THE AYMESTREY MAGAZINE

SUMMER 1990

THE 80th Party The following Old Boys, roughly in age order, were present: R.L. Steynor, J. Eyton Coates, K. Aitken, A. Morcom, G. Howell, J. Green, N. Blair Oliphant, P. Dorrell, D. St. Clair Roberts, D. Birks, J.A.G. Coates, N. Leakey, K. Davison, F.M. Sloane Stanley, T. Fletcher, N. Coates, I. Leakey, J. Page, N. Green-Price, A.P. Devereux, E. Lane, T. Claydon, J.B. Heath, A. Thornley, C. Morcom, J.R.E. Coates, J. Coley, C.J. Mayfield, A. Record, P. Coates, M. Garrett, W. B. Stallard, J. Shew, A. Parry, E. Carpenter, N. Bomford, J. Morcom, A. Powell, D.G. Powell, D.S. Lewis, J. Phipps, J. Gallimore, N. Helsby, G. Rush, B. Massey, N. Blair-Oliphant, S. Taylor, A. Duncan, M. Green, J. Chandler, P. Powell, A. Powell, I. Clark, W. Hart, S.R.D. Coates, M.C. Powell, C. Leakey, H. Thompson, C. Foster, E. Weaving, J.C. Smith, M. Hughes, J.N.F. Edwards, J. Edwards, I. McCulloch, S. MacLaren, S. Fields, P. Jeavons, G. Johnson, M. Packman, A. Wood, R. Manning, N. Coley, S. MacLaren, J. Packman, E. Edmonds, S. Nelson, B. Phipps, A. Perryman, C. Rawlings, C. MacLaren, T. Wise, W. Rankin, S. Patterson, T. Everitt, A. Goadby, B. Wise, S. Taylor, J. Sawtell, M. Patterson, M. Richardson, C. Gurney. Apologies were received from A.H. Slade, David Davies, Lord Sandys, David Matthews, David Banks, James McLeod, Kath Hughes, William Lane, Neil Harris, Colin Cope, Miss Douglas, Daniel Taylor, Jonathan Tomsett, Peter Schilizzi, Michael Bartlett, Peter Barking, Henry Cleary, Alan Turner, Donald McLeod, Richard Harper, David Martineau, John Stallard, Carl Knappett, D.P.S. Stratton, John Page, Edward Tildesley, Tom Edwards, Martin Harris, Piers Gorman, Robin Custerson, Andrew Fields, Jonathan Nicholas, Jonathan Harvey, John Schilizzi, Jonathan O'Neill, Robert Cummins, Bill Robbins, Stephen Beard, W.B. Dewing and John Harper. This splendid turnout,which together with guests numbered nearly two hundred people, assembled on the east lawn in glorious sunshine to celebrate the eightieth birthday of both the school and Dan, with drinks before lunch. In the afternoon Hugh Griffith introduced Air Marshal Nigel BlairOliphant, The President of the Old Aymestrey Association, who congratulated Dan and presented him with binoculars, a special wheelbarrow and a cheque from the Association. In a most gracious speech he went on to reminisce about the old days and made particular mention of the Ladies of Aymestrey, especially Tief and Jean. In his reply,with his inimitable brand of dignity and wit, Dan thanked all concerned, mentioning that the binoculars were the best he had ever had and that the wheelbarrow had been Jean's idea. It was good to see again so many members who attend regularly at Old Boys' Day and also such a large gathering of those who have not been back for some time. We very much hope that they will come again soon. In this context it may be worth mentioning that O.A.A. Day is a permanent fixture on the third Saturday in June and also that this year we are holding the Dinner at the school. Invitations are included with this magazine in the usual way. 3

LEAVERS July 1989 E.G. Barnes - (Brymore) - Came September 1988. Rugger XV, Soccer XI and Cricket XI. Colours for Soccer. Choir. D. Bartlett - (Bromsgrove) - Came Sept.1984. Rugger XV, Soccer XI, Cricket XI and Cross Country. Colours for Rugby, Soccer, Cross Country and Athletics. County runner. Head boy. Sports

Shield. M.J. Eaton - (Churchers College) - Came April 1987. Rugger XV, Soccer XI, Cricket XI and Cross Country. Colours for Rugby, Soccer, Cricket, Cross Country and Athletics. County runner. Prefect. Sports Shield. A.G. Emson - (Malvern College) - Came September 1986. Cross Country. Choir. Music Exhibition. N.A. Griffiths - (Old Swinford) - Came September 1985. Rugger XV, Soccer XI, Cricket XI and Cross Country. Colours for Rugby, Soccer, Cross Country and Chess. Kazu Kojima - (Worcester Royal Grammar School) - Came September 1987, Rugger XV, Soccer XI, Cricket XI and Cross Country. Colours for Rugby, Soccer, Cross Country and Athletics. County Runner. Prefect. M.S. O'Grady - (Martley) - Came September 1986. NEW BOYS Summer 1990 P.C. Phillips Autumn 1990 R.P.L. Alesbury, P.W. Charley, J. Dimond, B.W.C. Edwards, J.E. Griffin, M.J. Hunter, D. Hunter, J.B. Le Galloudec, N.J. Lowe, M.C. Simpkins, O.F.A. Symonds, H.G. Symonds, W. Tomlins. Spring 1990 L. Camozzi, J.C. Fraser, H.E. Jones, J.S. Read. OBITUARIES F.R. Gerard, Aymestrey 1922 -192 7, died a few months ago. Keenly interested in motor racing from a very early age, Bob Gerard was already prominent at Brooklands before the war, and in 1949 he was second in the British Grand Prix at Silverstone. He was awarded the British Racing Drivers' Gold Star, won the British Empire Trophy, and was still active in the sport into the '80s. 4

Mrs. E.N.G. Parry, who died last year, joined the staff at Aymestrey as Kitty Smeall, in 1936. She taught the junior forms and was in charge of art and handicrafts throughout the school, her enthusiastic personality making a great impression. She and Ellis Parry, also on the staff, became engaged, and after their marriage they ran Hazelwood School in Surrey for many years, in due course sending all their three sons to Aymestrey. Major Charles Rowland Trotman Those of us who attended Aymestrey in the late '50's and `60's will remember the colourful influence of Major Trotman who taught French at the school for ten years. He died in 1988, leaving for his ex pupils memories of a rather special sense of humour, a caring smile and an infectious enthusiasm for the school. He served during the war as a major in the Tank Corps in Egypt, where he was wounded in the head, resulting in some loss of hearing and considerable pain which was to be with him for the rest of his life. He was taken to hospital in Cairo and thence home to Liverpool where he met Jean Smith, now his widow. A vocation to the teaching profession was not yet to be exercised, by orders of the medics, so, "without knowing what a potato looked like," they rented a farm at Grange-over-Sands, which they later owned. After this they came to Aymestrey where he taught French for ten years. He retired to Woodbridge in Suffolk, where another love of his life, sailing, could be fully

enjoyed. He was an inspiration to us all; the extent of his pain, especially in his last years, was totally concealed by his cheerfulness. He had a long and happy marriage and we send our deepest sympathy to Jean in her bereavement. Edward Tildesley NEWS of OLD BOYS R. Bader, at King's, has three A levels, one at A grade. A. Bateman, at Rossal, is about to take his G.C.S.E. He is a Lance Corporal in the school Cadet Force. R. Cummins, at King's, has three A levels, one at A grade, and is going round the world before taking up a place at Bath University. E. Edmonds is now a junior mining engineer with Lilley Construction, working on a project building sewers in Neath, South Wales. G. Edmonds is in Toulouse 'teaching' English for the 3rd year part of his Modern Languages Degree. He comes back to Oxford in October for his final year. G.M.K. Evans is setting up the first Wales Art Fair, and is involved in singing and acting in Cardiff. C.J.A. Gallimore has become Chairman of Russell, Baldwin & Bright, a firm with which the school has had links throughout its history. 5

P. Gorman at Rendcomb has six GCSE's. J. Harper is taking his GCSE's this summer, at Malvern. R. Harper is at Sparshalt Agricultural College. He starts his year working on a farm in the autumn. M. Harris is now a Lay Clerk at St. Pauls. N. Harris has a doctorate at California University and is returning to this country, with his wife, later this year. C. Knappett at Bloxham has five A levels, two at A grade, and has a place at Cambridge. He went on an archeological dig in August near Paris so was unable to come to the 80th party. G. Johnson is now playing in two or three orchestras as a hobby while working for Gamber Growers. He lives in Hereford. R. Johnson married Sarah Elwes in December 1988. He is assistant manager on a farm near Cromer in Norfolk. W. Lane is at St. Andrew's taking an honours course in Mediaeval History. He is President of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society and is involved in many different musical activities. A.P. MacLaren finished his Short Service Commission in the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and is going to York University in September 1990. In the meantime he is working for Moet & Chandon, and later for Pol Roger, in the champagne vinyards in Epernay. D.B. MacLaren, having left Shrewsbury in July 1989, is now working for Bernard Thorpe & Partners of Worcester, before going to Leicester Polytechnic to do a B.Sc. in Land Management in September 1990. I.M.W. McCulloch has been taking a course with the Institute of Fisheries management, and is working as a water bailiff for the Welsh division of the National Rivers Authority. J.C. Page has retired from the Headmastership of Bromsgrove Junior School. R. Patterson at King's has nine GCSE's at A grade. T. Prince, after leaving Rendcomb, started learning the art of publishing in Hertfordshire when he contracted M.E. Now, two and a half years later he is beginning to get back on his feet. W. Rankin at Malvern has three A levels, two at A grade.

C. Rawlings graduated from Durham University with a 2.11 BSC and is hoping to join the Foreign Office. N. Richardson at King's had three A levels. He is now enjoying his first year as a P.E. student at Loughborough. M. Richardson is in his fourth year at King's. He is studying nine subjects for G.C.S.E. and is taking Maths and R.E. this year. He plays rugby and cricket and has taken up golf. He is on No.4 board for the school in chess. D. Richmond now a captain, has just returned from Brunei and is about to be posted 6

to Belize for six months, where he will be helping to prevent drugs passing through that country. E. Tildesley is a housemaster and head of department at Norwich. He has a two year old daughter. Toby Wise at Bloxham has five A levels, one at A grade, and has a place at The London School of Economics. A. Wood left Bromsgrove with three A levels and then gained a degree in Urban Estate Management at the Central London Polytechnic. He is now in his final year of a part-time post graduate Diploma in Town Planning. Old Boys Remember R.L. Steynor (1911-1916) Looking back nearly eighty years ago, Aymestrey House was a prep. school situated just above Malvern Link station. Mr. & Mrs. Asterley had moved from their home in Sheffield where they had started a small school (Birkdale). "Dan" Asterley was their only son. He was just four when I first went to Aymestrey in 1911 as a weekly boarder, aged 6. Maurice Nightingale Asterley ("Sir") was a highly respected head. Mrs. Edith M. Asterley ("Tief") was a tall lady who wore creamy white blouses. I used to climb up her, as one would a tree, much to her amusement. It was almost a party piece. Alfred Morcom (1919-1924) I used to live in South Wales in 1919, and it was a great and exciting experience to come up to Malvern by train with my cousin Keith Aitken and be met by 'Sir' at the Link Station and escorted up to the school where I was introduced to the unforgettable and wonderful 'Tief'. In 1919 it was found possible to have a cricket match between 'Relations' and the rest of the school which numbered just over 30 in those days. The 'Relations' included Mr. & Mrs. Asterley and Dan, Stokes, Sergeantson, Noel Sharp, Eyton Coates, and myself - quite a team! I remember 'Sir's wonderful dark coloured cricket bat and being taught to quarter' the long grass outside the playing pitch in order to find possible lost cricket balls. I still do the same when playing golf! The great occasion was when we moved to Crown East in 1922. For a small boy it was a very exciting experience and never to be forgotten. But above all, is the wonderful memory of `Sir' and 'Tief', and their infinite patience and kindness. Their influence on me was very great and will last for the rest of my life. 7

Joseph Coates (1910-19) (Extracts from his memoirs, sent to us by Carol Coates - his daughter in law). When I arrived at Aymestrey House, the school had just been started up in Malvern Link, with a small nucleus of pupils brought down from a former school in Sheffield: six or seven boys the first term, I think, though the number soon rose to about a dozen and more later. At the age of seven I was too young for full attendance at lessons, and spent part of my time playing in the garden. My brother, John Eyton, was even more below the age for normal schooling, and spent much of his time in his first years in the nursery, where our cousin Dan Asterley was then at the stage of a toddler, looked after by Miss Ethel Barnesby. The school staff consisted of my Uncle Maurice as the headmaster and main teacher, and Mr. Philip Snowden as assistant master, until the war when he joined the army and we had a Mr. Jenner. Later we had Mr. Lockyer to teach us carpentry, Sergeant Sandy to take us in the gymnasium and Mr. Damsel for drawing. We were also taught dancing by Miss Godby, a diminutive person; she also instructed us in deportment, which involved the proper methods of removing one's cap, entering a room and shaking hands. The dances we learned were the waltz and polka and Sir Roger de Coverley; we also did some Morris Dancing, including one with little sticks which we had to beat against our opposite numbers: it was considered good fun to see if you could hit him on the fist instead of on his stick. The matron was Miss Margarent Bamesby, sister of Dan's governess. The school building was quite small, being essentially an ordinary dwelling house. Lighting in the house was by gas. We all had cold baths every morning, except for some tepid baths for those temporarily exempted from the cold. We had hot baths twice a week.We were given medicines when we were judged to need them, mainly for constipation. The least repugnant was 'rhubarb and soda'. My uncle was, I think, a very good teacher; and I have since found that the basic methods of arithmetic he taught me are now considered to be the most suitable as a logical foundation. Also he kept up our interest in general knowledge, and at any moment, a lesson would divercre into such subjects as astronomy or polar exploration. The clothes we wore in those days are not clear in my mind now, and old school photographs probably showed us in our formal and Sunday clothes, but we had starched Eton collars, and on Sundays for attendance at church one added a starched shin front called a "Dickey" attached to the front collar-stud, and starched cuffs. One of the interesting - and surely quite unusual - features of this school has been that for many years it has had a flourishing Old Boys' society, with well attended annual functions. 8

GIFTS We are extremely grateful to the following for their presents to the school: Mr. & Mrs. Bader & Rupert - Photographs of Dan and Jean for the library. Mr. & Mrs. Bartlett - Book token. Mrs. Driver - Creating and stocking a marvellous border in front of the house. Mr. & Mrs. Eaton - Cricket bat. Mr. & Mrs. P. Edwards - Apples. Mr. & Mrs. Emson - Honours board and music stool. Mr. & Mrs. Gorman - Apples. Mr. & Mrs. Harris - Book Token. Mr. & Mrs. Harper - An enormous turkey for Bust Up. Mrs. Michell - Subscription to `Watch'. Mr. & Mrs. Richardson - Potatoes for November 5th.

Anthony Thornley - Three rugger balls. P.J. Wellspring for time spent on the magazine and a video of the school in action on Open Day. (A copy of this video will be available for sale at 5 in aid of Tadworth.) Mr. & Mrs. Cruickshank - Grass seed for the surround to the new swimming pool. The Harpers (en famille) for cultivating and preparing the ground and sowing the grass seed around the pool. This was a daunting job which involved hard manual labour and took them about one eighth of the time that anyone else would have taken! CHESS The team this year was above average; not as good as some of our great teams of the recent past but certainly better than last year's and moreover it was young, so, full of promise for the future. The figures speak for themselves. Played 10, Won 7, Lost 2, Drawn 1. Games won - 38, Lost - 18. Of the matches lost we went down 2-4 to a powerful side from the Royal College for the Blind, though we won 4 - 1 in the return game. Malvern College, at full strength, beat us 5-1 in the first round of the "Times' National Schools Competition. Williams E. did very well to be our only winner, but Price, playing on board one, as he did throughout the season, lasted for more than two hours against their nineteen year old captain. Of the other matches we beat the Downs, Hawford Lodge, twice, St. Richard's and Hillstone. We drew 2-2 with the Ferrets but beat them in the return match. Once again we must thank Mr. Knee, of Malvern College, for all his help with our Chess. Price and Alexander attended the I.A.P.S. Chess Congress at Millfield. Both boys did well in the six preliminary "sorting out" rounds, Alexander being graded A and Price B. Nine rounds later Alexander was 12th out of 15 and Price was 2nd out of 10. 9

They also took part in the Simultaneous Display by the Oxford Champion, John Walker, who took on 40 boys and beat them all. Alexander,despite losing his queen early on, did well to last for over an hour while Price was still there two hours later with only three other boys. They were very well fed and looked after and there were many other things to do besides play chess. There is plenty of chess going on in the school, and, besides the three boys mentioned so far, those that show promise are Smith P., Homer, Murphy, Camozzi M., Dimond J. and Williams S. MUSIC During the year the following Associated Board Exams were passed:Grade 2 J. Cruickshank Piano N. Goodwin Trumpet R. Heigh Trumpet Grade 3 P. Jolley Cello Once again our choir was invited to take part in singing Evensong at both Dean Close Senior School and Malvern College. As always these are outings which are not only much enjoyed but are also very instructive as we become part of a very much bigger choir.

CRICKET 1989 Once again the effort of trying to excel at two sports in one term proved, not surprisingly, too much for the senior boys. Looking back it is much easier to make excuses for them, especially when the serious approach and the amount of hard training put in by the athletes is considered. At the time, however, the cricket team came in for some harsh criticism. It was particularly encouraging to watch the steady progress made by some of the younger players in the side. Alexander bowled steadily throughout the season. He was never knocked off his line or length and with this nagging accuracy took some good wickets. This dedication was matched by Michell's batting. After an inauspicious start he applied himself bravely to learning to bat straight and may well have laid the foundations for a good season in 1990. Abbas was the most enthusiastic cricketer in the school, though a little lacking in discipline with both bat and ball. He showed he has the ability to do well. These three will not have an easy time next year, but the hard lessons they have learned and the talent that is evident lower down the school give hope for the future.

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Painted by Pater Charley aged 8

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Nicholas Michell and Paul Smith

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ATHLETICS The splendid cross-country season gave our athletes excellent preparation for the summer. As was expected David Bartlett at 400m and 1500 m, Kazu at 200 m and the long jump, and Eaton at the high jump, dominated all the events they entered. They not only qualified for the Prep. Schools National Championships but also were selected to compete for Worcester in the County Championship. Unfortunately a clash of dates forced them to withdraw from the latter. Their contribution to school athletics was enormous. It is unlikely one year will ever produce such a high class combination of jumpers and runners again. They were not the only good athletes, however. The meeting at Bromsgrove gave other members of the school a chance to show their worth. For the Under 12s Hughes came 2nd in the Hurdles and O'Grady 2nd in the 200 m. At Under 13 Smith P. won the 400 m and Burton came second in the 200 m. There were also promising performances from Homer, Cruickshank and Murphy. Trying for the AAA star awards also produced some good performances throughout the school in both track and field. As interest in athletics grows and the training becomes more serious, the future of school athletics looks promising. In the A.A.A. awards the following deserve mention: 4 stars-3 events: U12 - R. Auty; U13 - J. Alexander. 4 stars-3 events & Pentathlon or Decathlon: U10 - R. Peel; U 11 - J. Williams. 4 stars-3 events, Pentathlon & Decathlon: U I I - R. Murphy; U12- Abbas; U13- O. Haynes. 5 stars-3 events: U12 - M. O'Grady, P.D. Smith. 5 stars-3 events & Pentathlon or Decathlon: U12 - C. Hughes. 5 stars-3 events, Pentathlon & Decathlon: U10 - J. Gawler; U13 M. Burton,P. Smith; U14 - M. Eaton, Kazu, M. Bartlett. SWIMMING With the good weather early on in the term we decided that we must use the old pool until the new one was finished and as the water was really shallow beginners were able to get their confidence. However, once the new pool was ready swimming took off in a big way helped by the marvellous weather. Although the pool is not heated it is very much warmer because of its position, because the water is filtered and therefore does not have to be changed all the time, and the cover which also helps to raise the temperature. Distance swimming no longer had to depend on a warm day and many boys achieved good results. Barnes, Michell, Goodwin, Bewley, Abbas and Williams J. all swam 1000 m while Bartlett and Cruickshank are to be congratulated on swimming 3000 m. The boys can now take different tests and in the National Challenge Awards Emson, Hughes, Homer, Bewley, Richards, Haynes, Painter, and Camozzi M. passed 13

Level 1; Smith P.D., Michell, Eaton and Cruickshank Level 2; Barnes and Goodwin - Bronze; and Abbas and Williams J - Silver.

In Personal Survival Barnes, Homer, Bartlett and Eaton all passed Level 1. We were most grateful to Mr. Goodyear, who spent many hours keeping it clean and dosing it with the correct chemicals but when the holidays came I'm afraid it went green frequently! RUGBY 1989 This was a young team, even by our standards, and expected - and received in many cases - a harsh introduction to the rigours of rugby. Despite being beaten by St. Richard's, Hillstone and The Elms, it learnt quickly and did extremely well to beat the Downs and then produce a fine display of open attacking rugby in their best match of the season against Abberley IInds. Apart from Burton M. and Smith P.S. who toiled bravely whatever the situation it was the junior part of the team that caught the eye. Although disadvantaged by their size Murphy and Gawler, aided by Richards showed just how much could be achieved by hard work and boundless enthusiasm. The team that played the last match against Abberley IInds. probably had the best players in their best positions. Price hooked well through most of the season. Abbas and Michell as props kept battling on with the solid support of Homer and Painter in the second row, while Richards at number 8 and Murphy and Gawler as flankers provided some zestful tackling and splendid support play. Haynes was a reliable scrum half. When given the chance Smith P.S. at fly half ran incisively and was supported well by Burton M. and Harper in the centre. Goodwin at full back developed a good tackle. As usual the list of wingers was long, as several new players were tried out. Edwards B. was probably the best and showed signs of being a useful player. In the senior game Jolley, Heigh, Alexander, Burton C. and Peel all gave hope for the future. In terms of the rebuilding we knew we were faced with, following last year's highly successful side, this team learnt some hard, but valuable, lessons. The experience gained by such young players should stand them in good stead for the future. SOCCER 1990 With the emphasis on cross-country producing so many excellent results it was inevitable the the soccer team would suffer. They did, however, get better and despite some nightmarish moments away from home managed to produce two respectable home fixtures losing 2-1 to St. Richard's and 1-0 to Moffats. Burton M. eventually made himself into a useful goalkeeper, Price ended the season actually playing positively in midfield and Smith P.S. provided the nearest we came to solidity at the back. 14

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Cross Country Runners

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More encouraging, perhaps, was the series of matches we played in the last week of term when next year's team comprehensively beat the leavers. There is still a great deal of learning to do. CROSS COUNTRY Once again the Cross-Country team ended its season as by far the best prep. school runners in the county. Realising that such complete dominance of a sport benefits nobody we made great efforts to find teams further afield to match ourselves against. This policy produced some excellent contests. In appalling weather at Aymestrey, we came second to a superb Millfield Junior team, beating Clifton College Prep., Moffats and St. Richard's. At Bromsgrove and Dean Close we came second again, on both occasions to the all conquering Dean Close. It was a pity they were unable to race on a course like ours, which has hills. A win at St. Richard's, for the Senior and Junior teams, two wins out of three in the Worcester City Schools' League, second at Under 13 and Under 15 in the District Trials held again at Aymestrey, Smith P.S. and Michell running for the City Under 15 team and Michell running for the County in the England Schools National Championships, all underline just how consistent and rewarding our running has been. In every competition we have entered we have been the smallest school competing. Smith P.S.'s role as captain in the team's success cannot be underestimated. In training and in races he always set a splendid example to the rest of his runners. His battle against Millfield Junior's best runner in almost impossible conditions over a difficult course was one of the best performances we have ever watched at Aymestrey. His high standard of running, his modest attitude to his success, and his sportsmanship whatever the situation set the right tone for the rest of the team to follow.He will be missed next year. Haynes made a good contribution after an indifferent start to the season and gave good support. Michell, though ruled out by age for many of the school runs, continued to train hard even when there was no prospect of racing. That all his hard work culminated in a place in the National Finals, the highest level a schoolboy of his age can reach, was quite proper. Harper continued to run at his dogged pace in most races and made his usual reliable contribution to the team's score. Smith P.D. impressed too. His gutsy performances promise well for the future. Gawler's appearances for the Senior Team have been so frequent it is some times difficult to remember he is one of the youngest members of the Junior team. When running with his own age group over testing courses he was always hard to beat. As a senior runner his age went unnoticed. It is greatly to his credit how eager he was to run for the Senior Team rather than simply gather successes in his own age group. Hughes, Homer, Abbas and Price also ran for the Senior Team. Williams J. And 17

Murphy were the pick of the juniors. Camozzi M., Richards and Peel showed promise. Le Galloudec, Symonds O., Griffin and Jolley are able to compete at inter-school level. It is pleasant to look back at such a successful year and then to inspect the standard of running throughout the school and feel that there is a solid base to build on for next year. It is also pleasant to reflect on the three events we staged over the last six months, particularly the complicated District Trials, and to remember the huge contribution made by almost every other boy in the school, apart from those running, in the less glamorous roles of course markers and officials. Our high reputation in, and now outside the county, is due to to their hard work and enthusiasm as well. As always we owe a great deal to the parents who not only came to support us but also ferried muddy teams all over the Midlands. Mr. Gawler, Mrs. Michell, Mrs. Williams and Mr. & Mrs. Smith - who also took us to Cheltenham when P.D. was unable to run - in particular have given a great deal of their time and energies on our behalf. Ta d w o r t h C h i l d r e n ' s H o s p i t a l The 1989 fete raised over 800 so that we were able to send a cheque to Tadworth for f 1,004, in August, which included money from a sponsored run by David Bartlett and Matthew Eaton. This run was ten miles and a very good effort indeed. We are most grateful to all the parents who ran stalls and gave produce and goods generously. The red umbrellas given by Mr. & Mrs. Williams, amongst many other goods for the raffle etc., made a colourful attraction on the south lawn. There were many excellent raffles. which included again one of Mrs. Auty's specially decorated cakes. The boys, as usual, ran their own competitions and stalls. The third form ghost house was a great attraction and the puppet show was excellent. We also cash in on our daffodils and due to the generosity of the parents made 108 for Tadworth this spring. We have now sent over 4,000 to Tadworth in just over four years. ART The Art Department, as usual, has produced some excellent work this year. Inspired by Natee's success in the competition run by the Save the Children organisation - his picture was chosen for March in their calender - we entered a competition run by the Cooperative Society. In the Under 8s Morton Edwards won 2nd prize. In the Junior Section Nathan Goodwin gained 3rd prize, Michael Harper 2nd and Justin Williams 1st. As we swept the board in this section the school was awarded 100! 18

Every two years Malvern College has an exhibition of Prep. Schools' art and this year Mrs. Wales was congratulated by their Director of Art, not only on the way she displays the boys' work, which is a normal occurrence, but also on the work itself. He picked out in particular Kazu's and Matthew Burton's work. Country For some time now the boys, under Mr. Driver, have been having a lesson called 'Country'. This is really gardening mixed with C.D.T. as they have now reclaimed the rose garden, which was a massive task, designed, planned and made a medieval maze and made their own sundials, created a herb garden out of a rubbish dump by the back yard and learnt the skills involved in beekeeping and rearing chickens. The Times Tournament of the Mind This competition took place at the end of the Spring Term and went on into the holidays. It consisted of twenty rounds which appeared every day in The Times. The questions included Maths, Logic, Verbal and General Knowledge and were of a high standard. e.g. What lake in the United States was known to the Indians as "Andiatarocte"? Schools could enter teams. Without really expecting anyone here to be interested or capable of answering any of the questions we gave the first round to a few boys and were delighted with the results. Edward Williams, ably assisted by Ben Edwards, got bitten by the competition and spent hours researching in the library. When the holidays arrived we thought the matter would die but a few days before the due date Edward Williams arrived with a mass of answers - and a few more were contributed by Justin Williams and Ben Edwards. On 9th April the school results and answers were published. The first 24 were large Public or Secondary schools but we found that we had answered 61 out of 100 questions correctly. The Rev. Michael Knott We are very glad to welcome Mr. Knott to this parish. He comes over to our evening service once a week and gives the boys a short address. He has asked the school to be responsible for Morning Prayer in the church once or twice a term, which gives the boys a chance to become involved.

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