31
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tb.e sum of ................................................ =~= .................. Pounds
................ ~ ............ Shillings and ....... ~ ................ Pence ~ -
~ A.~.~ ,,"«--'''tl.- J ~''t''
Sig1zature .... V: .. JI.: .. D. ..... Y."1. ~1vI
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~1[£5t£r <&ramlttar ~(IJll1l[ RrfllrD.
No. 74 APRIL, 1943·
EDITOR-:MR. V. V. DRULLER.
COMJl.UTTEE-
:M. AUSTIN, J. PLESTERS, D. SAVAGE, 2\I. PARKER,
D. JONES, STEWAI.(T, SHARP.
lloit's an 0 jltiufI. The Sprillg term. opened on Tuesday , January 12th, and
closes on Thursday, April 8th.
A succession of entertainments and parties ITlarked the last ",veek of the Autumn tel'l1.1.. Th~ DraIl1atic Society led the way by presenting its first p1ay-in the afternoon of Friday, December 11th, to Fornls Upper IVa and band upwards: in the ITlorning of JYIonday, Decem.ber 14th, to Fornls IIIb, Remove, ii t'md i, and in the afternoon to Fornls Lower IVa and b, and IlIa. On Tuesday afternoon, December li5th, the French Circle had their Party. On the sanle afternoon Lov\Ter IVa nnd. b had a party in the hall, and the following afternoon th ere vvas a sil"Tlilar party for IlIa and b. The Preparator:v departlTlent also had their party on Wednesday, December 16th.
At the closing assenlbly on Thursday, December 17th, hockey colouTs were pTesented to J. Blakeman, G. Spencer and J oan Horseman: while Savings Certificates in lieu of a gold nleclal for tennis vvere handed to D. Villers.
During the Christmas holidays, the school sustained a very serious loss by the death of Dr. R. H. Spencer, on December 31st. Dr. Spencer was to a large degree instrumental in securing for Alcester the present Granlnlar School. He served on the governing body from the t,ime of its fonnation, and was its chairnlan fr011.1. 1918 until the tinle of his death. l\fost of us cannot remenlber a time when he was not in the chair on Speech Day and Sports Day, and
30 The A lC'P.siu Gram m ar Srhool Ruorci
those functions will not seC'lTI the S<lme Ivithout his presen(·c'. He was keenly int.ereste(l in all that (~tm(.'ern0d the school, i\wl \\'ilS :111\':1."8 ready to fight for anything \\'hic:h he (;on81(le1'e(1 \,~ollld illlprove the children's opportullities of obt:lining nn IIp-to-(lnte edu8H,tion. He will be \'(:>'1'." much missed. A part)' of scholars from FOl'ms VI and VppeJ' V ath'lHle(l the funeral service <It Alcester Parish' ,Chnl'C'h.
The pJ'efec·ts this tel'1l1 ilre 8te\\'("lrt (head boy) ,Al'IlOjd, Ynpp, Burn8, Ore, Kil'by, Sh:ll'p; D. Savage (head girl), 1\1. .,:-"-ustill.B. Francis, K. Ifernming, D. Villers, M. {}o()ilnll . .T. ]-)111le1', J. Plestl'l's, lU. }\loi7:e1', K. "\Vilson, O. J):lyic's, \'\T. AJ'cller, S. CHreless, .T. Go(hvin.
The 8i(lcs (,:lptnins <lre :-BL'ownies: Fl':1llc·is: Jackals: Arnol(l ,IIHl K. \Vilsoll; :lTlcl J). Sa \~<lge.
Collett. nn(l B. Tomtits: Ynpp
'1'o\\'(\'1'(ls the end of LIst tenTI, the' Sixth alld Upper ITift,h 11:1(1 t"vo t.nlks, ()ne given by _Mrs. H. Chnrgues (lll;'e D01'othy Tny101') on "Books," the other given by 1\11'. n. ChnI'ques ·011 "nl1~si:\.·'
.:\lr. Thol'niml is Sc:hoolFuel "\;Vat,cher ;)od ~{iss Sloi~
·Sc·honl Salvage Ste\\"nrd.
On T1l8scla.," , Janu<ll'.\' :2()th, juniol' £o1'111s heard n lecture io support of Dr. Bnrn1lrdo's H0111es.
A !c,(·t\l]'(' UIl ., Cannch " 'ill I1stTn teel by lanterll sli(les, was giyen tn FornlS Upper IV ,lllelnpwards, on Fl'i(lny, January -:2Dth, b.\- l'dr. lVladin.
Oil Feb]'\l(\]'v :2nth, {) Hi ( 't' l' () f t 1 w ]-3. B . C . , :[11(1 LT ppe!' V h:l<1 with pr()hlems.
.;\11'. ]-i'l'<."lllcis, 1Iicllnncl Education yisi te(l the svho01, ,[llel Fonns VI hilI] a gew·j·:I.1 (lisCllSsion on socitd
A lc,(·tUl'(; UIl "China" w<u:; givell on 1Ionc1ny, ]Uarch 1st., j'() the two senior f01'ms by J\,Ir. B. 1. Chill.
()Il \Ve(l11t.:scby, Febl'unr,~ 10th, \\'e rc·(·eiycc1 a visit from tlH:' 1 )il't·(·t01'S uf <EclllC'n_tion< of \V,1l'\\'i('kshil'e and \VOl'eester-;-:;11 ire.
The AlcBBtor Grammar School Record 31
):for 11 consid~rable tim9 the double-decker 'bus has proved illadequate to aCC01111TIodate Studley and Hedditch pupils in the afternoon. This term an extra 'bus has been put on, which travels by th9 ]ovver road to Reddikh.
A nevv svst81TI of daily tickets for school dinners has been introclucec( thi;; term, v pupils purchasing tickets hefore c:ntering th9 dining room.
Our thanks to K. \Vil ROll and LrwiR for gifts of books lio 1,he School librflry.
We hear that five members of the Sixth io.rll1 propose to attend Youth con£9ren('es at CheltenhmTI during the holidays.
This term we are losing four members of the staff, [t11 of Wh0111 are taking up fresh appointments. They are 1\/[iss G. D. 1\/[obbs, 1\/[iss 1\1. E. Moore, 1\Jlss 1\1. Tilley nnc1 1\/[1's. J. Woo(1, \J.l'3 'ivish them snccess nt their new schools.
During the absence through illness of Mrs. Glover, fol' the first hal£ of lJw term, 1101'\\'01'1;: W:1S iakcm hy 1\Tiss J-Tlltehinson.
1\[1'. S. F. Bates, who is [t captain ln the R.I.A.S.C., writes quite cheerfully from Ceylon.
The (~ross country races were rUll on Thursday, 1\Jarc11 11th, t,h~) senior event, being won by Draysey, with Gra~T ii :1 dosE:' RnC'ond, nnd the junior (~v<:mt hy ]\lc-Cndhy.
On }-'l'ic1n,y, M:arch 12th the uppeJ' pari, of the School attended a filnl display in the hnll, following \\'hi('h short ftoc1resseswere given by an A1'nl,\' nnd ftn A.r:r.S. of tic-er.
rrhe Science Sixth have recently been d(~sel'ibed as being "quite at home in the hml'3 CUpboilrc1." They are anXiOl}S
to know if this is the nH-,ernative accommodation with whieh- it is hoped to provi(1e the Sixth in t,ho nenr future.
32 The Alc68ter Grammar School Record.
~(bool Rtgisftr. VALETE.
*Collins, A. D. (VI), 1934-42. Winwood, R. E. (Low.VB), 1938-42. *Ore, A. G. R. (VI), 1937-42. Fifield, G. M. (Upp.IVB), 1941-4~. *Speneer, G. R. VV. (VI), 1932-42. Lloyd,.J. A. (Upp.IVB), 1937-42. Aspinwall, G. B. (Upp.V), 1934-42 Gar'field, G. O. (Low.IVA), 1941-4~. Baylis, E. (Upp.V), 1932-42. Summers, G. G. (Low.IVB), 1941-42. Ran'is, R. T. (Low.VA). 1938-42. .Jackson, G. F. (IT), 1939-42. Lambon, A. B. (Low.VA), H)40-42. Smith, H,. (II), 1041-42.
Brooks, K. E. (Rem.). Faneutt, D. R. (Rem.). Gorden, R. MeN. (Low IV A).
*Prefect.
SALVETE.
Perrins, B. T. (ii). Shaw, D. (Rem.). vValker, J. E. (lIIB).
There have been 367 pupils in attendance this term.
OlHtr ~(holar5' ~eiU5.
Greetings t.o all Old Scholars, in \vhatever part of the v\'orld the.v may be. A number have paid us short visits in the course of the. term (1,J1(l we have been very interested to hear of their various activities. vVe have news of more awl Inn-re of thern both in the seryiees nn<l on war work.
CongrntuJfltions to K. Bailey, who has been promoted to Heaptniney tLnd is now in eharge of a eompttny . Not very long ago, so we henr, he met E. Chn ttn\\'ay in the 1\1 i(ldle East,.
Congratulations also to S. Styler, who IS nmy f1 First. Lieutennnt, nlso in the Mid(lle East..
To the list of Old Scholars no\v serving in that theatre of war, which was given in the last magazine, should have been added the names of J.Ison nnd P. n. Smith.
Congrat,ulntions alRo to F. Duxbur)', \vho h:1s novv hi,'~ commission and NnvigtltOl"S wings, [m cl who after instruet.ing in Cmmdn is now back in England.
Hetently we receive(l n lcng letter from D. Gwynne.Jones, who is sel'vll1g m India, and holds the rnnk of T.iielIi,ennnt.,
The Alce.ter Grammar School Record 33
Also in India, and n1so with the r,lnk of Lieutennnt, is R. l\1:idlane.
Sergeant H. G. Orme (R.E.), is nOVi' in North Africa.
G. 'Figures is nov\' Sergeant in the R.A.F., in \vhich brc:mch of the 'Forces J. Hemming and E. PodIum1 flre n180 serVIng.
'F. Ho,ughton, who is in the Signals, hns visited us at school on two o,ccasions re~en t] v.
Another visitor to S('hoo] wns ReHv Hnwkins, who is novv a luember of the W.R.N .8. .
Corpora] E. B1adnnore (R.A.'F.) is home from \Vest Africn, \vhere he has spent 111,,; If\81 h,'o ,"em's.
Among other Old Seholnl's in the 'Forces are D. Spencer, who is in the Signnls, ,llHl n. n. Wilkes ,\'110 is in j,lw Xavv.
D. Cio()(le, wc flre inforrne(l, hns joined the 1\1:erchant ~avy.
\V'e were sorry to 118;[1' of 11. TltUllJ,IS'S accident in the 11 utumn, but ,,\'e are ple'lscd to know that his badly frndured leg is irnprr)"ving.
On :Monday, January 18th, Pend Jephcott was one of the spenkers in the opening discussion in the B.R. C. f8:\ t.lIm entitlecl "Living and Learning."
1\1:embers of the Schoo,l Scouts ,(re finding it inereasing]," difi1cult to obtain uniforms nowadays. :Mr. ~Talker \\'ou]d be v'::lry grateful to any former me;~l bel'S of the troop; ,,",;Th() woulcllet him helve their c1isC':mled Ullifornl.
P. (i. Chlltterley (scholar 1937-42) h:1S pnssed the entranC'e examination to Southampton University College ns n cadet for futllre entrv into the lVlel'dlant Navv. , .
'I
34 The Alc~8ter Grammar School R~COTd
IHl'ths. On July 24th, to :l\1r. and :l\frs. T. B. Licence (nee
Margaret Lane)-a daughter.
On August 15th, to IvIr. nnrl :1\11'8. 'vV. TIing (nee lVIarjoI'ie D<1vis)-a son.
On Novemher 13th, to 1\11'. ftnrl 1\1rs. E. Bmyen-:l (lallghter.
On Decernher 10th, to Major <1n(l 1\!frs. le L. ChI'k (n(',o Vivien \tVright)-a son.
On December 20th, to :l\TI'. Hnel lUrs. \tV. G. T-Tmnphr0Ys (nl'e Anne Steele)-a son.
On Februnrv 8th, to lVIr. a11(l lVII'S. G. C. Luker-[l daughter.
Oil :l\Jarl'lr 2nel, to 1\;[1'. ftnc1lVIrs. 8. T80n-a (bug-hter.
On 1\Inn·h 7th, to the Rev. 1111(1 1H1'8. n. R. Bailey-a (lallghi-c]'.
m nl'riagr. On ~(}yernbor 13t11, in London, Pilot Offie0l' \Villinm
T1111'i0I1 \tVntkins io l>ilisy IH. Ison (sellOlnl' 1028-38).
Iltaih. On JnlJlInrv 27th, Ht Lei('ester, ..:\Hl·C'd ::\orhcd Clnrnsntl
(s(·ho[;n· Inm~-;·H)), age(l 2() yefll'S.
atatkins, ID utl! Rni) ~~ atriotisllt. \Vith llnbil i ng reguhl'i ty t hnt S(,;ISCH1.al pain in the net'k
h1l8 visite·(l mt~ ngnin. T() bc, Inure nc:curate, not fl pain in tht? neck, but a \\'eight Oll HI,\' chest, stifling my sponhtncity illld tinging all my th(HlglttR with ;\ clul1 greynoss. YOf';, Ollce moro c1uty, vvith a pistol in b;wk, sternly commands thnt T \'v'ri t,e nn essay. No\\' if T w~tC a celebr:ttec1 noveljst I 8holll(1, ] 'vc n() cloub1-, 1)(' only ioo glnd of' t,lH.' e1wnc'e to nil'
The Alce8ter Grammar School Record. 35
ll1y views, -whether they were of any value or not, but as I anl not celehrated at all, much less a novelist, r visualise with rnisgiving the nausea that nly pla,titudes may cause.
r gaze into the fragile depths of the catkin poised in the jar before ITIe. Vlhat lovely things catkins are-the very
. syrnbols of ca'reiree innocence. But I must concentrate. IVluch has been said in previous magazine articles about
the odds that beset a would-be contributor; how rudely one's family interrupts froll1 tirne to time at inappropriate Illoments. Yet never I should think have so Illany diversions appeared as in wartinle. War in itself eauses a ehanged outlook on life. Our sense of proportion, through 'years of dorninance so deeply rooted, ITIUst find sorne anS'iver to the questionings "vhich n1incl and inclinations put forward.
"Ah, thsre' s an idea!" r think to n1ysel£, "a sonnet setting forth the wonderings of an adolescent in wartiITIe."
rrhe first two lines gush forth even as the waters gushed fronl the rock at the blow of 1\10ses's rod. This is easy. But that word is rather too long, and has too many 's's.· "Oan anyone giv9 me a word meaning 'associations,' containing three syllables with the ernphasis on the first, and ending in 'ent.' ?'" Mother is far too interested in "Gone With The ,Vind," and father, thinking I all1 doing a crosswora. suggests that r try' the next square. I aIn &sharned to admit that I nwke a s0111ewhat caustic answer, to which father, looking very hurt, replies, "What good is it going to do you
') , , anyway: "Yes, ,,-vhat good?" I think, desperately r81TIernbering the
photographs of A. G. S. sixth formers down the yearslearned, but oh so sad; and a fierce yearning felt often of late seizes me again. How can we be expected to live beautifully and poisedly like Lanlb, when all the worlo. breathes Oonrad?
,Vherever one goes one sees superbly efficient A. T. S .. ilmnaculate W .R.N.S., or Land Girls ivith freecloDl glowing fronl their faces. I want to do something big, I want to do sOlTIething wonderful; to make some contribution to the effort of winning the war; to help with the social re-adjustment afterwards. r want to live life, not read about it.
I stop to recover nlysel£ and reflect. And reflecting r suddenly realise that taking all these patriots individually, how few of th81TI really have the chrmce to take their own line. ,Vhat a small percentage ever have the satisfaction of seeing their ideas made conerete. Perhaps the greatest
36 Th" Alce8ter Grammar School Record
heroes are those who plod along unnot,icec1, just one of a temn rendy to go forward or ready to stay put.
After all the catkin is no less beautiful because the \ViU' is on, am1 who knows, some \var-\veary father home on lea vc may be astonished and Tefreshed to find that there are still catkins and schoolgirls.
D. SAVAGE (Fonn VI).
utniteb J]lations lla!]. '{'he Edit()r, Alcestul' (1ntn1l11ar School l\,ecorct,
Deal' Si!',
\'Vith the conclusiun of my fin;t year of training in the ILA.F. it has strll(~k HIe thilt J haven't once written to the old SdlOOI. Thus to atone in sorne Illea::;ure for my negligC'Il('C I pJ.'opose to reltlte et few of my experiences during che lloll-trHiuing 110111'S in the servi(~e.
On United Nations Day, thnt beillg June 14th, 1942, I dcei(lc(] t,o tnke n, stroll clown the IHall, gaze with Illy usual fervollr at the ralnc:e nnd flunllv to rclux on the soft turf of SI. Jallles' or .Hyde Park. '~rhe Slln added to the utter beauty of I,on(lon tlwt day, rrhe newsreel men first aBraded Iny attention, but 'when the all-knowing Londoners begall to congregate arOlUlcl the Palace gates, then I knew thnt here ',,""ns one airman who was getting n fl'Oll t sen t.
1-3 Y two 0' d()c:.k i 11 the afternoon the c:.rowd was mighty illclee(l and r hnd visions of Cl heav,Y (lny for the First Aid pl~ople: the heat was et/most unbeiuable by this time. As thcPaLwc gates upenu(l and Diplornnts and AmbHPt:ctdors ()f the Allies begall to line tbe road in front of me, I ~:nw tbe I:tll Fighting French figure of De Gaulle. I-Ie seemed to be in cOll\1prsnt,ioll with IVr. J\1nisky, an und,umted pot'son if (\\'81' tIICI'(~ WHS 011C, The Aruel'ienn, ]\;11'. John Winant, who hud been taking pari ill the lEm'ning servi(~e at St. l\tfartinsin-the-Fil'lrl. I belie\"l~, \\'as standing with the rep1'8Selltative of Chi JUl.
Thus \\':.18 the s('cnu illTlInged \-I/hen King George !.md his Queen, BI izabuth, [ollo\\'ec1 by ]:>riueesses Eliy;abdh and .Murgtll'd Hose, le(l the way to the saluting bilse. The rest of the COlnpitny (~OInpl'ised the King of Norwtty, Hi1akon, King Petul' of Yugoslnvia, the President of Poland, Presiclent Wlac1yslnw HHc:.zkiewiez, Dr. Benes of Czeeho-
The AlceBter Grammar School Record. 37
slovakia, and Crown Prince Olaf of Norway. When Churchill took up his position below the dais, the crowd gave its usual muffled roar of, "Good old Winnie." He seemed young and his IYlOVemellts vvere sharp and clearly defined; when the sound of bands and lTIarching feet, came nearer, he thrust his hand into his pocket and with a deft nlovement produced a watch. His look of consternation 'when he saw what the actual time was seemed to say, "HUlll, tvvo minutes' late." The section of the rnC1SS in whieh I vvas firmly wedged gave a roar of approval at this typical Churchill expression; there was no doubt that Chul'(~hill was their man. I think that most of the onlookers "'ere a trifle disappointed in that Winnie had, for this special occasion, dispensed with the cigar; who ever heard of Winston Churchill ITlinus' cigar? It almost had a ~,ombre
.significance, rrhe "Springboks" with me "fell" for the Royal family
that day. At first they were hnrd boiled, full of patriotisIn but still' 'hard boil':ld." Before the clc"w had drawn to a close they were no longer' 'hard boiled," 'but had a full under·· standing of the EnglishlTIrLn's attitude towa~rds the Royal family; that day seemed to vveld all the fighting forces of the lJnited Nations into one cleterrnined unit; that day, for me, held true significanee and great promise.
Yours sincerely, J. R. W. WFIITEHOUSE.
athc .§iUttsti. I stood alone upon the crest of a hill, And the world around me was quiet and st.ill, All the little folk had gone t.o rest. For the sun was sinking in the \Vest.
A solitary star in the sky 'was winking, As in a blaze of colour the sun was sinking. Tinting the sky with a glorious hue, With gold, pink, n1.uuve and the palest blue.
I stood alone, beneath it all, And gazed with wonder at what I saw. Then a soft sweet song rose upon my right; T'was the full-throated thrush's warm" good night."
Slowly the sunset faded into azure blue. And the thrush's song faded and died too, And I stood upon the crest of that hill. "Tith the world around me quiet and still.
JOYCE RICHARDSON (Lower lVE).
I i i r
I
! ! . i
38 The Alce&ter Grammar School Record.
<Ehe 1!lcs± 'laiD ~rbrllt£s. (beill()' nn extract hUD) nlV dial'v sho\\"in~' the IYwJirrlltUl(:V , b .J tJ ' I.J b ,J
of fate). Thursday Evening.
Dpent in planning the wuuk-enc1. Greut eUllcentration, ,,,hidl ilupJie:-; nluuh chevving of pencil. ChOke on piece of \\'uuJ whidl I thoughtfully remove. Thought is productive of a deterrnlllationtu enjoy myself in a ' quiet sort of W8,Y'
-\\'hieh nlcl'cdy InemlS n.o visit to the cinema and nothing \nJl'se, and is didntcd by economic necessity. My (lye falls IlP()U it book-the Ycry thing. vVith this and the racti:) shall find plenty of entertainment. \Vith great stealth <lbstl'<lC't- n. fail' ration of s"\veets fronl the family's 'pool tin' (\nd hi(Ju thl'Ill with 11lu<Jl c!exeritv and equal satisfadion. Call 110\\' louk fo!'wanl to l'e1nxntioll:1
Friday. S pClld strCllU(JtlS duy\yresUillg with the intricacies of
English gnlmrunr, Arrive horne in 1.1 state of mental cxImustion brought on by disability to distinguish beb'/een a gC'1'1I11c1 and n present pnrticiple. Look hopefuHy at table Hll(l receive hc}rri(l shock. No tea but instead a note, 'Bade t-)ooIl'-nnd the fire is out.
EHICl'ging nt length "\·\·'jth bla(;kenecl f<:lce and sc;;rehed c.\'('LlrOl\'8, (luci(lc riot to torupt Providence further, and leave 11ling:.; itS they 111'e .. Procure some ton, which :r cat \vith g]]
spec(1 ,I1H1 gl'en t CC'0110111Y in the use of crockery. Washil1gup is not one of my joys. lVIotbcr returns an(l lights fire-not \\'itl]()u( ('()lllnwnt ()n the ]t('k of ('onsideration of ~.;ome
p:'upiL' . Pc,\ce 11( Ins!. Nwii-,c·h Oil radio. A series of ~}lninolls
spI1!1t(~r:-; which llligh( have h('en tJw signal for it di.3r'Jlay of l'II('l'g"" on tIle ));I1't of a s\\'ing band, but weren't-and then silell(:c'. "Vid1 ;1· sigh. 1 b()\\~ (0 the inevitable and Jccide T 111;\\' :IS \\"(·11 g"() (0 hL~(l. . '
Saturday. A\l'tth· ill a ul()ud of aggric\'ccl pcssilllisnl, prepared for the
\\"I)l'S!. \,hil·1t m;ltcl'inJises. All order to clear out th(! slll'llblwl'\. Htllnnl;lge ill tool ::;he<1 tofin<t the necessary irn plumuut~. Attornpt to lift H mysterious sack, 9.r.d th,:: bOt.t01H falls out. Dense clouds of u white, floury powclcl' t10<lt ]'()\II](l 1110. Hastily cuncoal the evidence of the crime. ;1.IH1 (~lllcrgu frolll shed with Lt pair of shears and Ft would-bl.:> llonc:hahmt air.
The Alceater Grammar Sohool Record 39
After an hour, an ache in Iny back is undeniable. The sight of a large frog sitting cornplacently t'vvo or three yttrds fL\\ray decides n1e. I beat a precipitate retrettt to the hou~e \vith a great deal of mud adhering to my shoes. Attempt to get it off, ancl cut n1}' finger. Spend rest of day endeavolD'ing to compose \vnter-tight ex('uses for not finishing the job.
Sunday. Settle down to enjoy the ponee of a Sunday nH8rnOOrt.
Look ,rouncl for my book-ill V:till. Despairing, askm.v sister if she hns seen it.-" Oh 1h;d! I've lent it to s0111eone." Retire disgruntled, an<1 begin to tidy bookcase in nn endeavour to assert moral snperiority over those who l'2,nd out _other people's books. r:l'his takes longer thnn I had Gntieipated. Finish just in tinlc to he nske(l to get tea ready. My luck is clefinitely out. A (:11anc8 glance into m,v FntchcJ: reveals some homeyvork to be (lone. Finish it during S11pper, disregarcling comments on some peor)lE;'s hnbits in re:lding Rt table.
Monday Morning. Hadio myst,eriolls1v rcstorerl to working orrler by frenzierl
efforts of n;y 1':d-ho1'.' Am just- in time to be greeted h~,' ('rooner's voice: "I 1hlvcl1'1 s;li<1 111nnks for l11y luve]:' ,n'8,1;:-enr1." Clinl;)x ~
J\lATIY A USTIX (Form VT).
Jrit'll 0 S. Throngh the streets of London
An organ grinder camp, And perched upon his shoulder,
His monke~', 'who wns lmTIe.
The ehildren crowded ronnd them To see this little pet,
Th0Y gave him nntR and nIOl1P~', TIle nntR 118 qnickl.Y ato.
In n01'l1ln1, pen,ect.ilne, IJondoll, ThiR WH,S a. COHl111on S(,0118,
But now in wH,l'time London, These t.-wo H re nO\'0r seen.
BlIt though they've joinud t.lw fore08, No parting hn.s this lnonnt,
The monkey is the IYlrtRC'ot, Of his master's regimellt.
VALF,RTR RHARP (Lower IVA).
40 The Alcesiel' Grammar School Record
lllasps. I denounce wasps, as wilful disturbers of the peac'=,.
\IV ttSpS luust have been crellted merely to annoy, for the} seen1 to serve no useful purpose. One can tolerate the bnll temper of bees, 'Yvhic:h make such clelicious honey; but as for \vasps, they take Hll an(l give nothing, except stings, which are not wnnted by anvnne.
It is a kno'vvn fftct, that pic-nics ,11'e it favourih~ hmltinggroun(l of these experts in aerial 'vvnrfnre. I can s('arce1v r(->
member n picnic~ which has not been marred by the aclvent of these merciless insects; from painful experience I hflye !r'arned that "c1isc:retion is the better pnrt of valour" where \\',lSP8 ,lrE:' ('oTlc-ernecl.
\Vasps ~ uSllally (10 their mnrnucling in bands, for if there is one '\n1Sp, there are sure to be others sOlue\vhere jn tlll' \'ic'init:\'. A telegraph systern must have a place in every ('ClloncV' of wasps, as they always nlannge to find their Wft\'
to the nenresj, jn.rn-jar str;-light HR ,tn arrow, and 8urel:,' their nos('s-i f t ll('.\' 11n ve nn,Y-nre not so keen itS that.
For nil their fnults, ancl they hnve their share, wnsps fll'l'
l'n,ther ,lUTfle,tive to look at. Thev Rre eertn:inlv coiouriul, nncl their bhcl.;: and vellOow bo(1ies remind m<e of thoseh ideolls football jeTsey~ :lffeded by certn in players. It ha::.:!ll'ver oC'clH'1'ed t() you perhaps thnt wasps eoul(l, like humnn beings, have (1ifferent expressions on their fRces; but they hn~'e. 1 onc'e killed a W<lSP which hac1 quite fl. eo~('xpression, quite unusual, in SHell fenrsome beasts; it~. \'ertiealh-set mouth had a foolish simper, even in (1e«1h, nnrl for thet-\rst time T felt sorry that I hncl been so blood-thirst.'., :tncl so cngel' to H\'euge my rnnny stings.
SnlT\'! 1 snic1 was sml'y; probahly I W1IS at th:-lt 1l10ltWllt, hut \\'l\('n T ('onsic1el' the man,vinstnncos of llnpl'C)
v()kt'cl nss,lllll \\'hi(·h it hns tH'en my lot to \vitness, not eVf'r~ that, nffeete.d-looking hd,v wasp c~OlIld (",dl me to ropen!:lIH"('. Afler all "rcvl:llgc is a kincl of \vilc1 ,j\lstic:e" andl feel 1 aUl justifie(1 ill dc:stroying ilS Illill1) \VllSPS :1S ('ome \vithill tltV re;ll'h. Surnrner, I hope, will sec' rue onee nlOl'e sontC'(l in't.he \\'in(lc)\\' seat with ,\ th'-s\\'oitCI' in my hnnc1. flnel :-'lUll\.;: ()f 11I;l! i('t- in m.\' e,n-.
rh~ Alcester Grammar Bchool Record. 41
lElJt ;\mn5tllttuts of it ::titnplt otbilb. HO\v often one hears people express their pity :for the
, onI y child'! True, the only <.:h i I d 111isses a great deal in the way of companionship, but he has his <.:ompensations. 1 have never heanl of an only child being cons<.:ious of a sense of loneliness, but I suppose that is just another case of 'what you never have you never miss.' rrhe only child has, if he is not to be bored, to spend Cl. great part of his time \vith imaginary playfellcnvs. rl1his a~ts as cl superb stinlUlanL to the irnagination, though whether this is Lt good thing or not I cannot say.
1 was and am an only <.:hilcl. I was never purticmlal'ly lonely cl,nd never at a loss for som eth ing to do. Like Alice 1 often used to play games with n1yself, though not croquet,
_ and s<.:old myself for chea.ting. I played all sorts of gan1es. r built houses \vith ,yooden bricks, and k:noeked 'them dO\vll ngain; I dug deep holes in the ground in search of buried treasure; I had an alubition to cut u11 the lawn with a pajr of very small scissors; I on~e tried to bath a black kitten, but ,1 neighbour ran out and rescued him just in time. One vivid men10ry I have is of dolls' \veddings, or luore often toy animals' v\'eddings, with bouq nets of daisies and huttermuslin bridal veils, Hnd the whole ceremony consisting only of a long procession, since at the tender age of about five I hael never been to a real yvedding. I also used to have \"onderiuI adventures making long and treacherous journeys round a quite small garden. I used to pack a rucksack with biscuits and a, bottle of milk, and take a long stick. This ,vas a sort of 'Pilgrilu's Progress' affair but without the same good intentions. Besides imc1ginary perils there vvas a rlreadful forest of gooseberry bushes (about half a dozen of t.hem) to be scrmnbled through, and a small trellis-\vork gate to be climbed over, providing there was no one looking out of the window to witness this forbidden lld.
Later on I becarne interested in all sorts of 'experiments.' A dolls' tea service was neyor usecl as such, bu1-generally as vessels for the mixing of meelic·,ines, oinhuents, dyes and poisons, coneoded frolll everything -front rnud to the red juice from begonia petals. rrhis sort of 'chemistry' was not too difficmlt, since \",ith a little imaginn,tion cH1Y onc concoction eould be changed into anything else under the sun. I also became interested in /;oology, although I did not knO\v it as such then. I colleded ,vornlS, frogs, snails, butterfiies and beetles, and on rare occasions I slipped out.
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42 The Alce8ter Grammar School Record,
()f the gurden LlI10Gt:>Cl'vcci <Lnd dashed off to the llE.'tll'est POlld, it'I'nlcel \\,it,h a nd ttllcl n jmrl jar, I ut:>ell to lie Ja:'e downwar,ls 011 the llllHlcl:v Gunk ger18l'ully in a clean froc;l", trying to ('apt lire tndpo19s and stickleGacl\:s. Occ(lt:>ionaHy I u.sed to fall ill the \Vater and generally used to souk my shoes und t:>to(·l{ingt:>, when I used to cheerfully \v,.tlk home b<ll'efoott':)cl, creep ill quietly, und be remarkably UiJSe8U H 11(1 unhcilrcl lIll hI 1 hnd got (ll'y.
On raiuy clays ,vhen I hall to plny indoors tho1'8 \\'l~l't.~ bo()ks Hll<l dlltlks llnd et GIuc:kbo:ll'cl. I read Inn!} v fail''.
sturies, (~spociu]]'y tIle ones with wik:h':)s or wicked ~rTceu"f'; ill. 1 11(\([ nl." OWll titlcs for fairy stories; Jur ill:::'tHnC'c:~ .. Bcaut,\' nncl the Beast" \vitS al\vnys to r11C "'rhe b'C'Clutiful YOUllg lady IIJ1(1 the beast \",bo was a gent)ll~nlHn aft~l' alL" I(.<lthur ],lIrnhling, but q\lite ('omprellOnsi,,'e, you lTlust :lgree. "Cillci:';l'l,lln" was .iust "Cindel'ella" but 1 always aclcled tlH~ lll()l'ul, 'bew;tru of IUlving large feet.' Once 1 curne ~"1('1'OSS a dictl()!l~tl'y giving the [H'ollul](;intion of Inore ('omplictlted \\'orcl S 1)\" a sC('ond simpl ified spelling. This fnscina tell Ine, f()r, qUl;~l'ly l:llOUgh, 1 wus :tlwnys intrigued b>' letters, nC'Vl't' 11111nbcl's, and J be'gau in,'unting ult,ernnti\'e spellings ()f l1.lV uwn fo], the nll'iuus longer wunl::; in llJV rather lim.itwl \'oC'ilLlIl1ll'Y. '\\n) sllch n.lphnbetical il,('l'ubittics ,n're '(h~k· ~tir'UH-lu:~' Hnd 'kWillli-,-iL-ue.' This sp<:Iling gillrw ku!)'" me itlllllSed for several days. 1 think T \vul.dd ha-vu preferred a spl'llillg bue, but tlwt is diftic-ult when one is <luite alone.
Ifo\\' I i fLlu Liwl'l' l'e,i1ly WilH Lo do LllUU! 1L s(:~el1lS HIlJazitl~ 111,lt I could l'H.'!' lWH' louked r()und for llew things to do: t lw qlll'~tiun u()\\" i:-; tu decide which thing is to be done first. \Vhc'll 1 \\"<lS so Vl'l',\' young tllOl'e WitS time to \vLlt(~h rain, dl'ups (;iJilsing du\\"n the wiuclow pane, to gaze ut the bi!.2,· l)/'()\\'Il (·u"· ;llId \\TIll(ll~l' hm\' l1lHny more buttercups it cou](l ('at. HId, ill tlw uH'<]I](Jtud words of 'vV. H". Davies,
"A I)()()I' life this, if frIll of care,
VVl' llilVC uu tiqle iu stnnd and shu'C'."
I think I llladt, use of SOllH~ of that, tinle io "s1~m(1 iL!Hl still'l'," though after ;t, period of years 1 ttrn indined to I'ufied, \\"it.h u little (~ynicisnl :111c1 even CL little remorse cm itll those huurs trifled u\\'ay. So mnny hours nHlde happy 1J,Y such SiLllple itrnusenlents-the mnuselllents of et sirnplc childl
H. J. PLESTEHS CForm VI).
The A.lce8ter Grammar School R~cord 43
;\ lta.ct Against 4timt. One night during my stn.y at u quiet fann house I was
awakened by the continual noise of aircraft passing overheud. I lny mnlke for some moments listening to the drone of their engines. IVly LLttelltion was then attracted by the queer noise of a single airc.;raft which had detached itself honl the main bodv. As I lister18d I could tell that the
oJ
'plane ,~;as gradually losing height. ]" got out of bed and watched it for El- nlOrnent. Not waiting for it to crash I slipped on my c.;lothes and left the house.
,Vhile I WHS reaching the 'plane thi.ngs had happened quickly; the 'plane had c;rashed and two· of its oec.;upants ha(l ese-aped, but one was still trapped. On seeing this, his c.olleague immedintely entero(l. the burning 'plane, knO\ving that it would nOot bl~ n"l<lI1'y S8('uIHls before the flames reached i,lw petrul tauk nnd thCllif they were not dear of the," wl'ed:: thev would both 10se their lives. With this in IHind he strug'glu(l quickly through the flmnes and falling r1ebris. ,Vhen he reached his companion, he found that he ,\',lS trapped. Quickly he freed 11i1n and began to drag him back through the wreck. At last, they emerged from. the burning c;oc:kpit to where the other nlember of' the crmv ,yas :l\l"tliting th81n. He helped both to the ground, and then t.llE.i
l'f',t;euc'l' (~oI1()'p8ecl at the s:trne liinle as the fhnne reached the petl'ol tank and tlw 'pl:lne explorlec1. Ana so he htH] sl1('('ccdcd in his race agninsttillle.
The UICll were 1,hun tal-;:en to ijhe fal'rn hou::;e, whe1.'e they runl<linecl until all ;nnbulance eame <.md tool~ thenl to a ])('clrhy lwspital.
SI-IB I J..I1\. It YJ\lELL (U ppel' IVu,) .
A jJodla,r uw,n is rl, raggod IlH1ll,
\\1110 tl'<I,vels about in a C<Ll'a,van, 'rhu,t rattles, elnIl ks, Highs, and !!I'CmllH, \\'hen travelling over;uts and 'Stones.
This pedhl,l'-man wit.h hiH grave blue eyes, Never gl'uJJ.1.bles and looks so wise. As he trundles along with his saucepans tmd kettles Admiring tIle flowers and their frHgrant petals.
'rhe pedlar-man's horse is dapple grey, And he tllwnys longs for his bag of hn,y, \Vhile the pedlar with his merchandise Is selling it at a reasonable price.
CYNTHIA \VILLIAMSON (Upper IV13),
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44 Th6 Alcester Gramm.ar School R~eord -
~Gal. (purely iUlUgilltlry).
IHy first hoekey llluteh will ever renwin in my IneUlOl'y. It was not H vcry inspil'iug mnt~h; as u rnatter of fa~t we lost it, but I shall remember it because of one ineiclent.
The upposing tt!tllll'S c:entre \vas cl, kindly chubby girl vvith plum]) legs, uncI she seemerl very inoffensive to me-the long-sufferillg goaly. Howt.:vel', about five minutes after the eOmInen('enlent of play, our defene,e \vas 'left behind.' r:ro my nmazemcmt the plump, jolly centre had turned into H
speecly ([wl efficient fonnud, whose one aim WHS to score a goal. Fler wing passed the ball to her and she advan~ecl rapidly towards me. I had an empty feeling in the pit of IlI,Y stolrJUeh as I Sit\\' bel' plurnp It.:gs arlY;lncing tovvarcls me. I wanterl to );lugh alo1Hl Ht the (lefen~e, who were lumbering' llluclly after their respedive forwftr(ls, only lny tongue had sttwk to the roof of mv rnouth. Now the centre was only three fed Hwav ftOUl ;11e. I c:rouchecl tLnd waited. Then 'J snw tlH: ball r(~lling sI0\\'1y tm\"(uc1s me. I shut my eyes and kid\ed. ~othing happened-except that n small rounel objec-t had rolled sc(lntely uncleI' my foot into the net.
JOAN HOnSE.lHAN (Lower Vb) .
;\. {IOirirb jsligbt. Tt \nlS FriduYllight and my father had to go fire-watch,.
iug. After Cl little rushing round, cutting supper and putting t.ea and SllgHt', he hUl'rieclly wished us good night and depurted, not eXiLcUy in t,he best of hurrlOurs. 'The night \\7,1,S
d~\rk, eolcl, nnc1 also very windy; so 'we (Irew our dutirs close to the fire until about nine o'cloeJ.;: \\"hen we retired to bed.
About half an hour ttftennu'ds, just as "ve were corrlfol'tnhle <luc1 c1oy;ing, n kllo(-1.;: <..:<lme at the door. vVe decided that \\-hOt."n:r it, wns, his bllsin~'ss eould not be very important, uncI We let hinl knoek until he grew tired of it, and very relieved we were to heal' the footsteps hde tlvvay down the garden path.
Snuggling (10\\"11 Inore cUlUfortnbly than before, we went, happily to sleep, but our repose wns short-lived, for again we heetrd, this tinle, quite a bunging. r:rhis \vas really too much, and, wishing the intruder everything that was bad, we decided to let hinl tire hirnself out. But after some time
The Alcester Grammar School Record. 45
had elapsed, and the banging still continued, mother,who 'vas in a real rage by now, deejded to tell this unwelcome visitor a piece of her Inind. Putting on her dressing govn1 and slippers, she strode angrily to the top of the stairs, but then halted, and asked IHt1e me if I ,vou1d go doyn1 with her. I-Iow I tremb]edl nnc1 by t,his time mother's braven' had die(l awa:v as t110 b;mging s1':iJ1 c,ont,inuE'(1. .
~\lking hold of each other's hn11d, we evenhlftl1y rCflc'herl t,he bottom of the sLtirs and asked ,dIo VhtS there; but we received no reply. ':rhe knod(ing seerned to recede from the door .rollr1cl the front of t,he house, and from there to the entry. \Vith the aid of a torch, "ye reached the corner and peered rounel.· Our courage came back with a rush. l.~he knoeking had been enused by n pieee of trellis "vork, whi~'~h fat.her had hung by string in the enh'~!, 11ntil he C0111(1 finish it job ronnd our bnc.1\. 1 (\W11.
H:elieved r\TI(l disgusted we returned to bea find slept for a few minutes (as it seem8(1), when ;lgain knocking, this time ac(:ompnnied by "yhist1ing, awoke us. On this oecasion it was fat.her, yvho imrner1iate1v info1'merl us what n. pefwefu] night he hna spent. But he't.ook that hellis upst.nirs into the lumber room before we s('l'verl his brC'nh'fnst.
Vve [llso discovered later 111:11' 111e first ~;C"ri(;s nf kil0d\ing-s \\'as llIade bv n fric)}1rl of ours, who \"':1sin 1h(' hnbit of ('nlling on u; in i.l18 evenings.
nOHOTI-T\T .ION gS (LowC'r V n) .
~arl1J in the JVtnrning. As 1 l:ty in bed in the early hours of the rnorning, T gnzl'rl
(Irenmil" at. the floor, when p,w1c1enlv mv nttention beeflnlc riveh:c1 'on n big hl:l(,k objeet moving k)\,:nrrls the her}, T hly still 8(';trc~ely daring to breathe'. ]vTy fil'st ic1eft WftS to g-et right (lo\\'n llnder thc~ sheets, hut on 80('cmc1 thoug-his T (l('cioe(l on :1no1',11er plan.
I got quietly out of b('(l n:nrl piclwd up the nOl1I'Cst thing handy; then I tiptn('(l round and brought it (lown henv:I~' on that horrible blnc-k nbject. 1 shurl(lE'rt,(] :'18 I rem()vC'{l 1'11<:' m;lngle(l 1'e111[[ins of ;t spieler frorn the sole of my 81ip]1E'1".
JEAN I)ItI CE (Lower TVh i , I,
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46 The Alc~8t~T Grammar School Record.
0011 lmlriting It ~ltgllJint Artidr. How lTIany of us, when we have read a magazine article,
lay aside our book vvith a feeling of true gratitude to the author? Until I mmle this nttempt I did not realise what \vriting an essay of this kind means. Now I feel that it is t,ime someone pointed out to the readers of school maga-7.ines what we owe to those painstaking people, who faithfully and regularly produce some piece of literature.
Although the result may not always indicate it, hours of thought and worry are expended in the weeks preceding publicntion. rrIle writer exllallsts' both himself, anrl all \'i-hr; have dealings with hin1, by repeaterlly dernnnding what 11(;
('·an write nbout. D07.ens-thnt is no exnggerntion, of wild j(leas enter the head, and each appears \vonrlerflll. Dnt there is one comnlOn disadvantage; the idea may seem good, but when one begins to make notes its interE~st diminishes to such nn extent that one c1espni'rs of success on the original subjeet. The most discouraging part of t~H:) business of writing is the feeling th11t one must be interes~-ing. rrhis is enough to <"llCel-:: nn.\'On8'S mnbitions.
In one's very young days, writing an artiele for the schonl record was a D10St ridieulolls1y ilnpodant affair. rrhe memury of mv onlv sllecess is still (lon.r. T sat out in front of tIle class: hol(ling a pen for the first time in my life; I was treated as someone special. E may have been beeause I felt imporhmt, or because I had my stockings on inside out (for 1 uck, I believe), but the result of a morning's thought W(I,g
pnb1ishe(l. It nm thus:-"1 had a bnIloon and I ,vas in the garden and IYly C:1t
scratched the balloon and it popped and I got such a £rig'ht that T nearlv turne(l Et somersEtult, and when I lan(l'~:-~ 1 won(lere(l v~'ll[J,t, had happened, anrl T aske(l kitty to fin,l i" :md 11l1l11my lrtughed till she fell too."
The maga~ine in whieh thi::; masterpieee appeared is stili a treasure. It often nlakes me wonder what influences tb(~ editor's ('hoiee. Does he make his selection with his tong1J(~ in his cheek? IIovyever, the productions of the juniors of 'ten clesm've publication more than those of their elders; they rarely fail to amuse the reader.
rrhere is little satisfaction to be gained by the author of: our school magazine articles. One may 'rejoice in the knm~-ledge that one has inflicted a blow on one's follow-men, bl1t this is a poor motive. It is hardly a great enough consiclern.tion to olltweigl1 the (lisC011ragements.
Th., Alce,t~T Grammar School Record 47
If one was the first porson to write sueh an article, (m~'s task might be eornparativoly oasy; but it is not simple to find an original subject. One strives to i,hink of a title whir,h is not too eonnnon, but after one or two sleepless nights, as the final date of ontry draws noar, ono is foreed to deeic1e. One takes up one'~ pun and writes, giving up at least a whole evening 1,() the effort;. B-ventually the task ends, and OBe roads tho result. Was it Ivo1'1,h it? Since the ehanees of its being published aro probably £o\\-e1' than ono in ten, one is juelinocl to say, "No."
Thni ,,-o,uld bo foolish nnd wHst,dui; so ono rnuttors, gloomily, and in somewhat. U1](~onvincod tOlles, "13eti,or to have tried and failed than nevor to havo tried at all."
JEAN 13 ULLER (FonTI VI).
arh£ ~pitfi1'£. 1. he11n1 a noise up in the sky,
I smiled and shut my boo1;.: ; A Spitfire was flying high,
I raised my head to look.
And then I heard a throb, throb, throlJ ; Six planes were in a row.
1 s:,w they were a " Jorry " Inob, And flying rather low.
The Rpitfiro turned, and with <I, sno!'t Dived down to the attaek.
The jerries did not wait for long, They turned round and raced buck.
'rhe Rpitfiro nenv was on their tail; One plane 'VfLS going clown,
And out. t.he pilot had to bale To bnd in lny home town.
And now there woro left just. five Hum;, Limping on their way;
The Rpitfire finished thom with its gUllSThe end of a glorious da,y.
It rO:l,red and Rwept across the sky, It did the vintory roll :
And then it went off £lyinghigl), "Wit.h six Huns to its toll.
Roh(~J'e's to British planes a toast, And Inay they fly for ever,
And keep ql1ite clear the British coast, In both bad and good weather.
MAIDIE BIROH (Upper 1VB).
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48 Th, Akester Grammar School Record-
«bt QillPSll. Uitcl i8 u gypsy und she is ten years old. She earns her
living by daneing at the fairs. She is nut-brown and has long bln<:k hair; usually a bright red handkerchief is tied over it, Hnd her ears are adorned by gold rings.
Every rnornillg she rises at half-past six and runs across to the brook to fill the bud:ets with water. When she gets baek the fire is lit, ancI a siLVoury smell issuing from the pot hung over it. She joins the cirde gathering round the fire, and eats of the contents froni the pot.
After her breakfnst, if it is her turn, she washes the l'l'oekery nnd then proceeds to practise her danceR, and probably wnkhes the others practising their turns also. After whil·h she helps her Illother prepare the dinner.
In t,he flfterlluoll sht' rOIllps, and plays on the ground outside the earn vans vvith the other ehildren, and in the evening she perfonTIs on the stage in front of a small or large audielH:e, at:eording to the season.
At '-thOllt half-past eight, in the yellow caravan with white niUslill eurtnins, she goes to bed and sleeps soundly, for life in the open nil' is very tiring.
lVIAUREEN PALLErrrr (Lower IVa).
~'ftttth tlnatirS. Ha ve you ever noticed the different expressions on the
form's faees when the mathematics lesson comes round '? Son18 are gTo1.lning, some think it is a joke and some look sick~ Nothing ever chnnges it. vVhy? Is not mathematics R.:n interesting subjed? Are not mathematies lessons very enjoyable'? Sonie of nly form-mates disagree; th"ey think it is 1.1 waste of time!
vVe \vonder why our books are returned. Is our honlCwOl'k unsntisfndory? When the books are colleded, why are some missing? vVhy do we cheer when the teacher forgets to give \IS ilny homevvork'? rrhey say El, policeman's lot is not n: happy one, but neither is a nHtthematics tecwher's with all these problenis!
lVInthematics ,. sides nwtches" are reckoned as an entpl"tainment. Everyone i.s pleased-except the three COlYl.p9titOol's! If a n1ember of the forrn who js good at matht:!IlHttjes tries, there are cheers from the rnembers of his house, but boos from all the rest! At the end, when the points are added up, there are more cheers-and boos! .
J. PRESrrIDGE (Lower IVb).
The Alcester Grammar School R~(,OTd
Q~llr 3rHlnge. The trouble with our village is
There's never any time to spare. There isn't time to stay at home
Or go and drop in anywhere. Our n1.issus never seen1.S to sit
And put her feet up on a chair. But every night it's just the same:
She's rushing here or rushing there.
TIle trouble in our village is, That every night there's somet.hing on ;
Pie Supper at the Village HaIl To raise funds for the churchyard w[dl,
'Whist-drive and dance for this or tha,t, (They don't come home till after one.)
'We're not like other villages--It's every night there's somotlling on.
Only last week we had a man \iVho'd just come bacl;;: from Timbuctoo
He ga.ve a leetnre in the school And told us all the natives do.
There's Keep-Fit Class and monthly dance, Gas Drill and St. John Ambulance,
And sewing meeting and Mother's Guild, And debates for men in arguing skilled,
And \iV omen's Institute-you see Life's not lilze what it used to be.
The trouble with our village is -As e,-eryone I know complains- .
The Parish Council's gone and started Interfering with the drains.
\Ye've supped onr water from the well Since ancient times, as I've heard tell,
And carried pails from the village pump And chucked our rubbish in the Dump.
Town folk with all this modern fuss "Die a lot oftener than us."
The trouble in our village is There's too much traffi~ in the streot.
I saw three "ans but yesterday-The Brea,d. the 1,aundry and the Ment.
I sa,jd to Mr. Treadawav " \Ve 're more like L;ndon every da.y."
MAHY C. PAHKEH, (Upper V).
mht ~tt5 nccess ful ~rh aallltltstrr.
49
l\fr. J enks is nearing the retiring nge. Looking bad\: over his career he thinks of all the things he Inight have been, and vvonders vvhy he vv'as ever a schoohnaster.
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50 The Alcester Grammar School Record.
He is moclcst cmd retiring and can never bring hinlself to exert discipline over his pupils. He has an abhorrence of spiders, and \vell rernernbers the day 13rovi/n i dropped onu into his collar and he felt rnore like taking sal-volatile thnn dwstising the offencler. He loves books and reading and it is painful for hirn to hear the classroom version of Shakespeare ancl the poets. I-Ie loves cleanliness and order but hr years Il<\S lived c:nnongst grubby hands and inkstained jingers. l-Ie dislikes cold \vinds and violent exercise but h;'Is regularly had to dance arouncl a sticky field an10ngst "mud.died oafs."
HetirelllCll t will be bliss Hnd he will occupy his lesiurc tillle in cOlupiling n, treatise on the Babylonian cuneifor111 writilJ bo·. D H E ADI'E (L Vb • • -1 ... '-:\. -1 oweI' ) .
nabbif 'l!i£tping. Lt W;LS the end of the vegetable show. r1'he prizes had be(,11
distributed and now the winning vegetables were being sold in aid of the local Red Gross :Fund. Sllddenly, much to the aUlusement of the crowd, a rabbit \vas held up. How the rabbit got there I don't know but I was suddenly filled with a desire to OI"on it. It "vas eventually sold to a 111an at the ut-her side of the tent.
T went hOlne feeling qui te sorrowful, for I still wanted t,hc rabbit. Later, when my father ~:1lne hon1e, I Tan out to lU8Ct him, anc1 what was he carrying but that lovely rabbit! Joyfully I and lYlY sister prepared the hutch.
All dcty our thoughts were :611ecl with nothing but rabbits. \Ve "vent to beel phmning to get up at six the next rnorning in order that Peggotty, the rabbit, rnight not get hungry. Just as "ve were decicling ho,v easy it would be to earn some extra po~ket 1I1Oney by breeding rabbits, a voice unTIe up the stairs s;:l,ying, '·The rabbit has got out."
vVe hurriedl,v put on our dressing gowns clnd shoes, ;1}](1
1'1111 dO\vnstairs. I should think the rabbit got out, not to get free but just to anllOY us. Among the enrrots, behiwl the gooseberry bushes, it ran. At htst we triumphantly drove it into its pen. Night uUel' night" two clressing-gmVIl':::d (igures vvou1cl appe<tl' clul,sing a rabbit W110 seemed to get Inore frisky eaeh night.
:Finally, in desperation ,we sold it to a small boy for three shillings, but that Sllln did not pay us for the hour wasted each night.
CA1l 'HEHINE :F'ARQUl-IAH (Upper IY~n).
The Alcester Grammar School RBC()rd 51
Sitting alone on the river bank, wRiting for my t10at to signal a bite, I ,vas soon wishing for something 1l1ore exciting to happen. Suddenly a convoy hove in sight, eonsisting of mother Moorhen as os('ort, her young brood, the merehan t ships.
rrhen t.here "vas n ripple on t.he water fron1 the 0pposite bank, a periscope coming straight for the convoy. Now fm :t ba ttl e. "Plop." I had found ft sluall stone and t,lll"C\'i'i i, :li the enemy, a rat, which turnod and swarn away.
}\1y (,OJlvo,V had got, t,hrough. n. R. RVANS (TTTh).
~ationnl jabings. Savings! Yes! Just peep into Fornl TT nOmTl, on '\Veclncs
days, betvleen 1 and 1.45 p.m.
A cheerful, enger, business-like sirennl of savers passe::; along, buying strnups, blue, red and bright green and C'erjific-ni-es too---so that, money may be lent to the Govel'llmeni, and saved for the future. r11hese snv(~rs nre doing their bit; ancl they do it cheerful1y (lrHl l.lnclerstancl ingly. They Hrc:
1,he ba(~k-hone of the Sehool Group. Savings nrl' SOllJetinlCS swelled by Christrnns, birth(!ns' Hncl other gifts, not i,n ])0-
realised till after t.he ,,'nr. Sue·ll s;l.yings ;I1'e proudly :(1"(/
\\'illingly lent.
As the combined A.G.B. Group (boys an<1 girls) has glJ1 going, it is gratifying to note that tllE' strenn1 of SClyerS h,IS swelled. rrhis term Sa'l'ings have not so far, fnll(~n below £;)(Jw8ekly, the aetual average being .-£[)8 5s. od. rrl1i~ 'would be further increased jf all meIYlbers got the W cdrH:'s, (lay habit. It is 11 good hflbit; so join in, members! COl1H'
along, il11mcc1inJ,e]~' flft,er dinner, and for those 'who go ho1'),)(: -on return to afternoon school. Large SUUJS of luoney IYl;T:,
be hanned to }\1iss \VeathPl'l.lp, in Form IT, after rl1n)'nirlg nssc'nJ b 1 v . . '
A snJaJJ hut keen little C'orllpany may Le seen in Forrn IT on l\fonclavs, n,t brenk. r11hev are rnemhers froDl FOl'lTIS -I nnel IT. Tl~ey (\}'c proklhly tlI8·rnost. regular snyc~rs of ,111.
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Th~ Alcestf'r Grammar School R~COTd
aLoe t rtunatir 'sodd!l. l)resiclent: 111'. Cnton. Treasurer: F. Harrison .
Committee:
111'. Dru]1el', :Miss 110bhs, K. Wilson, E. Rose, PriGe, N. Buller, Clark.
At the end of the Autumn term "Yuletide Revels Hl
lVlerrie England' , wns procl ueed by members of the Dramatic Society. r:Che s("enewas set in: a country man':)r house in the fourteenth century, and the revels \vere a mixture of pagan superstition and Christian ceremonial. The cnst was H large one, there being, apart from the Iamily, numerous retainers, pnrties of carol singers and a gruup of rnummers. Costumes were va'riecl and colourful and adc1ecl to the Christmas air that pervC1fled the play. That the costumes could be suppliecl almost entirely from the Society's own properties was it surprise for Dlahy melnbers, nnd the excellent stocl\: should be ft valuable help in future productions. The members of the Soniety are grateful tc l\'riss lVlobbs for couching the players, lLnd also to lVIiss rrillev, 1\Iiss Secker and Mrs. Glover for their assisUmcp. The "back-shtge team worked most efficiently. Rehearsals and performances were greatly enjoyed both by those on the stn,ge and by those behind the scenes, for the production had its humorous side, and some of the properties \vere sources of amusement-not least the bottomless tankards .. rrhe chief importance of the play hmvevel' was that members actually used the stage nnd gained some small uxperienees of acting together.
Since practice in acting is particulnrly needed, the Society this term h118 divided into acting groups, ~ed 1)\Miss Mobbs, 1:Iiss Cookson and Miss Seeker.
K.lVL \V .
irbating ~odd!!. I>resident: 1[iss Evans. Secretnr.Y: Stewal't.
Committee:
K. vVilson, N. Nash, Sharp, Eac1ie, Budden. A debate tool\: pln.ce on December 16th, the motion being
that "This house is convinced th,lt convention is t,hc: enemy of progress," proposed by Collins and J. Plestel's, and opposed by 1\1. Austin and J. Buller. Although r'lnny good arguments "vere put forward by bun1 si(lcs, jlt~\ i"~w-,s'
The Alcester Grammar School Rec(,rd 53
became slightly confused. l\![any good speecheswpre delivered, especinJly by the younger m81nbers. In the en(l youth proved willing to discard convention for progre.ss and final victory went to the proposition by a large maj ori iy. It is hoped that another debate may be heJel at the end of this term.
J.1VLS.
Q0Rod O1orps. There have been a few chrmges in the Corps this tcrm.
Sergeant Collins has left and taken up a preparation eoursc at Edinburgh University for the R.N.V.R. He gave very useful service, and helped to maintain a high standard (yf
disC'ipline in the unit; we 'ivish hin1 Sl.wvess. Sergemlt Stewart is now in charge of the N.C.O. 's of the unit .. 'tnd there have been other promising promotions. The unit 1s nmv at full strength, and the neWCOTllers are quickly finding their feet.
A visit from Major 1\'[ore11, M.C., proved very intert;.s(-;n~:, a lecture on the "Royni W;ll'vviekshire Regirnent" prOViding the cadcts\vith some ill111minRting history of l:,iw regiment to wh'i(~hw'3 are affiliHie(l.
rrhe training of the Cadets goes on stendil~'. nl1d it i;:; lw.peel that a fev,' of the seniors viT il1 enter for Hie :n t'i'r P:/,l't of the vVnr Certificate "A" in ihe near future.
C/LIEUT. J-TADWEN .
. ~rOltt5. Aetivities have proceeded on usual] ines. The fine we.;Jther
this term has enabled us to have more outdoor work, and observation exercises and message carrying have as cl, l\:',scliL yielded good experience. Keenness in tests has been rnaintained Hnd mHny of the younger Seouts are well on the vvay to completing their second class. 1'he eolledion ')r hon:!L' chestnuts last terrn yielded ;5 C'ivts. 20 Ibs" for which the funds have benefited'bv £1 18s. IOd. A further donniir;n of 26s. from old se.outs h~~s been ,vl(lecl to the B.P. J\lL:'lnor':~\l Fund,
E. S, \\TALKER, S,]\T.
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54 Th~ Alc8ster Grammar School Record.
JaatbldL Captain: Hillman.
At the end of last term the school suffered further 10s8, by losing its captain and one other member. In the first match, against Redditch, it was found that there had b6en great improvement among the younger members. Their experience from the defeats of last term proved vc)Junble fmd gained the very satisfactory result of a draw. This improvement was shown throughout the team, and n victory over the A. T. C. was very encouraging. The defence hns played steadily an through the term and there are signs of more combination mnong the forwards.
RESULTS: A.G.S. v. Redditch (home) draw 2-2. v. A.T.C. (home) won 2-0. v. Evesham .(home) lost 2-4. v. Evesharll (away) lost 1~5.
SIDES MATCH: Jackals 8 v. Tomtits 1.
l'orkl'1} . Captain: J. Blakeman.
On account of the condition of the field there Wtl3 not rnueh hoc.key played until late in the term, and the nlat.c.hes agninst Bromsgrove fmcl Evesham had to be c.ancel1erl.
.A.t the end of last tm'ln hockey c.olours wero awnrded to (L Spenc:er, J. Rorsemrm and J. Bbkeman.
The enthusiasm in the lower forms of the sc.hool hft:~ led to the foundation of a Second XI.
The results of bst, term's sides matches were :-Bl'cwnies v. Jackals, 2-0; J3rownies v. 'rorntits, 7-0; Jnckn,h; v. 'l\mltits, 5-0.
'rhe School has been repl'esented this season in the First XI by J. Allen, J. vVright, G. Spenc.er, A. Lambon, G. Benchus, D. Villers, S. Ca'reless, N. Nash, B. Adanls, J. Buller, lVI. Hopc.roft, J. Horsernan, B. Baylis, 1. Irving, J. Jjloyd, J. Blakeman; and in the Second XI by J. Hill, J. Prosser, J. Faulkner, J. Horseman, A. Villers, ]\If. lVIoizer, S. Sllmmel'hill, J. Riggs, M. Irving, D. BridgmnIl, 1\1I. Slaughter.
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Th~ Alccder Grammar School Record.
mhe ~notnbrop. Vlhen I \valked in 1,he gm'den
On the first day of Spl:ing, The ground was ha.rd and frosty,
While the birds had ceased to sing.
But in a sheltered eorner There \vas a speck of white;
A pretty little snowdrop. Had gI'O\vn there in tIle night.
The world seemed full of .i O~T again And the birds began to sing,
For the sun shone OIl Iny snowdrop, The first Rign of Spring.
\VENDY HO\VES, (Upper IVB)'.
lEor tbe 3.111nio1'5. - .
My Pony.
55
]\1,), POi1Y is nn111(jel rropper; he is 11 light fawn find is thirteen hands high. Heis used to hunting and was out only a 'week ago, 1)S I have only hnd hilU six days. He is llsed to jumping hedges, clikhes ;md stiles and all things like that.
He has not got a. pdriy . trap, but daddy is going to 1;,1:" ,one if he can get one. He is ten years old, and he has not tried to kick while I have been grooming him. or an3" other time. I groon1 hilu for t-\venty minutes each clay. He hns .;)'111('e qllicJ\: trot and not a slow one.
BHENDA THOIVfPSON (Ren1ove;.
THE GHOST.
I ll1ade up this poem, I did it last night.
I had quite a scare In the middle of the night.
It was so eerie, r shivered with fright.
I thought it ,vas coming, I yelled for a light.
It was so little, It walked about,
It was so thin, I grwe sl1c-h a Rhout.
" A. HAD'VE~, (Remove).
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56 The Alcester Gram'mar School Reco1'd
My Calf.
At bOllle I h,1ve a little calf \yhose naITIe is Robert.; his colonr is brown and \yhite. He is in a pen in the \yooel shed and lies on wheat straw. We feed him on calf gruel, \vhich we give to him out of a bucket. We have to put our fingers into his n10uth to make him drink, but we h8,Y8 to be careful he does not bite us, because he has got teeth. HQ tickles Ollr fingers with his tongue, because it is so rough.
E. T. VALE (Remove).
The Cat ~nd the Mouse. Once there was a cat and a mouse. They lived in a little
house together. And one day the cat foun~l that the mr)use had ma(1e a hole in the floor. vVhen the cat found that he had done it, he did not like it. So he ran after him bnt he c01Jlc1 not catch hinl. But he did in the end.
lYIICHAEL CATO:\" (Form IT) ,
THE LITTLE FIR TREE. In the middle of a wood A little fir tree stood. It was verv short and green. And very ';ery lean. c.. .
One day it began to snow, Then the :fir bent very lo>v.
PETER BURDE~, (ForTll II).
The Robin and the Tit. One SUOVITY morning when I looked out of n1y bedromrl
\vinc1ol,\- I saw a little robin and a tit vv-ere having a fight, rrhen the tit got up and flew away. The robin fle'iY after hinl and sat in the tree and spoke to the tit.
ANNE WEAVER (FonTI 11'; .
The Wrens. Last weel\: mluumy was looking out of the windov,T; she
savv two litHe wrens in a tree. One was investigating orreof our nest boxes, and the other was hopping in the tree. rrhey later built their nest.
BARBARA DRULLER (Form 11).
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ALCESTER: TBI ClIBONICLI o 1'1'1 C&.
HIGB Sn.or.
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