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No. 120.
VOL. IX.
DECEMBER,
Contents. Editorial School Notes School Calendar O.V. Club ... ... ... ... ... O.V. News ... ... ... ... ... . c '• . '" '" '" '" rLecture Society Cricket Rowing ... ... ... ... ... ... Shooting Notes 0 T C Ace t Chess Notes Debating Society ... ... ... ... ... King's Scholarship Examination The p'c^Camn My Crime A Dream ... ... ... ... ... The Duke of York's Carnp 1 noughts on a Recent Event ... ... ... " Sir Rupert," or the " Ghost that didn't " Sea Rowing and River Rowing School Officers ... ... ... ... ... Salvete Valete Xf er T!f °kdMLettTLetter T h e ?Cambridge The Chariot Race Desmond Our Cat ConterrT^aries
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„ mg back on it, we find it satisfactory in every way. True, the river has flooded, but that is becoming such a common event that we may well ignore it. Except for that, and one 6S week of heavy this term has been quite , J rain, _ ' our Rugger , uninterrupted. This term, of all the terms in the School Year, bears the stamp of " work " unmistakably from beginning to end: it is a stolid and heavy sort of term, but as y°u see> Sent'emeni we at 'east have survived to tell the tale, and we only refrain from congratulating you because you have still to read this Editorial; but that is only a digression, and so we resume with our gentle flow of inspiration. We are certainly to be congratulated at any rate upon absolute freedom from all kinds of illness. The other topic that remains is the Board of Education Inspection of the School, an ordeal that is felt rather by the masters , . yS> . 3P , , ,..,... postponement of a half-hohda we y> came through without inconvenience, and, we hope, with flying colours, though that remains to be seen. But, gentlemen, you must have noticed something; that is iftyou u have got of the,. past, we must t this far.• Editorials , confess, have been conspicuous for the brilliant comments, the epigrams, and the literary trappings that adorned the all-absorbing subject of—nothing at all. With much trepidation we admit that this Editorial comes far short of its shining volume of successors. For not only have we dared in our presumption actually to talk about some definite subjects, but we have dared to couch them in definite and prosaic terms. Where are the quotations? Where are the
THE VIGORNIAN.
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epigrams, where the literary conceits? You may well ask: for, gentlemen, besides being a stolid and heavy sort of term, as we remarked before in our blunt way, the Christmas term finds us conscious of a gap in our midst: the gap left by those who have departed for the Universities or to enter business. Consequently, gentlamen, we feel sadly conscious of our failings, and only wish that those brilliant scholars were still amongst us. But, gentlemen, we have wandered rather from the subject and it is time to let the cheerfully doleful brass band lhat has been bidding us awake and salute the happy morn, call to our remembrance that joyful season of the year from which this term takes its name. We therefore close our effusion (who said ''good! "?) by wishing you heartily thai Merry Christmas that we ourselves feel confident of enjoying.
Meanwhile, Rugger has not been entirely suspended, thanks to the Worcester City R.F.C., who have very kindly lent us their ground, whenever they are not playing on it. * * * We say good-bye this term to Mr. R. J. Halcombe, who came to us in January of this year, and who is leaving us to start a Preparatory School on the Malvern Road. He goes with our best wishes for success. * * * We no longer hear the ringing of the Cathedral bells since the hangings were condemned as unsafe just after half term. • * * * We offer our hearty congratulations to Embling on gaining the First King's Scholarship.
School Dotes. We welcome to the Staff this term Mr. G. H. L. Burnett. * * » The chief event of this term has been the inspection of School by Board of Education Inspectors, the first time since 1915, hence a novel experience for most of us. * * * Vague rumours have been circulated about the composition of a new drum march for the Band. You are not advised to take this seriously. * # * On Wednesday, October 19, the School went in large numbers to the " Theatre Royal " to see Sir Frank Benson's Company act " The Merchant of Venice," which was much appreciated. * * * Field Day this term was on a Friday, Nov. 4, instead of Thursday as is usual. It took place on the Old Hills. We marched there and back accompanied by the Band. * * * We take this opportunity of expressing the gratitude of the School to the Anonymous O.V. who has presented the new Headmaster's chair and desk in College Hall. » * * A new and very comfortable corner seat has been placed in the Reading Room this term, and is a worthy addition. * * * The O.T.C. and the Band turned out in force on Mayor's Sunday, which was not so cold as it generally is. * * * On Friday morning, Nov. 18, the School celebrated the Mayor's half-holiday by seeing " Ben Hur " at the Arcade Cinema. A half-holiday in the morning was a novel and not altogether unpleasant experience. * * * Once again our fields have been made unplayable by the flooding of the river. We hope with the new draining system soon to be able to play on them again.
School Calendar. Fri., Sat., Sun.,
Sept. 16. Boarders Return. „ 17- Term Begins. „ 18. School Celebration of Holy Communion at 8.45 a.m. Thurs., Oct. 27. Address on Missionary Work in Central Africa, by Father Hicks. Nov. 4- O.T.C. Field Day on Old Hills. Fri., Sat., 5- Half Term. Lecture. Capt. G. I. Finch. " The Making of a Mountaineer." 8. Tues., King's Scholarship Examination. Wed., 9Lecture. Sat., Mr. H. Bagenal. " The Everyday Life of a Citizen in Ancient Rome." Sun., 13- O.T.C. Parade to escort the Mayor (Aid. C. E. Coverdale) to Cathedral. Fri., 18. Mayor's half-holiday. Special Schools' Showing of " Ben Hur " at the Arcade Cinema. Sat., Lecture. Major W. T. Blake. " Airways of Empire." Wed., 23Thurs., ,, 24. Government Inspection of School. 2 Fri., 5The Wed., 3°- Lecture. Rev. G. F. Trench. Church Missionary Society." Thurs., Dec. i. School Service 3 p.m. Rev. G. F. Trench. Mr. J. Kearton. Wild Sat., 3- Lecture. Nature's Ways.." Mon., ,, 5- School Certificate Exam, begins. Wed., 7- School attended the Missionary film, " Africa To-day," at the Public Hall. Thurs., ,, '5- School Service. The Headmaster. Mon., ,, 19. O.V. Rugger Match. School Concert.
THE VIGORNIAN.
0 V. Club. The Committee, of the O.V. Club have made arrangements whereby the Colours mentioned in the list below can he obtained by members of the O.V. Club from Messrs. Glenns, 70, Broad Street, Worcester, at the following prices :— Ties (Silk) 4/6 Ties (Knitted) 5/6 Silk Squares ... ... ... ... ... 16/6 Hat Bands 3/6 Sweaters ... ... ... ... ... 25/Wool Scarves ... ... ... ... ... 14/6 (cheaper quality 10/6) Silk Scarves (to order) ... ... ... ... ... ... 5o/Blazers (cheaper quality 39/6) Flannel for Blazers, 9/6 per yard. Plus postage in each case. * * * There are still over 100 members who have not returned the O.V. Club Register form sent to them some time ago. The Secretary will be glad to receive these forms at once. * * * Can anyone supply the Secretary (H. E NICHOLLS, 9, College Green, Worcester) with the present Addresses of the following O.V.: Arthure, B. A. J. Branthwaite, Francis J. Brodribb, Francis Geo. Conacher, H. Morrison. Coombs, G. Bernard. Day, Harold Duncan. Denton, H. S. Dangerfield, H. J. H. Hancock, Cyril V. Lunt, Wm. R. F. Matthews, A. K. Raymond, Harold. Suthers, S. Salisbury, R. Sarland, Victor H. Tyler, W. M. Turnbull, Geo. Fredk. Wickersham, W. West, G. A.
O.V. RCIDS. ENGAGEMENT. The engagement is announced between Mr. A. R. Harrison, O.V., younger son of Mr. and Mrs. Ernest C. Harrison, of Whittingion, and Miss M. E. Clift, elder daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. P. Clift, of Lulsley Court, near Worcester. » * * MARRIAGES. WIDDRINGTON—MACDONAi.D.—On Wednesday, August 24th, 1927, at St. Thomas' Church, Toronto, Canada, Gerald Nigel Tinling Widdrington, to Margery Lince, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James A. Macdonald.
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WILFORD—EDWARDS.—On August 171]!, 1927, at St. Barnabas Church, Umvuma, Southern Rhodesia, Thomas Jocelyn Wilford, M.C., B.S.A. Police, eldest son of Captain and Mrs. Wilford, of i, Endsleigh Gardens, Surbiton, to Mary Janet, only child of Mr. and Mrs. John Edwards, of Good Hope, Umvuma. YARNOLD—HAWTHORN.—On Monday, September I2th, 1927, A. Douglas Yarnold, to Florence Hawthorn.
DEATH. Mr. A. E. Davies, O.V., aged 52, on Saturday, November igth, following a sudden heart seizure. He leaves a widow, a daughter and two sons. * * * J. P. Mayhew is now farming in North Island, New Zealand. He writes that he is enjoying the life out there very much indeed. * * * P. H. Graves-Morris has passed out of Sandhurst nineteenth out of 146, and has been gazetted to the Worcestershire Regiment. » » * B. H. Carter is now in Nyasaland, engaged in engineering. * * * T. M. L. Redmond has obtained a post in the African and Eastern Trade Corporation, Ltd., Africa House, Kingsway, W.C.2, and hopes later to be going out to the West Coast of Africa. * * * B. S. Verdier has sailed for the Argentine to take up his duties as Traffic Secretary in the Entre Rios Railway Company. * * * Norman Spackman writes from Port Alice, B.C., where he has a very good job superintending the bleaching plant of a wood-pulp mill run by the B.C. Pulp and Paper Co. * # * C. LI. Garnett is articled to one of the departments in the H.M.V. Head Offices, while he is preparing for his examination for the Institute of Chartered Secretaries. * * • H. W. Daniels was successful at the Intermediate Examination of the Law Society. He is now articled to Mr. Eustace Roberts, of Worcester. * * * I. Schofield writes from Lagos, Nigeria, where he is in the Resident of the Colony's Office. He finds the climate not too warm, although it never falls below F 72°, and his work is interesting. He has to visit tribes that have not seen a white man for over fifty years, and finds the journeys difficult, the paths being cut up by streams, so that it is a matter of walking and riding on a natives back through the water. He has already met two O.V., the Rev. H. A. Lewis, Chaplain of the Colonial Church, and Captain P. R. Foulkes Roberts, M.C., who was here in the School House with Canon Chappel.
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The foliowing was the fixture list this term : —
football. 1ST XV.
Sat., Wed., Wed., Sat., Wed., Wed., Wed., Sat., Sat., Mon., Wed., Sat.,
Oct.
Home Home Away
i.—Worcester City R.F.C. ist XV 5 Hereford C S .. ic
Cheltenham College 2nd XV
Nov.
Away Home Home Home
,, ,, 28 -10 Dec.
Hertford College Oxford Tettenhall College
Lost Won Lost Lost Won Lost Won . . . Scratched ... Scratched Lost Won Lost
0—27 21—7
8— 16 0—23 6—0 •
19—3 6— ii 39—0 6— ii
2ND XV.
Sat., Wed., Wed., Wed., Sat., Wed., s.it..
Oct.
i 5
Worcester City R F C 2nd XV Hereford C S
Away
Nov. 30. — King Charles School, Kidderminster npr. •j. Hereford C.S
At the beginning of the term, several people were seen scratching their heads vigorously and thinking hard to find solutions for such questions as " Who is going to make a good full-back? " or " Who will be big enough for a centre threequarter? " After much vain thinking on the first question, the Headmaster gave us a suggestion, which ultimately turned out 10 be a striking success. Our threequarter question was not so easily solved, for we had not got a single old colour left in the threequarter line. Mr. Bentley, however, shaped and moulded the material which we had got to such good purpose that, eventually, we had a line which, though extremely small, was not far below the general standard. The forwards were decidedly the strongest part of the team and they improved greatly, benefiting by the coaching which they had evening by evening from Mr. Tattersall. They excelled themselves in the Monmouth match, and in the Brecon and Hertford matches they did really yeoman service. The three-quarters had some exceptionally big lines to meet in their opponents' sides and it was in the Brecon match also that they shone most, the tackling on that occasion being very good. * * * The 2nd XV have been decidedly bad, they are not small by any means, but the pack, especially, gave one the impression of being half-hearted and tired; the latter was certainly not their true state, because thev could play as well as any 2nd XV pack ever did, when they had been roused from their stupor. The team as a whole was too stereotyped and seemed to lose all rugger " sense " once it got on the field. We should like to thank Mr. Bentley and Mr. Tattersall for the valuable coaching they have given the team ; giving
...
Home Away Away Awav
...
Lost Lost Lost Lost Scratched Lost Lost
0—31 3—32 8-15 o—42 3— ii i — it
up most of their evenings to coach us after school; also Mr. Thomas for refereeing the School matches and games, and Mr. Whitaker, Mr. Strong and Mr. Burnett, who continually gave up their half holidays to referee and coach the lower games. A.D.A. E.C.H. * * * CHARACTERS. C. V. HODGSON. Full back. Has safe hands, tackles fearlessly, and his kicking has greatly improved. He is rather slow, but has adapted himself well to the position. He keeps his head when pressed and has saved many tries. J. C. PALMER. A speedy wing. When given plenty of room is always dangerous. His defence has improved, though he is still inclined to tackle high. R. G. MEERS. Will in time be a useful centre—at present he lacks experience. He runs straight and hard and has plenty of initiative. His handling is improving. G. W. ROWLAND n. A useful centre with good hands. Runs straight and kicks judiciously. Needs more experience. R. VV. ROWLAND i. A determined runner—his defence is sound. E. C. HALTOX. Scrum half. Excellent in defence. His passes are occasionally wild but on the whole serves his backs well. A. D. ARBUCKLJ: (Capt.) An excellent fly-half who has not this term done himself justice. He has at times shown fulfilment of last year's promise, but in several matches has not produced his best form. His defence has always been good and in attack his play can be of a high standard.
THE VIGORNIAN. D. A. B. HOPKIN. A heavy but hard-working and ubiquitous forward. His energy and determination have been of great value as example to the whole pack. As a leader he should save his energy more by confining his exhortations to occasions when they are really required. G. D. S. BOOLE. Has performed quite well as a hooker, and is a good defensive forward. He lacks speed in following up rushes. P. C. W. MONAHAN. Has developed very well, and is useful in all departments of the game, besides being a hard worker in the scrum. R. H. N. WOOD. A good energetic forward, who has come on well, especially in following up an attack. H. E. WOOD. A useful all-round forward ; but he lacks speed. Has come on as a place-kick. C. D. GARRETT. Is learning to add the qualities of speed and anticipation to that of weight. A rapidly improving forward in all phases of the game. J. D. H. SLADE. Has developed into a fast and hardworking forward, conspicuous in attack and defence. P. BEAUMONT. A tenacious and determined forward: good at tackling and saving rushes. * * * SCHOOL v. WORCESTER R.F.C. Result : Lost 27—o. On Saturday, October ist, the School played Worcester's ist X V ; this was the first time the two first teams had met, and thus the match had an added interest. The conditions were bad. Rain had fallen all day and continued till half-time, taking away all the advantage the School might have gained in training over the Club pack. From the start the game resolved itself into a battle of feet, handling being out of the question. The School pack played well, holding their opposing pack which was stones heavier. At length, however, from a scrum, near the School line, the forwards broke quickly, taking the ball at their feet, and Clift went over for a try, which was converted. The Club scored twice more before half-time, which arrived with the score u—o in their favour. The rain ceased soon after the resumption, and for a time the School were pressing hard, and on two occasions were unlucky not to score, the ball being held up right on the line. The superior weight of the Club pack began to tell after a while, and Clift again scored, breaking away from the scrum and cutting through nicely. The Club now started threequarter movements, and handling the ball splendidly, scored again through Lewis and Burt, the former going over to the corner for another try just before the end. The School failed, mainly because they failed to accommodate themselves to the conditions. While the Club used their feet on every occasion the School were continually trying to pick up the greasy ball. The pack played well, Monahan and Hopkin especially doing good all round work. Hodgson on his first appearance at back was a
569
distinct success, his saving in particular being good and well-judged. The School was represented by :•— C. V. Hodgson; R. G. Meers, A. D. Arbuckle, C. E. Payne, and J. C. Palmer ; E. C. Halton and G. W. Rowland ; D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, G. D. S. Boole, C. D. Garrett, R. H. N. Wood, H. E. Wood, D. M. Birkmyre, and E. McDonaugh.
SCHOOL v. HEREFORD C.S. Result : Won 21—7. The School played Hereford in excellent conditions, and showed a decided improvement from the Worcester match. A rearrangement of the backs brought the " snap " which was badly lacking before; Rowland in particular playing an excellent game in the centre of the back division, taking the ball while going at full speed and cutting through repeatedly, to create certain try-scoring openings for his wing. The School were far superior in the first half and tries were scored by Payne (2), Monahan and Rowland, Wood ii goaling two and Wood i one. In the second half, the home side held the upper hand, but seemed unable to crown their efforts with a score ; they hemmed their opponents in their own " 25 " for the greater part of the game and yet were only able to score once through Payne, the kick at goal failing. Hereford scored a try in the first half and their captain dropped an excellent goal from in front of the posts midway in the second half, the School gaining a most encouraging success by 21 points to 7. School.—C. V. Hodgson ; C. E. Payne, G. W. Rowland, G. H. Carrel, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton, D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, G. D. S. Boole, C. D. Garrett, H. E. Wood, R. H. N. Wood, D. M. Birkmyre and E. McDonaugh. *
* *
SCHOOL v. WARWICK SCHOOL. Result : Lost 16—8. This match was played at Warwick on October 12, and resulted in a very hard and enjoyable, game. Warwick owe their success to their back division, which this year is abnormally large, and to the distinct inability of any of the School backs to tackle a man hard and get him down first time. The School kicked off. After some mid-field play in which the Warwick threequarters had plenty of opportunities of which they failed to take advantage through faulty passing, they scored from a scrum near the School's goal line. The Worcester forwards were very weak, they seemed to possess less dash and thrust than their opponents and never forced home their opportunities. After Warwick's first
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score they were roused a little, and for a period the School pressed, and after several brilliant individual efforts had failed right on the Warwick line, Palmer went over in the corner after a good threequarter movement, the kick at goal failing. Warwick scored again before half-time, which arrived with the score 8—3 in the home team's favour. In the second half Warwick played more together, especially their back division, and they realised that this was the School's weak spot. They were foiled more than once by Hodgson, who in this half excelled himself, being instrumental in sending Palmer in to score the School's second try. Gathering the ball at the half-way line he ran hard and straight, beating several opponents and eventually passing to Palmer, who rounded the full back in excellent fashion and scored—a most encouraging piece of work. Wood ii added the extra points. Warwick scored twice more in this half and eventually won by 16 points to 8. School.—C. V. Hodgson ; C. E. Payne, G. H. Carrel, G. W. Rowland, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton ; D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, G. D. S. Boole, R. H. N. Wood, H. E. Wood, C. D. Garrett, D. M. Birkmyre, and E. McDonaugh.
SCHOOL v. CHELTENHAM COLLEGE 2ND XV Result : Lost 33—o. This match was played at Worcester, and as the score indicates, was very one-sided. The Cheltenham team was exceptionally good, their threequarters being better in every way than those of the School, who again failed to tackle at all hard. The forwards played with more energy than in their previous match and often took the ball down the field only to see the Cheltenham threequarters gain possession from a scrum and score a try, after running practically threequarters the length of field. It is only fair to state that at least one of the Cheltenham backs had played in the first team, and that they were much bigger than the School threequarters, who this year are exceptionally small. There is no excuse, however, for seeing a man being held round the legs and yet still standing up ; this was often the case with the School threequarters, they had tackled their man, yet they had not put sufficient power behind it to bring him down. School.—C. V. Hodgson ; C. E. Payne, G. H. Carrel, G. W. Rowland, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton ; D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, G. D. S. Boole, R. H. N. Wood, H. E. Wood, C. D. Garrett, J. D. H. Slade, P. Beaumont.
SCHOOL v. MONMOUTH GRAMMAR SCHOOL. Result : Won 6—o. On Saturday, October 22nd, the School played Monmouth. The match roused more than ordinary interest since it was the first time the two schools had met. The conditions were very bad. Rain had been falling all day and continued througnout the match, making handling of the ball extremely difficult. From the outset the game resolved itself into a struggle between the forwards. At first the School tried a few passing movements which broke down. After that the forwards kept the ball close for the rest of the game. The forwards were evenly matched, the School being slightly lighter than the Monmouth pack. At first Momnouth attacked and pressed the School on their own line for some time. The School, however, defended vigorously, and successfully held their ground. The School forwards occasionally swept the ball up the field in good rushes, but neither side was able to score before half-time. The second half was played with more vigour by both sides. The School forwards attacked continuously and pressed Monmouth hard. For a long time they were unable to score, though the ball was kept close to the Monmouth line. At last the ball was heeled from a scrum in mid field. Arbuckle gained possession and after a clever run crossed the line for a try, which was not converted. Monmouth then attacked and for some time were dangerous. They attempted several movements with their backs but these invariably broke down owing to the greasy state of the ball. After one of these Rowland kicked up the field and Meers following was able to carry on the movement right up to the Monmouth line. Here several forwards were up and the ball was carried over the line for Wood i to touch down. The kick at goal failed and the School won by six points to nil. The forwards are to be congratulated on their play in this match, conditions were such that back play was almost impossible, and the game was a struggle between the two packs. Their work in the scrum was good, and in the loose the footwork was excellent. The defence of the backs v/as better than in previous matches, Halton being particularly good in this respect, and the tackling of the whole side showed more vigour and was a distinct improvement, though there was still a tendency with some to tackle high.
SCHOOL v. CHRIST'S COLLEGE, BRECON. Result : Lost 31—8. At Worcester, on Wednesday, Nov. 2nd. Brecon attacked strongly from the kick-off, and it looked as if they would score at any moment. The School forwards, however, rallied well, and by a combined threequarter and forward movement took the ball into Brecon's twenty-five. After some scrummaging on the line, a penalty kick was given against Brecon in front of their goal. Wood kicked this successfully. Brecon now attacked again, but was evident that they found difficulty in controlling the somewhat
THE VIGORNIAN. greasy ball, and, as a consequence, their passing was not exceptional. Arbuckle was time after time instrumental in slopping Brecon's threequarter movements, either by intercepting their passes or by quick tackling. Hayden scored (or Brecon, and the try was converted. The School counter-attacked, but it was evident that their scrumming was not so good as Brecon's. Hywel-Jones succeeded in scoring twice before half-time and both his tries were converted. After half-time Brecon followed up the kick-off well. They dribbled the ball rather too far in front of them, however, and Hodgson, the School back, gathering it cleanly, found touch in their twenty-five. It looked as if the School would now score and Arbuckle very nearly did so, several times being held up on the line. Brecon held I he attack, and would have crossed the line several times, had it not been for the tackling and kicking of Hodgson ; as it was Evans and Isaacs, who scored a good try on the wing, succeeded. Only one try, however, was converted. Arbuckle began a movement from a line-out, slipped past his man and passed to Rowland who evaded his opponent. He passed to Meers who dived for the line and scored. Wood converted. Brecon, however, scored a try on the right wing which was not converted. No further scoring took place till no side was blown. Throughout the game Brecon showed themselves superior in packing and breaking. The passing of their threequarter line, which was much faster than the School's, was, however, indifferent. The School forwards were unable to hook, because of the presence of two substitutes in the second row, but as a whole they played quite well, and were brilliant in the loose. The threequarters could be improved by little harder tackling, and more determination in going for the line, although they have improved beyond recognition since the beginning of the term. Christ's College, Brecon, 3ipts. ; King's School, Worcester, 8. King's School team.—C. V. Hodgson; J. C. Palmer, R. G. Meers, G. W. Rowland and C. E. Payne; A. D. Arbuckle and E. C. Halton; D. A. B. Hopkin, G. D. S. Boole, R. H. N. Wood, C. D. Garrett, H. E. Wood, P. Beaumont, J. D. H. Slade, and F. Cale.
SCHOOL v. WOLVERLEY. Result : Won 19—3.
scored once, their wing threequarter making a good run down the touch line to score far out; the kick at goal failed. In the second half the School were a different side they found the slope helped them greatly and it was not long before they scored. The Wolverley line was continually bombarded, and had not the ground sloped off from the touch line, making Palmer run into touch practically every time he received the ball, the score would have been much bigger. Hopkin and Monahan again played well in the pack and Boole hooked well. Meers brought more snap into the threequarter line and improved greatly on the display he gave in the Brecon match, though the latter was by no means bad. The School scored five tries in the second half, Wood ii converting two. School.—C. V. Hodgson ; C. E. Payne, R. G. Meers, G. W. Rowland, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton, D. A. B. Hopkin, P. C. W. Monahan, G. D. S. Boole, H. E. Wood, C. D. Garrett, J. D. H. Slade, P. Beaumont, F. Cale.
SCHOOL v. HERTFORD COLLEGE, OXFORD. Result : Lost 11—6. On Monday, Nov. 28:h, Hertford College visited Worcester. The School ground was under water and the match was played on the Northwick ground, lent by the Worcester R.F.C. At the beginning the School attacked, and were superior to their opponents in every department of the game, the forwards, in particular, outplaying their heavier opponents. The backs executed several good movements, but they lacked finish and were occasionally made ineffective through irresolute running. Pressure was kept up and from a line-out near their opponents' goal line Hopkin got possession and forced his way over for an unconverted try. On several occasions Palmer leceived the ball and, running well, only just failed to score. Eventually during an attack, the ball became loose and Palmer kicked over the line. He beat his opponents in the race for the ball and touched down for an unconverted try. The School forwards swept the ball down the field. They were gradually forced back. From a scrum the ball came out to Brooke, who ran strongly from midfield and scored Hertford's first try. Barak converted.
The School kicked off uphill and it was evident that the slope of the ground was troubling them at the start. The forwards were not so quick as the home team, and the threequarters invariably spoilt a good movement by dropping passes at the crucial moment.
In the second half the School, though having the advantage of the slope, were not so good. Hertford attacked vigorously, and, eventually, after a forward movement, Craze scored an unconverted try. The School then improved again for a time, and on several occasions a try seemed imminent. But movements were spoiled by dropped passes and Hertford were enabled to clear their line. Before the end, Brooke scored another unconverted try for Hertford, who thus won by one goal and two tries (n points) to two tries (6 points).
Although the play was mostly in the Wolverley " 25," no score resulted in the first half, whereas the opponents
The game was evenly contested, and it seemed at one time as if the School should win. But they failed to take
After the sound heating the 2nd XV received at the hands of Wolverley, it was arranged for the ist XV to visit them and the match resulted in a very even game.
THE VIGORNIAN.
572
advantage of their opportunities, several promising movements among the backs were spoiled by a dropped pass, and, on at least one occasion, what seemed a certain try was lost through irresolute running. School.—C. V. Hodgson; C. E. Payne, R. G. Meers, G. W. Rowland, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton; D. A. B. Hopkin, G. D. S. Boole, P. C. W. Monahan, R. H. N. Wood, II. E. Wood, G. D. Garrett, J. D. H. Slade, P. Beaumont.
SCHOOL v. TETTENHALL
COLLEGE.
Result : Won 39—o. At Tettenhall, on Wednesday, Nov. 3Oth. The game was one-sided, and was confined almost entirely to the Tettenhall half of the field. For the School, Palmer scored a good try after a good movement in which nearly all the backs participated. After this, tries followed quickly. The King's School forwards were much superior to their opponents, both in the scrums and in the loose. The backs played much better than they have done in previous matches. The handling was good on the whole, but the wings were not fed quick enough, and many movements broke down in the centre. Arbuckle played one of his best games, and was responsible for many tries. Hodgson was as sound as usual at full back, and on one occasion gathered the ball and went through to score himself. In the second half the scoring was not so heavy. Tettenhall, though never dangerous, played harder, and their defence was more effective. The goal kicking was poor, only three out of ii tries being converted into goals. The tries were scored by Arbuckle (4), Haltor, (3), Palmer (2), Meers, and Hodgson. School.-—C. V. Hodgson; R. H. Rowland, R. G. Meers, G. W. Rowland, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton; D. A. B. Hopkin, G. D. S. Boole, P. C. W. Monahan, R. H. N. Wood, H. E. Wood, C. D. Garrett, J. D. H. Slade, P. Beaumont.
SCHOOL v. HEREFORD
C.S.
Result: Lost n—6. The return match with Hereford produced a rather scrappy game in which little good football was seen. The School kicked off and after a period of mid-field play Halton worked the blind side from a scrum and beating several opponents passed to Rowland i at the right time, the latter going over for a try, which was not converted. The School clung to iheir lead until right on half-time, when Hereford, picking up the ball from a mistake by one of the School backs, started a movement in which their forwards and backs participated, and finally they scored a try which they failed to convert.
In the second half the School played up well, and for a long period kept play in their opponents' " 25." They were unable to score however, though once Palmer nearly scored after a good run. The Hereford pack retaliated, and from a scrum they heeled the ball well, and their captain receiving, ran excellently, beating several opponents to score a fine try. A little later Hopkin replied with a try after running from the half-way line, but it was too far out for Wood ii to convert. The game now became much more exciting and the School played their best at this period, frequently forcing the ball well down the field at their feet. Hereford, however, defended stolidly, and nearing the end their captain kicked an excellent goal from a free kick given against one of the School forwards for offside, Hereford thus winning by a goal, one penalty goal and a try to two tries. School.—C. V. Hodgson ; R. H. Rowland, G. W. Rowland, R. G. Meers, J. C. Palmer; A. D. Arbuckle, E. C. Halton; D. A. B. Hopkin, G. D. S. Boole, P. C. W. Monahan, R. H. N. Wood, H. E. Wood, C. D. Garrett, J. D. H. Slade, P. Beaumont.
Lecture Socletp. On Thursday, October i2th, Father Hicks, at the Headmaster's special request, gave us an impromptu talk on the mission work in Nyasaland. The information he gave us was not however about the splendid work of the Missions out there so much as about the natives themselves : their morals, customs, religions and outlook on life. He showed us how the view of the Africans there, who, by the way, are not negroes proper, is essentially a gloomy one. Their old religion was a system of propitiating angry deities and malicious spirits of their ancestors, and it was above all a religion without hope. In contrast with this however the natives themselves are light-hearted and always ready for a joke. Father Hicks also told us some of their tribal customs, the marriage ceremony being particularly amusing. We felt that but for the loneliness of dwelling so far from white men, the work of missionary in Africa would be extremely interesting, as well as necessarily hardworking. » » * On Saturday, November 5th, Captain G. T. Finch gave us our first lecture, on Mountains and Mountaineering. He began by pointing out to us the tremendous size of mountains, and in a few beautiful slides which brought out the imposing aspect of some of the larger ones, gave us a sense of scale with which to start our lesson. But the interesting talk that followed was not after the fashion of a lesson, but rather a friendly exposition of that most thrilling of sports, given as we all felt, by an expert. He took us up the Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc, introducing us to the various passes and their intricacies, and all this set off
THE VIGORNIAN. by a number of amusing and exciting anecdotes from his own experience at mountaineering. We were shown the perils of crevasses, the difficulty of " chimneys," and precipitous surfaces of almost unclimbable smoothness, up which the expert will glide his way with steady caution, making use of every little niche and spur that may afford hold for foot or 6nger. We were given an idea of the tenacity needed when muscles are strained and strength fails, and Captain Finch told us of a thrilling incident when he himself was helped out of difficulty by the resource of his brother. Then we saw the treacherous snow bridges which have to be so carefully negotiated, and how the careful use of rope and ice-axe safeguard the risks that the mountaineer has to run. There were many fine pictures of glaciers, and of the forests that clothe the bases of the great mountains. So we departed with greater familiarity, and no doubt greater respect for the hazards the adventurous mountaineer has to undergo. *
* *
Mr. H. Bagenal, at the Headmaster's special request, gave a lecture on the everyday life of a citizen of ancient Rome. Beginning with a map of Rome, Mr. Bagenal pointed out the good position of the city, as the best ford of the Tiber, and also how the surrounding hills provided an excellent water supply, and the volcanic pumice stone, good cement and building material. Thus everything favoured Rome from the start. He told us some interesting facts about the great aqueducts, and the water supply of forty million gallons a day. Then, corning into Rome itself, we were shown the houses, both the " flats " of the overcrowded poorer classes, and the richer dwellings of merchant princes. Most interesting of all were the excellent pictures of restorations of the Fora and Temples. We saw arches and markets, temples and basilicas, the latter interesting as being the pattern on which Christian churches were modelled. The lecture was closed by an interesting description of the Coliseum, the great theatre on whose arena Christianity conquered Paganism. We were told both of the gladiatorial shows, and wild beast exhibitions, at which many animals were slaughtered, and also about the building itself: its accommodation for 50,000, and its wonderful underground part connected to the arena by lifts. Such was the lecture, interspersed with pieces of interesting information, which left us with a greater insight into the wonders of the Eternal City. On Saturday, November igth, Major W. T. Blake lectured to us on " Airways of Empire." With some excellent slides, and first-hand knowledge of his subject, he first gave us some interesting facts about the work of Imperial Airways. The fact that impressed most of us must have been the extreme safety of flying. While carrying a great number of passengers every year, the company, which is an amalgamation of all the air companies of Great Britain, has not had a single accident : so that air travelling turns out to be safer and more comfortable even than the railway. They are also faster and cheaper than boats, and are used largely for commercial purposes as well as for passengers.
573
The de Havilland Moth was quite a revelation to some, with its low price, easy controls, and small size. We were also shown the great airships, two of which are now being built, by which it will be possible to fly to India at the same cost as by boat, but arriving six weeks earlier ! Perhaps the best part of the lecture was his description of his own attempt to fly round the world, and the fine slides. We were much amused by his description of the feast to which the Arabs invited them when forced to land in the desert. There were also excellent pictures of the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, Jerusalem, and other places of interest. The lecture closed with a reminder that Great Britain was still behind with her air services, because people would not take an intelligent interest. In spite of that, however, it was England who led the way in the pioneering of about "ight years ago, and we ought to continue in the same spirit, for the future of the aeroplane is undoubtedly very important. * * * On Wednesday, November 2oth, at five o'clock, the Rev. G. F. Trench, of the Church Missionary Society, gave us a lecture on the work of the Church, and of Civilization generally, amongst the population of Kenya Colony and Tanganyika Territory. With maps and slides to illustrate his discourse, he told us of the threefold population, European, Indian, and African, and how the latter were rather downtrodden by the others (though the land actually was theirs), in the matter of commerce. His other main point was the tremendous change that had come over Africa, and that in about fifty years. He gave us some idea of the revelation it must be for a man who was born and bred in comparative savagery to be suddenly faced with trains and motors and aeroplanes, and most wonderful of all, the Gospel Message to put to flight the gloomy conceptions of angry and baneful spirits whose wrath must be propitiated. In addition he showed us many slides of the scenery and of African life, together with many anecdotes about his experiences there during the war. Mr. Trench also preached to us on the following Thursday and put forward the claims of the black man tc be treated as a reasonable individual and not as an inferior. On December 3rd, Mr. J. Kearton lectured to us on Wild Nature's ways. He began by describing the Kearton method of Nature Study started by his father, which is to photograph the animals just as they are, without harming them at all. Needless to say, it requires a great amount of patience, as well as careful study of the wild animals' habits, before any favourable results can be obtained, and the results he had obtained were remarkable ; for his slides were wonderfully clear. The talk was mainly on birds, with a few other pictures of rabbits and squirrels. Mr. Kearton told us many stories of his adventures in looking out for good photographs, and also gave us some bird imitations. One cannot adequately describe such a lecture but it will suffice to say that all Nature talks are well received, and this was by no means an exception.
THE VIGORNIAN.
574
Cri ckct. HOUSE 1VIATCHES. ist Round.
2nd Round. f
Day Boys ... School House
...
... ) j
Final.
Hostel by an innings and 40 runs Hostel by 53 runs
School House by 10 wickets
f^
School House bv 8 wickets
* * *
The Hostel regained the Cup this year under the captaincy of Porter. They were lucky in the draw, playing Natland in the 2nd Round, and winning so easily that losing but one wicket they scored 100 in their first innings, of which Porter scored 76 not out, while Natland were all out for 23 and 47. School House beat Day Boys in the ist Round by ten wickets. They got the Day Boys out for 56 and 45, and themselves made 77 and 27 for no wicket. For School House Hodgson took six wickets for 20 runs in the first innings, and Wood ii took seven for 29 in the second innings. For the Day Boys Pike took four for seven in the first innings. Castle House (the holders) met School House in the 2nd Round and lost by eight wickets. In the Castle House first innings Royle made 30, and Hodgson took nine wickets for 20 runs. In School House ist Innings Wood ii made 79, after being missed several times before he' had scored. The scores in the final, School House v. Hostel, were as follows : — HOSTEL. ist Innings. C. E. Porter c Rowland b Wood G H Carrel Ibw b Hodgson . . C D S Boole b Wood
... ...
R. H. N. Wood b Wood J. D. H. Slade c and b Hodgson A. E. Blackband st Longland b Hodgson F. H. G. Bridgman not out ... ... W. L. Readman c Monahan b Wood ... E. J. Granger b Hodgson C. P. R. Collier b Wood
... ...
... ...
... ...
... ...
Total
C. V. Hodgson... H. E. Wood ...
BOWLING. o. m. 23 ... 5 22.4 ... 7
13 29 ' 18 3 6 o i i 3
SCHOOL HO USE. ist Innings H. E. Wood b Porter B. L. Ford b Wood i C. P. Longland c Porter b Wood C. V. Hodgson c Carrel b Porter R. H. Rowland c and b Wood i P. C. W. Monahan b Wood i ... M. J. C. Stanlev b Porter O. R. Davies c Bridgman b Wood i ... J. S. Colombi not oui ... ... H. D. P. Raban c Collier b Porter E. F. Stanton c Slade b Wood i ... Extras ... ... ...
... ...
... ...
w. 4 6
... ...
...
... ...
...
C. E. Porter ... R. H. N. Wood
o. 15 15
BOWLING. m. ... 8 ... 9
o 7 0
Total
o 2 36
... ...
HOSTEL. 2nd Innings. C. E. Porter b Wood ii ... ... ... G. H. Carrel b Hodgson ... G. D. S. Boole c Ford b Wood ii C. D. Garrett c Davies b Hodgson ... F. H. G. Bridgman c Davics b Wood ii
r. n 23
... ...
w. 4 6
...
-.
in
... ...
... ...
21 n 10
J. D. H. Slade b Wood ii A. E. Blackband b Wood ii C P R Collier not out W. L. Readman run out 7
F
Total
82
r. 39 43
8 i 13 3
C. V. Hodgson... H. E. Wood ... R. H. Rowland
o. 20 17 3
BOWLING. m. ... 9 ... 3 ... 2
112
... ... ...
r. 35 60 4
... ... ...
w. 3 5 o
THE VIGORNIAN. SCHOOL HOUSE.
CkEWS.
2nd Innings. c. v. Hodgson lb\v b Porter B. L. Ford b Porter C P. Longland b Wood i H. E. Wood c Slade b Porter R. H . Rowland Ibw b Porter J. S. Colombi c Slade b Porter ... P. C. W. Monahan c Wood i b Porter M. J. C. Stanley b Wood i O. R Davies b Porter H. D P. Raban b Wood i E. F. Stanton not out Extras
21
37 i o 7 13 o o o IO
Total
BOWLING. o.
C. E. Porter ... 2 I -S R. H. N. Wood 18 G. H. Carrel ... S A. E. Blackband Won by 53 runs.
575
r. 35 42
w.
7 3 o o
Rowing. HOUSE RACES. There were three entries for the House Challenge Cup this year, and the draw was— ist Round—School House v. Day Boys. Winner of ist Round v. Castle House. The School House were lucky in having three members of this year's ist boat available for their crew, and therefore were expected to win. At the same time, they were challenged well by two other houses, who practised hard beforehand and did their best to overhaul them in the actual races. This gives us an opportunity of bringing out an important point with regard to House Races, and it is this :— that one mistake of any sort during the race by any member of the crew most probably means the loss of the race, owing to the short course, and therefore however many first colours a house may have available for their boat, there is always a chance for any other house to beat them, and they should therefore never allow a House to take the House Cup unchallenged, which has happened in former years on at least one occasion, which is to be regretted. In the ist Round, School House beat the Day Boys by two lengths. In the Final, School House beat Castle House by two and a half lengths, Castle House holding on to them well up to about half-way.
School House. Castle House. Day Boys. (Bow) J. S. Colombi L. S. Daniels J. B. Edwards (2) M. J. C. Stanley C. E. Payne J. H. Nicholls (3) P. C. W. Monahan D. A. B. Hopkin B. A. Sewell (Str.) E. C. Halton C. F. Assheton P. Haynes (Cox) M. M. Hallett R. S. Carter E. J. Cole
Sbootlng Dotes. Shooting has been very active this term. Following the policy initiated last year, over threequarters of the corps have been given an opportunity of shooting and all records have been kept. In this way every man gets practical experience, and the nucleus of an " V I I I " can be formed. Though many cadets have shown considerable promise, it has been impossible to do more than test each man's capabilities, since the repeated procrastination of the target makers has entirely thwarted us in our original intention, namely to discover more first and second class shots. At the beginning of this term, there were eleven first class shots left, and the prospects for the VIII are very satisfactory. A section competition has been arranged and it is hoped that still more new talent may be unearthed. The range has been cleaned up and presents a much improved appearance. R.H.N.W. W.E.A.B.
0.C.C. Rotes. Good progress has been made in training this term. During the earlier part of the term we were favoured with good weather, and were able to continue steadily through the syllabus. # # * Two classes were formed to prepare for Certificate A examination. Class A took the practical examination on October 22nd. There were originally eleven candidates, but McDonaugh left before the examination and Birkmyre was absent through illness. Of the rest all passed except one. The successful candidates took the written examination on Tuesday, November 8th, but the result is not yet to hand. Class B will take the examination next term.
This year the contingent attended Camp at Mytchett Farm, Aldershot. We were again restricted to 60, all ranks. The camp was organized and training conducted by the Brigade of Guards. We formed one company with University College School. All ranks worked well. The Under Officers had plenty of opportunities to command and
576
THE VIGORNIAN.
were well backed up by their N.C.O.'s. Training each day was from 9.15 a.m. to 2.0 p.m., with no further parades. This system, which now seems universal, is more popular than the old method, when training was divided into two parts, morning and afternoon. Night operations took place on Saturday, July 3ist. These were more interesting than usual. The country was extremely difficult for night work, but the scheme was very successfully carried out, culminating in our area of the operations, in an encounter with Eton College, whom we managed to drive back towards Camp. Several good demonstrations were witnessed, and the work generally was made as interesting as possible. The situation of the camp, which was new to most of us, is delightful. The lake, in which there was bathing, and the canal, on which there were facilities for boating, were much appreciated. There were very few competitions in Camp, but in the Band Competition the band again gave a very creditable display. Their playing is steadily improving, and they were placed third, being beaten by Campbell College, Belfast, and Downside. Too much praise cannot be given to the band for their efforts. It is only by giving up a large part of their spare time during the year that they can reach the high standard they set themselves. There were sports on Sunday and in these we entered u tug-of-war team, which was successful in winning the competition for schools with contingents under 100 strong. Field operations took place on November 4th. The contingent, headed by the band, marched to the Old Hills. There the forces separated, one force marching to its starting point near Madresfield, and the other moving into an area to be defended in the common. C.S.M. Wood com. manded the attacking force, whose object was to get within striking distance of Pixham Ferry by a certain time. His force was formed as an advance guard to a larger force, and had to march some distance before encountering an enemy. This gave excellent practice to subordinate leaders in handling their units, and an opportunity to exercise scouts. As they approached the common they were fired on, and were forced to deploy and organize an attack, on what seemed to be a strongly held position. This Wood proceeded to do very well. His only fault was that he was not content to give orders to his subordinate commanders, and leave them to carry them out. He moved about too much from one platoon to another. Otherwise the attack was developed on the right lines, and eventually the defending force was compelled to evacuate its forward positions. Halton withdrew his troops skilfully, and was enabled to take up a final defensive position in the neighbourhood of St. Cloud Farm. He held on for some time until the whole of the attacking force was employed to dislodge him as the " stand fast " was blown.
Except for the point mentioned above the conduct of the attack was ably carried out. The early dispositions of the defence were good, and the withdrawal was carried out in a proper manner and in accordance with general principles. There was on both sides, as is usually the case, too much movement without taking advantage of proper cover. The defending force consisted almost entirely of recruits, who needed a good deal of supervision, but even allowing for this there was too much movement visible to the attacking force. The attacking force were bettor in this respect, but there was still a tendency for commanders to expose themselves unnecessarily. As usual, we were favoured with good weather, except for a slight shower while we were having tea. After tea about 20 smaller boys were sent home by motor 'bus and the rest marched home. * * * On Sunday, November I3th, the contingent attended church parade on the occasion of Mayor's Sunday. The following letter was subsequently received from the Mayor : " Will you please accept and convey to all under your command my best thanks for turning out in such numbers on Sunday last. I appreciate very much the honour conferred on me by their attendance. Yours faithfully, A. E. COVERDALE, Mayor." Shooting has been carried on this term on the miniature range. C.S.M. Wood was appointed Captain of Shooting, and L/Cpl. Brown secretary. During the term C.S.M. Wood was examined for entrance to Sandhurst. The result is not yet known, but there is little doubt that he will be accepted. P.H. Graves-Morris is gazetted to the Worcestershire Regiment, and has gone to join his battalion on the Rhine. C.S.M. Handley is leaving this term after nine years' service, and his place is taken by C.S.M. Cooper, who has just completed 21 years' service with the Worcestershire Regiment. * * * The following report was received on Sergeants Arbuckle and Hopkin, who attended a course of instruction in physical training at the Army School, Aldershot, during the summer holidays : Physique. Performance. Leadership. D. A. B. Hopkin Very Good. Good. Good. A. D. Arbuckle ... Good. Good. Good. * * * There were 32 recruits this term. * # *
THE VIGORNIAN. The following Promotions and Appointments were made : To be C.S.M.— Sergt. R. H. N. Wood. To be Sergeant— Cpl. G. D. S. Boole. Cpl. A. D. Arbuckle. Cpl. D. A. B. Hopkin. To be L/Cpl.— Cadet C. V. Hodgson. G. W. Rowland. „ D. M. Birkmyrc. „ C. D. Garrett. „ W. E. A. Brown. ,, C. E. Payne. ,, P. C. Monahan. ,, E. McDonaugh. „ G. H. Carrel.
CIKSS notes. On Tuesday, October 4th, K. N. Ross, O.V., played ten simultaneous games against members of the Chess Club, winning 4, drawing 6. Alt games were unfinished. His opponents were J. G. Beavan (J), O. R. Craze (J), T. O'D. Lumley (o), T. S. Broadhurst (J), P. Headeach (o), P. C. Medawar (o), R. G. Weight (J), J. H. Waylen (J), M. J. Balch (o), W. R. Graves-Morris (£).
Similarly, on October nth, C. J. O. Blackall, O.V., played six games against a less formidable opposition. He won three games and lost three. His opponents were T. S. Broadhurst (i), R. G. W. Weight (o), J. H. Waylen (o), W. R. Graves-Morris (i), F. H. C. Williams (o), J. Gray
To be Band-Sergeant— Sergt. E. Halton,
O.C.C. Account. Year ending ist October, 1927. RECEIPTS. Fees 3rd Term 1926 ,, ist Term, 1927 ... ... ,, 2nd Term, 1927 ... ... From Gym. A/c Government Grant ... ... ... Army Draft Sundry ... ... ... ... Debit Balance, ist October, 1927
577
£ ... ... ... ...
s. d.
112 6 10 ... 106 9 o ... 200 7 6 13 6 8 .... 93 8 o 35 8 8 ... 2 4 6 39 o i £602 ii
3
J. G. Beavan was invited to play for Worcestershire against Warwickshire on October ijth. He played $oth Board and won. The result of the match was 25 points all. The Headmaster of the College for the Blind (Mr. Brown), very kindly invited three members of the Chess Club to play against M. Richard Reti, the CzechoSlovakian Master, on October 26th. Accordingly, J. G. Beavan, O. R. Craze, and T. O'D. Lumley went up to the College. Unfortunately Beavan had to leave early, and Craze soon after. All had interesting and instructive games.
Our first match this season was played against Malvern College, at Malvern, on November 5th. Although we were not at full strength a win was secured by four points to two. Games were played as follows :—
EXPENDITURE. Debit Balance, ist October, 1926 Clothing, Equipment, etc. ... ... Band Field Day. i ... ... ... 2 ... ... ... 3 ... ... ... Camp. Fees ... ... ... ,, Fares, e"tc. ... ... Musketry Requisites Hire of Range ... ... ... Wages Text Books, Stationery, etc. ... Aldershot P.T. Course ... ... Sundries ... ... ... ... Bank Charges
£ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...
s. d.
... ...
9 4 3 66 i 7 45 17 2 ... 24 2 o ... 38 10 2 ... 21 10 o ... 60 o o ... 106 6 10 15 6 5 ... 2 10 o 176 13 o ... 13 16 i ... 520 ... 10 n 7 7 0 2 £602 n 3
C. CREIGHTON, Headmaster. A. J. BENTLEY, O.C.
W.C.K.S. y. G. Beavan T. O'D. Lumley T. S. Broadhurst W. R. Graves-Morris J. H. Waylen H. C. Hay ward -
i I i o I o
MALVERN COLLEGE. A. B. Cohen 1. C. Duthrie E. H. Moss D. M. Griffith ]. B. Hatch-Barn well J. G. Geary
o o o i o t
On November I5th, a match was played against a very strong team representing the College for the Blind. They were given a surprisingly good fight. Although the result was a rather overwhelming victory for the College, the School team may be satisfied with holding a team whose every member has represented the County. The Chess played was generally of a high order, the opening play especially left little to be desired,
THE VIGORNIAN.
578
The games were played as follows :— W.C.K.S. COLLEGE FOR THE BLIND. I. G. Beavan o A. Brace i O. R. Craze o R. Cross i T. O'D. Lumley i R. F. Ash - | T. S. Broadhurst o A. C. Threlfall i J. H. Waylen o G. Miller i P. Headeach o P. A. Hughes i
Our thanks are due to F. W. Trent, Esq., the Captain of the Worcester City Club, for an extremely interesting and instructive lecture on Thursday, November 24th. Those who were present received invaluable instruction in the Middle Game. All hope he will lecture on another occasion. On Thursday, December ist, a match was played against a strong team representing the Worcester City and VI. All games were well fought-out, and the School team may be congratulated on gaining a win over their stronger opponents. Individual games were played as follows : W.C.K.S. Rev R. J. Whitaker J. G. Beavan T. O'D. Lumley T. S. Broadhurst J. H. Waylen R. G. W. Weight -
i i i i J o
W.C.C.C. II. D. W. Foss, Esq. Rev. J. C. Robertson H. G. Perkins, Esq. Capt. L. Sharpe R. B. Dyer, Esq. W. T. Hayes, Esq. -
o o o £ § i
T. O'D.L.
Mr. D. A. B. Hopkin, who opposed, said that he was not supporting the Conservative Party. He abhorred party politics. The Socialists had amongst them no statesmen. Mr. J. H. C. Phelips, in seconding the motion, asked the House to give the Labour Party a chance—they represented the workers, upon whom all the fabric of the State rested. The references of Mr. R. H. N. Wood, who seconded the opposition, to Bishop Barnes were somewhat irrelevant. He thought that no chances ought to be given to, or taken with the Labour party. After the debate had been thrown open to the House there was a continual flow of speakers, many of whom showed that they had given far deeper thought to the question than the leaders of the debate. On the house dividing, the motion was lost by 39 votes to 9. *
*
*
On Wednesday, November gth, the Secretary proposed that " Hanging should be substituted for penal servitude." He tried to prove that hanging was both more merciful to the criminal and a better safeguard to the community as a whole. He seemed obsessed by the idea that a criminal commits suicide immediately he comes out of prison. Mr. D. A. B. Hopkin, who opposed the motion, enlarged upon the comfort of prisons, claiming to have had inside information from a friend who had spent some time in one ! Mr. E. W» Parsons seconded the motion and declared that if prisons were as comfortable as the opposer said they were, it was no punishment to be put in one, and that therefore criminals should be hanged. Mr. J. R. W. Digby's speech was somewhat irrelevant, as he had arrived late and not heard the arguments of the other side. On the motion being thrown open to the House, speakers were slow in coming forward, and the motion was eventually lost by 4 votes to 23.
Debating Soclttp. President : The Headmaster. Chairman : A. D. Franklin, Esq. Secretary : G. D. S. Boole. Committee : J. R. Wingfield-Digby, D. A. B. Hopkin, D. W. A. Molony, J. H. C. Phelips, E. W. Parsons, O. R. Davies, C. D. Garrett, J. S. Hughes. At a meeting of the Committee, held on Wednesday, October 26th, it was unanimously decided to hold five debates during the term, including one political and one impromptu. The political debate was held on Saturday, October 2gth, when Mr. J, R. W. Digby proposed that " this house will support the Labour Party at the next election." In a somewhat long-winded and rambling speech he took it for granted that the average man did not know what Socialism meant. He corrected innumerable fallacies which he declared were general concerning the ultimate aims of the Socialists, but only devoted a few seconds, in passing, to their present policy.
On Saturday, November 26th, Mr. D. A. B. Hopkin proposed that " this House will enter for a Boxing Competition." He said that we ought to be ashamed of having dropped the Boxing Competition last Easter. He considered that to give up boxing altogether would mean the growth of effeminacy in the School. ' Mr. D. W. A. Molony, who opposed the motion, enlarged upon the disgusting old system wherein all and sundry, whether they could box or not were forced to enter for the competition, which took about a fortnight to fight out. He thought that no matter what was done in the way of legislation nobody could entirely eradicate a feeling of House antagonism amongst the spectators, which was contrary to the best interests of the sport. Mr. R. H. N. Wood supported the motion. He was of the opinion that there should be a boxing competition, but that only those should enter who had had boxing lessons during the year, and that non-combatants should not be
THE VIGORNIAN.
579
allowed to watch the bouts. This he claimed would remove all the obstacles put forward by the Hon. Opposer.
The following book has been presented by the Author to the Chappel Memorial Reading Room :—
Mr. J. R. W. Digby opposed the motion. He said that the boxing competition had died a natural death. Let it then lie. It had been a failure, why try and bring it to life again? He seemed to be ignorant of the fact that the boxing competition had been dropped in order to encourage boxing of the proper kind.
Flying Round the World
On the motion being thrown open to the House, Messrs. Parsons, Cockle and Boole spoke for the motion, and the Headmaster spoke neutrally, saying that while he was in favour of boxing, and the proposers of the motion had disposed of the reasons of his dislike of the old boxing competition, he was still doubtful if in a school of our size enough boxers could be found in each weight to make a competition practicable. The opposer and mover of the motion then summed up, and on the House dividing the motion was won by 38 votes to 28. This voting however can hardly be said to represent the true feeling of the House, School House having been canvassed beforehand, and voting as one man against the motion. G.B.
Kind's Scbolarsbip Examination. The following were successful in the Examination held on November 8th and gth :— 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
J. R. A. Embling, King's School, Worcester. A. V. Parsons, St. Michael's College, Tenbury. R. H. Egar, Worcester Cathedral Choir School. P. Headeach, King's School, Worcester. J. E. A. King, King's School, Worcester. HOUSE SCHOLARSHIP. C. R. Cockburn, Cathedral School, Oxford.
Cbe Cibrarp. The following new books have been added to the School Library :— The House of the Arrow A. E. W. Mason No Other Tiger „ ,, The Tavern Knight Raphael Sabatini The Nuptials of Corban ,, ,, Witch Wood J. Buchan The Wind in the Willows Kenneth Grahame The Worm Desmond Coke The Lost Column Captain Gilson G. A. Henty With Lee in Virginia From Powder Monkey to Admiral Kingston The Warlord of Mars E. Rice Burroughs The Jewel of the Seven Stars Bram Stoker
Major W. T. Blake
and by the Headmaster :— Rugger! W. W. Wakefield and H. P. Marshall D.A.B.H.
Che p.C. Camp* This year the P.T. Camp started directly after the O.T.C. Camp, so we went straight from Mytchett, which was only about two miles from the A.S.P.T. Barracks. All we had to do on the first day was to sign for bedding and say that we had arrived. The next day we were marched down to the gym and divided up into three squads, there being 46 of us all told, which made about 14 in each squad. We then started our daily routine, which consisted not only of physical training, but of boxing, wrestling, swimming, pass-ball, all kinds of athletics, and what was known as agility work. This consisted of performing all kinds of acrobatic antics on mats and horses, at which the majority of us did not excel. We all had chances of drilling our own squads, and we were given many useful hints on how to do so. A pass-ball " American Competition " was arranged, which was won by our squad team, which won all its matches except one, which was drawn. On the last day " tabloid " sports were held. This was a new idea to most of us. The principal was that the whole squad takes part in the various sports. In running races the mean time of the first and last men was taken so as to average for the whole squad, the squad with best average runs being winner. In the other sports, such as jumping, putting the weight, etc., the squad which had the largest number who could reach a certain fixed standard was the winner of the event. The object of this system is to give everyone a'chance of showing what he can do. No. 3 Squad won the sports, winning two out of the three events, which made it winner of the general intersection competition, having won the pass-ball and the swimming relay race. We spent a very enjoyable ten days there, and would advise anyone desiring to become really fit to do the same. D.A.B.H. A.D.A.
THE VIGORNIAN.
Crime. It was a warm September day, The air was thick with flies ; The farmers wrestled with their hay, The cows had closed their eyes. Across the meadow, poplars showed Their branches to the sun, And here an adder, here a load, Came out to join the fun. But, weary, I lay on a heap Of leaves, beneath an oak, And as I drifted off to sleep I heard a voice which spoke. " Arise, Theophilus," it said, And in my sleep I rose. I saw before me on the grass A regiment of crows. And in their midst a mighty bird Much larger than the rest Stood up, in purple cloak arrayed, And shook its noble crest. " Thou art a murderer ! " his cry. I quivered and went red. " Am I a murderer? " screamed I ; And then the monster said : " Last night you mowed your tennis court; And, as your murderous knives Descended, fifteen hundred short Sweet daisies lost their lives." The crows prepared their guns to fire, " Your reasoning is obtuse," I cried. " What's more, you are a liar! " Alas! It was no use. They fired. And then I woke of course, I heard a creature munch. Above me stood a greedy horse, Consuming all my lunch. J.R.W.D.
H Dream. I woke up with a vague feeling of uneasiness, which was increased by the fact that every other bed was empty and made. At first I thought that I might perhaps by hurrying be in time for breakfast or at the worst for school prayers, but the notes of a bugle-call which just penetrated to the dormitory caused my heart to leap into my mouth. I had not thought I had overslept as badly as that. Not knowing what I was doing, I grabbed up clothes and flung them on. I dashed out and breathed again to find that I was almost in time. I was fearing
that I had heard " Fall In " blown, not " markers." I composed myself for inspection. The inspecting officer passed down the ranks; he stopped before me and proceeded to turn a vivid purple. I had to look down to see what was the matter with me. Horror of horrors ! I had hitherto failed to notice that t was clad in " rugger " shorts, corps tunic, and bedroom slippers. I was wearing a tie, and a bicycle purnp held up by a piece of string took the place of a bayonet. For a rifle I grasped a broom ; and on my head was a smashed straw-hat. The officer gave a curt order, and four inhuman beings advanced upon me; then it dawned upon me that the officer was possessed of horns and a tail. The fiends goaded me towards a howitzer of phenomenal size. The barrel was lowered, and I was thrust in. The barrel was elevated again. After some moments I was conscious of being at the bottom of a deep hole in the earth, and looking up I perceived black-clothed figures above, shovelling earth in upon me. A bell tolled dismally. . . . I really must eat less at nights.
P.B.
Cbe Duke of fork's Camp. The Duke of York's four hundred guests who, as everyone knows, are taken equally from the Public Schools and from the industrial centres of England, met, as usual every year, at the Royal Mews for dinner, and after some sightseeing, proceeded to Cannon Street Station, from which New Romney was reached in two hours. Arrived at our destination, we were transported to the Camp by the smallest public railway in England, and, as far as we know, in Europe. This is, indeed, a mechanical wonder ; the gauge is only eighteen inches, and the engines are built exactly to scale, and travel at quite a respectable speed. Supper awaited us at the Camp, and at this meal we were introduced to all the Camp celebrities and section commanders, and last but not least, to each other. To those who are not already familiar with the organization of the Camp, we may say that the four hundred boys are divided into twenty sections, each of twenty members. Between these sections the Camp Tournaments are played. The daily routine is as follows: Breakfast at eight; prayers at a quarter to nine, and then, until eleven o'clock, games of all kinds. Then bathing before dinner. In the afternoon one was absolutely free until supper time, at half past seven, and after that one could seek entertainment in the Rec. Tent. On Thursday we were visited by the Duke himself, and it must have been a genuine relief for him to get away from his fatiguing duties and really enjoy himself, as he said he', did. That evening the Camp participated in a broadcast concert, in which the Duke joined, and spoke a few words over the ether.
THE VIGORNIAN. The last day was notable for a cross-country run of about three miles in length; but, not being particularly athletic, we did not distinguish ourselves to any great extent ! That evening, after a long entertainment, we proceeded en masse to the beach, on which a colossal fire had been built, and having vented most of our hilarity, we finished up with a Camp pillow-fight, and then retired, weary but contented. Next day, the four hundred tanned representatives disbanded at Cannon Street Station, after a week's delightful holiday. We thoroughly recommend all who have a chance to try and go to the Camp next year. C.D.G.
CbouaMs on a Recent €oent (Ad Magistros.) We're Government Inspectors and we're going to grind you small, We'll show you you know nothing about teaching French at all. We'll crab your Mathematics game and paralyse your " stinks," For we don't care one half-holiday what anybody thinks. We'll rip your Classics up the seams and swear your Scripture's " dud." We'll curse your History notes until the ink is turned !o blood. We'll hold you up before your class and prove your brain's of butter ; For we're out to turn your cheek-bones pale and set your heart a-flutter. But here is an analogy that you may take or leave :— It may or may not cheer you and it may or may not grieve :— Just recollect the time you've spent in cursing Smifkins ii. Would you begrudge the little that he's getting back on you? It's only then by proxy ;—but just think how Moke must bray, When Coster gets it in the neck from R.S.P.C.A. ! LOWER NTH.
" Sir Rupert/* or "ClK Gbost thai Didn't.' When old Sir Charles lived at the Hall, Old-fashioned customs were the rage. The rusty armour on the wall Harboured the dust of many an age. But most revered of customs old Was Christmas Day, or so I'm told.
Now all such places have a ghost, It adds a comfortable touch. Sir Rupert was this mansion's boast, Who frightened all the servants much. This phantom when they'd gone to bed Would walk the Hall without a head .' But when, alas, Sir Charles was dead A younger set of folk did come : No classic ballads now. Instead The saxaphone and kettle drum Were heard re-echoing through the Hall: Sir Rupert wasn't pleased at all 1 A ball was held on Christmas Eve. The rafters shook with laughter gay. Such revels as you 'd scarce believe: The dance continued till next day. Sir Rupert, in a temper vile, Soliloquized with bitter smile :— " Ah me! No revels through the night Disgraced the Hall in 'eighty four. But these young folk are spoiling quite The Good Old Days that are no more! '' The ghost then planned a great surprise, The which he managed in this wise :— As Charleston twisted every knee The door swung open, and in stalked The ghastly spectre, plain to see ; And headless through the Hall he walked! His bloody hands were hung with chains While curdling groans proclaimed his pains. But did those moderns care? Not they. " Hallo," they said, " Come in, old chap I " Offered him cocktails on a tray : 'Twas plain they didn't mind a rap. Sir Rupert turned and quickly fled. "The Christmas ghost's played out," he said! E.W.P.
Sea Rowing and Rtoer Rowing. It used generally to be agreed amongst river oarsmen that seamen could never be any good as river oarsmen, as they were used to heavy clumsy boats, and could therefore never be expected to acquire the style and balance so necessary in a light four or eight. I suppose these views are still held, but I venture to point out that they are not entirely correct. In sea rowing the motions are exactly the same as in river rowing and style is just as essential. A man who can pull a good oar in a sea boat can soon be trained to row well in a light four or eight. This was proved at Cambridge after the Great War, when the Admiralty sent classes of young officers to Cambridge University for special study. They gave a very good account of themselves on the river
582
THE VIGORNIAN.
and defeated some of the college crews, much to the discomfiture of the latter! When pulling an oar in a seaboat for the first time, after being used to river craft, the first thing one notices is the terrific weight of the oar and of the boat. Having had experience of this I speak with feeling ! More " beef " is required to cope with the extra weight of the oar, and until your arms get used to the extra strain you feel as if you had no arms left. The types of boats most used in the Royal Navy for boat pulling are cutters, whalers and gigs. Cutters are either thirty or thirty-two feet in length and about eight feet wide at the widest part. The stern is flat. The crew consists of twelve oarsmen and a coxswain (pronounced " coxun "). The former sit two on each thwart, so that you have two stroke and two bow oars. The stroke is necessarily rather short and choppy, but a good " beefy " crew can lengthen out a great deal. The row-locks consist of U-shaped openings in the gun whale of the boat. There are no such things as out-riggers in sea boats. A whaler is a much smaller and lighter boat, twentyseven feet in length and about six feet wide in the middle. The boat tapers to a point at each end. The crew consists of five oarsmen (one to each thwart) and a coxswain. This seems rather peculiar as you have three men pulling one side and two the other, but it works all right. The rowlocks are metal crutches, more or less fork-shaped, which fit into sockets in the gunwhale. A gig (or galley) is thirty feet in length with a flat stern, and about the same width as a whaler. This is the nicest type of sea boat to pull in, and is the lightest for its size. There are two kinds : carvel built, and sewn boats. Sewn boats are built with two thicknesses of mahogany; the inner thickness being worked at right angles to keel from gunwhale to gunwhale; the outer thickness worked longitudinally as in a carvel-built boat. The two thicknesses are fastened or sewn together with copper wire. All other pulling boats, except launches and pinnaces, are clinker-built. The crew of a gig consists of six oarsmen and a coxswain. The row-locks are the same as for whalers. The boat as a whole is much better fitted for pulling than any other, and incidentally is the best sailing boat. Other boats are skiffs, pinnaces and launches. A skiff is a i6ft. dinghy, which can be sculled by one man. The usual skiff's crew is three and a coxswain, bow and stroke pulling single oars and No. 2 using sculls; but in regattas an extra thwart is fitted so that you can get four single oars, the coxswain balancing himself precariously on the stern of the boat. A pinnace is similar in shape to a cutter but is thirty-six feet in length, and is diagonal built. In diagonal-built boats the planks fit close as in carvel-built boats, but standing at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the keel line. They are built in two thicknesses, the inner thickness having the gun-whale ends of the planks falling aft, and the outer thickness the gunwhale ends falling forward. When used for pulling, a pinnace has a crew of twenty-
eight oarsmen and a coxswain, and probably an extra man as trainer or timekeeper. The oarsmen sit four on a thwart, each oar being double-banked. A launch is also similar to a cutter, but still larger, being forty-two feet long, and is diagonal built. The crew consists of forty-eight oarsmen and a coxswain, etc., each oar being treble-banked (six men on each thwart). Launches and pinnaces are very rarely used for boat pulling except at regattas. The oars of gigs, whalers and skiffs ire made of fir, much heavier than river boat oars. They are similar in shape, except that where the oar fit? in the crutch it is rounded, and the loom of the oar is squared, except at the extreme end where it is tapered off so that you can get one hand right round it. Those of cutters, pinnaces and launches are much heavier and clumsier. They are made of ash, and the whole oar, apart from the blade, is rounded the same thickness throughout, except the end bit of the loom which is tapered the same as a fir car. The blade of the oar is long and straight, and narrow in proportion. There are no such things as buttons on seaboats' oars, but there is no difficulty about getting your blade in square, as the loom of the oar is a guide in the case of a fir oar, and you never feather an ash oar—it is too hoavy for one thing. If you are pulling in a choppy sea it becomes necessary to watch your oar occasionally. It might occur to people that it wouldn't be a bad idea for us to use some lighter form of boat in the Navy for racing purposes. This would be impossible for many reasons. The occasions on which light racing boats could be used, even in the most sheltered harbours, are rare, a flat calm being obviously essential. Again, if such boats could be used, it would be impossible to stow them on board a ship in addition to the ship's boats already there. Therefore the ship's boats must be used instead, and as these are also built for sailing and must be seaworthy, it would be out of the question to substitute lighter boats. As for keeping special light boats on shore, that would also be out of the question, as the only existing places for stowing boats are in the various dockyards. Fleet regattas are usually held miles away from any dockyard port (usually in some out of the way harbour in Scotland, or at the other end of nowhere if abroad !), so this would not help much. The cost of transporting such boats to any port, and the provision of special boat houses at such ports (which would necessarily be involved), quite apart from the cost of the boats and oars themselves, would be quite unwarranted. In spite of the heavy boats we have to use, we do have some very excellent regattas in the Navy, which arouse just as much excitement and enthusiasm as the various 'Varsity races. A good men's cutter's crew will romp home in fine style after a two-mile race, and I have seen a launch's crew finish a three-mile course pulling well the whole time. Personally, the most I have pulled in a race is one mile in a gig, and that nearly killed me ! H. J. KlRBY,
O.V.
THE VIGORNIAN.
School Officers. Captain of School Captain of Football Secretary of Football Captain of Shooting Secretary of Shooting Captain of Fives Captain of Gym. Secretary of Chess
-
G. D. S. Boole. A. D. Arbuckle. E. C. Halton. R. H. N. Wood. W. E. A. Brown, G. H. Carrel. D. A. B. Hopkin. T. O'D. Lumlev.
Captains of Houses :— School House Castle House Day Boys Hostel Natland
E. C. Halton. D. A. B. Hopkin. A. D. Arbuckle. G. D. S. Boole, G. H. Ridley. School Monitors—G. D. S. Boole, A. D. Arbuckle, D. A. B. Hopkin, E. C. Halton, R. H. N. Wood. Editors of the Vigornian—G. D. S. Boole, D. A. B. Hopkin, E. W. Parsons, J. H. C. Phelips. Librarians—D. A. B. Hopkin, F. H. Yarnold, E. W. Parsons, W. E. A. Brown, O. R. Davies, C. F. Assheton, C. H. Yeomans.
Remove. Beard, J. H. L. Day Boy. Gray, J. School House. Middle IV. Bissley, B. F. L. School House. Cockayne, G. A. Hostel. Gefeall, J. T. L. Castle House. Jackson, P. H. School House. Rowe ii I. W. Day Boy. Spence, H. H. Day Boy. Lower IV. Bartrip, K. F. Day Boy. Lamb, A. R. Day Boy. Parlby, G. E. Castle House. Pethord, G. F. Day Boy. Smythe, J. B. School House. Steward, F. A. Day Boy. Wyatt, G. C. Day Boy. Third Form. Barker, R. B. Day Boy. Martin, B. Day Boy. Wagstaff, J. A. Day Boy. Second Form. Averill, T. E. Hostel. Bailey iii, L. M. Hostel. Baylis ii., F. W. Day Boy. Branch, A. E. N. Hostel. Crowe, M. G. N. Day Boy.
583
Gardiner, I. G. Day Boy. Goodman, R. E. Day Boy. Graves-Morris ii, J. W. School House. Hall, R. W. Day Boy. Key, J. E. Day Boy. Kitson, G. G. Day Boy. Luscombe, C. E. Natland. Reynolds, J. H. Day Boy. Summers ii, R. E. Day Boy. Wilkes, P. D. Day Boy.
Vakte.
Classical VI. Edwards, J. B. (1918-27). Day Boy. 2nd IV Rowing 1927. 2nd XV Football 1926. L/Cpl. O.T.C. Cert. A 1927. Langstaff, H. F. (1921-27). Natland. School Monitor. Cox 2nd IV 1923, 2nd XI Cricket 1926, ist XI 1927, ist XV Football 1926, Shooting V I I I 1926-27, Captain of Shooting 1927, Under Officer O.T.C., Cert. A 1924. Longland, C. P. (1923-27). School House. School Monitor. 2nd XI Cricket 1926-27. 2nd XV Football 1925, ist XV 1926, Editor of Vigornian, Band-Sergeant O.T.C., Cert. A 1927. Wilding, J. (1921-27). Day Boy. Modern VI. Bishop, G. L. (1918-27). Day Boy. Cdt. O.T.C. Blackall, C. J. O. (1920-27). School House. Secretary of Chess 1927, Librarian 1927, Cadet O.T.C. 1924-25. Clutton, C. (1923-27). School House. Cadet O.T.C. Garnett, C. L. (1919-27). Castle House. Captain of School 1926-27, 2nd XI Cricket 1924-25, ist XI 1926-27, Secretary of Cricket 1927, 2nd XV Football 1924, ist XV 1925-26, Captain of Football 1926, ist IV Fives 1925-27, Captain of Fives 1927, Shooting VIII 1925-27, Editor of Vigornian, Under Officer O.T.C., Cert. A 1924. Hargraves, H. L. (1919-27). Day Boy. 2nd XI Cricket 1927, ist XV Football 1926, Cadet O.T.C. King, J. L. (1921-27). Day Boy. Nicholls, J. H. (1921-27). Day Boy. L/Cpl. O.T.C. Cert. A 1927. Painting, J. J. (1922-27). Day Boy. Editor of Vigornian, Librarian, Sergt. O.T.C., Cert. A 1925. Rieu, E. (1922-27). Hostel. L/Cpl. O.T.C. Cert. A 1927. Stanley, M. J. C. (1919-27). School House. 2nd IV Rowing 1926-27, ist XV Football 1926, Cpl. O.T.C. Cert. A 1927. Stanton, E. F. (1924-27). School House. 2nd IV Rowing 1926-7, ist XV Football 1927, Shooting VIII 192627, Secretary of Shooting 1927, Cpl. O.T.C., Cert. A 1927. Lower VI Eckersley, R. S. (1921-27). Day Boy.
Cadet O.T.C.
584
THE VIGORNIAN.
Porter, C. E. (1919-27). Hostel. School Monitor, ist XI Cricket 1922-27, Captain of Cricket 1926-27, 2nd XV Football 1925, ist XV 1926, ist IV Fives 1925-27, C.S.M., Cert. A 1927. Taylor, M. S. (1918-27). Day Boy. 2nd XI Cricket 1926-27, 2nd XV Football 1926, Sergt. O.T.C., Cert. A 1925. Upper V. Brighouse, R. M. (1920-27). Day Boy. Hornblower, W. (1922-27). Day Boy. Mansfield, F. J. N. (1924-27). Natland. Cadet O.T.C. Matheson, D. L. (1923-27). School House. 2nd XV Football 1926, Librarian, Cpl. O.T.C., Cert. A 1927. Parsons, H. G. (1922-27). Natland. Shooting VIII 1926-27, L/Cpl. O.T.C. Sewell, B. A. (1922-27). Day Boy. White, J. S. (I92J-27). Day Boy. Cadet O.T.C. Lower V. Colombi, J. S. (1924-27). School House. ist IV Rowing 1927, ist XV Football 1925-26, L/Cpl. O.T.C. Gascoigne, T. E. (1922-27). School House. Cadet O.T.C. Pope, R. S. (1924-27). Hostel. Cadet O.T.C. Remove. Granger, E. J. (1924-27). Hostel. Shooting VIII 1927. Cadet O.T.C. Pratt, E. (1922-27). Day Boy. Singeisen, W. E. (1925-27). Hostel. Shooting VIII 1927. Cadet O.T.C. Upper IV. Knight, E. W. (1924-27). Day Boy. Royle, M. D. B. (1020-27). Castle House. 2nd XI Cricket 1924-25, ist XI 1926-27, ist IV Fives 1925-27, Cadet O.T.C. Middle IV. Hartwright, W. S. (1922-27). Day Boy. Cadet O.T.C. Pike, N. K. G. ^925-27). Day Boy. ist XI Cricket 1926-27. Slater, J. H. (1925-27). Day Boy. Solon, W. L. (1926-27). Day Boy. Lower IV. Allsebrook, W. B. (1927). Castle House. Phillips, L. E. (1925-27) Natland. Cadet O.T.C. Third. Bomford, B. H. (1925-27). Day Boy. Tysoe, L. E. (1927). Day Boy.
Cbe oxford Cciur. To the Editors of ihe " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Once more the poor " fresher " quails at the prospect of writing this terminal epistle, which few will read and none appreciate. Ghosts of past writers rise before our eyes, pointing derisive fingers at our efforts, and shaking with silent demoniacal laughter. But at last they shrink back in fear and cower before a vision splendid—inspiration has come and laid her soothing fingers on the sufferer's brow. The most important event of the past term has been, of course, the great Rag on Guy Fawkes' night, of which you, sirs, no doubt read such true and vivid accounts in the London papers. Oxford has fallen on evil days, if we are to believe these same scurrilous news-sheets; but we are not to believe them, my friends; read the " Isis," and learn the truth. We beg to offer our congratulations to the persons responsible for the introduction of that periodical into the Reading Room ; but we would like to remind you that the " Isis " is not Oxford, nor Oxford the " Isis." We were glad to welcome Mr. Franklin, our " plagosus Orbilius," on his fleeting visit to the " rose-red city." In the short time he was with us he became so intoxicated with the Oxford atmosphere, that he tended to consider himself once more an undergraduate. We hope he returned to you with a good report of our behaviour. Oxford, having silenced the critics of her athletic abilities by her fine victory over the Waratahs, proposes to galvanise those same critics into enthusiasm by swamping Cambridge in every form of sport from rowing to froth-blowing. We sincerely hope that a certain visit to this University this term will result in an addition to our colony next term. Certain Oxford O.V. who are not of this fold have been occasionally seen, but we can give no information concerning them. No news, however, is good news. Our stock of generalities having come to an end, we are faced with the appalling task of making epigramatic (!) statements about each member of our colony in turn. Pity us, and do not judge us too harshly, we beg. M. R. CRAZE (Hertford). Paterfamilias. Broods over us like a kindly spirit, and keeps us from straying from the way we should go. Plays Rugger. Seems depressed by the amount of work necessary for Greats. Has gone to live at the ends of the earth. D. H. PRESTON (Worcester). Lives some way away, but is not infrequently seen. Plays Rugger. Has just finished schools, and fears the worst. Lives next door to some actresses. K. N. Ross (Merton). Plays at chess, at tennis, and at work with an equal lack of success. Was to be seen carousing in the corn on the night of November 5th . . . Was not seen at the St. Hilda's dance this term.
THE VIGORNIAN. C. J. C. MOLONY (Queen's). utmost energy. Whereas .
Rows and runs with the
G. E. CHURCHILL (Hertford). Plays Rugger and the organ. Is working hard for Mods, and talks in Latin and Greek, with occasional quotations in English. C. J. O. BLACKALL (Merton). May frequently be found doing nothing as thoroughly as possible. Sometimes does a little work just before tutorial. Attempted to attract attention by breaking up the " super." J. B. EDWARDS (Wadham). Rows. Is rarely found in but may generally be located at a cinema. Wishing the School every success, Yours, OXON.
585
mand for your, not to use that oft heard phrase " Poisonous Publication "—for your possibly palatable periodical, furthers the deleterious work of the Daily Mail and that d d pile of books for the Vac., over there, in the deforestation of this terrestial orb for the promulgation of mere pulp and . . . . Ah-h-h (" dim "). In other words, " Good-night everybody; good-night." (Twenty minutes to twelve.)
The day and this nib have broken. And even if the actual " Melodye " that " Smale foweles maken," is not to be heard, there is, at least, a very good substitute, for it in the noise which the gentleman next door is already making in preparation for departure. " Oh yes! That " Ah-h-h ("dim ").
Cbc Cambridge Certcr. To the Editors of the " Vigornian," Dear Sirs, Perhaps it is not necessary to refer you to Mr. Tom Andrews; to the Cambridge University Rugby Football Press correspondents, or even to your notes—however scanty—on Certificate A (Militarists and present holders please excuse) to enlighten you on the theory that " Attack is the best method of Defence." We feel aggressive ; nay ! abusive. It is ten minutes to eleven (at night, sillies !) and the day after to-morrow Civilization will convey by very devious routes from this ancient seat of learning and other pastimes to our respective destinations . . And what about the packing? Here we have a letter dated 19/11/27 beginning . " Dear . " Your duty—a Cambridge Letter " . . . This is followed by an eloquent appeal (something about licking the polish from your beautiful boots) for a response within a week. " Really it must be done." Again, " And I shall certainly spit at you if you don't." Yours Very sincerely, Tempestuous! that's what it is. That a very respected member of the School; an honoured and revered Editor of the School Magazine should be associated with such obscenities. (Ten minutes past eleven. No, not morning yet.) Apart from the fact, too, sirs, which apparently you fail to comprehend, that every column you so scurrilously de-
It was merely an excerpt from a great work—Psalmus Hungarius—of M. Kodaly, in which the C.U.M.S. (Musical Society) have distinguished themselves this term. (Though perhaps it did recall to some the Demon's Chorus in the Dream of Gerontius, as being more illustrative of our mood.) This Society, we hear, are also emulating the School Choir in presenting for a whole week in February next, Purcell's " King Arthur " as a " pukka " opera. It is following this by Bach's " Mass in B Minor " in March. You see, CAMBRIDGE does not hibernate during the Michaelmas and Lent Terms. (No, we did not say You do.) There has, as usual, been great activity in all spheres, and, of course, marked efficiency in many quarters. The Rugby team, at Twickenham, will show, no doubt, that the Fates got muddled in the distribution of the spoils in the two respective 'Varsity matches v. the " Waratahs." Then, Cambridge have won the Relays, the only important inter-'Varsity contest to take place during the term itself. But no ! We must not be ungenerous. Has it not always been the function of the Sun to concede some of its brilliance to that " lesser light " . . . Besides, our friends won the Squash Racquets! Among other excitements this term, there was Nov. 5th, which was very dull; there was the inauguration of a new Regius Professor of History—also generally considered very dull, and " Poppy Day " in which the University raised a capital sum for Lord Haig's Fund. On the Cam, we believe, there has been plenty of expletive and other work and some very interesting races in the Coxswainless and Light " Fours." We also know, and have heard, that every College bathroom in Cambridge is by now quite familiar with the first
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" Don't you few bars of " My heart stood still just love 'one dam ' thing after Another "? 'Nough Said. We are, Sirs, Your VERY relieved and unapologetic CAMBRIDGE CORRESPONDENT. P.S.—We wish one ot the Eds. Vig. of last term (no longer so) had not been so insistently impolite as to suggest that University O.V. should not adorn their school precincts in the Vac. with their personal presences, unless they were capable regularly of producing this section of the Vigornian ! ! Here we are but five (the maximum); and though small in numbers and perhaps select, we appeal to you to come to us in future, and not to go to that other place.
J. L. LONGLAND (Bye-Fellow of Magdalene). Has more or less got over his active " three-leggedness " and has not yet reached that state again in second childhood, though he has now survived one whole term as a " Don." He is also reported to have " floated " three new societies this term ; but he cannot remember what the third is, and we do not care to. Moreover we regret to announce a partial reversion to that evil trait in his character, which has now been latent for some two years, viz., a partiality for obstructing himself in the path of that funny round-shaped sort of thing, technically known as a " leather." This to the hindrance of the said " leather " and the discomfiture of the opposing side. But he does play " Rugger " to work off the effect of his innumerable dinners whenever he can. J.L.L. has also been initiated into the art of duck-hunting. He thinks it great fun, but we were not invited to sup with him after his one and only effort in this line and therefore we cannot judge of his prowess.
40 m.p.h.—though he confides to us that it is rather painful to go much faster than that. He is also a member of the University Air Squadron though, apparently, with no intention of entering the Air Force. But of course the C.U.A.S. seldom lets anyone fly, and provides packets of lectures for members to attend. To find Greene, one should go to the Laboratory Froggeries, or to one of the numerous Cambridge Cinemas, all of which he attends with appalling regularity, and enjoys with inordinate relish. Probably, and indeed certainly, works hard. P. LONGLAND (Jesus). (He says his unprinted initial was a pure mistake.) A " Fresher "—we hear he does all the things a " Fresher " should . . . wears a college scarf and tie, smokes a pipe, " cuts " no lectures; in his first half term he got up at 7.30 approx. but since then his " Bedder " (who not infrequently, calls him " you sweet little boy ") announces a tendency of his to indulge in an additional five minutes overtime per diem. He wishes to emphasize that he does not belong to the University O.T.C. Though he is a member of the League of Nation Union, we are told a Fascist last term completely turned his head ; and though an avowed Socialist he pays his five shillings " sub " to the Conservative Association. Of his vices, an uncontrollable passion for bawling in the C.U.M.S. and attending all concerts going, are perhaps the worst. But a good gramophone with a Temple Choir record (we know his origin) on anything in fact—barring Caruso—is to him as honey to Winnie-ther-Pooh. Tchekoff, the overture to Tannhauser, and the final movement of Tchackowsky's " Pathetic Symphony " are rumoured to be other weaknesses of his. Newnharnites, too, are believed to have lunched with him. Plays Rugger and probably also works fairly hard.
Now for a spot of that packing !
There are, too, whispered tales of roof-climbing . . . and moving coping stones . . ssh! R. E. B. ROBINSON. Imitates the conduct of well brought up little boys, except so far as his motor bicycle, and (who knows) maybe his language is concerned. D. WEBB (Emmanuel). Has been seen pondering deeply in Heffer's book-shop, and is a research student. From the combination of these two facts what inference may we not draw? It is also said that he plays " Rugger." Due apologies to Webb that we have not looked further into these matters. J. H. C. GREENE (Emmanuel). Is really quite a nice man. But he is a Natural Scientist, dissects recalcitrant frogs and such-like, and rides a motor bicycle, yes ; even to the Western Wilds of Wales on occasions, at a steady
Cbe CDariol Race. Aurora's saffron light Had scarce dispell'd the night, When forth from Rome's fair towers the people came To watch the young compete With fists and steeds and feet For laurels green and everlasting fame. Loud were the shouts of praise The throng began to raise As mighty Ca;sar took his place in state. Anon ten teams of horse Paced round the sanded course Where drivers strove for fame or bloody fate.
THE VIGORNIAN. With trumpet blast thus spoke Heralds :—" Ye, Roman folk, Give praise to Jupiter, your God, on high, And ye, the sons of might, To Ctesar, lord of right; " "Thee, lord, we, ere our death, salute," they cry. The grooms now led the steeds Fresh from their native meads, Towards the start, where drivers gleamed in steel. .Breathless then gre\v the crowd, The trumpets sounded loud, Off raced the steeds and dust flew from each heel. Without mishaps the post Was rounded thrice by most, Though one was forced to cease by broken reins : But now a hapless man Against the pillar ran, And each of three more teams with him remains. The rest their mad career Continued long, and near Were they when drawing to the course's end ; They thunder on, while shouts Of praise, and also doubts, With crack of whip and reins the heavens rend. The race is o'er; they lead The victor forth ; no need Of fear had he, a noble born and bred. He won the people's praise By war in former days, When in far Gaul he troops for Ca?sar led. Now he receives his crown ; The folk cry his renown While the attendants clear the sanded lists Of wreckage and of dead. " In fame their breath has sped," The heralds cry, " The next bout is with fists." F.H.Y.
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me, till someone came and had compassion on it. Since then, whenever I entered the room, I used to look anxiously around, and when I saw that it still was there, I used to feel secretly relieved ; for I had begun to find great satisfaction in tormenting the poor creature. Glancing furtively around to ensure that I was alone, I used to suspend it by its tail over the fireplace, or pull its ears, or inflict some other torments upon i t ; but still the steady gaze of its big black eyes never wavered. It was driving me mad. At last one day I entered the room when it was sitting there alone, and in my fury 1 tore it to pieces. Pieces of cloth, and sawdust were strewn all over the floor, and now ! alas ! poor Desmond is no more. O.R.D.
Our Cat. There is a cat who lives at home He hasn't got a name. He never really wants to roam And always stays the same. And when it's time for lunch or tea He wanders through the hall And when you get there he will be Curled right up in a ball. But gen'rally when it gets dark He goes off for a walk And if you follow for a lark, You'll see his lordly stalk. He goes along with tail in air Above him like a mast. And sleekly brushed, each silky hair Perfect from first to last. He's really at his very best, When curled up in your lap. And purring while he takes his rest And after-dinner nap. R.D.R.P.
Desmond. The other day, in order to keep me company, 1 bought a dog, a small black and white one, and at first it used to be with me always. It would sit upon the table as I wrote, looking up at me with a never-changing expression of devotion. For hours on end it would sit thus, motionless and peaceful, and I used to miss it if by any chance it was not there. Gradually, however, I came to look upon it with distrust. Its constant presence wearied me and I began to be annoyed by its unswerving devotion. Why did it not romp and play as other dogs, instead of sitting there in that attitude of humility ? Whenever I glanced up from my work I met the steady gaze of its big black eyes. At last I could stand it no longer. I seized it by its neck and hurled it upon the floor, where it lay gazing pitifully up at
Correspondence. To the Editors of the " Vigornian." I think we are all proud of our Sixth Form Room, but surely it is marred by a sight which is only too conspicuous on entering the room. I refer to the number of broken window-panes. Can this not be remedied ? Yours faithfully, Locus CLASSICUS.
THE VIGORNIAN.
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To the Editors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, It seems a fact to be deplored that while there are about forty trebles that appear at concert practices, about fifty per cent of these open their mouths, while about fifty per cent of those sing the right notes. Now forty boys with any idea of singing at all ought to be able to make a good hearty noise, whereas to the broken voices behind, they seem to give a faint piping sound. We make a suggestion that some test be arranged at the beginning of the term, and all who fail to satisfy the demands of that test, be excluded altogether from practices. Doubtless a little P.T. would be better for them than sitting in the Hall fooling about and wasting Mr. Day's trouble and time. Not only would the removal of the objectionable be a good thing, but the remnant would doubtless sing better for the absence of their tempters. Yours sincerely, " ALTO."
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To the Kditors of the " Vigornian." Dear Sirs, Allow me to raise a feeble voice, or, more correctly, to
push a feeble pen—in protest against the ink in the Sixth Form Room. It's very nice ink, only it fails to follow the trail of the nib over the paper, wandering instead as it listeth, and settling itself here and there in large blobs. Moreover if left to itself for two or three days it congeals. And, sirs, you will agree that not even the most hopeful j-oung scholar ever wrote a prose of any worth with solid ink. Yours, etc., SCRIBE.
Contemporaries. We acknowledge the following contemporaries, with apologies for any accidental omissions:—Bromsgrovian, Herefordian, Aluredian, Cantuarian, Felstedian, K.E.S. Chronicle, Tonbridgian, Monmouthian, Monktonian, Decanian, Limit (Loughborough College), The Rendcombe College Magazine, Allevnian, Tettenhallian.