. Once again we have to add another successful play to our already long list- this time Henry IV, Part I, the first historical play for eleven years-and once again we thank our producer, Mr. D.R. Evans for his work ... Speech Day was held on 4th July and was rendered memorable by the presence of the Marquis and Marchioness of Cambridge. Sports Day on Easter Monday ... fine day ... E.E.Baker broke records for 100 yards, 440,880, and equalled High Jump record ... previous to Sports Day Baker had won the Steeplechase (what we now call the Cross Country) and the Three Miles. Victor Lodorum-E.E.Baker. School Officials : Captain of School 1922 J.W.Nankivell Captain of Rugger 1922 A.G.Girvan Captain of Cricket 1923 J.J.Steele Captain of School 1923 A.G.Girvan, E.E.Baker Editorial Notes on above Extracts H.M.Inspectors after their inspection had roundly condemned the old Science Rooms (now the Porters' Hall) so the Fellows authorised the building of what is now euphemistically called the Music School. After fifty years use, the exterior still looks quite well, but the interior would be unrecognisable to those who once "expressed great satisfaction at the roominess and the manner in which they were fitted out". The Marquis (brother of Queen Mary) and the Marchioness (daughter of the first Duke of Westminster) seemed to be pleased with all they saw. The Marquis then moved on into the newly built Miniature Shooting Range, fired a shot (a 'bull' of course) and said "Oh, if only we had such places to work in (and shoot in) when we were at school". J.R.Long died last year. He and his predecessor (Mr.Breakell) and his successor Mr.R.B.Atkinson made our Scout Troop into a large and popular Group and under Sergeant Cross, its band became very competent. Many who remember Mrs.Cross will be sorry to hear she died last year, she and her daughter stayed in Ellesmere when the Sergeant died. "We must record two outstanding concerts and pay our tribute of thanks to Wrexham Orchestral Society and to our Music Master Mr. Gray- who persuaded Mr. Stewart Wilson, the celebrated tenor, to come for the first time and Mr. Rosenthal for the second year in succession to play for us . . . The fact is we are becoming known as a good audience for visitors to come to . .. drew from Mr. Rosenthall the praise of being 'unique'. Later in the year the English Singers were brought over by Stewart Wilson, not long after their formation ... "Folk Songs, but chiefly Tudor Madrigals, Duets and Italian, French and Part Songs ... finest singing ever heard in the school". (Mr.Palgrave was a saintly character, and like a good saint was often in a rage at the sight of stupidity. He was a nephew of Pal grave (Golden Treasury), a missionary to the Canadian Arctic dwellers for many years, a gentle priest who especially cared for the poor in Tetchill, but not a lover of the Anglo Catholic ritual of our chapel. Mr.Hepple, to the surprise of the boys, became ordained after leaving Ellesmere, for nobody suspected that he had any other religion than cricket. R.G. Dixon, brother of G.D. a frequent visitor to Ellesmere, retired some years ago. D.R.Evans' production of Henry IV would be thought curiously old fashioned today. D.R. was a great student of Beerbohm Tree. But his audiences here loved his productions-there are people in Ellesmere Town today who can recall productions of his in the first decade of the century, and still with wonder and affection. Of those still living BuddIe Atkinson ("such skillful delineation of the part"), Eric E.Baker ("chief success of the play"-Hotspur: J.W.N. ("great zest"), R.Gambier ("lived the part"-Glendower), J.J.Steele, T.J.Greenwood, R.W.Everall, C.E.Tattersall-all will be suprised that some critic once thought they could act, E.E.Baker, all-round hero of his last year here, became a director of Raleigh Bicycles, was a Colonel in the last war, and now lives in partial retirement in Devon. He was an outstanding athlete and games player in his day. Later, he became well known in business circles, especially in Germany. Hepple was a successful cricket master. In 1922 the School won all its matches, except the game at Denstone, at that time possibly the best cricketing school in the country. This year (1973) is the first time the School has not lost a match).

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News in Brief
Professor P.Stringer, in charge of the Department of Structural Geology, Fredericton, New Brunswick, visited Ellesmere briefly in May to show his future wife his old school. Lt.Col.T.G.Rees-Jones RAMC, is now living at Summerbee Manor, Stoke, Andover. Major J.W.Taylor, Royal Signals, is stationed in Colchester, preparatory to a posting next year to Germany, when he will be promoted to command a Regiment in the B.A.O.R. John's brother, Major James Taylor ReT, has been in Germany and more recently in Northern Ireland. John also met Major Brian Nicols, when he took over his quarters at Catterick last year. John visited us with his wife last year and later wrote "I thought the College looked particularly attractive. Despite the new buildings and innovations it has lost none of its character". Lt.CoI.E.H.A.Kynaston has moved from Aldershot to Birmingham where he is in charge of the Army Careers Information Office. Dr. Frankel visited Ellesmere when he was last in England in July, officially visiting the National Physical Laboratory, and touring England on his working holiday from Australia. Group Captain Roy Morris is at East Dereham running the R.A.F. Maintenance Data Centre, with computer and micro-film library. He spends one day a week at the M.oD. Recently he read a paper at the R.A.Society's Spring Convention. He has seen Frank Dakin from Shifnal on holiday in Norfolk. Colin Tate has presented the library with a replica reprint of Owen's "Some Account of Shrewsbury" and Anderson's "Antiquities of Shropshire". His brothers John, Barry and Paul are flourishing, but Alan has had serious trouble since a train accident in S.America. He spent some time at Stoke Mandeville, and has now returned to Peru to farm, having retired from the Bank of London and S. America. Paul is now a manager of Westminster Bank in the Birmingham area. Wing-Commander J.Eaton-Shore has been based on Churchdown after a three year stay in Cyprus. He has met Roy Morris. His first grand-daughter was christened in Radley Chapel, where her father is a member of the Cominon Room. (Group Captain Peter Reason, our late Bursar, is at Radley in the Bursar's office). When touring his old home county he met the Rev. Basil Rigby, now Vicar of Sand bach and Cecil, now a Recorder of the Crown Court. Dr. WiUiam Wells retires, on medical advice, from most of his County Council work and gives up his membership of Bridgnorth Council next March. He has been on the Council for 21 years and was Chairman of the Bridgnorth Council. All his boys are well and occasionally we have news of his brother John Highly, living in British Columbia. Frank Dunphy, Trade Development Overseas Manager of the Midland Bank, travels widely in Europe where he represents his bank at Trade Fairs. Frank served in the Royal Tank Corps - was commissioned early in 1940,-returned to London in the Overseas Department, was bank "manager" on Cunard ships for four years, then in the Persian Gulf for two years, Manager at Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester before going to Scandinavia and then to his present job. Major S.Rogers RE, has just completed a year at the Staff College, following a three year tour of Germany as a helicopter pilot and a year in Northern Ireland. In what spare time he can find, he indulges in Ocean Racing and private flying in a fixed wing aircraft. He is now stationed in Rochester. C.F.Lewis, recently married and living in Cardiff, is under contract with the Welsh National Opera Company, singing tenor. He takes part in a Summer 'Prom.' in London and tours England, Wales and next year Switzerland. The Rev. Derek Laughton has taken up a new post as Chaplain of Ardingly, after holding a similar post at Wellington School, Somerset, for the past nine years. Derek has four children from 18 years old down to 8. He still hears from his old Meynell House master, Mr.Field. Another O.E., the Rev. T.Ganz is chaplain at Hurstpierpoint, A.C.Shepherd MC, has completed 50 years as a soliciter and has received personal greetings from the President of the Law Society. Shepherd, father of Griff and Tom who were at Ellesmere in the 20's and 30's, is still active, full of Social work, especially for the Salvation Army, and Eventide homes.

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The Rev. HilaryC.H.L'Estrange is Rectorof All Saints, Uniondale, Cape Province. His two daughters are at school in the Cape, and his son goes to 'Bishops', a school where the present writer taught for five years. W.A.Dent, who was married in September, now lives in Heysham and works as a Pathologist in Lancaster Moore Hospital. D.F.Liver of the Standard Machine Co., has moved to Cleveleys in Lancashire. Alan Prodger has retired from teaching and now lives in Berkhamstead. D.Westrop is now working in a bank in Manchester. Commander Paul Willcock RN, has retired a second time and taken up new work as adviser to marine construction firm in Australia. Paul had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, and then became 'manager' of affairs in Bromley Corporation as an expert in business management. Dr. Roger Willcock practices in Ironbridge; his family is now grown up. One son hopes to graduate next year in geology from Exeter. Trevor Green is working in his own business in Manchester. He is married, has two children. He works with the Crusader Union in his spare time, concentrating on younger adults. Paul Nelstrop married last year in Edinburgh and he also has now joined his family firm. Richard Mewton, who has entered his boy for Prestfelde and Ellesmere, teaches in Melton Constable, Norfolk. John M.Parry had a serious accident a few years back, which has now caused him to give up farming and take up banking in Malvern. John was Victor Ludorum when he was at Agricultural College, Cirencester. He is married and has two children. We are grateful to the Rev. Michael Cooper for a gift to the Club Funds which has been transferred to the Charitable Trust. R.J.Gee has been appointed Senior Publications assistant in the south midlands for B.B.C. Publications. A.S.Lee is studying Law at Liverpool Polytechnic. Richard Reece has returned to Liverpool from Kano. He has been in Nigeria for some years working for his firm, Ward, Ashcroft and Parkman. Colonel J.H.Nunnerley TO, met Harry Caladine in London last year. Harry has since retired from his company where he was financial director and has gone to live in Grangeover-Sands. John Lymer has sold his Staffordshire business and with Janice and their two children now live and work at his new job, the Atlantic Hotel in Woolacombe in Devon. which he bought in February. He will welcome any O.E.'s, and especially his contemporaries. David Peel has retired from engineering and has also bought a hotel, the Ocean, at the Croft, Tenby, In both places children are welcome. David Bradley has been working for H.&R.Johnson, the Wall Tile Manufacturers in Essex, but returned to Staffordshire this summer. We often see him and Stephen Bradley who regularly visits Ellesmere for Lodge meetings. John Jeffries works for the same firm as David, but is centred on Bristol. David sees Robert Addison who works in Endon, Leek for a firm of textile manufacturers. G.L.Brigliadori is managing director of an oil distributing firm in Liverpool, and P.N.Dickinson is another director of the same firm. A.J.Guest is managing director of Meteor (Moseley) Ltd., J.P.Chamock has moved from Liverpool and works at the Kilburn branch of BarcIays and lives in Maida Vale. Paul Tucker's home is now in Guernsey, though he works in England. D.G.Gilbert works for his father's firm of engineers in Cardiff, plays rugger and is in the T.A. We have recently learnt that our new Trustee A.G.Shepherd was once an experimental test pilot at Farnborough! He is now Group Pensions Manager of Grand Metropolitan Ltd., Here he has met B.Hammett, who is the Chief Purchasing Manager of the Group. M.A.Doughty is a Unit Trust Adviser in Liverpool. His son comes to Ellesmere next year - he has a daughter also. Michael is a past President of the Wallasey Round Table, and in his spare time he still composes, sings and writes lyrics. We had once again a cheerful Christmas letter from Peter Watkins in Calgary, where he is President of an oil firm. He and his family are well. In the past year he has contacted C.A.Bentley, now in Edmonton, and John Block, in the Maritimes. We were happy to see Val Insley and his family in Ellesmere. They had come up from Plymouth to enjoy a holiday on the Ellesmere Canal. His cousins are also flourishing, .J.Insley the doctor, is Consultant Paediatrician at Birmingham and E.G.Insley is in charge of E.M.I. in Europe at the head office in Paris.

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G.J.Wotton visited us on his return from Sierra Leone, where he has been working for a construction company. He has now settled down with his wife and two daughters with the M.O.D. police force in Pershore. John Hedin has sent us from his home in Los Angeles a newspaper cutting which called to mind P.A.Hall and his English lessons, as well as those of Buddie Atkinson, now in retirement in Somerset, and Noyes Lewis, still in S.Africa. We were pleased to hear from Mrs. George Parker that George is recovered fully from his illness since going to live in Herefordshire, that Christopher was married at Much Dewchurch a couple of years ago and has been for a year in Kenya, both of them teaching at Kitale. David Parker is living at Water Orton where he is Youth Tutor at a Comprehensive School, he has two sons. Anthony Parker moved from Essex to Hereford, at Peterchurch. George is one of many who lament the deaths of H.P.Cooper, J.R.Long and W.L.Sumsion. R.E.Brabyn appreciates seeing A.S.Wain who lives at Caerleon, where he is connected with the Usk river authority. Reg laments the collapse of the Cardiff dinners, and appeals for a young energetic Local.Secretary to run the Branch in West Wales too, the local organisation is in abeyance. We were pleased to meet Derek Bishton recently and to have news of him and his brother's; all three are directors of the family business which flourishes exceedingly. Derek has two children. Another director of his family business which has expanded considerably is N.A.C.Cope. He has become a keen squash player, runs the local squash club and still hunts and rides in point-to-points. He keeps in touch with Geoffrey Sale, editor of the excellent Point-toPointers and Hunter-Chasers, many volumes of which Geoffrey has presented to the school library. Geoffrey came over to Aston from Newmarket for the O.E.Golf match. We were happy to see J.R.Martindale here for the Wrekin match last Autumn. Another visitor not often seen here was D.T.Evans of Gatley who came in February. R.O.L.Drummond, now practising as a soliciter in London, was married to Janet Christine, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Hanson of Salisbury Green, Hants: on 29th July 1972. Captain Peter Denham, in the Australian Army, now has two sons, Simon of 2 years and Matthew of nearly one. Ian Griffiths is at present working at the M.o.D. He graduated M.A. in Slavonic Literature last year. W.R.C.Rogers has returned to his earlier job as Auctioner, this time in Cape Town, where he and his wife are now living and working. D.C.Hanson has been elected Deputy Mayor of Blackpool. Dr. Jancis Evans-Prosser, our oldest 'Old Girl'-since the VIth Form has had girls, we are likely to have many more in the future-visited us in May for the first time since her father retired from the Headmastership. N.J.Wheeler graduated in Geography at Durham in 1966, joined the Cheshire Regiment for a short term, but resigned at the end of his short commission, and for a while taught at a Primary School. He then spent some time as a trainee town-planner in Pembrokeshire, and then in Barking for three years nearly, and gained professional qualifications, and is now Senior Planning Assistant with the Pembrokeshire C.C. He and his wife live in Milford Haven. He has kept in contact with Brian Oates, who works in films and T.V. Richard Biddle, a College Lecturer, Alistair Greatbanks, a Public Health Inspector and Martin Evans in business. More recently he has met our distinguished architect Wyn Jones, and T.C.Hughes. General Leslie Keatinge speaks with sorrow of the death of Harry Cooper, Jimmy Long and others of his contemporaries-He writes of his brothers-Gordon retired from the Head of the Veterinary Service in Ulster, Brigadier Alan retired from the Army, but is President of the standing Medical Board at Millbank. Rufus expects to retire from the family business in Dublin very soon. Leslie expects to give up his Local Government work next year. John Bartlett has married, has a new job in a bank dealing with real estate in Calfornia and is very happy not to be in Vietnam any longer. Harry Lamb has visited the school twice this year, once to the Carol Service with his wife ("we found the service quite moving") and the second time from his Prep. School, Terra Nova, to attend the Teachers Conference held here in May. Another prep. school master at the conference was Michael Perry, from Anglesey. He gave us good news of brother John, now in England from Lesotho, and Christopher, who teaches at Cranleigh Junior School. John has taken up a new post as Lecturer in Geography at Cambridge Polytechnic. Captain Gerald Davies returned to England for a while during the winter and has now gone east again with Vlth Gurkhas Regt. When in Hong-Kong, he

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met Tony Collis, flying with the Army Air Corps, O.C. of his platoon and just back from a year in Brunei. There also Gerald met Frazer Hughes in the Royal Marines, and Robert Cave-Rogers, engaged in advertising in Hong-Kong. S. R. Gee now living and working at Clacton-on-Sea recalls that he was one of the few who were in the Conqueror dormitory which Dr. Billen merged with the King Arhur to form Talbot House, named after Provost Talbot. The Violets were named to commemorate Provost Woodward, the Reds for Provost Meynell, the old Junior School for Provost Lambart, and the Yellows for Sir Offiey Wakeman's father, Custos at that time. Captain Ashgar Jilani has been in Bangladesh for many years, but left on its break-away from Pakistan, returned to his old home in Merseyside but contemplates returning to Pakistan. He was in the Pakistan Army before taking the managenent of a tea estate in the former East Pakistan. His brother is in the Pakistan Air Force. P. J. R. Bennett served with the Grenadier Guards until 1968 when he joined the Metropolitan Police, was posted to Whitehall, but had six months "Royalty Protection" at Buckingham Palace. He sees Alan Perrier frequently, now posted to Belgravia. P. John Soskin is also in the Metropolitan Police, and is a finger print expert at New Scotland Yard. Bennett also meets Spence Bloomfield in Insurance in London and Charles Lewis now in Cardiff. Christopher Shaw was captain of Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C., this past season. He now lives in Walton-Ie-Dale. Colonel Gilbert Greenwood was pleased to see "Toe' Colbeck in September, for "Toe' died within a few weeks of their meeting in his 90th year (-see obituary). Gilbert is in regular touch with our only Indian Army General, P.S.Chowdhury, who left here in the 20's to go to Sandhurst and thence to the Indian Army, where he had an outstanding career. He retired to London, but had an illness two years ago so that his business commitments here have had to be reduced .. Andrew Clark ('Jasper') has joined a firm of fruit brokers in Cardiff, and plays rugger for the Cardiff Club. When in London, he was playing for the London Welsh 2nd XV, the Druids. Jasper is engaged to be married to a graduate in Geography who teaches in Cardiff. One expects that he will learn more geography from his wife than he did from the editor of this Chronicle. P. R. Everall has 'retired' to Jersey from Windsor. D. L. Morris also is based in the C.I., though he is working for the Inland Revenue in England. Tom Done has left Bangor-on-Dee to farm in Penallt, Monmouth. We were pleased to hear from B. F. Lindblom after many years of silence. He is still working in Helsingfors. He writes "My time at Ellesmere, though short, I shall never forget". He and J. D. Lindell sometimes see each other; the latter's son is at Ellesmere now. Tom Hughes of Tenby was recently elected Chairman of the Drapers Chamber of Trade, the organisation that covers the whole country with 5000 members. Tom also leads the industy's wage negotations in the Drapery and Footwear wages council, on the employers side. Tom has been a Tenby Councillor; he was Chairman of the Round Table, is Commodore fo the Sailing Club, and plays some golf. He and Peter Howells are very notable Tenby citizens. Tom has presented the school with a typical Dr. Galliner painting, one of the many he did of the buildings. This is of especial interest because it shows the Founder's Gate, before it had the present porch added. The picture now hangs in the Library. N. J. Davenport passed out at Sandhurst this year. The Rev. G. Canham, formerly Assistant Chaplain here, and more recently at the Choir School, Chester, has been appointed Assistant Chaplain at Rossall. T. M. Woolfall having sold his major works, is now acting as a consultant to a Swedish firm of Laundry Engineers. He is a chartered engineer and was Managing Director of the Cherry Tree Machine Co. Ltd., and the National President of the Society of Laundry Engineers in 1964. Geoffrey Webster has changed schools and is now working under the State system in Vancouver. He has met Dr. Bill Whitehead now working with the Vancouver Workman's Compensation Board Sam Evans, editor of the Oswestry Advertiser, had a daughter, Hannah Katherine last February.

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Roger Lee writes "I enjoy reading news of any contemporaries with me during my eight years at school, and also hearing how life at Ellesmere has developed since my time, when things were more restricted". Roger, who has moved to Ampthill, still continues with his research in hydraulics at B.H.R.A., and his son Cbristopher Lee is an assistant manager at a Bedford supermarket. Nicholas Jones, now at Llanbedr, Conwy, has announced the birth of his son Alun Pedr. "Half Dozen" keeps in touch with many contemporaries and especially John Tyer. The grandson of S. L. B. Smith has been entered at Ellesmere. Smith left in 1917 to go to Glasgow University. He was a good cricketer and rugger player in his youth. Roger Hampson of Tetchill had a son Gareth Lloyd on 25th March. His father, weIJ remembered by many members, died recently Mark Keyworth is now farming in South Wales. He has had a successful season with the Swansea XV and was chosen to play for the North Midlands XV. Ian Shepherd has been in England for a holiday from his job in Bombay; he is financial director of Hindustan Ferodo Ltd. P. B. Thomas has had a varied career since leaving Ellesmere and finally settling down as an Administrative Assistant first at Stoke Manderville and now at Northampton General Hospital, a work he strongly recomends to boys at school now. First he worked in Insurance, then as a trainee representative, finally wandered in France and Germany before settling down to his present job. John Hewitt, who is with Metal Box Company has left Cheshire to live in Caversham. N. W. Bean is now living at Carlton, Bedford on his return from South America. M. C. Drinwater has moved from Harrow Weald to Wembley. Prebendary E. E. F. Walters returned to his old Parish Church, st. Mary's Shrewsbury, to officiate at the wedding od Charles Lewis last August. Andrew Walters has resettled at Stubbington Preparatory School after his spell at St. Luke's. Rosemary's Sarah is flourishing and Susan is reading for the Bar at Gray's Inn, and works for a PH.D., before returning to her Lectureship in Law at Monash University, Melbourne. The Prebendary lives in retirement near Brecon. M. Hammond has announced his engagement to Susan Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. W. P. M. Stewart of The Woodlands, Bolton. The editor has pleasure in acknowledging his handsome gift to the school Pilot Officer Clive Bolton joined the R.A.F., after graduating with first class honours in engeering at Manchester and has just started his first job as Watch Officer on a Radar site at the conclusion of his officer training, and professional engineering training, closing with a specialist radar course. "Spurred on by my time in the scouts at school, I do much camping, climbing and walking, and I am taking a team to the International March at Nijmegen in July next"- William Allen (see Obituary on page 87) was Clive's aged grandfather. The Rev. H. H. Follis, Vicar of Broadway, Worcester, has been appointed Rector of Blymhill with Weston-under-Lizard in the Lichfield Diocese. Follis returns to Shropshire, for he was at St. Mary's Shrewsbury (succeeding E. E. F. Walters) before going to Broadway. N. Sharpe is resident manager of the Wellcome Foundation Ltd., for Central America. He is still keen on acting and belongs to many well-known drama groups. His younger brother (and his cousin, Sharpe I) are in Australia, and his other cousin is in this country, in Customs and Excise. J. F. Heald was married to Jennifer Moorhouse, on 2nd December 1972, and met Major Terry Thornton on his honeymoon in Cyprus. He and his wife have since been to Rhodesia and there met and stayed with John Hedley and J. Cotterill, John is in business, Cotterill farms, having retired from stockbroking in the fifties. D. G. Cane, a distributor of oil products travels the world widely, but was able to visit the school with his wife in July. His brother J. R. Cane is the well-known lawyer/architect who has made his name as lecturer and consultant on contracts. He still lives near Stratford-on-Avon. Michael Teeton is engaged to Elizabeth, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Cyril Peake of Newcastle, Staffs Dr. Julian Laithwaite married Janet, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. E. Asquith of Bournemouth at the Guildhall, City of London on 10th February 1973.

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P. C. Northcote has been appointed a circuit Judge, Midland and Oxford circuit. Peter Clarke has been made a director of Greenall Whitley & Co., the Warrington brewers. Peter was trained in accountancy. His brother Denis still runs the family business in Warrington. Christopher Potter, director of the Luton Library Theatre, is engaged to be married to Kate, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Gatti of Sheffield. Those who remember the vivid and eccentric Charles Edwards of Craven Arms, land owner, farmer and racehorse trainer and owner, who claimed to be the first of the 'Aboriginees' (those who entered Ellesmere in August 1884) will have recalled him this year when his grandson Edward Hide, brother of Tony Hide, Woodard House won the Derby. Tony gave up jockeying for training, owing to weight problems. Edwards' autobiographies are in the Library. Beecher, the racing correspondent of North Wales Newspapers Ltd., tells us Edwards ran his horse, ELSICK, in the Grand National and guarded all night his 500-1 chance with a double-barrel shot-gun".

Obituaries
William AIlen entered Ellesmere in 1889 at the age of 14. He was born in September in 1874, ten years before the school opened and he would have been our first Club member to be a centenarian had he lived for one more year! His grandson, Clive Bolton (Talbot 1959-1967) writes sadly to announce his death, just before the time when he hoped to bring his grandfather to see his school once more. Allen was the son of the manager of a Glossop paper mill. He decided against joining the family in paper manufacture and engineering and with a partner owned shops in Nelson and the neighbourhood, specialising as ladies outfitters. A lover of nature, he rambled extensively in the country. He had many hobbies in later years, a collector of ivories, silver and keen philatelist. He was always a keen Anglican, and a regular church goer to the close of his life. His chief memories of Ellesmere were being hungry and the longing for a tuck parcel from home - in fact his nickname was "soda loaf", a regular constituent of his mother's parcel. Henry James Slaney-Hilton, our senior Vice-President and second oldest Old Ellesmerian, died peacefully after a brief illness, in his 95th year. He was taken ill in December and died on 18th January 1973. Henry came to Ellesmere with his younger brother George just over eighty years ago; George died in the 1960's. Hilton was a well known engineer in the Midlands, and was partticularly connected with Iron Foundries; for many years before he retired in 1950 he was a Director of an important firm. He was a very active man, physically and mentally alert until his last illness. He corresponded with the present writer for more than forty years; he was an occasional visitor to Birmingham dinners and to Ellesmere. A keen churchman, he loved the services of our chapel. Whenever possible he went to Canterbury Cathedral Services from his home in Whitstable. He had great affection for Ellesmere, and for his birthplace in Etwall, Derbyshire. The last letter we received from him referred to "my enthusiasm for the Woodard Schools and for Ellesmere ... I look forward to seeing The Ellesmerian soon-Bless you ali". This was written-last October. We have sent our sympathy to his daughter and grand-daughter.

W. L. Sumsion died peacefully in his sleep after a short illness on 15th January 1973, three days before his old acquaintance H. Slaney-Hilton, a fellow Vice-President of the Club. Leslie would have been 77 if he had lived until the 20th March 1973. One of a large family, whose father died early, he came to Ellesmere in 1909 from the Crypt School, Gloucester, and left in 1912 to join Parr's Bank. His school career was marked by an easy proficiency in playing hockey and cricket and this love of games he kept alive in his later interests of watching others play. He learnt to love golf, founded the Golf Club here and layed out a pretty course on the old Parry's field and the Donkey Field. Most of the course planned is still in use. It was through his golf that he made a few very close friends between 1920 & 1940 as successive golfers passed through his hands. In later years fewer boys got to know him, as the golf course was given up in wartime and he was kept closer to his office

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as complexities increased and his one assistant rarely remained long enough for him to have a dependable well-trained secretary. He gave great service to the Club by looking after the addresses, stencils and the dull routine office work attached to a rapidly growing organisation. One or two things he would never do; speak in public or take on any office in the Club, where he had to be in the foreground. Nor, when he retired, would he accept nomination to the Presidency of the Club, though he gladly agreed to be a Vice-President so long as he did not have to make a speech. In committee, he gave staunch support to the moderate views and during the two School Appeals, his quiet suppor t was available to the more active members. He was equally active in the steady support he gave to his church at Overton. Here, and in the neighbourhood he will be sorely missed. Prebendary Waiters, in the address he gave at his Memorial Service, referred to his outstanding qualities as a man. The writer of this little note, knew Leslie Sumsion for nigh on sixty years. He knew of no man who gave more to the school in service and loyalty, for less.material reward than Leslie Sumsion. To Kathleen, his brothers and sister, his nephews, nieces many loved godchildren we send our sympathy in their great loss. On his retirement from Ellesmere nearly ten years ago, we wrote more fully of his work for Ellesmere. Here we record our sorrow in his passing. Eric Rowan Davies entered Ellesmere in January 1908. He was born and lived in Scotland until the first World War, and was one of our few boys from Scotland. He served in the 1914-18 war, joining the R.A.C. In 1916 he was wounded on the Somme, and was later gazetted to the Hussars, leaving the Army in 1919 to go up to Exeter College, Oxford, for three years. He then taught overseas, mainly in the Colonial Education Service and retired to Bath, where he died last year, at the of 76.

Derek Wynne-Jones died in hospital at St. Barnards, near his Bray-on-Thames home last April at the age of 55. Derek was in Talbot house, but owing to his health, he was unable to participate fully in school life, and later he needed much care. He had a happy disposition, enjoyed his trips to London and his visits to his brothers and aunt, Mrs. Davis, mother of his cousin the Rev. Raymond Davis. His other cousin was H. W. "Tetchill" Jones, son of H. S. J., for so long an exuberant and frequently seen visitor to all Club activities. H. S. was President twice and for long years the mainstay of the Manchester area of the Club. Derek had a severe operation this spring, apparently recovered and then suddenly died. Mrs. Davis of 24 North Road, Cardiff, is now 89, but remembers with clarity the friends of her son and of Derek at Ellesmere. She was a friend of the Billens and of P. M. G. Fraser's family, and she still corresponds with Peter's father in the Isle of Wight. To her and all Derek's relations we send our sympathy in the loss of a kindly boy, and one who thought with affection of his old House and School.

Lt. Colonel John Hunter-Watts, OBE, died peacefully at Congresbury on 4th April 1973. He had been to fetch his morning paper, sat down to rest, lost conciousness and died in hospital the next day. He was in his 86th year. Since leaving Ellesmere he had been in good general health. "The Colonel" was a man who appealed to boys, and his friendship with his colleagues of whom he approved were deep and very unemotionially affectionate. He was the kind of school master whom colleagues and pupils discussed, one whose sayings were reported and quoted and lost nothing but gained much by the passage of time. He could be bitingly critical of the pompous, the trivial minded and the self-centred, and the forthright expressions were not easily forgotten by his victims. He appeared to be cynical, wittily satirical and at times disdainfully contemptuous; yet he loved company, and few schoolmasters were liked more by their pupils, especially in retrospect. He was constantly discussed by Old Boys, and especially by the boys of his House. His bearing was military (though he had a very critical appreciation of his military masters), he professed a Victorian discipline, but was an adoring and adorable father; he appeared outwardlly to be a Tory of the deepest cast, but had less than hearty appreciation of the modern Tory leaders. He took great pains not show any emotional reaction (except when he saw horrid behaviour-such as bad acting in the theatre or feeble displays on the cricket field). He believed in the "stiff upper lip", but as his family well knew, he was loving and sentimental.

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The Colonel's background, usually carefully hidden, was happy and stormy. His father, in late Victorian times, was in the forefront of propagating the New Socialism, and was known to all bright young revolutionary socialists of his day-Shaw and Wells, G. K. C. and Henry George, Hyndman, and above all William Morris; it was significent that Morris was chosen by his father to be John's Godfather. As editor of an advanced socialist paper in France and Justice in London, his father aroused storms amonst the varied brands of socialists in both capitals, who aften argued at the 'Colonel's' home, a meeting place for very talkative extremists. What John absorbed at home, he never quite lost, though he hid his views, as a rule, under a witty cynical approach. The writer well recalls the surprise when the Colonel confessed he had kept a file of Justice and allowed him to borrow them. J. H. W. was educated at Dulwich and in Paris, graduated in Modern Languages (he was captain of the football XI at Kings College, London, and also in the cricket XI) and taught at two good "soccer and cricket" schools, Welingborough and Shaftesbury, He joined up in 1914served in France from 1914-20, and in Mesopotamia from 1920 to 1922. Mentioned in Despatches four times, awarded the O.B.E., Lt. Colonel in 1919, it was reported of him by his Brigadier "He was the best at his job in France". He married in 1926, had three children, Jacqueline, John and Peter. His wife died in 1940, when once again he was in the Army and again he served with distinction until he left the Army in 1946 and came to Ellesmere and was here until he retired to Congresbury, first to teach at a crammers, and then to spend much of the year with his children in their homes, but always happy to return to his own flat in Somerset. A period of his life he greatly enjoyed was when he acted as Business Manager to his brother-in-Iaw's Shakesperian Company based in Australia and New Zealand. He often recalled that one of the company in his time was Ngaio Marsh, later to make her name in another field. He taught for a while at St. Peters, Adelaide, but returned to England in 1935. To his children, especially Jackie who is held by many Ellesmerians in fond remembrance, we have sent our sympathy in their loss, which many of his old boys will wish to share.

Although we have seen little of Charles Grey Benstead in recent years, his death this year in Shrewsbury will be lamented by many of the olders members. He came to Ellesmere in 1910 and left in 1914 to join the Army. He was commissioned in 1916 in the London Regiment and later in the Tank Corps. He was a Captain in the Corps and was awarded the M.C. for conspicuous bravery. Later he joined an Oil Company as an engineer and spent much of his life over seas until he returned to his birthplace, Shrewsbury, on his retirement.

His many friends, especially in Liverpool, will hear with regret of the death of John Campbell Macfall; He entered Ellesmere with his younger brother Donald in 1915 and was in the old Conqueror dormitory for three years, leaving early to spend his last two years two at home-his father was a well known Liverpool physician-and attending Liverpool College. Here, as at Ellesmere, he enjoyed and excelled in games. He joined the Liverpool Stock Exchange in 1920, and became a member in 1923, and was there until his death on 14th February. His heart had been troublesome for some while, so his visits to Ellesmere were limited, although he did spend a very happy day watching Golf at Aston last year, the last time the writer and he met after nearly sixty years of friendship. During the last war he served with the Postal Censorship Office for five years. John was a very 'clubbable' man, and enjoyed company. He was an enthusiastic Past Master of Princess Lodge and P.P.G.W. of Lancashire. He was a very active committee member of the Liverpool Sportsmens' Association, helping many less fortunate youths in the City to play games. As his active participation in games lessened, his love for gardens increased and he was a hearty member of the Rose Society and the Sweet Pea Society. John will be missed by a wide circle of friends. We send our sympathy to Angela, his widow.

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T. O. Colbeck died on 7th December 1972 in a Leeds hospital after a short illness just before his 89th birthday and was buried in Tadcaster. He had enjoyed good health almost to the end, and when Col. Gilbert Greenwood (1928) saw him last year he and his wife, also now 89 years old, report ed them as being "very fit and active". 'Toc' was the younger brother of Edward who entered Ellesmere in 1890, both of them from St. Augustine's, Dewsbury. Edward did well at school and was a vigorous supporter of the Club in the early years, and up to the end of the 1914-18 war, but "Toe' did not have so lively a life here, and was more retiring than his brother. It was a pleasure to him and to us that he took a keen interest in the school towards the end of his long life. Colbeck, one of four brothers here was the last surviving 'Dewsbury' Scholar of Ellesmere.

..

We regret to announce the death of Noel A. Kay at his home in Natal. Kay came to Ellesmere in 1904. He spent most of his life in S.Africa, chiefly in Johannesburg. He was prominent in the life of the City, was President in his time of the Chamber of Commerce and President for eleven years of the Shipping Federation of S.Africa. He retired to Natal three years ago, moving up to the platte land in summer. He died in a Durban hospital at the age of 83 early this year. He wrote regularly to the Editor of his early days in the Heywood dormitory, and it was always instructive to be kept up-to-date by his outspoken comments on the South African scene. To his sister, still living in the Wirral in Noel's and her homeland, and to his family in S.Africa our sympathy.

Captain Donald Basil Lattin, CBE, died on the 11th July 1973 at the age of 69. He entered Ellesmere in 1918, was a Dormitory Prefect in the Gordon, played for the XV, but left early to train as a Merchant Seaman. He joined B.I.S.N. Co. Ltd., and was with this company before (and during the later years) it was absorbed by the P. & o. His war service was outstanding. He retired to Chiswick some years ago, having reached the top in his company, Chief Marine Superintendant. Lattin was a quiet, sturdy, determined character as a boy, and well-liked in his dormitory. His home was in Durham.

*
1936-39 at Solihull, and J. G.

We also regret to announce the death of P. S. Cureton-Meynell Carter 1907-1914 at Shrewsbury.

O.E. Colours
These may be obtained at the School Shop personally, or by post if the order is accompanied by cheque. Please write to J. W. N. or to the Manager, The School Shop at the College. Silk Crested Tie Crimplene Crested Tie Silk Striped Tie Crimplene Striped Tie Silk Striped Cravat N.B. £1·87 £1·20 £1·56 £0·88 £2·23 Silk Crested Cravat Terylene Crested Cravat Cuff Links Pocket Badges ££2·40 £2·13 £3·75 £3·20

Blazers are no longer sold in the Shop.

The Public Schools Club


Members of the Club who wish to join the East India, Sports and Public Schools Club should write either to the London Local Secretary, Peter Anstey, or to J. W. N. at Ellesmere for details.

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