THE AYMESTREY MA GA Z I N E

SUMMER 1992

OLD A Y M E S T R E Y A S S O C I AT I O N I N C O M E AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 1991 1990 175.00 RECEIPTS Membership subscriptions (including renewal of subscriptions and donations to Association Funds) Magazine Appeal Subscriptions Interest on Abbey National Building Society Share Account 1990 EXPENDITURE Contribution to School Magazine for year 1989/90 70.00 0.25 86.92 8.78 133.70 Contribution to School. Magazine for year 1990/91 Lloyds Bank Plc -Bank charges Contribution to 80th Anniversary Celebrations Excess of income over expenditure

150.00

0.25 90.13

200.00 18.83

2.06

Interest on Lloyds Bank Deposit Account Excess of expenditure over income

1.95 209.71 1368.83

124.96

267.44

267.44

368.83

BALANCE SHEET 1990 1,127.42 Balance brought forward to 31st March 1990 Excess of expenditure over income Excess of income over expenditure

FOR YEAR ENDED 31st MARCH 1991 1990 1,252.38 ( 209.71) Balance on Abbey National Building Society Five Star Account Balances at Lloyds Bank: Current Account Deposit Account

303.72 30.31

4.89 32.51

124.96 1,252.38

918.35 1,042.67 11,252.38

1,005.27 1,042.67

MINUTES OF THE 48th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION HELD AT AYMESTREY SCHOOL ON SATURDAY,15th JUNE 1990 PRESENT Anthony Powell, in the chair; The President Air Vice Marshall D.N.K. Blair Oliphant; Messrs. John Eyton Coates, Edward Lane, Peter Bradshaw, Nick Coley, Anthony Thornely, James McLeod, George Marriott, G.E. Rush, G.G. Rush, Bruce Phipps, John Phipps, Edward Weaving, Stephen Beard, Jonathan Coates, Malcolm Hughes and Hugh Griffith. Anthony Claydon deputised as Secretary in the absence of Bill Stallard. APOLOGIES were received from Brian Massey, David Stratton, Jack Coates, Oliver Mayfield, Stephen Nelson, Edward Tildesley, John and Peter Schilizzi, Lester Steynor, David Davis, Douglas Birks, Bill Stallard, Richard Stallard, Geoffrey Howell, Roger Gorman, Simon McGorman, Jason and Paul Smith, Sam Coley, Nigel Blair Oliphant, Jnr., Simon Patterson, Tom Slade, Philip Powell, Michael Powell, Charles Etty-Leal, Chris Dowson, Donald and Ian McLeod, Bill Jay, David Powell, Julian Gallimore, Andrew Duncan, Richard Tildesley and John Page. The Minutes of the last A.G.M. held on Saturday, 16th June, 1990 were confirmed and approved The Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1991, were presented by the Chairman in Bill Stallard's absence and were approved. The following were elected for the ensuing year: CHAIRMAN; Oliver Mayfield VICE CHAIRMAN: Nick Coley HONORARY SECRETARY/ TREASURER: Bill Stallard SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT: Dan Asterley NEW COMMITTEE MEMBERS: Stephen Beard James McLeod It was proposed by John Phipps, seconded by Edward Lane and agreed by the meeting that the Association should contribute 250 towards the cost of producing the 1992 magazine. While it would be the intention to make a contribution every year, the actual amount would be decided upon at each A.G.M. The Chairman reminded members that it had been resolved at the last meeting to invite old boys who had left more than ten years previously to make a further subscription to the Association. This had not been pursued by sending out a specific letter to old boys in this category, but the Minutes published in the magazine had notified them of the resolution which had been passed. No voluntary contributions had been received so far.

A general discussion followed on the interrelated topics of meeting the production costs of the magazine and increasing the income of the Association. With the Headmaster's agreement, two resolutions were then passed. The first, proposed by John Phipps and seconded by Edward Weaving, resolved that a Banker's Order form in favour of the O.A.A. should he incorporated in future magazines, for the particular attention of those who had left the school more than ten years previously. Although the sum would not he fixed, a note would be included showing that a repeat of the 10 original joining subscription every ten years would be the minimum needed to cover the cost of a member's copy of the magazine. The second resolution, proposed by James McLeod with Stephen Beard seconding, recommended the insertion of an editorial note in the magazine offering sponsorship to any O.A.A. member who might care to make use of it as an advertising medium. The subscription payable for school leavers who wished to join the Association was a matter for the School, which would be considering whether any change could or should be made. Finally a number of members made donations to the O.A.A. on the spot, to a total of 85. Hugh Griffith gave details of the new relief road. Although the timing was not yet known, the route was now settled and would run very close to the dam, which would have to be rebuilt. Details would be given in the next issue of the magazine, together with a map of the alignment.

The meeting recorded a warm vote of thanks to Bill Stallard for his work as Honorary Secretary and Treasurer over the years and for his willingness to continue. The Meeting expressed its thanks to Hugh and Gill Griffith for their hospitality and for arranging to hold the Annual Dinner at the School for a second time. The President drew attention both to the condition of the buildings and particularly to the grounds, which were looking really beautiful - the latter were all the more appreciated as the members learned that no one was employed to do the work, which was carried out

entirely by the staff and the boys. Although the cricket match against the School had been rained off, the "Wet Weather Programme" of snooker, chess and table tennis put on in its stead had been much enjoyed. After the meeting, 34 members and their guests sat down to a sumptuous dinner, at which John Eyton Coates was once more prevailed upon to sing his traditional song - rounding off an evening greatly enjoyed by everyone present. LEAVERS July 1991 J.A. Alexander - (Worcester Royal Grammar School) Came Summer 1987. Cricket XI. Choir. Chess. Colours for Cricket and Chess. P.R. Jolley - (Nunnery Wood) Came Autumn 1987. Rugger XV. Choir. Colours for Rugby. Abbas Kazerooni - (King's, Worcester) Came Autumn 1987. Rugger XV, Cricket XI, Soccer XI. Choir. Colours for Soccer and Cricket (Capt.). Gold in National Challenge Awards. Head Boy. Ogden Cup. D. Painter - (Hanley Swan) Came September 1986. Rugger XV. P.J. Price - (Rendcomb) Came September 1987. Rugger XV, Soccer XI, Cricket XI, Cross Country and Athletics. Colours for Rugby, Soccer, Cross Country and Chess. Choir. Prefect. P.D. Smith - (Lucton) Came Spring 1989. Rugger XV, Cricket Xl, Cross Country, Athletics. Colours for Cross Country. Prefect. A. Tomlins - (Malvern College) Came Autumn 1986. Choir. W. Tomlins - (Beaudesert) Came Autumn 1989. Choir. E.Williams - (Hereford Cathedral) Came Autumn 1988. Chess. Choir. Colours for Chess. December 1991 R. Heigh - (Bedstone) Came Autumn 1987. Rugger XV. Choir. NEW BOYS Summer 1991 T.R. Wilson Autumn 1991 G.E. Gregg, E.R. Brown, E.T. Swan, A.D. Hewson. NEWS of OLD BOYS R. Bader is in Philadelphia and enjoying life at the university. He is hoping to go to France as the university offers a Semester in Lyons where he can study French, Contemporary France, International Marketing and International Relations in Europe. He can also continue his rowing interest.

M. Bartlett, at Worcester Royal Grammar School, is in the Sixth Form and hoping to read Architecture next year. He is playing rugby for the 2nd XV. J. Bewley won the the Boys Singles of the Worcester Junior Table Tennis Championship. His first match was against Brett Brining who won the first game but lost the next two. R. Cummins is in his second year at Bath University, studying Mechanical Engineering, having achieved 70% in his first year exams. This helped him get a place in Daventry, with a firm making large diesel engines, for his third year. There were two places and one hundred and forty seven applicants.

E. Edmonds (1976) is a civil engineer and has been working for Lilley Construction for three and half years. G. Edmonds (1978) is in the News Room at Radio Wyvern. He reads the local news and is gaining great experience in many walks of life. T. Edwards (1974) is farming near Woodton in Suffolk. He is Chairman of the Harleston Young Farmers this year. A. Gosling(1956) is the Chief Librarian, East Asia Collection, at the National Library of Australia in Canberra, having read Asian languages at university followed by four years attached to the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, Indonesia as Indonesian Acquisition Officer. He there collected Indonesian publications for research libraries in Australia and New Zealand. A. Johnson (1970) is married and working in the family building firm in North Wales making conservatories. G. Johnson (1971) has acquired an 18th Century Double Bass and is continuing his Orchestral Work. R. Johnson (1971) is married and living in Saxlingham, Nr Holt, Norfolk where he is a farm manager. J. Jones (1966), after a career in the Merchant Navy, has a degree - 2.2 - in Mechanical Engineering and started with BP at Grangemouth last September. M. & C. Jones (1970) are farming with their parents near Penrith. C. Knappett has a Class 1 in the first part of his Archaeological and Anthropological Tripos at St. John's, Cambridge. D. Knox (1966) is living in St. Albans and working at Hatfield Polytechnic. Kazu Kojima at the WRGS, passed Maths at grade A a year early. He is taking the bulk of his GCSEs this year. He is playing Rugby for the school and runs for the School in cross-country and athletics. R. Lane (1963) has three children and farms at Bosbury. A. Lane (1965) takes his Law Finals in July. He and Elizabeth are expecting their second child in June. W. Lane is finishing his year at Emory University, Atlanta, U.S.A. He has a Bobby Jones Scholarship and together with three other scholars has travelled widely in a caravan camper provided by the university. All petrol is paid and each of them has $1000 travel expenses. He is singing with the Emory University choir in Paris, this summer. J. Maughan (1965) is living in Powys. He was in publishing but now works for Barclays. F. Miles is in the Gulf selling carpets to the Arabs. S.J.D. MacLaren (1969) is trout farming near Chepstow. A. MacLaren (1970) is in his second year at York reading Politics.

D.B. MacLaren (1978) is at Leicester reading Land Management. A.P. Moore (1972) is married and is in the police force in Worcester. J. Nicholas (1966) is married and has a child. He has emigrated to New Zealand where he has bought a small farm. S. Patterson has a place at King's, Cambridge, in September after gaining 3 'A' levels, one at Scholarship level. He is now having a year out. He has visited Thailand, Malaysia and is going to Indonesia before returning to Worcester in August.

M. Patterson is at King's, Worcester, after gaining 7 GCSEs at Dean Close. He is taking Social Biology, English and Classical Civilisation at A level. A. Perryman (1976) is married and is the manager of Great Mills at Witney. C. Rawlings has a Class 2.2 in Zoology at Durham and has now been offered a career in the British Council. There were over five thousand applicants for thirty-five vacancies. W. Rankin is in his second year at Manchester, reading Law. He had the misfortune to be mugged after Christmas and his ankle was broken in two places. He represented the university at a Moot at Glasgow University M. Richardson, at King's, Worcester, has nine GCSEs, is in the Lower V I and is studying Social Biology, Geography and Economics for A level. He plays cricket and Rugger for King's llnds and has played Rugger for Worcester in the U17s and U19s. N. Richardson at Loughborough, has a place at Cambridge, in the autumn, to read Land Management. He was 'on the bench' at Twickenham for the England U21s for the match against the French Armed Services. O. Saunders is at King's College, London, reading Physics. J. Sawtell, at Rendcomb, has nine GCSEs, including As for Art and Biology.He is going to take Biology, Geography and Art at 'A' level. He is also working for the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. P.D. Smith, at Lucton, came in the first six for the county and went on to run in the U14 England trial. R. Stallard (1974) qualified as a solicitor last September and then spent three months touring Central America. He is now serving, as a Lieutenant, on a Short Service Commission with the 1st Battalion The King's Own Border Regiment in Kenya. Sven Taylor, after leaving Shebbear and Plymouth College of Further Education, applied to join the Marines. After a gruelling three days he was one of ten accepted out of twenty four applicants. J. Taylor(1982) is teaching piano. C. Taylor (1983) is going to study agriculture. J. Tomsett left Rendcomb with three A levels, including Art Grade A. In his final year he played for the School in Rugby and Tennis. T. Wellspring is taking a degree course in Photographic and Electronic Imaging Sciences at the University of Westminster. R. Yeoward (1963) is married with two children. He runs an agricultural engineering business. A. Yeoward (1966) is married with one child. He lives in Swindon, is a civil engineer and is working on the Severn Bridge.

GIFTS We are extremely grateful to the following for their generous gifts to the school: Mr. & Mrs. Henderson - A marvellous selection of encyclopaedias and books. Mr. & Mrs. Tomlins - Croquet Set. Mr. & Mrs. Griffin - Apples and pears. Mr. & Mrs. P. Edwards - Apples. Mr. & Mrs. Richardson - Potatoes for November 5th (ready for the oven). Mr. & Mrs. White - Apples and pears.

G. Johnson - C.D. Player. N. Blair Oliphant, Sen. - A generous cheque spent on gardening equipment. Mr. & Mrs. Hunter for the loan of an organ. Mr. & Mrs. Goodyear - Games and books. G. Rush - A generous cheque spent on games equipment. J. Eyton Coates - Books for the library. CHESS The Chess Team again did well. Played 7, won 4, lost 1, drew 2. We drew a bye in the first round of the Times National Schools Competition, beat Redhill, Birmingham in the nest round and were white washed in the zonal semi finals by King Edward V1, Camphill, who went on to win the Birmingham zone. There has been a great deal of chess played in the school this year and the standard has been improving all the time. We are grateful to Mr. Murray Watson, who runs the junior county chess and who has coached and encouraged some of our better players. As for the team it was a bit of a curate's egg - very good at the top, indeed the first three boards Heynes, Williams R. and Murphy are equal to anybody we have had in the past. Further down the school the standard was a little lower than of late although Hunter D. is very promising. Williams R. won the shield for U 11 Hereford and Worcester Junior Chess. Heynes, Williams R. and Murphy played in a sponsored simultaneous display against a grand master in Malvern. Williams R. did particularly well to be in the last five to be beaten out of twenty-five starters. Williams R. played for the county twice and Heynes five times - on two occasions he was captain. In the Easter holidays Heynes, Williams R. and Hunter D. joined the four day chess congress at Millfield Junior, Edgarley Hall. Hunter D. did well to get into the B Group and won a prize for coming third.

Chess Team 1991 8

Heynes and Williams R. played in the Championship and came 5th and 32nd respectively. In the simultaneous game against a grand master Williams lasted more than two hours and Heynes did brilliantly to draw. He was also 'runner up' in the Best Game competition. Oliver Heynes will have his trial for the U11 England Chess Team in May. National Prep. Schools Chess Congress Generally a good and enjoyable time. On Wednesday and Thursday we were allowed a couple of minutes break from chess to go to Wookey Hole Caves or to go swimming if we wanted to. The food was all

right, except for the cheesecake which tasted like rotten cardboard put into a cement mixer. In between matches we could play football or have our games analysed. I owe a lot to my dad for coming because I think I would not have done well if he wasn't there to cheer me up. Thanks. Oliver Heynes MUSIC During the year the following Associated Board Exams were passed:Grade 3 A. Davidson - Cello with Merit. Grade 5 O. Heynes- Theory J. Williams -Theory with distinction (95%) A. Davidson, aged 9, is to be congratulated on winning the H. Sybil Russell Shield - Open Class Strings Cello - 11 years and under, in the Worcestershire Orchestral Society's Competitive Festival. The choir, and the choir master, are to be congratulated on coming third out of nine schools. A parent writes:-

The Choir 1991

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The 1st May, 1992 was one of those lovely spring days. The Aymestrey choir were participating in the second Elgar Choral Festival. This is a national choral competition and the choirs were all singing in the beautiful old College Hall of King's School, Worcester - an ideal setting for the occasion. There were nine choirs competing in their section; seven of the choirs were local and two came from as far afield as Oldham and East Grinstead. The choirs also varied in age and size and on the whole tended to have more girls than boys.

Mr. Gowland had only eight days to teach the choir the set piece - Elgar's The Woodland Stream. Aymestrey was the last choir to perform. Needless to say the boys' rendering of the Elgar was extremely good and a wonderful sound. However, it was surpassed for us all by their own choice of music - The Litany to the Holy Spirit by Peter Hurford. It is such a moving piece of music and was sung to perfection, making a lovely end to the morning. We waited with nervous anticipation to hear the critical views of the lady adjudicator which were both constructive and amusing. You can imagine how absolutely thrilled we were when Aymestrey was awarded third prize, beaten only by the two choirs who had come the furthest. Our congratulations go to Mr. Gowland and the choir, on their superb performance. Well done. CRICKET The cricket season this year was frustrating in the extreme. Most of the time it was cold and wet. Only five matches were played and of these one was washed out before tea and one was badly affected by a thunderstorm during tea. This was a great pity as we had a very respectable side. Alexander and Abbas made a good pair of opening bowlers, well backed up by Edwards B., Gawler and Heynes. Peel was a useful, if

The Fathers' Cricket Match 1991

13

mercurial, wicket keeper and the fielding was brisk and mostly efficient. Smith P. and Alexander opened the batting effectively. Neither has much style but they both play straight - a cardinal virtue in any cricketer. In the game against Moffats they made a stand of 61. How often their elders and betters are seen on T.V. playing across the line! Peel was potentially the best batsman but until the Abberley game impatience was his undoing. At Abberley he played quietly for twenty minutes until the last man, Smith J., came in and then cut loose, raising the score from 45 for 9 to 73 all out. Abbas, Gawler and Heynes all contributed runs from time to time.

The highlight of the year was a cliff-hanger of a draw against the best Fathers' team we have seen for years. Admirably captained by Mr. Peel they were nevertheless bowled out for less than 100 by tea time. All our bowlers took wickets but of the three that Heynes took the caught and bowled of his own Father was the most memorable. Peel did a good stumping and there were two smart run outs. Against some excellent bowling and first rate wicket-keeping our batting looked a bit precarious but Burton and Smith J. held on and stumps were drawn at 62 for 9. Six of the team will be here this year so prospects are reasonably bright. ATHLETICS Once again, despite the weather, we enjoyed an excellent season of athletics. In the AAA award scheme we set several new school records with every boy gaining a minimum of two badges. Thirty of these were five star awards. Price, Gawler, Camozzi M., Le Galloudec, Peel, Griffin J., Cartwright and Hunter D., managed to achieve five star awards in all three categories: Three Events, Pentathlon and Decathlon. Smith P.D. and Williams R. gained five star awards in two categories, and Murphy and Fraser in one. Twenty-eight four star badges were awarded, twenty-eight three star, twentyfour two star and four one star. With such a solid base we sent a party of athletes to the area prep. schools' meeting at Denstone. All seven, Price, Smith P.D., Hunter M., Gawler, Peel, Murphy and Hunter D. acquitted themselves well in the face of a very high standard of competition. The best results were Price coming third in the U14 800m. and Hunter D. winning the U11 400m. As the latter achieved this while in the second form and four of the other winners of all three categories, five star awards, are in the same age group, our prospects for the future of athletics seem to be very encouraging. SPORTS DAY In the 200m I felt like I was a motor bike but at the end I was like a dead rat. I was glad we had a swim afterwards. I went under a tree in the shade. Just as I was lying against the tree Mr. Driver called for the 800m. After all the running was over we went up to the house to get ready for swimming. I was in a lot of things. The best thing was the funny act. Then we said good bye to our parents and waited for the big tea. R. Peel aged 10 SWIMMING Last year we had trouble with the quality of water in the pool and that held up the start of swimming, but, thanks to Mr. Goodyear, the problem has been solved so we hope we shall be able to start as soon as the

14

water is warm enough. Despite the latish start all but two could swim at least ten metres and most very much more. Price, Drummond, Edwards M, Symonds O. and White swam 1000m, Heigh 2000m and Abbas, Painter, Edwards B., Williams J. and Auty 3000m. In the National Challenge Awards Camozzi M. has his Bronze, Williams J. and Edwards B. Silver and Abbas Gold. Williams J.,Edwards B., White,Gregg, Auty and Camozzi M. swam in a sponsored Swimarathon at the Worcester pool organised by the Rotary Club to make money for

Ronkswood Hospital and our own charity - Tadworth Court Children's Hospital.They had 30 minutes to swim, as a relay, as many lengths as possible. We were advised that 40-45 lengths might be achieved in that time by an adult. In fact they swam 68 and made 152.60. MACBETH at LUDLOW The part I enjoyed most was where Macbeth and Lady Macbeth were holding a banquet for all the Lords and Ladies coming to visit the new crowned King Macbeth, who had brutally killed Duncan, the old king. They gathered round the oak table to eat and drink, but Macbeth couldn't find a chair to sit on. There in his own chair sat Banquo, who Macbeth had killed the day before, by hiring two mercenaries to carry out the foul murder. Banquo's face was covered with blood and he stared at Macbeth with his wide open eyes. This sent a shiver down my spine because he actually looked like a ghost. Only Macbeth could see the ghost of Banquo and he began to shout and scream. The lords and ladies thought that Macbeth was mad. Banquo left the stage and the feast carried on. Another part of Macbeth I enjoyed was the three witches who kept appearing and disappearing. The whole play was extremely well acted and it was a pleasure to watch. Matthew Hunter aged 12 Our grateful thanks to Mrs. P. Williams for taking a large party of us to see Macbeth at Ludlow Castle. Not only did we all enjoy the play but also the sumptuous meal she provided afterwards. Thank you. Editor. CAMP When we arrived at Mr. & Mrs. Green Price's farm in Wales we put up the store tent and got some water. After that we made a wall round the toilet so it was private. The sitting down toilet was very simple - it was a flat piece of stone hammered in vertically on a hill. The next morning everyone got up very early except for Mr. Goodyear. We gave him tea in bed. After breakfast we went for a six mile walk to Mr. Goodyear's favourite spot. Tall trees sheltered it from the sun. Bluebells covered the banks and at the bottom was a stream. I won the prize for the first into the water and managed to stay under for ten seconds. In the evening Alexander built us some luxurious tables and benches. After breakfast on Friday we went for a short walk when Price tried to bull bait but the bulls wouldn't take any notice of him!

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On Saturday we couldn't do anything because of heavy rain. Then Price remembered that he had left his cagoule on the hill so Alexander and I went and fetched it for him. The high lights of camp were: Frying eggs but not washing up the pan; Price virtually grass skiing when pulled along by Duffle on the lead, chasing a stick; but best of all the cake so kindly made for us by Mrs. Green Price. Abbas Kazerooni Aged 13

RUGBY With so much good rugby being played in games it was extremely frustrating to have team selection dominated by who was, or was not, ill. As a consequence the real Aymestrey XV never took the field together in a match. Had they done so in the last scheduled game at Abberley - it was cancelled because of illness - there can be little doubt that the hard work they had done throughout the term to make themselves into an entertaining side would have resulted in an impressive display. As it is the team that might have been has to be pieced together from the sturdy performances the players gave against a very powerful St. Richard's side, and the three nine a-side games with two teams from the Downs and one from the Abbey School. At the heart of the team was the half back pairing of Peel at scrum half and Gawler at fly half. Peel's strength, speed and - by the end of the season - satisfyingly consistent supply of good ball was matched by Gawler's safe hands, neat passing and fine judgment of when and where to kick. With Edwards B. and Richards as a powerful pair of centres in both attack and defence, the three quarters always looked solid - particularly with Murphy at fullback providing his familiar ruthless efficiency at tackling. Once Hunter M. on the wing learnt to run into space he provided a useful addition; so too did the two novices, Wilson and Crooks. The best front row combination proved to be Heynes at hooker, with Heigh and Hawkes as his props. Williams J., who once again gave his all, and Gordon made a solid second row. Dimond C. provided noble support wherever he was asked to play - flanker, winger or second row, and Auty, Le Galloudec, and Symmonds willingly made up the remaining numbers. It was a pity all these players never had a chance to work together in a school match with the same skill and flair they showed in practice, but the convincing win over the Abbey with some excellent tries involving all nine players who did play, the staunch defence against the Downs A - a game lost only to a kicked penalty and the first ferocious ten minutes against St. Richard's, when they looked likely to upset a far stronger and more skillful side, gave some hint of how they might have fared had fate been kinder. SOCCER The one word description for this soccer season is 'patchy'. As individuals some team members showed that they could be quite skillful at times; unfortunately the advantage gained on these occasions was all too often squandered by poor passing. If one element of the game epitomised our performances it was the inability to pass the ball accurately. We saw some stalwart defending, fine tackling and promising attacking moves all

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cancelled out by a poor pass. On the rare occasions when we were able to string two or three passes together the result was a goal, or at least, a shot. The first match of the season at home to St. Richard's resulted in a loss (4-2), despite some spirited play, and perhaps the match that produced out best football. In the following game at home to Moffats the result was a 2-2 draw - a match that we should have won, and indeed were winning until very near the final whistle. When we played away to St. Richard's on a bitterly cold day we hung on gamely until the last twenty minutes when the conditions seemed to overcome us and the better team won 5-1. The highlight of the

season came with the visit to Moffats. Playing with the wind and the slope in the first half, we managed, with a little luck, to turn round three goals up. In the second half, with all the elements against us we managed, with enormous good fortune to hang on to win 3-2. No player acquitted himself sufficiently to merit the award of a colour. CROSS COUNTRY Traditionally the Autumn Term is when the Senior Team runs in four or five races and the Juniors sort themselves out for the coming year. The fact that two junior runners, Griffin J. and Peel won their colours running for the Senior Team shows just how illness upset the usual pattern. By the end of the Spring Term, however, we could look back and see how this initial reverse had worked to the benefit of school crosscountry by giving us our best Junior Team ever. Things did not look so rosy after the preliminary round of the Milk Cup. The rules of this national competition have a minimum as well as a maximum age limit so the juniors who would have qualified on merit could not take part because they were too young. Although selection was limited in this way several of the six seniors who did run had little excuse for their poor display. Failure to qualify for the next round did, however, seem to motivate the Junior Team. In their first race, at Malvern College, the team of Peel, Griffin J., Le Galloudec, Heynes, Read and Hunter D. ran an excellent race. All six finished in the top half of the field and came second overall, beating for the first time in our history, the Dean Close Junior Team. In the two Worcester City School League runs at Aymestrey and at Redditch, it was again the juniors who caught the eye. At home Griffin J., running against boys at least two and sometimes three years older than himself, came in tenth. The senior team on this occasion contained three other juniors - Le Galloudec, Heynes and Hunter D. Peel was fit for Redditch and came in sixth.

Junior Team 17

The Spring Term produced a series of good races. The rising standard of running in prep. schools - for which we can claim some of the credit, has meant that every race is now a real contest. There are very few slow tail-enders seen nowadays. Once again the school responded well to the challenge of hosting the District Trials. With our own prep. schools' race at the end of January this meant we were responsible for organising four cross-country events in two terms. Each one went without a hitch which reflects great credit on all the boys who stood as markers and carried out the many preparations necessary for such meetings.

The U13 team did well in the District Trials to come second. Gawler finished second and Peel third. As a result of this Gawler was given the chance to move up an age group and run in the U15 County Trial where he ran well again. At the Aymestrey race the U11 team finished third, to Cheltenham and Moffats, Peel coming in third. Cartwright made an encouraging debut, finishing twentieth. The seniors finished in second place equal with Clifton College. Gawler come second and Symonds had one of his better runs coming in tenth. At Bromsgrove this success was continued, both the senior and the junior teams finishing second. These runs, and the opportunity to train undisturbed by any really severe bad weather, meant that the team was well prepared for the experience of running in the first ever National Prep. Schools' Championships, at Marlborough College under the control of the ex-international runner Bruce Tulloh. (The fact that this came under the guidance of Bruce Tulloh was due to Mr. Driver. Ed.) There was only one race for boys at U14 level so, once again, Peel and Griffin J. were running against boys at least two years older. Almost two hundred runners started from twenty-nine schools. The conditions were atrocious, as wet as any we have ever experienced, but it proved to be a good inaugural event. Gawler finished a creditable twenty third, Peel seventy fourth and Griffin J. seventy-eighth. The team finished seventeenth. At the Cheltenham relay three juniors, Peel, Griffin J. and Le Galloudec joined the three most reliable seniors - Gawler, Murphy and Williams J. and helped the team to a reasonable halfway placing As the Dean Close race has eight runners in a team with the first six counting, it has always been an event where larger schools have had more chance of success. This year our junior team not only won the shield for the first time but did it in such style that all eight finished in the top half of the field. Peel was first, Griffin J. third, Le Galloudec sixth, Heynes seventh, Williams R. eleventh and Cartwright seventeenth.

Senior Team

18 It was a fitting end to our longest ever season of cross country running. What was particularly impressive was how the younger boys in the school proved to the seniors that determination and hard work, and a selfless rather than a selfish attitude, achieves real success. If this year's juniors can carry the same attributes forward to next season when they will have to meet the challenge of being a young senior team then they should have two very enjoyable years.

EXAM at KINGS Suddenly I found myself with an exam. paper in front of me and a pen. I looked through it. It wasn't exactly inviting! I'd never heard of this chap John, who drank the polluted water of the Thames in a wine glass. I looked at the others sitting the exam, all busily writing. I found, though, I could write something, but I was still glad when it was over and someone said, "It's time for lunch!" ART Once again, due to the highly professional way in which Mrs. Wales presents our Art, Aymestrey was awarded pride of place at the Malvern Prep. Schools Art Festival, so that visitors saw it first on arrival. We are most grateful to Mr. & Mrs. Davidson for the loan of an electrically driven potters' wheel which has added to the techniques the boys learn in the Art Department.Several boys submitted work to the Cadbury's National Exhibition of Children's Art and Thomas Murphy was awarded a certificate to say that his work was passed by the Preliminary Panel Art and Design. Oliver Heynes, however, won a place in the exhibition which is the largest and most comprehensive exhibition of art, design and poetry in the world. The exhibition attracted over 40,000 entries and is open to anyone under 18. It opened at The Barbican Centre and runs until August 1992, touring major towns. Oliver and his parents were invited to the opening

Oliver Heynes (Photo by kind permission of Worcester Evening News)

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when it arrived in Wolverhampton. Unfortunately Cadbury's are not able to sponsor the exhibition this year but they hope an alternative sponsor will be found for future years. JAPAN

It was with great excitement that on 26th March, 1992, my husband and I flew from Heathrow to Japan on a visit to our daughter, who is there teaching English. We were dutifully met at Tokyo and for two days Rebekah whisked us at speed sightseeing this exciting capital. Here we had our first viewing of unforgettable temples, imperial palaces, castles, museums and traditional sculptured gardens that we were to see in abundance during our three weeks holiday. Onwards to Nara, the original capital of Japan, travelling by the famous "Bullet Train", being transported through the countryside at over 100 mph, in sheer luxury, to our daughter's home. The whole network of railways in this country is based on precision timing - if any train is a minute late, it is quite an event! The workers take pride in their own particular jobs, always smartly dressed, eager to serve the customer and to work long hours. It is quite normal for employees not to take the whole of their annual holiday, so important is their work. We visited the school where Rebekah teaches and were enchanted by the children, not only by the natural orderliness but by their eagerness to learn and to communicate with us. After only a few hours in Japan we had experienced this several times: it was not unusual when sightseeing to be stopped by a group of polite young students requesting to speak to us and have our photographs taken with them. During the three weeks of our visit, and we travelled extensively, we didn't see any graffiti, vandalism or rubbish, and because there is no crime, there is no evidence of the police force in public places. We visited many places of interest, one of which was Hiroshima Peace Park, which we found most moving. In the south we sampled the delights of bathing in natural hot springs - a Japanese tradition. We were privileged to be invited into some Japanese homes and were made very welcome. The Japanese are so kind and generous that it was here that we really met face-on the problem of the food! Although the diet is enormously healthy and very prettily and artistically presented, the tastes were not to our palates. We were very embarrassed that we couldn't do justice to the meals - we prefer our fish cooked! It must be said that we were seen sneaking into McDonalds one day during our second week. We were very shame faced but those French fries tasted good! It was with a very sad heart and a tear in the eye that we flew from Tokyo, leaving our daughter, but we were happy in the knowledge that she was with kind, generous and trustworthy people in a fascinating country. We feel we have a lot to learn from the Japanese of today, and we are not referring to their technology. Norma Barnett - Assistant Matron since 1975 We are most grateful, once again, for all the time, hard work and help given to us by Mr. P.J. Wellspring over the production of this magazine. Editor

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STOP PRESS

Congratulations to Justin Williams who has been awarded a Major Scholarship at Shrewsbury School