The Headmaster of a large school with a rapidly changing population has
many problems and some worries. One of the worries used to be the
production of the annual School Magazine; but this is no longer so, and
I am indebted to the Magazine Committee for the willing work which they
have put in throughout the year. They have done a first class job and I
hope that their efforts will be rewarded by heavy sales.
As I said in my report at Prize Day last year, the success of any school
depends on teamwork, and this we have in full measure; as a result we
have what is, I believe, a happy and successful school. My wife and I
have certainly had four happy years in Malta and we shall miss the
friendly spirit of Tal-Handaq. We thank all who have made our stay such
a happy one and we wish every blessing on those who remain.
We have been fortunate in having a succession of senior officers who
have taken a keen interest and given weighty support to our needs. I
should like to take this opportunity of thanking Rear Admiral Viscount
Kelburn for all that he has done, especially for enabling us to convert
an unpromising collection of buildings into a place of some beauty and
dignity. When he leaves there will no longer be a Flag Officer, Malta;
but I am delighted to know that our Competent Authority will then be the
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean.
Lastly, my very best wishes to my successor, Captain Broad. I know that
he will be well-supported and I shall follow the fortunes of the school
under his guidance with interest and confidence.
MAGAZINE COMMITTEE
Chairman: Mr. C.V. Morris.
Literary Editor: Mr. W.M. Alexander.
Art Editor: Mr. R.A. Dickerson.
Photographer: Mr. J. Evans.
Advertisements: Mr. E. Battye.
Boys' Representative: John Passmore.
Girls' Representative: Patricia Satchell.
HEADMASTER'S REPORT - PRIZE DAY, 1962
This year's Prize Day was arranged three weeks later than usual to avoid
clashing with a trip to Greece in the School ship "Dunera".
"Unfortunately this trip had to be cancelled due to lack of support in
the "U.K., although we were going to contribute 150 children. But at
least we have the consolation that we have received both
prizes and G.C.E. Certificates for to-day -- the first time that this has happened
since I have been here.
The past year has been remarkable for one thing in particular; it has
been the first year of consolidation
since the school re-opened after the War. Hitherto
the story has been one of rising
numbers and consequent pressure for more buildings. Now that numbers are
fairly steady and we have more or less enough accommodation (though not always of
the kind we would like), it is possible to give more thought to the
organisation of the school.
For some time I have thought it right to change the former Bi-Lateral
structure of the school, i.e. its
division into separate Grammar and Modern
departments or schools. The use of
the word "schools" in this connection was never really justified,
as there was no physical division of any kind, but classes
were all designated with either a
letter 'G' or 'M' in their make-up and you will hear these old class numbers for the
last time when the prize list is read out later this afternoon. The school is
becoming more Comprehensive than Bi-Lateral; the word "Comprehensive" has to be
used carefully, as it has political overtones, but in this school we have a situation
in which we can have the advantages of a Comprehensive School without the
upheavals caused by imposing comprehension upon existing schools
of other types. We certainly may claim to
be Comprehensive in the widest sense
of the word — we have children from all three Services, of all abilities, both
sexes and an age range varying from 11 to 19 — and only missing 20 by three
weeks.
This year we have introduced a much wider choice of subjects for G.C.E.
'O' level
courses. These are planned as two year courses and are designed to
cater as far
as possible for children of high and of low ability; for those with a
Scientific or
an Arts bias; for those with definite careers in mind or with none
at all; and for those whose talents
are more practical than Academic. Children
coming from G.C.E. streams in Modern
Schools in the "United Kingdom can be fitted into these courses without too
much upheaval. Any planning of this kind can, of course, only be done
satisfactorily against a stable background. Although this cannot be guaranteed in Malta,
the future of this school appears sufficiently settled to justify such action. We
shall soon also need re-organised courses for the new Certificate of Secondary
Education or "Beloe" examination and also for children not preparing for
external examinations.
First impressions of our G.C.E. results this year were that they were
rather
disappointing, but in fact our 'A' level passes were just about the same
as last year
and we had rather more passes at 'O' level. There were also more
failures, but this is partly due to a relaxation on entries, which have
to be made in early February each
year. Much can happen between February and July and it seems
right, to give children the benefit of
any doubt there may be; but inevitably some are unable to take advantage of
this opportunity. Another factor which undoubtedly played a part this year
was the excessive heat — those of you who were here in July will well
remember the two days when the temperature rose to 106°. The
effect on performances cannot be estimated but there is little
doubt that few candidates can have
done their best in such conditions, especially in the afternoons. Nevertheless there
were some distinguished performances — notably those of Paul Lovell who
obtained 11 very good 'O' level passes and
Cyril Potter who improved on last year's 'A' level Chemistry
results. Our
number of R.S.A. Candidates was lower than before, mainly because
several
children who might have been entered took G.C.E. instead. Here again
there
were some excellent performances, of which Shirley Monk's and
Desmond
Fleming's were most praiseworthy.
An annual report on a school of 1,000 children can never contain all
that
it should, and I am always conscious of many omissions. I must
mention the
1962 magazine, which was certainly the best we have produced, thanks
to the
hard continuous work of the Committee. In it you will find accounts
of most of our activities. For the first time, Verdala produced
their own magazine which
made our problems very much simpler.
Our production of "The Mikado" 'last December was a magnificent
example
of team work, to which something like half the school contributed.
Apart from
the performers and direct supporters many helped by making costumes
-and
properties, all of which were made here, except for a few wigs.
Others helped
by decorating the Hall with dragons and lanterns and by raising the
seats at
the back of the Hall with the kind co-operation of S.N.S.O. One felt
on entering
the Hall that everyone had determined that the show would be a
success, which
it undoubtedly was. We are establishing something of a tradition for
Gilbert
and Sullivan and this year (next week, in fact) we are producing "lolanthe",
which I hope and believe will be fully up to standard. We are lucky
in having
a musical director and a producer who work in a harmony that is much
closer
than that between Sir Arthur Sullivan and Sir Walter Gilbert.
Although these
musical productions enable many children to take part, they do not
give much
opportunity to the younger children and to those with little musical
talent. To
overcome this we devised a programme called "Easter Parade", which
was put
on at the end of the Easter Term. This consisted of a Junior play
"The Other
Children" with a cast of 40 and a series of short playlets and
sketches by older
children. We had two thoroughly worthwhile evenings. Next Easter we
hope to provide a siimlar entertainment under the title of "Spring
Fever".
In the summer term we again had a successful concert — we expect and
obtain high standards from the choirs. This year, in addition, we
had a vastly improved orchestra and a "rhythm group" of high
quality, which was the most
serious item on the programme.
The Literary and Debating Society had a good year — it had a varied
programme including Verse-Speaking and Speech-Making competitions,
Brains
Trusts, Play Reading and, of course, Debates, culminating in a
debate with
St. Edwards College.
We had an excellent exhibition of Art and Craft work on the Open Day
last
term, in spite of the fact that most of our best pictures were on
view at the
same time at the Child Art Exhibition in Valletta. Amongst a wide
variety of
craft work it was pleasing to see that the new Metalwork room had
justified its
existence so quickly.
For the first time for some years, we had no school trip abroad. As
I have
already told you the trip in "Dunera" had to be cancelled. Another
one to
Italy is planned for early March to which I hope we shall be able to
send about
100 children.
In the Sports world there has been progress in various ways; the
boys have
played more Rugger and Hockey than before and matches were arranged
against
teams of boys at school in the U.K. called "The Exiles". Our
football team
had a satisfactory fixture list and good results. The girls had good
Hockey and Netball teams but suitable opposition is hard to find.
Perhaps Chevalier Vassallo
can persuade more of the Girls' schools on the Island to take up
these games?
Our Annual
Sports Day was held at the Marsa Stadium this year and resulted in
records being broken in 14 boys and 10 girls events. It is
noteworthy that standards
are much higher in field events, where we can practice at Tal
Handaq,
than in track events where opportunities for practice are
'limited.
Swimming is
always something of a disappointment in Malta, although we
hold enjoyable Swimming
Sports each year. I continue to hope that we may obtain a swimming bath one day
on the premises, where instruction can be given. Only
then will standards rise to the heights which should be possible
in Malta.
Sailing is
growing in popularity and has now been extended to fourth year
children. The most noteworthy event was a whaler trip round
Malta, in which seven boys
took part, immediately after finishing their examinations. This
coincided with the two hot days; the boys were becalmed for long
periods, but they succeeded
in pulling ashore when they could not sail, spent three evenings
camping
and were finally rewarded with a good breeze on the last day. I
hope we
shall be able to develop this kind of adventure training.
We have so many
old boys and girls that it is impossible to keep track of more than a
very few. Amongst recent leavers I must mention Bernard Hoctor,
who
obtained an R.A.F. Cadetship and is now at Henlow; Mark
Tagliaferro who has just
started at Sandhurst, and John Melton and David Smith who have
been awarded Naval Reserved
Cadetships; Jocelyn Duke and Barbara Jones are working with I.C.I, who may
well sponsor their entry to Universities. Three girls have started Dentistry
courses and several are training as Teachers and Nurses. I am pleased to hear
that Glenys Metherall has started a B.Sc. course in Chemistry at the Battersea
College of Advanced Technology. It is well known that
University entrance is getting progressively harder; it is not
so well known that excellent
degree courses are also held in many Technical Colleges in Arts
subjects as well as in
Technical ones. Entry is still comparatively easy and in some cases this year courses
have been under-subscribed.
Until recently
we have had large numbers of boys leaving to join the Services
as
Apprentices or Boy Entrants. Owing to the bulge there has been a
marked
rise in entry standards — an excellent thing for the Services
but disappointing for the
candidates and a problem for them, for their parents and for the
school. We are
fortunate now in having an annual visit from Ministry of Labour
Careers Advisory Officers, who
are in a position to give up-to-date advice on these and
other careers problems. We also have a permanent Careers Staff, who are
always happy to help.
There has been
a good deal of material progress this year — though of a less urgent
nature than formerly. The new galley was finally completed in
January, and after teething troubles has resulted in better
meals at no extra cost. The
unsightly Works Compound has been moved to a corner site,
leaving
a useful playground area. Here and elsewhere we have planted
trees; but as holes 5' deep
and 4' diameter have to be drilled out of the rock, there is
clearly a limit to the
number we can plant. Another hole 190' deep has also had to be
drilled to earth the new
electricity supply. A much needed staff room extension
has been approved and work
will start shortly. Apart from these items, we are trying to
level and tidy as much as possible, lay out gardens and
generally give the
school a face-lift. As you may have noticed, we are still
handicapped by having
no gardener.
It is a
well-known and, indeed, obvious fact that the success of a
school depends on
co-operation between parents, children and staff; and also on
their
quality, which in this school continues to be well above
average. I should like to indulge in a few remarks about each
group before ending this report.
First of all,
parents; but for whom there would be no need for a school. I
find
they give surprisingly little trouble. Sometimes I wish they
would come and see me more
frequently. There are often difficulties and misunderstandings,
which can be easily sorted out by a personal visit. Sometimes I
know parents are being
considerate and do not want to waste my time, but sometimes I
suspect
that they have unfortunate lingering recollections of their own
school
days.
I receive many
letters and messages of thanks from parents which are of the utmost
encouragement. I am, I must confess, a little surprised that in
nearly
four years only one parent suggested making a leaving present to
the
school. This took the form of four excellent books for the
library. Recently I suggested in a
letter that other satisfied parents might like to do likewise,
and to cater for the expected flood we designed presentation
slips to stick in the books. We
ordered a thousand of these — we still have 996 left.
Another parent
co-operated in an unexpected way. His daughter was given detention for a
crime which he considered unfair. The girl, however, thought
it was
fair and wanted to do it. After several days stalemate, the
father promised his daughter
that she could do the detention if she was good — which she was!
CHILDREN.
I
sometimes think we resemble Dr. Barnardo's Homes. We have an
Ever-Open Door and no child in need of education is ever turned
away —
or hardly ever. Although the school leaving age is 15, it is
almost
unknown for a 15 year old to leave Tal Handaq except to return
to U.K. As there is
virtually no employment for them in Malta, we do our best to
keep
them as long as possible, provided only that they are willing to
work and to co-operate.
I have said
often before that I think there is very little wrong with the
present
generation of school children; if there is, it is the fault of
us who are parents. On
the other hand, as there is so much that is good in them I see
no
reason why we should not take some of the credit. People not in
touch with children get an entirely false impression, largely
due to the over-use of that appalling word
"Teenager" — with its implications of difficulty and
delinquency. Suffice it to
say that I have very much enjoyed meeting thousands of children
here,
although I do find it difficult to keep up with their rapidly
changing vocabulary.
Parents,
children, STAFF. I am lucky to be able to get back to
London fairly frequently to take part in the selection of
teachers. There is usually a good response
to advertisements but nevertheless, I must admit that I derive
much
satisfaction from my choices. In addition to the U.K. based
teachers, we employ about
20% who are locally entered. Here there is hardly any choice
but it
is remarkable how ladies with suitable qualifications and of the
right
calibre, nearly always appear when required.
On the
administrative side we have also had a period of consolidation,
with our
Bursar and two Secretaries remaining together for nearly a year.
As a result, there has been
a marked increase in efficiency, and much less for me to do.
There has even been time to make a Stores Inventory but I was
rather shaken to find that the first two items in this were
"Altar, R. C." and "Anvil, 1/2-cwt".
Our industrial
staff continue to give excellent service and we were delighted
when
Mr. Plant, our Caretaker, became an established Admiralty
employee. I should also
like to mention our driver — Benny Cassar, although he is not
strictly one of our own staff — who has had a long spell of
sickness for almost all this term.
I am very pleased to see that to-day he has at last returned to
work. He
has been driving for the Schools since Tal Handaq was opened in
1947 and he must be
among the most reliable drivers in the Island; and as cheerful and
helpful a person as you would find anywhere.To
all members of this trinity — parents, children and staff, I must
express my
sincere thanks for making my lot such a pleasant one. It is made
more so by
the good liaison which exists between Tal Handaq and the Service
primary schools and between the three Services; and by the unfailing
Co-operation we receive from, so many different people.
-Lastly, what of
the future ?
' During its short
life of 15 years, this school has built up traditions of sound
and
well-balanced education, and of friendliness, which I believe many
older
foundations might-envy. When news of the Malta run-down first
appeared, it seemed possible
that the,School might either have to be closed or reduced so drastically that
its whole nature would be altered. Now I am thankful to say that this does not.
appear likely. Numbers will no doubt continue to decrease, but I welcome this
as we are still over-crowded. Perhaps we shall run down to about 700, though
in the past estimates have always been too low. But we should have room
for urgent requirements such as a new library and a new laboratory in
buildings which become available, and better accommodation for
staff and
prefects. I hope we shall get our own playing fields one day, and
perhaps the
swimming bath. We must continue to develop our curriculum; and
also our
house system. And it is my fervent hope that Christian Unity will
soon have
advanced far enough for" us to have united assemblies.
The last few years
might be described as years of warfare; now we have passed into a
period of comparative peace. Peace has its own hazards, and it
is all too
easy to relax. But, as Milton said:
"Peace hath her
victories No
less renowned than war".
It is up to us all
to make sure that these words are true.
PRIZE LIST
1 AGDavid Kyle, Paula Mills, Margaret Mears.
3 AM
Clifford Andrews, Elizabeth Ash, Margaret Summers.
1BGDenise Porter, Jennifer Bayly, Lesley Holmes.
3 BM
Michael Reardon, Yvonne Wignall, Roger Glover.
1 CGLinda Black, John Fleming.
3 CM
Robert Dunning, Kathleen Conroy, Pamela Vale.
1 DGVincent Bradshaw, David Bishop, Thomas Dunk
3 DM
Melvyn
Strickland, Edward Holding, Gordon Jackson.
1 AMPeter Hannan, Mark Hollier, Rachael Trick.
3 EM
Antoinette Nixon.
1 BMPatricia Overy, Margaret Petley, Christopher Taylor.
4 AG
Keith Holmes, Sheila Smith, Heather Clemmett, Susan Bourne.
1 CMSandra Ruttle, Patricia Johnson, Nicholas Gordon.
4 BG
Michael Semmens, Christopher Dunn.
1 DMMaureen Todd.
4 AM
George Aldridge, Muriel Meadham, Marlene Evens.
1EMAlan Rae.
4 BM
Margaret Wilson, Michael Wenham, Paul McDermott
2AGSusan Norman, Julia Bullock,
Patricia Flude
5 R Patricia
Osborne.
2 BGMalcolm Price, Philip Perry.
5 AG
Patricia Satchell, Keith Knight, Paul Lovell
2 CG Diane Hansen, John Weaver.
5 BG
Alison Bigden, Geraldine Buckeridge.
2 DG Michael Hopkins, Patricia Benstead, George Snow.
5 AM
Shirley Monk, Bridget Smith, Desmond Fleming
2 AM Eileen Thomson, Janet -Lewis, Patricia Jordan.
6th Form Jocelyn Duke, David Roberts, Barbara Jones, Bernard Hoctor.
2 BM Jutta Hoole, Janice Drew, Terry
Matthews.
2 CM Brenda Hymans, Teresa Trout,
Nigel Judd.
MUSIC PRIZE — Alexander Brown.
2DM Thomas Sievwright.
ART PRIZE — David Fraser.
3AG Rayner Brammall, Ana Sutton, Elizabeth Barker.
SCIENCE PRIZE — Peter Gettings.
3 BG...
Wendy Green, Rosalind Evans, Mary
Weddell.
3 CG Maureen Thomson, Susan Biirkitt.
M.V. DUNERA — PRIZE WINNERS
Essay:— Susan Loft. 5A,1.
Scrapbooks:— Joanna Hawkins. 2A.2. Jennifer Gilbert. 2A.2.
Logbooks & Sketches:— David Radford. 8A.1. Candy Brundle.
4B.
G.C.E. RESULTS SUMMER 1962
ADVANCED LEVEL: OXFORD
ROSEMARY DEARDEN -- Art.
JOCELYN DUKE -- Geography, Chemistry, Biology.
AID AN C. ELLIS — Geography.
PETER GETTINGS — Pure Mathematics (with 65% at Scholarship
Level).
PAMELA HINTON -- Physics.
BERNARD HOCTOR — Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics,
Physics.
BARBARA JONES — Pure Mathematics, Applied Mathematics,
Physics.
DENISE KYLE — Art.
SUSAN J. LARGE — English Literature.
IAN McCALL — English Literature, Geography.
DAVID MULCAHY - - Geography.
BEVERLEY PEARCE -- Physics.
CYRIL POTTER Physics, Chemistry (with 65% at Scholarship
Level).
ALLISON BIGDEN'— English Language, English Literature, French,
Geography, Art, Biology.
MARTIN BOND — Art, Mathematics, Metalwork.
SUSAN BOURNE — English Language, French, History (British),
Mathematics.
CHRISTINE BRACEY — English Language, French, Religious Knowledge,
Physics,
Biology
ANGELA BRADBURY - Art.
ALEXANDER BROWN — English Language, French, Italian,
Music, Mathematics, Chemistry.
GERALDINE BUCKERIDGE -- History (Soc/Econ), Geography, Religious
Knowledge, Art, Cookery.
MARION BULLOCK -- English Language, Mathematics.
SUSAN BUNTING - - English Language, English Literature.
JENNIFER CAIRNS -- English Language, Needlework.
JANE
CARVER -~ English Literature, Latin, Mathematics, Biology.
KENNETH CAUNTER - - French, Geography, Physics.
KEVIN CLAUGHAN — English Language, Biology, Human Biology and
Hygiene.
HEATHER CLEMETT -- English Language, French, History (British),Mathematics.
JAMES COOPER — Additional Mathematics.
PATRICIA COOPER — French, Art, Biology.
JEAN
CRAIG - - English Language, French, Biology, Cookery.
SUSAN CRONIN - - English Language, English Literature, History
'(British),
Geography.
SHEILA
CRUICKSHANK - - English Literature, Italian, History (Foreign),
Religious Knowledge, Geography, Chemistry.
DEREK DAVIES -- Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
ROSEMARY DEARDEN -- Geology.
CHRISTINE DICKSON — Biology.
JOCELYN DUKE -- Geology.
DUNCAN EUSTACE -- Mathematics.
MAUREEN FITZGERALD — English Literature, History (British),
Chemistry,
Biology.
DAVID FRASER — English Language, English Literature, French, Art,
Biology.
SUSAN FRASER — French.
THOMAS FRASER -- English Language.
BRIAN FULLER - French.
PAULINE GAUSDEN — Art.
DAVID GERRARD — English Literature, French, History (Foreign),
Geography, Mathematics, Physics.
CAROL GIBSON - - English Language, English Literature, French,
Religious
Knowledge, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
JAMES GILCHRIST --English Language, Mathematics.
PAULA GOODALE — Italian.
RODERICK GOWER — Additional Mathematics.
JENNIFER GUNSON -- Biology, Cookery.
SUSAN HAMMOND — Chemistry.
DAWN HANKINS — Needlework.
PHYLLIS HANNAN -- Biology, Human Biology and Hygiene.
JOYCE HARGREAVES — English Language, English Literature.
JON HAYLOCK — Additional Mathematics.
IAN HEATH — English Language, English Literature, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Biology.
DAVID HENDERSON — English Language, French, Mathematics.
JANE
HENDERSON - - English Language, Biology.
BENJAMIN HIGSON — Physics.
KATHLEEN HINES — English Literature, French, History (Foreign),
Mathematics, Biology.
AMANDA
HINTON -- English Language, English Literature, Latin, French,History (British), Religious Knowledge, Geography, Mathematics,
Physics.
STELLA HOBBY -- English Language.
JILL HOLLEY — English Language, English
Literature, French, History (Foreign), Geography, Mathematics,
Chemistry, Biology.
KEITH HOLMES — English Language, French, History
(British), Mathematics.
DIANA JACKSON -- Additional Mathematics.
ROGER JOHNSON -- English Language,
Mathematics.
LESLEY KEARN — English Language, History (British).
KEITH KNIGHT -- English Language, English Literature, French,
History (Foreign), Geography, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
ROGER KNIGHT —
English Language, English Literature, French, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry.
SARA
LAIDLAW — English Language, English Literature, French, Italian,Geography, Art, Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry, Biology.
SUSAN LARGE — Human Biology and
Hygiene.
JULIE
LEWENDON -- English Language, Art.
ADRIAN LINDLEY — English Language, Chemistry.
SUSAN LOFT — English Language, Art.
PAUL LOVELL — English Language, English Literature,
French, History Foreign), Geography, Music, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
VERONICA MACKNEY - - Biology.
ALLAN MARTIN — English Language, French, Mathematics, Physics.
JANET MEARS — English Language, French.
JOHN MELTON — Additional Mathematics.
BARBARA MILLER — Cookery.
JUDITH NEWTON -- French, Biology.
JOHN PARKER — English Language, French, History (Foreign),
Geography, Art, Mathematics, Physics
JOHN
PASSMORE — English Language, Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Biology.
CHRISTINE PAZOWSKA — English Language, Art.
MICHAEL PETERS — English Language, Biology.
GRAHAM PETLEY — English Language, Mathematics.
BARBARA PIKE - - English Language, French, History (British).
LESLEY
POWELL — History (Foreign), Art, Mathematics.
JOYCE
PUNCHARD - - English Language, French, Religious Knowledge, Mathematics, Physics, Biology.
CAROL
RANDALL — Art, Biology.
GEOFFREY RANDALL — English Language, English Literature, French, Italian, History (Foreign), Geography, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology.
RONALD
RICHARDS — English Language, English Literature, History (Foreign), Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry.
ROSALYN ROBERTSON -- English Language.
ANGELA
SALTER -- Italian.
JEREMY SALTER — English Language, French, History (British).
SUSAN
SALTER — English Language, Biology.
PATRICIA SATCHELL -- English Language, English Literature, French,History (British), Religious Knowledge, Geography, Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry
SUSAN
SCOTT — English Language, French, Cookery.
MAUREEN SILLIS — English Language, French, Mathematics, Physics,Chemistry.
ANNE SKINNER — French.
SHEILA SMITH — English Language, French, History (British).
MARGARET
SOWDEN -- English Language.
PHILIP
STUBBS — English Language, English Literature, French, History (Foreign), Geography, Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry.
JUNE TAYLOR -- English Language.
MARY
THOMAS -- English Language, History (Soc/Econ), Geography, Art,Cookery.
LORNA TIERNEY — English Language, French, History (British).
MALCOLM
TRIGG — English Language, French, History (Foreign), Religious Knowledge, Mathematics, Physics,
Chemistry.
LESLEY TURNER — English Literature, Latin, Italian, History (Foreign),
Religious Knowledge, Geography,
Biology.
RUTH
WAGHORN — English Language.
PAULINE WARNER — English Language, English Literature, Geography.
SUSAN WAUGH — Religious Knowledge, Biology.
PETER WEDDELL — History (British).
LESLEY WHITELEY -- English Language,
Biology.
MAVIS
WHITTLE — Italian.
SUSAN WILDISH — English Language, French, Mathematics.
ANDREW
WILKIN — Physics.
ROGER
WILKIN — English Language, French, Geography, Mathematics,Physics.
ANNE WILLIAMS — Art.
JANET WILLIAMS — English Language.
PATRICIA
WOODWARD — Additional Mathematics.
MARGARET WOOLLETT — English Language, Mathematics.
ROYAL SOCIETY OF ARTS
EXAMINATION RESULTS — SUMMER 1962
DAVID BAKER. — Mathematics 'B', Physics,
Geometrical and Technical Drawing, Metalwork (with Drawing),
Art.
DAVID BROWN — Mathematics 'A' &
'B',Physics,Geometrical & Technical Drawing, Metalwork (with Drawing),
Woodwork (with Drawing).
JEFFREY COOK — Geometrical and Technical Drawing.
PETER FIELD — English Language, Mathematics 'B', Physics.
DESMOND FLEMING — English Language, Mathematics 'A' and 'B',
Physics, Civics, English Literature, French,
Geography.
GILBERT LEDINGHAM — Mathematics
'A'.
CHRISTOPHER ROBINSON — Art.
ALAN ROUTLEDGE — Mathematics 'B', Physics, Geometrical and Technical
Drawing.
IAN TURNER — English Language, Mathematics 'A',
Geometrical and Technical Drawing, Woodwork (with
Drawing).
JACQUELINE BENSTEAD — Arithmetic.
DAWN BOWMAN — English Language, Shorthand, Typewriting, Art,
English Literature, Religious Knowledge.
LAURA HOIT — English Language, Shorthand, Arithmetic, English
Literature.
SHIRLEY MONK — English Language, Shorthand, Typewriting, Arithmetic,Art, Civics, English Literature,
Religious Knowledge.
ROSEMARY MULCAHY — English
Language, Shorthand, Arithmetic.
PENELOPE PLUMPTON — English Language, Human Biology and Hygiene,Art, Civics, English Literature.
CAROL REARDON — English Language, Art.
ISOBEL SIMPSON — English Language, Shorthand, Typewriting,
Arithmetic.
BRIDGET SMITH — English Language, Shorthand, Typewriting,
Arithmetic, Art,
Civics, English Literature, Religious Knowledge.
KAY WILLIAMS — Arithmetic, Needlecraft, Art.
CHRISTINE CLARK — Typewriting.
CHRISTINE DANIELS — Typewriting.
JUNE TAYLOR — Typewriting.
G.C.E.
RESULTS — AUTUMN 1962
ORDINARY LEVEL: OXFORD
PETER ASHFORTH — French.PAULINE BALE — English Literature, History (Foreign),
Cookery.ALLISON BIGDEN — History (British).CHRISTINE BRACEY — English Literature, History (British),
Mathematics,Chemistry.SUSAN BRIERLEY -- French. ALEXANDER BROWN — English Literature.
SUSAN BUNTING — History (British), Religious Knowledge.
JENNIFER CAIRNS — Art.KENNETH
CAUNTER — English Language, Mathematics.JAMES COOPER — English Language.SANDRA
CURRIE -- French.
DEREK DA VIES -- Geography.WILLIAM
DUNCAN - - English Language, Religious Knowledge, Music.DUNCAN
EUSTACE -- Art, Engineering Drawing.TERENCE
FELTHAM — Geography.MAUREEN
FITZGERALD -- English Language.DAVID
GERRARD -- Italian.DAWN
HANKINS -- Mathematics.IAN
HEATH -- Chemistry.SYLVIA
HENLEY -- English Literature, Religious Knowledge.HILARY
HILL — Biology, Cookery.STELLA
HOBBY -- History (British), Art.ROGER
HURRELL — English Literature, History (Soc/Econ).LESLEY
KEARN — Religious Knowledge.ADRIAN
LINDLEY -- English Language, Religious Knowledge, Mathematics,Physics,
Chemistry.
MELANIE LUSTY -- English Language, English Literature, Chemistry,Biology.ALLAN
MARTIN - - English Literature. VERONICA MACKNEY - -
Additional Mathematics. BARBARA MILLER --
English Language, English Literature, History(Soc/Econ).JUDITH
NEWTON — English Literature, Geography, Chemistry. JOHN PASSMORE — English
Literature. JOHN
PAYNE - - History (British). CYRIL POTTER — French.
LESLEY POWELL — English Literature. JUNE PRICE -- English
Literature, Cookery. ROSALYN ROBERTSON —
Cookery.SUSAN
SALTER — English Literature, History (Foreign). MAUREEN SILLIS --
History (Foreign). MALCOLM TRIGG - -
English Literature, Geography.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The School Magazine
Committee wish to acknowledge receipt of the following School Magazines:
—
THE EAGLET — St. Augustine College, Tarxien, Malta.
THE GEORGIAN —
St. George's School, Hong-Kong.
TECHLORE — Secondary Technical School, Paola, Malta.
LASALLIAN — De
La Salle College, Cottonera, Malta.
THE CAVALIER — Prince Rupert School, Wilhelmshaven.
SCHOOL TRIP 1963
"Absolutely Fab !", the highest praise schoolchildren can utter in 1963,
was the verdict recorded on every single aspect of the 'Dunera' Cruise.
A use of
English no doubt which might argue the importance of .any attempt to
give young people some contact with the culture of a past age. Yet a
trip like this
might be said to answer all the requirements of enthusiasts in the
educational field. A school on the water is enough to capture, the
imagination,
but one which follows a time-table while taking its children to places
that hitherto were names must be indeed beyond the wildest dreams of the
most fanatical of Visual Aids exponents in every Departmentof
Education.This
was a school, it seemed, of which the pupils would never tire. In addition to all the facilities which
teachers require here was a swimming pool, a recreation room, a library, even an engine
room. All their interests had been considered: cacaphonous noises over
the loudspeakers during the Records' Request hour emphasised this fact !
Above all the children found a new freedom which taught its own kind of discipline; in short they ruled
their own world with the guidance of their teachers always at hand.
It was
perhaps the sight of the orderly shore-going parties in Tal-Handaq
uniform which made one realize the presence of that masterly
organization which
gave rise to the confidence of the pupils. Once on shore what an attractive
programme of lessons lay ahead. As they paid rapt attention to the
Guide's
description of the wealth of mediaeval Genoa they were unconscious of
the fact that this was the history lesson for the day.
How could one think of Time-tables standing in a narrow street of fourteenth
century houses or examining tapestry
worked in the sixteenth ? How could a
teacher think of detentions looking at those eager upturned faces
outside St. Peter's ? How worthwhile it all seemed when on first seeing Pompeii an awestruck
little voice was heard to say, "This is the best !"'
There
were moments of splendour and awe- and there were moments of laughter and high spirits. The veterans
o<f old campaigns on rival school buses soon had the Italian coach drivers madly
racing each other along these magnificent wide roads. The Senior Classics
master, looking himself like some distinguished Roman senator in modern dress,
led an intrigued group interested eye on the other attractions -which every modern
city boasts.
There
were many other memorable moments. One remembers the Concert given by the teachers, the hazards of
life-boat drill, and the sight of Commander Sumnall marching round the
deck all those who seemed likely to succumb to sea-sickness. One remembers the regret at
leaving the ship, mitigated however by the knowledge that so much had been gained
from that all too short journey, that so many new friends had been made
and that the 'Dunera' would come again.
"THE THREE CITIES"
Extracts
from "THE THREE CITIES" prize winning essay on the 'Dunera*
Cruise.
...............
We
reached Genoa, which is Italy's most important port and older than Rome itself, on Friday, March
1st. The city is situated on the Gulf of Genoa in north-west Italy, pressed between
the Apennme Mountains and the sea. From the harbour the city rose steeply and the houses
clung to the mountain sides. Fortifications crowned the higher peaks looking
down on the beautiful and busy city as they had done for many years. The Genoese
have been traders since the time when Genoa was first civilised by the Phoenicians and
Greeks. Nowadays
her harbour can accommodate the largest vessels afloat and consists
of four main basins with ten miles of quays and over a thousand across
of water area.
Characteristic of the older part of Genoa are the "Caruggi". These are
narrow, winding streets where one can lean out of a second-storey window
and almost
shake hands with a person in the building opposite. There is always
great activity in the Caruggi, the rich and poor alike mill up and down
the narrow
streets gazing into the shop windows and doing their shopping. As we
walked through these narrow lanes it was the many food shops that caught
my eye. In
the fish shops there was a fine display of octopus, prawns and many
types of fresh-fish. In the bread shops the most delicious and mouth
watering cakes
and trifles filled the windows and in the sweet-shops a fine array of
caster eggs in
baskets decorated with fluffy chicks, chocolates wrapped in pretty
papers, mints and toffees enticed the eyes of many youngsters. Here and
there were gown
shops displaying chic suits and dresses of Italian design. There were
many jewellers' shops also overflowing with beautiful things but I
particularly liked
the cameos which, of course, were made in Italy.
We
visited two of the palaces that were built by the merchants of Genoa,
the first of these was the "Palazzo Tursi", the entrance of which is
magnificent with
paintings of the Doges, former rulers of Genoa, lining the walls. The
"Palazzo Tursi" is still used by the Genoese Council when it meets to
discuss the
city's affairs. After a short time in the Palazzo Rosso we went to the
centre of the city and here in the city square was the inevitable fountain. The
Italians love fountains and there are many to be found in every town. Nearby was
the Church of Saint Lorenzo built of the black and white stone of Genoa. It
was dark inside the Church, the only light coming through some very beautiful stained
glass windows. We left the Church and the Coach took us to the square where the Memorial to
the men who died in the 1914-1918 war stands. It was here that we went
into a cafe
and I drank one of the most delicious cups of coffee that I have ever
had.
................
On
the following day we were taken by coach to Rome. We travelled inland passing through green
countryside, the land was flat in places or suddenly hilly. It was on one of the rises
that we caught our first glimpse of Rome, and on entering the city the coach
took us to St. Peter's. This magnificent basilica was built over a sepulchre .thought to
contain the bones of St. Peter. The basilica is full of beautiful statues,
paintings and priceless, ornaments. There is a statue of "La Pieta", the only work
that Michelangelo signed and the statue of Sain.t Peter is interesting
because its foot has been slowly worn away by the kisses of millions of
pilgrims. I wanted to gaze for hours at the beautifully painted
ceilings, and the dome which is the largest in the world.
................
After eating a sandwich lunch we set
off in the coaches ,to see other places of interest in Rome. We
stopped to look at the great monument to Victor Emmanuel II, known as the "Wedding
Cake" and which now houses the tomb of Italy's Unknown Warrior.
This monument is a vast building standing on the northern slopes of the
Capitoline Hill. Opposite is the "Palazzo Venezia" from which Mussolini used to
talk to the people during the second world war. From here we made our way to the
Forum, passing on the way a cage in which two wolves paced up and down. These animals
remind the Italians of the legend of Romulus and Remus. We did not go inside
the Forum but from the railings we could see the Arch of Septimus Severus, the three columns
belonging to the Temple of Castor and Pollux and the Via Sacra. The
coach then
took us to the Coliseum, officially called the Flavius Amphitheatre. It
is one of
the most impressive buildings of ancient Rome and is remarkably well
preserved. In parts it has been strengthened by modern methods to
conserve it for
many more years. As I stood within its walls I visualised the
gladitorial combats,
chariot races and the killing of Christians providing entertainment for
the Romans nearly two thousand years ago.
Leaving
the Coliseum we contined our coach tour of Rome passing the bridge and Castle of Saint Angelo, the
"Quesa della Trinita dei Monti" where Keats died, the Piazza Colonna
and the Piazza del Popolo. We finished our tour with a visit to the Trevi fountain into
which I .threw a coin, because local superstition says that if you do this you will
most certainly return to Rome.
................
On
our way to Pompeii we passed over the Campanian Plain — the market garden of Italy. Pompeii is
remakable in that it tells the story of Roman every-day life cut off in its heyday by
an eruption of Vesuvius in A.D. 79. We walked through streets marked by the
ruts worn with chariot wheels and entered some of the shops. A bakery is well preserved,
and in it are the ovens and apparatus for grinding flour. In a wine shop the marble counter
and containers for wine and olive oil are in good condition and the painting
of a serpent can be clearly seen on the exterior wall of a pharmacy. At
the entrance of one
of the Villas there is an excellent portrayal of a dog in mosais with
the words
"Cave canem" printed underneath. Other mosaics and the lovely fountain
of the Casa Delia are marvellously preserved. We entered the public
baths, the walls and ceiling of which are painted, the forum, the
theatre and several temples. Finally, we visited the Villa of the Two
Brothers, where we saw the garden, the peristyle, the ornamental basin
and the wall paintings as they
were before Vesuvius brought life in Pompeii to such an abrupt end...............
SUSAN LOFT - VA.
IL BARBIERE Dl SIVIGLIA
In
November Mr. Wilkinson .took a party of seventeen girls to the Manoel
Theatre to see "The Barber of Seville" performed by a national group of
Italian opera singers.
The
performance was in a foreign tongue but the acting was of such a high
standard that we were able to follow the story quite well although I
must admit that a
synopsis of the story in English at the front of the programme was a
great help.
As the
title suggests, the opera is about a jovial barber living in Seville. He
does all he can to help his friend Count Almaviva rescue a beautiful
girl from her rich
guardian Doctor Bartolo, who is determined to marry her.
The
barber and the Count eventually succeed in their task, after the Count
has had to masquerade as a drunken soldier and as Rosina's music
teacher., and the
Count and Rosina are betrothed, Doctor Bartolo being satisfactorily
consoled with Rosina's dowry.
For many
of us it was our first visit to the opera and this scintillating, colourful
performance did much to encourage us to see more.
CONCERT AT SCHOOL
The
first of the monthly concerts took place in the Music Room on the 12th
February 1963. It was performed during the lunch break, beginning at
1.30 p.m. The "Celebrities" were introduced by Mr. Gerrard,
head of the Music Department at
Ta1-Handaq School.
Commander Des Clayes opened the concert by playing a Bach Minuet on his
flute. Mr. Tatton then sang "Hedge Roses" and "Sylvia" by Schubert,
accompanied by Mr. Gerrard on the piano. Mr. Wilkinson was the last
member of the
staff to perform, and played a clarinet solo — the Intermezzo from
L-arlesienne
Suite. School-boys then took over, and Lindsay Wilkin and Peter Grogan
entertained us on their guitars. Andrew Wilkin, Lindsay's elder brother,
played two short piano
pieces by Chopin. The concert was closed by Alex Brown
playing a Madrigal by Bohm on his
violin accompanied by Bill Duncan at the piano. The audience, consisting of
about eighty members of the school, applauded frequently, showing their
appreciation of good music. There should be full attendances at every
subsequent concert if this standard is maintained.
MARJORIE
SEWELL, L. VI Arts.
LUNCHTIME CONCERTS
The
second of the monthly serious of Lunchtime Concerts was given in the
Music Room on Tuesday 12th March, with an audience of about sixty
attending.
The
first performer was Mr. Witherspoon, who played on the violin a delightful piece by Beethoven entitled
"Romance in G major". Next on the programme were two songs from German's "Merrie
England;" Rosemary "lolanthe" Dearden sang "O Peaceful England"
and Mr. Tatton sang the beautiful tenor solo "Dan Cupid hath a
Garden."
We were
then entertained by two duets, the first one being for a rather unusual
combination of instruments, the violin and guitar (!) played by Alex
Brown and Christopher O'Brien. In the second duet Christopher played the
violin and we heard a difficult but well p'layed piece of music. Mr.
Gerrard then
announced that by way of a change we would hear a "pop tune" only a
"pop" tune with
a difference, one written in the 16th Century!
It was in
fact a Madrigal by Morley sung by Kay Robertson, Pat Sawyer, Rosemary Dearden, Christopher
O'Brien, Peter Ashforth and Alex Brown. The applause showed that it had
been enjoyed and considering it was sung with only one rehearsal, it was really excellent.
This item
brought the concert to a finish with everyone I'm sure, both performers and audience, feeling that
they had spent a most enjoyable half-hour.
Wm. DUNCAN -- VB.
THE SCHOOL DANCE
We feel
that Mr. Moore deserves praise for his untiring efforts to create
interest in the gentle art of ballroom dancing. As everyone knows the
school dance is
the main event of the school term. The Ballroom Dancing Club,
especially the large male contingent (amounting to three after the
elementary steps of
the waltz had been mastered) eagerly await their chance to demonstrate
their prowess.
The
tickets for the last dance sold like... they didn't sell. Undeterred, we
stalked our victims and forced our tickets on sixty unwilling customers,
assuring them that
everybody who was anybody would be there (we hope these little white
lies will be forgiven). As martyrs to the cause we gave up our gym
lessons in order
to decorate the hall. We would like to thank the M.M.U. for their
generous contribution. The night arrived.
The
exclusive company assembled, determined to enjoy themselves, even if
they died in the attempt. This proved unnecessary, thanks to the timely
intervention of Paul Jones. The
quick-steps and waltzes proved extremely popular. At one time ten dancing couples
ventured onto the floor. The pasedoble inspired great ingenuity and variation. One gored
matador was carried from the ring. Such decadent dances as jiving,
twisting and the Madison were performed, allowing several members of the school and staff
to display their ability as contortionists.
As the
band struck up the sad, romantic strains of 'Now is the Hour', there
was a stampede towards the buses, proving that everyone is a
sentimentalist at heart.
Seriously, the dance was a great success and we feel sure that everyone
who attended
will join us in thanking Mr. Moore and his wife for organising it, and
we hope they will run many more equally successful dances in the future.
R.A. and A.S. — VIA.
"POP" CONCERT
Towards the end of the Winter term a school party went to a 'Pop'
Concert
given by the Royal Marines band. This was a fairly well made-up
orchestra with
a good wind section, though I felt the strings were a little sparse
— the
effects of which were to make themselves felt later on in the
programme.
Before the concert started, the conductor introduced all the members
of the
orchestra to the audience, which comprised mainly the second and
third
years. This, I thought, was a master-stroke and, no doubt, "Maestro"
was
pleased. It is hoped that the 2nd and 3rd years are well versed in
orchestration by now.
The
concert started with some music normally arranged for brass band,
but
the conductor gave parts to the strings and this made the music
perhaps a
little curious rather than more interesting.
The
programme ranged through various kinds of music; among them was
Haydn's "Farewell" Symphony, which the
composer wrote as a protest against his employer Prince Esterhazy who was
going to dismiss him and his orchestra. In the last movement the score gradually
diminishes, the players leave in ones and twos until all have left except two
violins and the conductor who manage to leave very discreetly at the
end. This was effectively done by candle-light, and was rather amusing.
Then
the programme ranged to such things as the "Can-Can" from
Offenbach's "Orpheus in the Underworld" - and here the strings were
felt wanting: with so much staccato and scherzando specially
designed for the
strings, something was felt conspicuously lacking. However, the wind
came to the
rescue and some excellent trombone-playing and woodwind helped to
cover up
the misfortunes of the violins and viole -- the 'celli and bassi
were good, however. There were also one or two daring excursions
into the "fringe" with
Irving Berlin's "White Christmas."
It is hoped that the audience benefitted from this enlightening concert.
EUGENE BROWN.
THE ROYAL MARINE BAND CONCERT
On
the 6th December 1962, all the third forms went to Manoel Island
Cinema, to hear a Band Concert, which
was put on for us by the Royal Marine Band, and some from the C-in-Cs orchestra.
The
programme consisted of the overture to Orpheus of the Underworld, a
march, called Cockleshell Heroes, Faust ballet music, a Farewell
Symphony, two
or three compositions of White Christmas, and lastly, a selection of
Carols.
Firstly we were introduced to the orchestra — the instruments I
mean, not the
men — the strings, the brass, the woodwinds and the percussions. The
"Cockleshell Heroes" was the first piece to be played. It was very
lively, and comes from the film of which it has the same title. We
then heard the overture of
the opera Orpheus of the Underworld, which was written in Paris by
Offenbach. The Faust Ballet Music was
light, and enjoyable to listen to. There were three solos, and the first one was a
trumpet solo by Peter Goff. The orchestra was playing light background music. A
flute trio played the Pennywhistles song, and then the Posthorn Gallop was
played, which vividly described an Old English Hunt.
Then came the Farewell Symphony. This
was written by Hayden, because the Elector of Hanover had dismissed him. The symphony
represents the orchestra leaving the Elector's court. The
musicians in the orchestra played by candlelight, then one by one they left their
stage, and went to the bar, as it was the interval.
After the
interval, we returned to our seats to listen to parts of White
Christmas after which we all sang carols - - with the exception of the
less-enthusiastic members of our
community.
When the
concert had finished — a very enjoyable one at that — we were driven
back to school, just in time for a Latin lesson !
MARIAN
FITZSIMONS — 3AI.
SUSAN NORMAN — 3AI.
THE LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY
After
its limited programme of last year, this society has now attained a
place of growing importance in the school, due to the hard work of Mr.
Alexander and his committee. Its activities have covered a wide range
including topical debates on subjects such as "Capital Punishment",
"Notoriety as
opposed to Oblivion", "Juvenile Delinquency" and "The Tyranny of
Convention;'.
Among
outstanding speakers were Pamela Hinton, Susan Hammond, Rosalind Evans, Cyril Potter, John Passmore,
Brian Fuller, Aline McDougall, Alex Brown and Dave Hobden.
There
were many other events of interest. A Brains Trust, in which members of the staff were the "brains"
was very well received. A play, "The Glass Menagerie' by Tennessee
Williams, was read by members of the Vlth form.
This was very popular and created a new interest in modern playwrights.
Mr. Alexander gave a most interesting talk entitled: "An introduction to
Robert Graves" which has helped to develop the literary taste of the
senior school.
Two well attended competitions have been held. The first,
a public-speaking
competition, reached a very high standard. It was run on a house
basis, the winner .being Rosalind Evans of Hawkins. The other,
a verse-speaking competition, was open to the whole school. The
winners were: —
1st year — ANNE THOMPSON. 2nd year
-- VANESSA REID. 3rd year — SUSAN GRANT. 4th year — KATHERINE JEFFERSON. 5th year — PAULINE McKINLEY. 6th year
— SUSAN HAMMOND. Many of those who took part showed promise.
The
highlight of the year was undoubtedly the Mock Trial. Mrs. Emmeline
Pankhurst, ably portrayed by Rosemary Dearden, was tried for "wrongly
inciting the women of Great Britain to consider themselves the equal of
men". The
members of the staff on the jury found her guilty. Attendance beat all
records although the Trial was open only to the senior school.
We hope
that the success achieved this year will inspire future members of the
school to continue to support this society, and we would like to thank
Mr. Alexander whose interest and co-operation are entirely responsible
for these
successes.
ROSEMARY ANDREWS. ANGELA SALTER.
THE MOCK TRIAL
The afternoon of Wednesday, 3rd April, 1963, hailed the most important
event so fax, in the history of our illustrious Literary and Debating
Society: — The Mock Trial of Mrs. Emmeiine Pankhurst. This
unusual if not heroic attempt at a
difficult subject, had long been anticipated and discussed, so everyone was extremely pleased to see it actually take place.
(For the information of the unenlightened, Mrs. Pankhurst was a prominent member of the Suffragette Movement which endeavoured through a
great variety of methods to gain emancipation for women in Great Britain,
at the beginning of the twentieth century, and
they did finally succeed.) The trial in question, however, deviates
rather from its predecessor.
For a few days previous to the trial, (several ardent Suffragettes paraded
round the school brandishing banners bearing
legends such as, "Votes for Women1',
"We Hate Men" ( !). Another form of advertisement was the chaining of two suffragettes, Vera Wentworth (RO'Semary Andrews) and
Jessie Kennedy (Angela Salter), and Madame Curie (Pam Hinton) to the
flagstaff, this being symbolic of the voluntary dhalning to the railings
surrounding the Houses of Parliament of the real
suffragettes, to bring their cause into
the public eye.
At 3.40 p.m. on the actual day of the trial, the public was all seated,
the members of the jury (consisting of a small contigent of the staff)
had taken their places, as had the Counsels for the
Prosecution (Anthony Ashforth and Michael Armistead) and the
Counsels for the Defence (Aline
McDougall and Cecilia Focken). The Judge (Jon Haylock) was then formally
ushered in, silence fell, and the trial began. The accused, Mrs.
Pankhurst, (Rosemary Dearden) was called, sworn in, and
took her place in the dock. Here it should
also be added that each participant was in costume, this adding much to the atmosphere.
The Counsel for the Prosecution opened the proceedings by calling each
of his witnesses for examination. These proved a motley selection and included; a "particularly intelligent" specimen
of our police force (Brian
Fuller); Queen Victoria (Susan Hammond), who openly told us of her incompetence in governing Britain, and was not amused; Mr. Asquith (A.E. Brown), who appeared a little harassed after a recent encounter
with some of the Suffragettes; an American (Johnny
Passmore) who was extremely eloquent about the ruination of his
country through women; a typical
clergyman (Bill Duncan), who appeared a little hesitant with his views;
and perhaps the most amusing witness in the trial, although rather an anachronism, the Woman of Today (Rosalind Evans), who
was a great source of hilarity.
At this point, an unseemly disturbance took place, in the shapes of Jessie
Kennedy and Vera Wentworth, who rushed in
through the back of the court shouting "Votes for
Women", etc and throwing balloons about the court on which was daubed (in wet paint) "Votes for Women". These unseemly
ladies having been dealt with by the ushers,
the court proceeded with the cross-examination
of the witnesses for the defence.
Mrs. Pankhurst showed herself as a fine upstanding woman of excellent
ideals, if not misguided methods; a somewhat "off-beat" H.G. Wells
(Peter Gettings) was questioned on his latest book
advocating female emancipation; Madame
Curie (Pam Hinton) with her delightful French accent, was an excellent example of a woman who had proved herself equal to men; once again
our two friends Jessie Kennedy and Vera
Wentworth (who shall be nameless)
came forward to
support their cause in a rather bombastic manner; a wounded
soldier of the Crimean War (Dave Hobden) was particularly profuse in his
praise of Florence Nightingale, and caused a stir by the loss of his
wooden
leg; the last witness for this side was Emily Davidson (Nicola Newton)
who,
swathed in bandages having recently thrown herself beneath the King's
horse
at the Derby, was borne in on a stretcher, to gallantly give a few words
in support of Mrs. Pankhurst. The Counsels then summed up, and there was
a short adjournment to enable the jury to decide a verdict. The final
decision was unanimous:— "Guilty", and the Judge awarded 'Mrs. Pankhurst
the punishment of bowing to each male prefect for the last three
days of term. The court was then dismissed, and broke up amid": a
wave of applause and indignant calls from the
female members of the audience.
This must surely have been the most entertaining enterprise of the year,
and all participants are to be congratulated on their performances.
Especial
praise is due to our two revolutionary members of the sixth, Angela
Salter and
Rosemary Andrews, who were the inspiration and driving force behind this
particular performance. Thanks must also be given to Mr. Alexander for
his
assistance.
PAULA GOODALE U.6.A.
IOLANTHE
Perhaps
lolanthe has been one of the most remarkable Tal-Handaq performances of G. & S. that has been put on to
date. (It has been so to me at any rate).
Looking
back, it seems that the principals and chorus, producer and
"maestro" put in a tremendous amount of work, and much of it, no doubt,
was quite laborious to those of the company who are well past their
youth. But for
those who are still in their teens, (and I speak with practical
experience !) there was little time for boredom. (It is a strange fact
that the only
people who ever got annoyed were the members of staff - is there a moral somewhere ?)
I
remember how eagerly we awaited going "on stage" after a month or two of
work in the music room, and after many lunch hours also had been spent, on
the words and music, which still needed much polishing. However
going on stage provided some more headaches for Messrs Moore, Dickerson
and Barraclough, together with Miss Cater who painted the excellent
sets.
However,
it doesn't sound like much fun, and, despite what Mr. Gerrard may say,
it wasn't - - that's until the last tense fortnight before the actual
performances, where dread of them provided excitement and an inspiration
to "learn
the words off by heart," (a phrase oft quoted by the maestro!)
However,
all our industry would have been for nothing had it not been for the
innumerable host who made it possible for us to perform the opera on
the stage and it is to them as well as to our kind and patient teachers,
that we owe
our thanks.
I wind
up by saying that it is perhaps a tribute to our work that my most prominent memory is of Mrs.
Gerrard expending much energy on the curtain calls after each performance !
EUGENE BROWN.
CRITICISM"IOLANTHE"
When
listening to recordings by the d'Oyley Carte Company of Gilbert and
Sullivan operas, I have often been dismayed by the mangled vowels and
''plummy" enunciation of many of the cast, notably, I regret to say, the
ladies. If then, these trained professional singers can so spoil (for
me, at any rate)
the enjoyment of a good song, how can amateurs — young, mostly untrained
persons at that - - hope to please their audience ? Fortunately for
the audience at Tal Handaq, the freshness of these young people's
voices, their attack
and their good diction made "lolanthe" a delightful evening's entertainment.
The two
pianists played their overture with zest and feeling, communicating
their enjoyment to their listeners; the curtain opened, and on came the
fairies.
Considering the splendid physique of all young people nowadays (it is
becoming increasingly difficult to find a naturally graceful "fairy"
once she is over the age of ten !) and the small stage on which so many
of them had to deploy
themselves aerily without getting in the other's way, our fairies
succeeded
remarkably in creating the illusion that they were creatures from
another world.
They were very pretty; their petal skirts, wings, pastel colour schemes,
matching or contrasting slippers, antennae, make-up, and all combined to
produce
a charming array. They sang well; and particularly, two of the principal
fairies, Susan Grant as Celia, and Pat Sawyer as Leila, "put over" their
songs with aplomb.
The Queen
of the Fairies (Anne Williams) was convincingly authoritative and
splendidly in command; the heavy gold brocade gown ,which she wore
was perhaps more in keeping with an earthly, rather than an ethereal
Queen?, but, of
course, a production such as this to be run to a budget, and probably
good material already to hand must needs be used. Although her range
is not large, she sang very well indeed, sincerely and movingly, making
every word
tell. lolanthe (Rosemary Dearden) was called from the depths. Miss
Dearden has a most pleasing voice, and her experience in other parts
stood her in good stead on this occasion; her singing in this little
scene made us eager to
hear more later.
Strephon
(Harry Wilkinson) made a most effective entrance; his costume of brown
velvet cord, matching broad brimmed hat set off with yellow, mauve
waistcoat, white stock and other trimmings was arresting; he sang
clearly, pointing
his words well as always. When he was joined by Phyllis (Kay Robertson)
beautifully costumed in panniered candy-striped dress and white flowered
bonnet, their duet blended delightfully. They held their audience with
ease as they sang
"None shall part us"
Tan-tan-ta-ra
heralded the approach of the Peers and their stirring song, "Loudly
let the trumpet bray".
Again, we
were presented with a powerful colour-scheme, the peers' red robes
and white ermine "sang" as the men's chorus moved round. One would
have wished for a little more fulness in the robes; having said that,
the general effect was splendid and worth all the considerable effort
which must
have been expended upon it. The peers were obviously enjoying themselves
enormously, which contributed to their success. The Lord Chancellor,
Brendan Breslin, had a most difficult task; the fast patter songs with
which he had to
cope are a strain for the most experienced performer. All credit to him
then, for the manner in which he attacked his songs and acted the part of
the "very susceptible Chancellor" His costume was admirable, hisstage movements good, and a lot of thought had
obviously gone into the
humorous touches which characterised all his songs.
Alexander Brown as The Earl of Mountararat and Andrew Wilkin as the
Earl of Tolloller made fine foils for each other; as with all the cast,
they
made their words ring out, and their drollery was very well received.
Later, the Lord Chancellor sang "Go away, madam" to the Queen and
her Fairies, who answered, him forthrightly: this was a fine lively
scene,
vivaciously sung and acted.
The curtain opened on Act Two to a spontaneous burst of applause from
the audience: a spot played on the guardsman, Private Willis (Keith
Holmes)
resplendent in red tunic, towering bearskin and gold braid and looking
like
a red and black tree against his background of sentry-box and backcloth
depicting the Houses of Parliament.
Taking his time admirably, and using a powerful voice, Pte. Willis sang
his satire on the Houses of Parliament with great aplomb; he thoroughly
deserved his encore.
Lord Mountararat (Alexander Brown) was another young man who sang
strongly "When Britain ruled the Waves': his naturally ascetic countenance
accentuated by a neatly-pointed beard, he pointed his comedy well. He
was followed by one of the most interesting of the choruses, the mood
constantly
charging, "In vain to us you plead — Don't go !" Movement,
melody, words, expression — all in this were very satisfying.
"O foolish Fay" with its well-known chorus "O amorous dove" was
nobly sung by the Queen; the quartet "Though perhaps I may incur your
blame" of Phyllis, Lord Toller, Lord Mountararat, and Pte. Willis was
very
well received by the audience, as was the patter song "Love unrequited"
sung
by the Chancellor,
The action moved on smoothly through the trio ". .in for a penny, in
for a pound", the lovely duet sung by Phyllis and Strephon, "If we're
weak enough to tarry", lolanthe's moving "My lord, a suppliant at your
feet I fall" and so on to the finale with all on stage to sing "Soon as
we
may", providing a splendid pattern of colour: fairies' costumes against
peers' robes, and the principals' extravagant costume of the period
showing
up well against them.
To sum up: enunciation was extremely good; your correspondent was
unfamiliar with the text and scarcely missed a word, the sets were
well
designed and painted in traditional manner and the bold costumes "sang"
against them.
Great effort and ingenuity had gone into the making of the props to ensure
the maximum richness of effect with the minimum of expense. They
were good. Overall effect of makeup was very pleasing. Costumes have already
been mentioned, but I must repeat that they were worth every bit
of the considerable thought and effort that went into the making of
them.
The producer and musical director should be justifiably proud of this
production of "lolanthe".
J.L.
SPRING FEVER 1963
Spring
Fever finally went into production on the nights of 8th and 9th May.
But not without overcoming several obstacles. The Spring Term was one of
much sickness and there were several sudden home-goings. The Royal Naval
Drama Festival involved the School rather heavily too and rehearsals
could not begin
properly until after half-term and sheer lack of preparation time
finally made a
postponement inevitable. Further sickness and a change in an examination date caused a last minute
abandonment of one item and a sudden change in the cast. It was little short of
miraculous that the show achieved the standard it did at the public performances.
Like
Easter Parade a year ago the show consisted of short items, but this
time longer and more ambitious. The show was presented before a
curtained setting
but a good deal of research had gone into the decor, costumes and
lighting, for which Miss Reed, Mr. Dickerson and Mr. Moore are to be
congratulated along with many members of the
staff and pupils who contributed in this direction. The programme was as
follows: —
The
Little Nut-Tree by T.B. Morris.
Colombine by Reginald Arkell.
Interval
Richard II, Act 3, scene iv by Shakespeare.
The Pencil Seller by Robert W. Service.
White Queen, Red Queen by T.B. Morris.
Miss McGuiness produced The Little
Nut-Tree and Mr. Barraclough arranged and directed the entertainment as a whole. Both
are to be congratulated on the high standards they achieved. The evenings
were marked by some excellent diction, very fine team work throughout, and a few very
good performances. Pauline McKinlay, Jeanette Taylor and Rosalind Evans
in White Queen, Red Queen, and Susan Brierley in Richard II were outstanding. Roger Glover as
Pierot in Colombine, strangely static and sad, was quite in character
and had a good
speaking voice.
The cast
of The Little Nut-Tree, which was drawn mostly from the Junior forms of
the school, worked as a enthusiastic team and obviously enjoyed the play
as much as the audience.
On both
nights enthusiastic audiences were lavish in praise of what they had
seen. There is no doubt about the benefits to be derived from dramatic
work of this nature. Let us hope that the work will continue next year.
THE SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY
Chairman: ANTHONY ASHFORTH
Secretary: PAMELA HILTON
Committee Members: Peter Gettings,
Geoffrey Randall, Keith Holmes.
: The
Scientific Society, recently founded by Lt. Cdr. Harper, has been
well
supported by a select group of 5th and 6th year scientists and three
staunch enthusiasts from VI Arts. However I would like to point cut
that none
of our meetings are very technical and many more "arty" types would
be
welcome.
So
far our programme has included a lecture on "Radioactivity" given by
Anthony Ashforth and Michael Armitstead, another on "Radio' by
Geoffrey Randall and Ian Heath and one on "Colour" by Brian Fuller
and
Pamela Hinton. Mr. Gillow, the Horticultural Adviser to the Malta
Government,
gave us a talk on the "Second World Problem" (food production)
and
several members of the Society attended talks on "Qualitative Semi-Micro
Analysis'' and "Curve Tracing"', at the Royal University of Malta.
We plan to have talks given by the 5th and 6th year pupils every
ether
Thursday, and a trip to the Brewery later in the term is being
organised.
PAMELA HINTON — VI Sc.
VALEDICTORY —
TO A KNIGHT!
At the end of the summer
term we must bid goodbye to Mr. Knight, who is returning to U.K. after 12 years
at Tal Handaq. No other U.K. — based teacher has served so long at the
R.N.School, and none has filled so many rolesteacher, scout-master, resident-electrician and general factotum.
Having a very wide circle of Service friends, Mr.
Knight was able, in the austere days of the
early 50s, to beg, borrow and otherwise obtain, sufficient
equipment to finish our stage, and from the mysterious recess known
as "Uncle Tom's Cabin" he made a valuable contribution to
our stage production's.
A colleague once described him as "a walking test-lamp" - descriptive, not of his figure, but of his capacity to
trace and repair any electrical circuit, no matter how complicated.
In earlier days, when the school was smaller, and life
was perhaps less-complicated,
Mr. Knight was unofficial careers-master and guide and mentor to the senior boys in the then -- Modern School. One of
his duties was the preparation of candidates for Dockyard and
Service .apprenticeship examinations - his many
successes deserve especial mention.
So much to acknowledge, so little space to do it! One
recalls with gratitude his work for the
Scouts, his organisation of M.F.V. trips to Comino, of camps at Ricasoli, and not least, his excellence as
a camp cook !
Perhaps he will forgive the familiarity on this one
last occasion, when we say, on behalf of
colleagues and pupils -- past and present - "Goodbye, Tom, good-luck, and God bless you!"
SCOUT NOTES
Miracles
do sometimes happen though unless one takes place very shortly, these will be the last notes you will
see under this heading for our Scoutmaster is leaving the island and so
far no relief has been found to continue the good work. The Royal Naval School Troop of
Sea Scouts has had a good run of twelve years uninterrupted Scouting on land and
sea.
It was
revived by the present skipper in September 1951, soon blossomed into a
first class, troop, and proved its worth by winning every competition
open to it on the Island. In these twelve years no less than 385 boys
have passed through the ranks, many reaching 1st class and a few gaining
the Queen's
Scout Badge before they in turn had to leave the Island. In 1954 the troop
gained Admiralty Recognition and was the first troop in the world outside
U.K. to do so.
Here in
Malta, and in Sicily, the troop has spent no less than 112 nights under
canvas - - not always the same boys but always the same skipper. (He must
be thick skinned after all those nights on the rocks).
But now, what of the future ? Our colours rest in Holy Trinity Church.
Let us hope that the day is not far distant
when they will be carried on St. George's Day Parade once more with as much spirit and
pride as in the past. Good-bye Skip - - good luck - - and thanks a lot.
TAL-HANDAQ - ROUND THE WORLD
CHRISTMAS IN AUSTRALIA
One of the big differences that the new English
settlers find in Australia
is that Christmas falls in the middle of summer instead of in winter.
The shops at this time are gaily decorated with
Christmas trees, coloured
lights and scenes of the Nativity. Many hundreds of people crowd the
shops to see the displays and to buy presents for their
relatives and friends. Christmas
is also the end of the school-year and all the schools hold special
celebrations such as concerts and speech-nights.
Over the last few years many people are now having a
cold Christmas dinner, instead of the traditional hot Christmas dinner.
Many families spend the day at the beach or in
the bush and country. They pack a picnic hamper with either a cold chicken or turkey, salad and all the
other Christmas goodies, and then set off to
spend the day in the open-air enjoying the bright sunshine.
JENNIFER HENDY — 1A2.
A DAY IN THE HARTZ MOUNTAINS
One morning our family decided to go
to the Hartz Mountains for the day as it was quite close to the town where we lived. This
town was called Goslar. We
went up the mountain in a small cable car. It was a wonderful sight
to see the valley and all the houses
getting smaller and smaller. When we got out of the cable car we looked around. All the mountains and
valleys for mikes around
could be seen. We decided to go for a walk through the fir-tree
forest and we noticed how green and fresh
everything was. As we were going back to the cable car we were taken
by surprise when a man dressed as a (huge brown bear came ambling out from amongst the trees!
It was so peaceful and calm up there
that we were sorry to go back down into the valley.
GLYNIS MEADE 2A2.
LEBANON
Lebanon is a small country at the
eastern end of the Mediterrenean, with Israel to the south and Syria to the north and east.
Over half of the land is more than
3.000 ft above sea level; the highest peak which is a little over 10,000 ft. is named the
Cedars. At one time, cedars covered the mountains and were used to build King Solomon's
temples and Egyptian
temples, until today there are only four hundred left, and it is said that Queen Victoria paid to
have a wall built around them to prevent the goats destroying them.
The Lebanese climate differs, in
different parts of the country. On the coastal land the weather is hot and humid, so they are
able to grow tropical and sub-tropical fruits, such as oranges, lemons, bananas and
olives. In the mountains
and the Bekka Valley it is more of a temperate climate so they are
able to grow temperate crops such as
wheat, maize, apples, pears, grapes and water-melons. While Lebanon was under French mandate — the
French taught them how
to make wine; some of the wine is very good.
Beirut (the capital) is a port used
by Jordan and Syria. It is a city of old and new. The old city with its souks and mosques and the
old buildings shows the
history of the place. The new city has high blocks of flats, ultramodern hotels., big departmental
stores, large cinemas, night-clubs and casinos. The other main towns are Tripoli, which was once the
capital, in the north and
Saida in the south. Also in Saida is a Crusaders' castle a little way out to sea; to get to it you
have to walk over a high stone path-way. The other town is Tyre, which is farther south.
Lebanon has its place in history; the
towns of Saida and Tyre are mentioned in the Bible. In the Bekka Valley is the site
of the Phoenician town of
Baalbek containing the ruins of what were once magnificent temples to
the Greek Gods Jupiter and Bacchus. The
town itself takes its name from the Phoenician God Baal. Lebanon has other connections with Greek
mythology, as the
Greek God Adonis was supposed to have been born in the mountains to
the north of Beirut.
'If I ever had the chance to return
to Lebanon, I'd certainly like to go; to see some of the many places I missed while I was
there last year.
ANGELA CARBJNGTON — 4CI.
A CYPRIOT
CHRISTENING.
While I was living in Cyprus, my mother and I were
asked to a christening by our neighbour, who was Cypriot.
When we entered the church, the priest shook hands
with us. Inside, was one of the most
beautiful scenes I ever saw. From the roof shining glass chandeliers were hanging, reflecting the light in the
most glorious colours. The windows were of stained
glass made into pictures of Jesus and other holy people while the altar was covered in silver and gold
candle-sticks.
We sat down in the pews among about twenty other
Cypriot people. A few minutes later the
father and grand-parents came in with the baby. The custom was that the mother did not go to the
christening. The baby was laid
on a side altar while a woman came round the pews and gave everyone a
candle and lit it. The baby was then undressed and
anointed with warm oil. All the service said in
Greek; after it was anointed by baby was redressed in new clothes while the old ones were burned.
After this everyone stood up, still holding the
candles, but only the men
sang. When the singing was finished, everyone walked to the altar and
the priest chanted in Greek. We then walked round the altar and
placed the candles in holders. Everyone was
taken to the baby's parents' house and given tea and cakes. After this
we went home.
Would you like to have been
there?
JOHN MACDOUGALL - - 1A2.
THE HAW — PAR VILLA
One day while we were in 'the hot, dusty country of
Singapore we visited the Haw — par villa. In the gardens of the Haw —
par villa there are hundreds of carved figures and
statues. All the statues are of Buddhas or animals.
Every year a great feast is held in the villa.
Thousands of Malay people
come from all over Malaya for the feast. The main part of the feast is
held at night were the people carry incense sticks which give
off a beautiful smell.
When the blessing of the huge Buddha, which weighs over
one hundred tons and has huge pearls
for eyes, takes place no foreign person is allowed in the villa. The blessing takes about an hour and a half
and involves hundreds
of priests. For three days after the blessing nobody, including the
Malays is allowed in the villa. This is because the priests are
praying and fasting.
After three days the priests come out of the villa and
open the gates. This ends the feast.
ANDREW McPHERSON — 2B.
THE KENYA NATIONAL GAME PARK.
The National Game Park is a reserve for most wild
animals that live in East Africa. They roam the
park in complete freedom, consequently no one is allowed in unless in a closed car. On entering the park
one sees an elephant's skull though no
elephants exist in the park. We visited the park many times; on some occasions we saw hardly anything but at
other times we saw:— lions, baboons,
deer, ostriches, giraffe, hippopotami, alligators, wildebeest, zebras and many types of birds..
On one occasion a monkey strayed into a garden of a
house near the reserve, and a leopard
managed to get loose and was roaming about the streets. Many a night you could hear the laugh of the hyena
round your house, and foot-prints could be seen
the following morning.
HELEN RUSHMORE — 4Cl.
A FUNERAL IN HONG-KONG.
This is usually a far from morbid affair.
In front
of the procession come huge decorated red 'boards, usually fifteen
to
twenty feet high. In the middle of these boards big Chinese letters are
painted in silver. Around the outside, they are decorated with white and
yellow flowers. These boards are wheeled along on bicycle-like
contraptions. The
richer the person, the more of these there are. Between each one, there is a small brass band, making as
much noise — musical or unmusical (usually the latter) — as they can.
This is supposed to drive away the devils.
After
these come the mourners, and the coffin. The mourners walk the streets dressed in sack-cloth. If the
deceased had been particularly unpopular, and had no mourners, they had to be hired to
make it look good.
About a
week after the funeral, models of all the dead person's possessions
are made out of paper and bamboo, and then burnt.
They do
this, because they think that they will need all these things in the next
world.
After the
funeral, the bones are put into pots and buried in the hillside. Each
year the relations come and polish them up.
LINDA FAIRHAL3L 3A1.
EL
AQSA AND THE DOME OF THE ROCK
From many
miles above the domed skyline of Jerusalem can be seen the Dome of the Rock. This magnificent
architectural achievement was built in the part of Jerusalem called the temple area, over
the rock from which tradition says that Mohammed rose into heaven. From
the city, a long flight of stone steps lead up to a huge courtyard in the centre of which
towers the Golden dome of the mosque, its gold-leaf covering reflecting the sun
and making everything appear golden. On closer view, the building appears
immense, and as one enters through a relatively small door the splendour of the sight
takes one's breath away. The walls are completly covered with brilliant
mosaics, each stone its natural colour. It takes a little while to absorb the
splendour of the building. Around the rock there is a black railing and from this the
whole building appears to come stretching up high above to the dome. There are no
words to describe the feeling that this building inspires.
Also in
the temple area is an older mosque, "El Aqsa": "the furthest from Mecca".
The entrance to this is, like the rest of the building, large. The two
or
three acres of floor space are covered in luxurious Eastern carpets on
which no shoes
are allowed to tread. Supporting the massive roof are flawless marble
pillars; the walls are marble slats. This has beauty in size and
proportions. El Aqsa
was once fifty yards or so wider but with such a large roof to support
it
was made smaller to detract from the possibility of the roof collapsing.
In one wall
there is a beautiful window, which is out of place in that it has a
crusader's cross in it. This is the last remnant of the crusader church
which once stood on
the site. To walk round the perimeter takes a number of minutes due to
the size of the mosque. Around the perimeter of this temple area are
four minarets from which the muezzenin call the faithful to prayer.
It is
hard to describe the beauty of these two mosques but I trust the reader
now has some idea of the beauty amidst which the Moslems worship their
God. Though
it is hard to compare these buildings with European architecture, I am
convinced that these mosques are two of the most beautiful churches in
the world.
C.M. O'BRIEN — 6S.
CANADA AND ENGLAND
Canada is the second largest country in the world. Its
area is just under four million square miles
and its greatest breadth is about three thousand six hundred miles. Canada is made up of ten provinces;
British Columbia, Alberta
Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia,
Newfoundland, and Prince Edward Island; the Northwest
territory and a host of islands, Baffin
Island being the largest.
There are high mountains in the west called the Rocky
Mountains, vast prairies in the interior
and prospering industries in the east. There is much to see if you have travelled across Canada as I
have.
I have lived in England, and one of the most striking
differences between England and Canada is in
the residential areas. In England houses are made of brick and are built right up against the street while
in Canada houses are made
of wood and have a lawn between them and the street.
Also money systems are different. Canada uses dollars
and cents One dollar is worth about
seven shillings and one cent is worth about three and a half farthings.
The products in a store also vary slightly but England has most of the same products as Canada.
Canada's cars are larger and tend to have fins and other decorations but cars like the Volkswagen and
Mini-Minor are also popular. Buses are
different because they are all single deckers and do not have a conductor to collect fares. Schools in
Canada and England are similar except that in
Canada you are allowed to wear what you like and the hours are shorter; 9 a.m. - - 3 p.m. Summer holidays
last about nine to ten weeks, Christmas, two
weeks, Easter ten days and there is no Whitsun holiday. The schoolrooms
are practically the same as in England except that you are not allowed
to have a pair of desks together. In Canada you have to pay for your school equipment such as books (not text
books), and any other equipment necessary an
education committee provides.
When I finally arrived in England and settled down, I
noticed many contrasts, England had a
different atmosphere; old-fashioned, nice, country parishes, brick walls lining the street and all the
other things that make England so different. I was
sorry to leave England and come here and I still miss England right now.
DONALD HAMILTON — I.C.I.
ADEN.
One of the main things which tourists always look at
when they enter the harbour of Aden is the
famous "Barren Rocks of Aden". Their name describes them very well.
As soon as you land, you notice the filthy streets. No
one seems to sweep them, and the litter
just lies about on the pavements. There are always goats wandering in the streets, and so the place has
an unsavoury smell.
There are hardly any shops, but those which you do find
are old dusty and dim inside.
There are few buses but the one we saw looked as though
it would never reach its destination. The natives had their bed springs,
mattresses and petrol cans all piled into the
bus. The roof was cluttered with a lot of different objects, including some natives who had had to sit on
the roof of the bus as it
was full inside.
BARBARA WILSON 2A2.
A TURKISH WEDDING-FEAST
Our
Butcher, Mamud, was getting married. He had never seen the girl
he was to marry and did not even know her
name. Even before Ms birth marriage negotiations had been going on. Ais we had known
him for a long time he invited us.
The isun
was at its highest when we arrived at the little village of Mesaoria,
Mamud's home "town". Since it was still spring there was a little colour
left in the
landscape. We came upon Mamud's father, Yasuf, having driven through
herds of goats and round right-angled corners. He led us to where the
marriage
feast was to begin.
Rows and
rows of tables were placed across the courtyard. People were waving
gigantic fans to keep the flies and insects off the food which was
placed on the
tables. We were given a table and told to eat. Foods such as sour-milk
Rebub and sweetmeats w-ere laid on the table. These were traditional
Turkish foods.
Some time
after, the bride appeared, and Mamud, whom we had not seen before that day, went to meet her. She had
her hair covered in a shawl, her face was heavily made up so as to disguise
her features and she had on a dress of embroidered lace. Pearls hung in rows
all around her. These were the only jewels she was allowed to wear in
accordance with custom. As she ascended the platform where she was to stand, people ran
forward and pinned money, gold and silver on her and her husband, for they were now
married. The marriage ceremony had taken place in a mosque before the feast. As much
as five hundred pounds might have been paid for this ceremony. A drum
began to beat majestically; the feast had begun.
The bride and bridegroom served their guests throughout the ceremony.
A
Turkish dancer danced on a brandy glass, balancing several -more on
his head. With a jerk of his head he would upset one of the glasses
making the
liquid fall into his mouth. After this everybody began to dance. It was
plain to see that everybody was happy.
The
feast ended after twelve hours. As the guests left the children and old
men and women of the village streamed in and began to eat and drink
the remains.
•We
thanked our hoist and set off home, having thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
G. RUDD
— 3A2.
CARNIVAL
During
my stay in Germany I went to a number of carnivals but the best ones
were the carnivals held on Saint Martin's Day. The German people would
invite the English in Germany to attend the carnival.
You
could either buy or make a lantern which you would carry in the procession; hundreds of people wore
fancy dress though I did not.
The
procession would start at the head of Ranke Strasse and wind its way
through the streets of Dusseldorf until one a.m. Nearly all the time
people would
sing, accompanied by the banging and coloured lights of the fireworks
as
they fizzed through the air.
At the
end of the procession the children would line up and receive a "buntatella",
which is a bag of nuts and sweets, to take home with them.
These
carnivals were always a big success and I hope to go back to Germany
again after my stay in Malta.
M.
HOLLIER — 2B
ALL AT SEA
Our luxury liner, RFA Fort Duquesne, lay in the beautiful bay of San
Remo, a picturesque town less than 30 miles from Monte Carlo. Early one
morning as we prepared to leave the ship to visit the fabulous gambling
town, a helpful member of the crew suggested that as
we would be crossing the Franco/Italian border, it would be advisable
to get our passports stamped in San
Remo.
We arrived at the quay and searched for the port authority. In our
halting Italian we demanded of several locals "Parla
Inglese?"
"Yes! Yes!" cried an eager old fisherman.
Our problem seemed solved. We explained that we wished to visit Monte
Carlo and wanted our passports stamped.
"Yes! Yes!" cried our friend.
"Where do we have to go?"
"Yes ! Yes!" was our only answer. So leaving the helpful Italian, we went
to look for ourselves and eventually located the office about twenty
yards from the landing stage. Our party of nine filed into
the minute room and flourished our passports. The young man knew a
little English — we knew a little Italian.
"We have come on the ship, anchored in the bay, the "Fort Duquesne",
we wish to visit Monte Carlo and need to have
our passports stamped," we
explained slowly.
"You wish to visit ship?"
"No, no we have come on the ship, we want to go
to Monte Carlo."
"Passports, no stampa (frantic stamping
motions) to visit ship."
Keep calm, let's take this slowly.
"We Inglesi -— we come on ship - - Inglesi ship. We go Monte Carlo —
Monte Carlo. We want passports stamped."
The man's face lit up.
"Ah, you from Monte Carlo, you wish to see
English ship."
The conversation continued along these lines for some minutes until eventually it was decided that we should see the "boss". Picking up our
sunhats, sunglasses, towels, costumes,
beachbags and still frantically clutching our
passports we walked along the waterfront to another larger office. Our
official said to the large man confronting us, "Ingles'.", and gave an
expressive shrug of his shoulders.
"Ah," replied the boss, and nodded wisely. He asked politely, "Parla
Italiano?"
"Non! Non! Non parla Italiano. Parla Inglese?"
"Non!"
There was a pause, suddenly broken by, "Parfez-vous
francais?"
"Oh oui — um — urn —un peu."
So we tried again in halting French.
"Nous venons sur le grand bateau anglais." A long pause. "Nous desirons
aller — um — um (was it a la, en, or au?) um
—well — Monte Carlo."
The man appeared puzzled. Was it our French? Or his? Then to our relief
an interpreter (one of about six people who had gathered by this time to
help the Inglesi), a local] from the quayside, who spoke Italian, a little
French and a little English, appeared. Our request was
repeated, and repeated. All we wanted was to have
our passports stamped so that we could visit Monte Carlo. At last this simple request was understood. The "boss" poured out a
tirade of Italian at our poor defenceless young man, the
only word of which I understood being "stupide".
We gathered our belongings once more, returned to the passport office and emerged triumphantly
five minutes later with a stamp on our passports declaring "Porto — San
Remo".
With
minutes to spare we caught the coach to Monte Carlo. We arrived at
the Franco/Italian border. The douaniers boarded the coach but when
offered our
passports they merely glanced at the blue and gold cover, muttered
"Inglesi"
and passed down .the bus. We never re-visited the young man at the
passport office. Officially, we are still in San Remo.
ROSEMARY
ANDREWS — 6A.
EASTER
IN SPAIN
Easter
is an interesting time in Spain. Eight days before Easter some of the men
who had sinned, walked barefoot through the streets carrying giant
crosses. Over Easter you would see the hooded priests in black, men
carrying the
cross, still barefoot, carriages drawn by black horses with large
statues in them,
nuns, bishops, girls from the convents and lots of others.
Though
they had these large processions they still had all the Easter activities.
After the
Holy Week of Easter comes the fair or feria as it is called there.
For about three hundred years, this has been an event to look forward
to. Small
places called "casitas" are built of wood and gaily decorated. Here
families get together, many not having seen each other from one year to
the next, because they live in the country places. They drink and dance,
and have a merry
time, much as we do at Christmas time in England.
The
fair-ground is behind these casitas. The brightness and noise of it
is
wonderful; there are giant gas balloons to buy, candy floss, or
castanets. All
types of roundabouts and hoop-la to try your luck.
Now and then you would come across a small
group of dancing Flamenco; the swish of skirts and click of the castanets, the
beautiful coloured dresses the girls wore, their long black hair and laughing faces
w>ere unforgettable as they danced at this feria time.
CORAL GLAYSON - - 4C8.
NATURE AT NIGHT
The moon rose up in a velvet sky The 'old man' was awake, A barn owl uttered its
haunting cry, As it hunted, its prey to take.
The badger cautiously appeared, To sniff the still night air,
Satisfied, his head he reared To
call his mate with cubs, a pair.
The night is friend to animals wild, Who prowl afar to feed, Night, too, is friend
to man and child, Who rest from work and deed.
S.J. NORMAN — 2A1
BED-TIME IN THE COUNTRY"
The fields roll on,
And the ploughs dig deep,
Near the pond the frogs leap,
The owls are hooting,
And the hunters are shooting,
It is time to go home
Because the sun is but a litt'le dome.
The sky is grey,
The fox is no longer the prey,
The birds are all home in their nests
And all the children are at rest.
DAVID ZEBEDEE — 2B.
SUMMER
Summer Comes again each year, For us to make some pretty wear, While
Children play upon the sands, Making castles with their hands.
Sometimes the Children catch some fish, Which makes a very tasty dish, Sometimes
they catch a crab or two, Or sometimes they catch you.
Then when it is time for bed,
The children rest their weary head,
Until the morning comes once more,
Then the children again run down to the shore.
JILL FRAMINGHAM.
THE
1957 ECLIPSE
In 1957 I
was in Scotland. One day I picked up a newspaper and glanced at the headlines. The first
thing that caught my eye was these words, "Total Eclipse Tomorrow". The article went on
to describe the last eclipse and give further details of the coming
eclipse, such as how much of the world would be affected, and for how long.
Next
morning I woke early. It was obvious this morning was no ordinary day.
The light was very dim. As the day wore on the light slowly faded till at noon total darkness had
cloaked Britain. As the eclipse was completed the corona shot out from behind
the shadow of the moon. The .moon continuing its orbit soon disappeared and by late
afternoon the light was back to normal.
R. SIMPSON -- 2A2.
FILFLA
High on a rock of barren state, which far
Outshines the cliffs of Malta and of
Goz, Or where the wealthy West with grudging hand
Show'rs
on the peasants tomato paste and oil, Lizards exalted sit, by rareness rais'd
And their
antiquity; with their red spots And
unique bodies old and green, aspire
Beyond their height, insatiate to pursue Vain war with Man, and by defeat untaught
Their
proud imagination still proclaims, "FREEDOM FOR THE LIZARDS".
R.A. and
A.S. -- Upper VI Arts
(with
apologies to Milton)
'
THE
COURSE OF THE DAY
Our golden companion for a day
His course being run — slips slowly away,
And as his chariots leave the sky
We see the Evening Star on high.
Silver against the velvet gloom
Like a single thread on a massive loom,
&he is the messenger of the night
And the pure new moon, whose brilliant light
Shines upon this half of the world,
Upon the land and oceans pearled
To a creamy whiteness 'neath her eye,
And as she shines the night goes by
And the earth feels, nor knows, no fear
Sensing her watchful eye is near.
So she nightly vigil keeps
While the lowly world of mortals sleeps,
Until the sun's most glorious ray
Welcomes again another day.
ROSEMARY BENCE — 2A1.
THE DREAMERS
Mr. Bodkin sat at the breakfast table. He was trying
to decide whether to buy his wife the electric blanket or the pressure cooker.
Hieratica would like both, but....
"James, you haven't been paying attention. I was telling you about my
dream." These dreams! They were always about money, money, money!
"......
yes, a very rich Indian. I was his
most beautiful wife; I can't
remember the rest, but it
may come."
Mr. Bodkin got up from the table, and quietly went out. As he walked, he
thought, "Perhaps, no, definitely. Yes, she didn't love him. All she
wanted was
money. Now, if he died, she would receive nigh on a thousand pounds.
But, if
she died, he would be free, free, free!
As he was late for dinner, Hieretica waited. She began
to think. "He's been looking queer lately. Perhaps he's got a bad heart. Yes,
he's been very pale lately. If he died....... There
must be a fortune in his account."
He came in, sat down and placed the cooker on the
table.
"The blanket will arrive on Monday. This cooker is marvellous. It'll
reduce
bones to jelly in two hours," he explained.
The blanket came on Monday. James went upstairs, on the excuse of
mending the plug beside the bed.
That night, as she got into bed, George switched on the blanket.
Hieretica
quivered and went into a perpetual sleep.
Mr. Bodkin wrote to the makers of both the blanket and the cooker to
thank them.
Six months later, Mr. Bodkin was in the garden. The neighbours asked
James where Mrs. Bodkin was.
"She's still overseas. I think she intends to stay away for a long
time," he
replied.
"How," said the neighbour, "Nice show of roses this year. How do you
do it?"
"Bone manure," James replied, "Bone manure!"
JOHN PETO — 4A1.
NIGHT
The night came on like a bird of prey,
Covering the sun and devouring the day, Wayfarers all moved on their way,
And toddlers on their pillows lay.
Old gaffers and babes like frolicking sheep,
All must at last take .their sleep, Nought can be heard but
silence deep, And things of night from shadows peep.
Each child lays down his sleepy head,
Hungry, full or over-fed,
All living men are tucked up in bed,
For the world at night is a world of the dead.
STUART CARTER — 2A1.
THE
KING AND THE FLOWERS
There was a wise and
goodly king Who lived in days gone by, And persons could not catch him out How ever they would try.
He answered things of every kind Of birds and bees and trees Of science, history geography, Of lakes, great rivers, seas.
A Queen she made a bunch of
flowers, She made them all of wax,
And took a bunch of real
ones too To be the good king's task.
"Find which are real and
which are not And then the task is
done.'' The king gave them unto his bees The nectar they have won.
And so the task was wisely
solved; The queen in wonder saw.
Said she, "My lord, how
wise thou art; I'll trouble thee no more."
PENELOPE TATTON — 1A2.
MONDAY MORNINGS
I find Monday mornings the most difficult of the week
for getting up. At 6.30 our huge dog invades
my bed, descending upon me with a series of licks. Pushing him off, I turn over with full
intentions of having an extra half an hour, but my
hopes soon vanish when I feel the dead weight upon me once more. After twenty minutes of fruitless
wrestling with the dog, 1 decide to rise. Throwing
off the bedclothes, where they land on the floor in a disorderly heap, I normally succeed in
catching my big toe in the
sheet and finish up in an uncomfortable position on the floor. After
collecting myself I stagger to the door in a hazy world of my very
own. Amongst the swirling mist of sleeplessness I barely find the
bathroom door. After running my finger under the tap, I decide er -er.........
not to wash. After a mad search for my blouse which
I find on the bottom rung of the clothes horse under a collection of holey socks, I go to the
breakfast table to find a bowl of steaming hot porridge,
awaiting me. The times I have burnt the end of my nose after missing my mouth
on such a morning. Halfway through breakfast I hear the pips for eight
o'clock. From then on it is one mad crazy mix-up, I usually end up with my sister's sandwiches. While I am
closing the front door
to get away from it all, I hear the plaintive cry of my Mother, "Margaret, did you make your bed, dear ?" "Sort of, Mum, is my answer."
I often wonder (how I ever
do manage to catch our bone-shaker of a bus.
MARGARET TERRY 5Cl
THE CINEMA
How many of us ever .think about the history of the
cinema when we go to see a film? Very few of
us I am sure. The history of the flickering screen can be traced back to the end of the 19th century. The
Zoetrope was a favourite
of every Victorian household.
The invention of the cinematograph cannot be attributed
to one person for
many inventors were working on the same thing, but the man who had
much to do with it was Friese Greene. He was an Englishman
and worked for many years on the perfection of
his invention. In 1885 he got results, and although his apparatus
was crude in comparison to that of today, it worked.
The camera was a square box-like construction, a
handle was used to feed the film into the picture
gate. The details of the camera are complicated but basically the film is split up into frames; each frame
stops for a brief moment
to be exposed. One frame photographs a particular movement, and when
the movements are speeded up, motion is created. The old
camera took about sixteen
frames per second. The projector was also crude-looking and had to
be turned by hand.
Friese Greene had gone out to photograph the street in
the day time. When night came on he must have
hurriedly got out his apparatus. Then, fitting up his newly developed film he must have, with trembling
hands, lit his projector lamp and turned out his gas lamps. On
turning the handle he would experience
the thrill of his life, pictures that moved.
The first person to know about the invention was a
policeman, so the story goes. Friese Greene was so
delighted with his invention that he dashed out into the street in
search of someone to show it to. The first person he saw was a
policeman. The astonished policeman was bustled into a
dark room with a glowing object in it. Then,
to his amazement, he saw himself directing the traffic.
The years that followed showed a development and growth
in popularity for the cinematograph. Halls
and shops were converted into cinemas. To go and see the flickering screen was a great event. On one of
the first public performances
a great deal of hysteria was created because on the screen there was
a picture of a locomotive coming straight towards the audience.
This made women faint and men yell and everyone struggled to get out
by the exit. Such a thing would not affect us today, but
imagine yourself in their position, seeing for the first time a
train coming at you out of the dark and into the very room you are
in. What would you have thought?
C. ROBINSON — 5C2.
IF I WERE
A BIRD
If I were a bird Upon the wing,
Oh what a happy Song I'd sing.
I'd fly around The sky all] day,
And always have The time to play.
Over the rivers And meadows
I'd fly, Others birds Passing swiftly by.
Up in a tree I'd make my
nest, There in the evening Return to rest.
VALERIE HIRST — 1C2.
ODE TO A
SUNFLOWER
Pretty golden Sunflower in an old beer bottle
!
Fresh -beauty picked at your best in the
sunshine,
Gleefully, with triumph in her eyes my sister
brings you in,
"Where shall I ,put it ma?"
"Find an old bottle dear," Minerva cries from
the back stairs.
Plucked in your moment of triumph,
Aeons of time have you spent in growing,
Oh well, a year or so, what difference is
there?
You have striven, battled with the elements
that you
Patterned Fish
Yvonne Wignall
•Might live till your fertile seeds be
scattered;
And in your hour of glory,
With one light sweep of sister's grubby hand,
All your strivings, your fervent wishes and
prayers
Cut short; dead; and rendered
Useless before the bee could even fertilise
your seed !
Sadly, your pretty golden head is (bowed with
grief,
Your
slender body broken, and you
Fade away and die in a beer bottle
Behind
the kitchen sink and
no-one ever to look again on your face so
beautiful.
You are
dying, pretty one, you are
Slowly dying. In your agony, no-one comes,
I look on, but what use am I ?
Your
life is done now, you are
Dying and useless, you have left no
legacy to the world;
No young family of seedlings. You who were once
so proud, So elegant in your slender youth, So pregnant with joy and vitality, Gently
waving in the warm sunshine;
Behind the kitchen sink now your dark face,
Once sunlit, hangs in shame and grief.
You fought with nature successfully,
Or, let us say, the elements.
But there was one force too strong for you.........
Hush ! The bell is tolling...........
She is
finished, it is all over............
Nature beats mournful taps on silent drum,
A cloud hides the sun,
And all is ended in darkness............
Wretched sister! Come, I am
Going to pull your hair until you scream.
In pain, as the flower you killed
Could not do!
Wretch! Wretch! Wretch!
A.E. BROWN —
6A.
A WINTER LANDSCAPE
A
grey mist was spreading over all the countryside as the evening came
on.
The peaks of the mountains were covered with pure white snow, that
glistened in the fading light. The field bore patches of sparkling
ice and the
pine-trees had icicles hanging from their branches. The cones lay
scattered
amongst the snow which was beneath the pine-trees. Willows and other
trees with flowering branches leant over a sparkling .stream, hidden
amongst dark
trees and bushes, whereon dead leaves came floating down endlessly
The whole of the countryside glistened with icicles and bright snow.
The wind moaned through the trees and they creaked protestingly. The
air was full of sounds very familiar to
Scottish countryfolk in the winter months.
VICTORIA WALWYN'— 1A2.
LOGIC !
He
followed the main road out of town for about half a mile, until suddenly
it came to a dead end on the bank of a swift-flowing river, with only a
sign bearing the words "It's quicker by Tubs" to stop sleepy travellers
from falling in. Our bold young prince was just about to turn back when
he heard
the thunder of silence. He turned around to see an army of ants advancing on him. The leader of these
addressed him thus:
"You, I take it, wish to cross the river."
"Yes, I do," replied the Prince, "in order to gain the opposite bank."
"In that case, why don't you cross?"
"Because there is no bridge, and I cannot swim."
"Nonsense!" retorted the ant, "you've no confidence."
"Confidence in what?"
"Confidence in the fact that there is a bridge,'' explained the ant. "If
you had confidence in that fact you could actually walk over the
bridge."
"Cross on an imaginary bridge ? Why, that's impossible!"
"Well, my
friend, has it not occured to you that it is also impossible that I,
an ant, should be talking to you?"
"I hadn't thought of that," said the Prince, a little taken aback.
"Therefore," continued the ant, "if what is happening is impossible,
what is impossible can happen."
"Very well," said the Prince, quite confused, "I'll give your idea a
try."
He edged
his horse towards the edge of the stream, repeating to himself, "There
is a bridge, I — I know there is," and reluctantly, the horse
stepped out. For
a second the Prince thought he was going to fall; the next second,
he
did. After a few bubbles, he and his horse re-appeared above the
surface.
"It didn't work!" he spluttered.
"I didn't
think it would," sighed the ant, "after all, you can't defy the law of
gravity, can you?"
Then he and his army disappeared down a subway.
"Hey!" called the Prince, "now where are you going?"
"To the
other side of the river by means of the subway, of course," replied a
small ant who was bringing up the rear.
D. RABFORD - - 3A1.
CAREERS
The
importance of integrating a Careers Service into the normal life of the
school was one of a number of issues raised as a result of the visit of
three of Her
Majesty's Inspectorate in March 1963, and it is hoped to provide a more
extended service in the coming year.
In
October 1962 we had our second visit from a Careers Advisory Officer.
Mr. Trounce interviewed some fifty pupils during his stay, providing
advice on a
variety of careers.
Mr.
Trounce also addressed a Sixth Form audience on "The Interview", and I am
sure that all present derived great benefit from his amusing
presentation of what
not to do as well as his deceptively simple advice on how to conduct
oneself at an .interview.
It is
very pleasing to know already that Mr. Trounce will be visiting the
echool again next October, this time for a fortnight.
In the
course of the year, we have had a number of visiting speakers who have
given interesting talks dealing with both Careers and Current Affairs.
In
January, Mr. Colin Jackson outlined very clearly to the Upper School
problems involved in British participation in the European Common
Market.
In
March, Mr. Gillow, Horticultural Adviser gave an interesting talk on
agricultural and horticultural work in Malta and discussed the career
prospect* in these fields.
In May,
there were three visitors. Mr. W. Willman, who left us two years ago to
join the R.A.F. paid a surprise visit while in Malta on training and
gave an
informative and amusing talk on the training of a pilot.
Dr.
Focken, UNESCO Director of the Malta College of Arts, Science and
Technology, spoke to Sixth Formers on
the range of UNESCO activities with particular reference to new
developments in Malta.
Miss
West from Congleton Hospital, Cheshire, gave a talk on prospects for
State Enrolled Nurses.
The Careers Service which the School now offers can be broadly divided
into
(a)a
section which provides information on all forms of training, and on
entry to the professions and the Services, on requirements and
methods of
application for Courses at Universities and Colleges of Advanced
Technology,
Training Colleges and Technical Colleges: largely for
those who will have
achieved G.C.E. Advanced Level standards in particular subjects — in
short,
information about the world of further study.
(b)Another
section offering opportunities and suggestions for those about to
earn their living: starting to work at a particular trade or profession,
while
continuing part-time some form of further education.
Some may
be surprised that no mention is made of jobs for those who consider that study will stop when they
leave school — for the good reason that training is required for most kinds of
worthwhile employment in this technica.' age.
For
example, in the past few months of 1963, detailed programmes of study
and training have been drawn up for occupations in the branches of
Catering, Office
Studies and Home Economics, whereas, until recently school leavers were
merely interviewed by an employer and
gained some form of experience while working at a particular job.
Nowadays
employers demand some form of training or qualification for almost
any type of job, though not necessarily in terms of G.C.E. passes; for
qualifications of any sort provide an employer with proof of previous
effort and of some self discipline.
There are
many types of employment among the 240 "careers" we list, which do
not always require G.C.E. passes. Here are a few examples selected
at random: Advertising, various jobs involving Selling to the public,
Interior Decoration, Dressmaking, Printing, Dental Technician, Post
Office, Child Care, some
Hotel and Catering Occupations, Company Secretary, and all sorts of
work with people, from Dairyman to T.V. Salesman. While we do appreciate
that a stay in Malta does not create in pupils a real awareness of their
future in the
world of employment, we feel that many more could make better use of the
careers service available.
It is
quite natural that a great number of pupils have few, if any, clear
ideas of what they would like to do; likes and dislikes change after the
age of fifteen,
but this cannot be an excuse for doing nothing about the future and
its prospects if you pause .to remember the frighteningly high figures
for
unemployment in Britain at the end of last year (800,000).
There are
books on how to approach this problem of sorting out likes and dislikes
and the Careers staff are available to give advice.
The
school library holds a number of general books on Careers, all the
"Careers for Girls" pamphlets and periodical careers literature.
One
point, however, cannot be stressed too strongly: boys who wish to start
Craft or Industrial Apprenticeships must begin training at the age of
sixteen.
Full
information is available concerning Maintenance Grants for those
returning, independently of parents, to U.K. to start such
apprenticeships.
Senior
pupils intending to make application to Universities and C.A.T.s for
places in October 1964 should write during the summer months for the
detailed syllabus
of study to the University Faculty which they hope to enter.
The
school has a lot of general information (prospectuses) about practically
all Universities and the courses they offer, and this should be
consulted in the first
instance. UCCA Application forms will be available in school next term.
Prospective applicants for Training College places in October 1964
should also write for detailed information this summer. Many T.C.
prospectuses are
available in school ,together with a complete list of the official
addresses of these institutions.
Finally
to those who feel that school (any school) is not assessing the qualities
which will help them to earn their living — a certain practical know-how
-- being "good with money" - an instinct to hoard, and who can talk
themselves out of all sorts of situations, have the true spirit of
adventure and have
enough of the gambling instinct to take a risk (and bear the
consequences), then your occupation is Self-Employment — whether as
bookie,
politician, newsagent, free-lance photographer or writer, scrapmerchant
or else manager
of a cafe or fish and chip shop, or as an undertaker, not forgetting the
second-hand car business.
You start
on you own — your success depends on patience with people and plenty of common sense — AND the best
of luck!
A.F.G.
SCHOOL SAILING CLUB ANNUAL REPORT (1962-63)
At .the
beginning of the Autumn Team 1962, the School Sailing Club found itself
with only five coxswains:— Cdr. Des Clayes; Lt. Cdr. Harper; B.C.
Fuller; Pam
Hinton and myself. Three new student coxswains joined the school, however,
in the form of M. Armitstead, P. Ashforth and A. Ashforth and W.
English moved up from the 4th Form and these, with the new member of
staff Mr. McGillivray, helped to increase the numbers of the club.
By the
end of the Autumn term, 'Curley' Martin; A. Lindley and Jon Haylock qualified as dinghy coxswains
and during the Spring Term 1963, D. Gerrard, Malcolm Trigg and A.K. Holmse
qualified also and just before the Easter Holidays A. Lindley qualified as a
whaler coxswain.
During
the Easter Holidays Brian Fuller led an expedition from the Club round
the island in two 27ft Whalers. The crews were: —
K.3. —
B.C. Fuller (cox'n); W. English; A. Ashforth; A.K. Holmes;
C.
Dunn; Mr. Ratcliffe.
K.4. --
J. Passmore (cox'n); J. Payne; J. Salter; P. Mannering; G.
Dearden; D. Hobden; Mr. McGillivray/Cdr. Des Clayes.
The trip
took four days in all and the first was spent in reaching up the coast to
Paradise Bay where we camped for the night. On the second morning we sailed
from Paradise Bay to Mgarr in Gozo via the South and North Comino
Channels.
After
lunch at Mgarr we reached down to Golden Bay where we said adios to Cdr. Des Clayes and camped for the
night. On the third morning we were joined by Mr. McGillivray and Mr. Ratcliff and
ran down to Benghisa Point (via Filfla) and then we pulled up to the
R.A.F.S.C. at Marsaxlokk — a mere 11 miles. After a relatively peaceful night
under a real roof, we tacked out of the bay to Delimara Point and then ran up the
coast to Grand Harbour which we reached just after lunch.
After
the Easter Holidays Brian Fuller has qualified as a yacht helm, William
English as a whaler helm and D. Hobden, C. O'Brien, J. Payne, J. Salter, R. Dearden, R. Andrews, C.
Dunn, G. Atkins and J. McGonigle have all qualified as dinghy coxswains.
With
numbers now exceeding 50 in the Club, it is hoped that a substantial
nucleus of experienced coxswains and crews should remain to form the
Club next
Autumn.
JOHN PASSMORE -- VI Sc.
(Sailing
Secretary).
FAMILY REUNION
A cold
morning nip in the air made me snuggle deeper into the fur lining of my
coat, as I stood on the platform of a quaint country railway station in
Devon. A small porter with a face as round and as red as an apple
hustled me off and deposited both me and my baggage firmly in the
waiting room. I glanced round the grubby, off-white
walls. Ye-s, it was just the same as it had been several years before when I left
home. On one wall a vividly coloured poster, looking most inviting,
beckoning to me to spend this yearns holiday in France. -With that intriguing
little trot of his the plump porter came back to inform me that .he had a taxi
waiting outside. I gathered all of my hand baggage, thanked this jocular fellow
and stepped into the taxi.On
the way
to my home I had plenty of time to think. Time to re-live those ten long years I had spent away
from home. My name is Nancy Stevens, and at the age of eighteen I had realized my
ambition. I had become secretary to an American businesss tycoon, and had flown
to the United States, where I had lived for ten years. In America I had
been extremely happy. I had everything I wanted, and had saved enough money to return
home at the ripe age of twenty-eight. Only one thing marred my happiness, and that was that
I
very rarely received mail from home. In fact I received one letter a
year, strangely
enough, and that was on the same date, but I brushed this aside with
the thought that maybe my family had fallen into this routine, and to
them it was
perfectly natural. Now I was coming home ten years older, wiser and
wealthier. The taxi driver jolted me back to the present, unloaded my
baggage, and after
being paid, whisked away leaving me standing before the wrought-iron
gates of Lifton Park Manor, my old home. I picked up my luggage, and
ambled towards
the manor house.
Soon I
was standing before the huge oaken door. I raised my gloved hand to
knock. No, I'd surprise them. 1 turned the tarnished, brass door-knob,
and pushed the door, it creaked and groaned as it swung back on its
hinges. I
entered the hall, dropped my hat and gloves on the hall stand, and ran
into the
lounge. There they all were, sitting comfortably around the glowing log
fire. My mother had not changed at ail, she was just as plump and
cuddle-some
as ever. Her face curved into a warm, welcoming smile, and she came
and pressed me close to her. Father stood before the fireplace, just as
tall and
distinguished as he had always been. The .Sherlock-Holmes-type pipe
hung from the corner of his mouth. His ice blue >eyes stared hard at me
from beneath
their shaggy brows. Then, as if he suddenly recognised me, he took
me into his arms, and I sobbed for sheer happiness on his broad chest.
His smoking
jacket smelt strongly of tobacco. What a homely smell that was. Then
there was Terry. Just the same as ever, with his round impish face and
wide grin. His questioning blue eyes, and that snub nose of his. making
him look adorably cheeky. He bad uncontrollable ginger hair and his face
was a mass of freckles. During the course of
the evening my mother handed me her uniquely shaped cameo, as a welcome home
gift. I took it gratefully and pinned it on to my jumper. At last I retired to my room,
utterly exhausted but happy.
I slept
long and peacefully that night, and woke up late the next morning. Shafts of light fell across my
bed through the tears in the curtains, and the room smelled musty. Dust clung to
everything. I dressed in old slacks and a jumper and ran downstairs shouting cherry
'good mornings' to all. Suddenly I stopped in my tracks. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and a
thick layer of dust encased everything in sight. It was so different
last night, so fresh
and alive, or was my memory deceiving me ?
I touched
the dusty banister knob and it fell to the floor, causing me to start
foolishly. A tabby cat, all skin and bone, let out a petrifying cry,
and darted across the hall. The wind rattled a stained glass window, and
I
reeled round to face it, my hands gripping the banister so tightly, that
the knuckles
showed white.
I ran
upstairs from room to room. The beds were covered in dust and the bed-spreads hung in threads.
Everything was decaying and lying in ruins about me. Then, utterly terrified I ran
downstairs and made my way to the lounge. The plush drapings hung covered in cobwebs,
everything was so dusty, so entirely dead. Suddenly, I felt something
touch my arm, and looked down, alarmed,
to see an old .gnarled hand. I looked up to the old
lined face above me. It was the face of Percy, the gardener. He was an
old man, with a mass of greying hair. He was tall and (had kind, dark
eyes
that also had a bewildered, strained look about them. His face was
covered
in stubble and his greying hair was covered with an old brown trilby,
distorted
and dirty. He wore green corduroy trousers and knee-high, buckled
gaiters
over them. Also a white shirt and a large baize apron, covered in soil
marks.
I opened my mouth to speak, but no words came out, and then I heard
Percy saying in his pronounced Devon accent, "I met Tom, the taxi driver
in town, Miss Nancy, and he told me as to how he brought a young lady
here. I knew 'twere you and came as fast as I could. Yes, dear, it is
hard
to lose the ones we love."
"Lose them, what do you mean?'' I asked numbly. "Only last night
we were here together."
Then Percy told me how, soon after I left home, a fire enveloped and
devoured the whole of the west wing of the manor.
"Everyone did their best, but it was no good. I'm
sorry."
As the old man told his story, tears Welled up and stung 'my eyes and
I noticed him brush a tear from his lined cheek.
"I keeps the roses nice 'cause I knew your mother, 'God rest her soul,
liked 'em. I tends the garden just the -same as when they was alive."
"I wandered across to the window and looked at the charcoal black
ruins of the west wing,. Why hadn't I realized be-fore? When I went to
bed
last night the sheets were crisp and white ,and the room was clean, but
in the
morning it was musty, closed in, dirty and cold. Of course Terry would
have
been grown up, not the little boy he had always been. Both my parents
were
unchanged, no older and greyer. Why didn't all this occur to me?
"When did the fire happen, Percy? Tell me."
"I remember it well, Miss Nancy, it was on the fourth
of March."
His words struck home hard and cold. That was the
date on my letters,
which I received from
home every year. I looked around the room feeling
closed in. I wanted to scream but I couldn't, I just sobbed bitterly.
Later that day I packed my belongings and on taking one last desperate
look at the lounge I saw a few sheets of lemibossed note paper and a pen
lying upon the dusty bureau and beside it a Sherlock-Holmes-type pipe.
Unconsciously I picked it up and fingered it. It was still warm so they
had been here with me I rushed out of the door looking it behind me with
a huge dust — covered key. I took my leave of Percy at the gates.
The old man's eyes looked dark and soothing as he once more offered me
his
sympathy. He took my hand in his old hard hand and it felt strangely
comforting in this time of year.
I then took a taxi to the station. Just as before my jolly little porter
was there to help. He settled me in a cosy compartment and left. I unbuttoned
my coat and my hands went up to my throat; I felt something
pinned to my jumper. Yes, there it wa6, that exquisite canoe. With the
strange premonition that I would receive my usual letter the following
year,
I settled down to my journey. That is why I believe in ghosts.
GLENDA CONNING — 3A2.
THE WIND
From fen to forest, Mountain to moor, From the blacksmith's forge, To the perilous gorge; Through valleys and
vales, The mariners' sails Blasting and blowing
With a god-sent force, Came the wind.
Its mighty hand swept through the trees,
Moaning and groaning it lifted the seas. Turning
and twisting it rent the air, Leaving a trail of
bitter despair.
Up in the hills, down on the floor, Shaking the 'shutters, rattling the door, Laughing and shouting in a
twisted mirth, Sighing and dying it left the earth.
GEORGE SNOW. — 3A2.
A FAIRY TALE
Ex-king Blissful, of a country called 'Goodoldays', had been deposed by
a party named "Have-it-better-than-good" and was reduced to owning a
.small concern manufacturing and selling
potato crisps in the benevolent state, Hasbeen,
where he had gained asylum. He was assisted in his enterprise by his lovely daughter called Happiness
The salt for his packets of crisps was supplied by a very wealthy and
mean Director of many business concerns and at a "salty" price. Blissful
was charged too!
Unscrupulous, as was the director's name, having changed upon and fallen
for the beauty and innocence of Happiness, asked Blissful
for his daughter's hand in marriage, never thanking that with all
his wealth he would be refused.
However, Blissful, being lifted from ignorance by the toil of his new
life, was most pointed in telling Unscrupulous that no amount of money would buy
Happiness.
Salt supplies were instantly cut off, and Blissful's business began to
fail. But as Blissful and Happiness began to give up
hope, they chanced to meet a young ex-prince
who was very handsome named "Ivan-not-so-terrible," who fell in love at first sight with Happiness.
He, having worked a few yeans in the Sighberian Salt Mines, had made
many contacts there and knew all about the production of salt.
Love blossomed between Happiness and Ivan, and the young man arranged a trade agreement with the country of Hasbeen, and the people
running the salt mines, who offered salt at a cheaper price.
Blissful was able to sell his packets of -potato crisps at a reduced
price, and he prospered.
Ex-prince and princess married and joined Blissful in his (enterprise
while Unscrupulous was left to (gnash
his teeth.
ANN DAVIES 3A1
"FEAR"
First the still and then the sound, The pad of paws upon the ground.
The antelope struck cold with fear, Pricked up his ears his fate to hear. His large brown eyes a frightened stare,
He leapt six feet into the air. With stealth behind him crept the king, As quiet as bird upon the wing. With
leaping steps he took to flight, His chance of life was very slight, With staring eye and beating heart, Hither,
thither, he did dart. Then he
fell and lay quite still, The lion now would make the kill. He tried
to rise and flee again, Surely, now, he would be slain. A cry rose up into the air, The lion
at the flesh did tear. The
'Jungle Law' is proved again, The strong survive, the weak are slain.
GLENDA CANNING — 3A2.
THE
MENACE ON FOUR LEGS
Our dog
is known by us as 'The Menace on Four Legs'; for she is just that.
She is light brown with the brightest eyes and cheekiest face. Her name
is Sandy.
In the morning Sandy will travel from bedroom to bedroom waking everybody up, she hates to see us
asleep. When she has done this she will start collecting one of everybody's shoes,
and march into the front room carrying them one at a time. After she has
made a neat pile of shoes she will begin collecting the mats.
Now some
of our mats are very big; and Sandy is only twelve inches high and about
twenty-one inches long. It is a hard job for her to get these mats
into the front room; she pulls and tugls until she has them on top of
the shoes in a neat pile. Sandy will then rest beside her pile and waif
for us to come in, and
when we do she wags her tail and makes a fuss, to tell us what a clever
dog she is.
The
other day she brought a little bird to me. I wondered where she had
found it, so I followed her to a drain-pipe, and there at the bottom of
it were three more baby birds. Sandy looked at me and wagged her tail as
if to say, "Look
what I have found!"
Sandy
has all sorts of toys, one of which is a Teddy Bear which she found
outside. She also has two or three balls, a ring (rubber), a bone and a
ball of wool.
She has an old wooden hat as well. All these toys we keep in a
wastepaper basket
by the fireplace. When Sandy wants her toys she gets hold of the top of
the basket and kicks it with her front paws till it falls down. With
this done, she puts
her head in the top and brings all her toys out. If Sandy is hungry
she lets us know by bringing her empty bowl to us. This bowl is said to
be the type they can't tip up, but Sandy finds a way of tipping it up.
We had to stop because
when she had finished she would tip the bowl up and carry it away,
leaving the rest of the water on the floor.
Despite her many tricks and antics we love her and would not part with
Sandy, Our Menace on Four Legs.JULIE POOLE — IC2.
Although the school produced a good tennis VIII this year we
were only able
to play three matches. We lost the first match against the R.A.F.
Wives, being definitely outclassed, but they certainly gave
us some exciting games. We managed to beat the Falcon Wrens Team,
but were unfortunately
defeated by the Ladies Staff Team.
The team was chosen from the following girls: — Rosemary Dearden Susan Brierley Barbara Pike Caroline Bayley
Pamela Hinton Jane Carver Susan Hammond Pat O'Brien Rosemary Sutherland
PAMELA HINTON
SCHOOL NETBALL
1962-63.
The
1st School Netball team had a. very successful season, winning 4
matches out of 5. We also had a 2nd
School VII and a 3rd Year VIII, but due to lack of opposition, the teams were only
able to play against the Dunera when the School beat the Dunera by a total of
35 goals to 14.
Colours were presented to:—
J. Record, P. O'Brien, W. Green. Colours retained
by:— P. Hannan, M. Fitzgerald, J. Carver.
RESULTS
School 1st VII17 goals
Falcon Wives VII5 goals.
School 1st VII18 goals
Falcon WivesVII20
goals.
School 1st VII15 goals
Whitehall W.R,N.S. VII 14goals.
School 1st VII 10 goals
Staff VII8 goals.
School 1st VII14 goals
Staff VII8 goals.
School 1st VII19 goals
(Convent of the19 goals.
School U.14 VII9 goals
(Sacred Heart16
goals.
1st VII2nd VII
3rd YearVII
G.K. Phyllis Hannan
Geraldine Buckeridge Linda
Fairhall
G.D. Dendy GreenSusan Mellor
Susan McPherson
W.D. Maureen Fitzgerald
Stephanie Hollier
Elizabeth Darroch C.
Patricia O'Brien
Sadie Lyall
Christine Smith
W.A. Jane Carver (Capt.)
Pat Sawyer
Marion Fitzimmons (Should be Marian Fitzsimons! -
Webmaster)
G.A. Julie Record
Sue Stephens
Joan Price
G.S. Lorna TierneyMarjorie Swewll
Rosalind Hubble
Res. Sue
Stephens, Pat Sawyer, Stephanie Hollier
Res. Susan Arzu
JANE
CARVER (Netball Captain)
SCHOOL SOCCER REPORT
After a
successful start to the season against Royal Air Force sides we were
looking forward to the start of the Secondary Schools Soccer League in
which we were participate for the first time.
We were
unfortunate to lose our former captain Fraser at the beginning of the season, an effective player in
the forward line, scoring a number of useful goals.
.Subject to positional changes
the regular team was:— K Norton,
Townsend, Cooper, Peddie, Breslin, Counter, Hobden, Lyall, O'Brien,
Hurrell, Standen.
Our
League programme never got into full swing, due to a number of postponements,
and ultimately in the league being disbanded.
Norton
although having a rather dubious start, displayed some fine form as the season progressed.
The
defence on the whole was, fairly ,strong but they became heavy footed towards the end.
The
forwards were constructive and fairly dangerous but alas their efforts
like the defences collapsed.
Hurrel
and O'Brien were our best forwards, Hurrell for his ability to control
the pace of a game and accurate passing, while O'Brien was the sharpshooter of the team obtaining the
highest goal score
The team
would like to thank Mr. Bowen for his tactical talks and training
sessions.
J. COOPER (Capt.)
'
GIRLS SCHOOL HOCKEY REPORT
I am pleased to be able to report that the 1st XI
hockey team had a successful season, playing more, matches than last
year, and only losing one of them. Unfortunately Anne Williams left at
Christmas, .but the forwards were led by Veronica Makney who
was well supported by Amanda Hinton on
the wing and Pat O'Brien as centre half. The two other half backs played
well and with the help of the full backs, Maureen
Fitzgerald and Pamela Hinton, and Jane Carver, in
goal for the first time, they managed to stave off many attacks by the opposition.
We entered two teams for the six-a-side tournament at Corradino
and actually managed to reach
the second round this year, due to Miss Cranna's coaching and excellent play in the full back position.
Results.
School
XI 0 Falcon Wives XI 1
School XI 1 Falcon Wrens XI 1
School XI 2 Falcon Wives
XI 1 School XI 2 Falcon Wrens XI 1
The team was chosen from
the following girls: —
G.L. Jane Carver. L.B. Maureen Fitzgerald.
R.B. Pamela Hinton.
L.H. Maureen Sillis and
Pauline Bale. C.H. Pat O^Brien.
R.H. Barbara Pike. L.W, Carol Vine and
Christine Bracey.L.I. Rosalind Holroyd and
Margaret Wollitt.C.F. Veronica Mackney.
R.I. Anne Williams and Anne Sinclair. R.W. Amanda Hinton,
Colours were awarded to: —
Pat O'Brien, Amanda Hinton, Barbara Pike and Maureen Sillis.
PAMELA HINTON (Captain)
BOYS' HOCKEY (1962-63)
Once
again a boys hockey team was drawn up from the many volunteers for the
few, but seemingly now annual, hockey matches we play.
The team
consisted of experts, those who had dabled in such sport and boys to whom the hockey stick was an
entirely new weapon. Despite the latter category we fielded a playable side.
We
.started the season by playing with and against the staff. These games I think were enjoyed by all.
Our
first test came when we fielded a side against our rivals, the Exiles,
during the Christmas holidays. We played two games against them, the
first ended in a defeat to us (4—3) and
in the second, bent on revenge, we held them to a one-all draw in what was an
excellent game.
Then came
the game against the girls. With our team at half strength,
due to other sporting commitments, we beat the ladies one-nil.
We showed
our best playing ability when we played the Junior Seamen from
H.M.S. Surprise. These lads, it appears, had only played as a team
once or twice, but even with their superior weight and fitness they had
difficulty
in holding us at our final score nine-one.
The
girls showed their courage when they agreed to play us at six-a-side
hockey. Unfortunately our superior speed and "hard" passing was too much
for them. By keeping the ball away from them we overcame the problem
of their superior tackling. Even so they
kept our score to six-nil. The exchange of goalkeepers may have helped of
course.
A boy's
six-a-side team was entered as a Tal-Handaq "B" team in the Naval
League. Unfortunately (even with Mr. Bowen helping) they were drawn
against St. Angelo "A" team and they were knocked out in the first
round.
The most
outstanding players were Hobden (Centre Half), I. O'Brien (Inside Foreward), Breslin (Inside
Foreward or Half Back), and Gettings (Left Wing) who were, in fact, the heart of the
team. Hobden's fine tackling, hard hitting and being where the trouble
was, saved us time and time again. O'Brien and Getting's both have this
gift of speed and their past experience was a great asset, while Breslin, with his
expert Golf swing, was a very useful man to have on the field.
English,
who swears he hasn't played before, showed a fine natural ability towards the game. Routledge
played some good hockey and Payne proved to be an excellent 'solid' full back.
I would
like to thank Lt. Cdr. Harper and Cdr. Des Clayes for helping me with the arrangements for pitches
and kit. Without their help we should not have able to play, especially out of school
hours. Also I must thank all the volunteers who played and apologise to
those for whom a game could not be arranged.
The teams fielded were chosen from the following: —
I, O'Brien
T. WilliamsC. O'Brien
D. HobdenW. EnglishA. Lindley
B. Breslin
A. RoutledgeI. Heath
T. Brown
A. AshforthG. Randall
A. WilkinJ. PayneJ. Haylock.
J. HAYLOCK
Winners of the
Cross Country — February 1963
SCHOOL 1ST XI CRICKET REPORT
SEASON 1962
Overall
one of the most successful seasons for many years. The influx of three or
four good players considerably strengthened the side after the departure
of almost half of last season's side.There
were ten matches played of which 7 were won, 2 drawn and the other
lost. The only defeat was inflicted on us by 728 Squadron, Hal Far
thanks mainly to a last wicket stand of 45. The traditional match
against the
Parents was a little disappointing due mainly to a lack of support from
the parents. I hope this will be rectified this year. The overall
standard of cricket
at the school improved considerably especially towards the end of the
season. Gettings produced a "Hat trick" against St Edward's college
after missing two or three games due to injury.
The 1963
season has already 'Started and we played a match against Merchiston castle School, a touring
side from Edinburgh. The scores were as follows: —
1ST XI 121 MERCHISTON CASTLE 108.7
New
Colours: A.
Wilkin, J.R. Melton, P. Gettings, P. Stubbs, T.R. Fraser.
Old Colours: B.M.
Breslin.
B.M.
BRESLIN (Capt.)
Real Admiral the Viscount Kelburn D.S.C. Flag Officer
Malta presenting the Cups.
ATHLETIC SPORTS
After
last year's athletic meeting in which a large number of records were
set up it was generally felt that this meeting would be something of an
anti-climax. In fact, current opinion was shattered as were records in
ten girls and
twelve boys events.
We were
blessed with another perfect day for athletics, warm and little wind.
Our sprinters were a little lethargic in the first few events, then
Susan Arzu
thrilled us with some lovely rhythmic running which marks her as a fine
sprinting prospect. Whilst most attention was focussed on the track,
a remarkable
performance was recorded by Lesley Kearn who threw the Javelin 97 ft. 6
ins. and so
set a mark which will be difficult to beat. Fortunately the announcer
didn't allow us to miss another excellent field event — the Senior Boys
High Jump. Ian
O'Brien created a fever of excitement when he broke the five year old
record and put a new mark of five feet five inches. This completed an
excellent double for Ian as he had previously set a new record of 19 ft.
2 ins. in the Long
Jump.
With the
House Competition still in doubt the relays produced some spirited
racing and two outstanding performances. DRAKE second year girls
proved only three-fifths of a second slower than the senior girls in
recording 59.1 for
the quarter mile. ST. VINCENT Senior boys provided a fitting
climax to the
meeting when they ran away from the opposition and cracked their own
record set up last year. Their new mark of 48.6 sees, is a worthy
record.
Andrew
Wilkin, our School Captain and St. Vincent House Captain, has run in
three winning relay teams and he declares, "It's the technique of the
event which brings consistent success".
Could we all learn for next year ?
SCHOOL RECORDS
SWIMMING SPORTS
The Swimming Sports were held
at the Fleet Lido, Ricasoli on the 20th July.
The outstanding events of the afternoon were the boys 14-151/2 yrs. free
style which English won after a hard fight with Day
and Moore; the girls 14-15J yrs. free
style in which Sandra English beat Pat Lock, and the good performance of
Lyall in the Senior Boys' Diving.
RESULTS
Winning Girls' House — St. Vincent. Winning Boys' House — St. Vincent.
Winning House — St. Vincent.
BOYS
Breaststroke (Under-12j) 1st Jones H.; 2nd
Feldon H.; 3rd Morton N.
,,(121/2-14) 1st Hannan N.; 2nd McArthur
St. V.; 3rd Jackson St. V.
„
(14-151/2) 1st R. Saunders H.;
2nd N. Saunders St. V.; 3rd Jackson D.
,.(151/2 + ) lst Gilchrist
N; 2nd Inshaw N; 3rd Wilkin St. V.
Backstroke (Under-121/2) 1st Feldon H; 2nd Mathew St. V; 3rd Bell N.
„ (121/2-14) Isjt Howe St.
V; 2nd Stanley N; 3rd Jackson St. V.
„
(14-151/2 1st Johnson St. V; 2nd R.
Saunders H; 3rd Day St. V.
„
(151/2 + ) 1st Dunn St. V; 2nd Morton
St. V; 3rd Passmore D.
Free Style (Under-121/2) 1st Feldon H; 2nd Jones H; 3rd Hunter St. V. ,,(121/2-14) 1st Beaumont
D; 2nd Hannan N; 3rd Lock N.
„
(14-151/2) 1st English D; 2nd Day St.
V; 3rd Moore St. V.
Diving
(15i + ) 1st Randall H; 2nd Gilchrist N; 3rd
Dunn St. V.
(Under-14) 1st Morton N; 2nd Jackson St. V; 3rd
Paterson H.
(14+ 1st Lyall St. V; 2nd Tucker N; 3rd
Morton St. V
.Relay
(Under-14) 1st Hawkins; 2nd Nelson; 3rd Drake.
(14 + ) 1st St. Vincent; 2nd Hawkins; 3rd
Drake.
GIRLS
Breaststroke (Under-121/2) 1st P. Cracknell H; 2nd B. Wilson D; 3rd
J. Jones
St V.
„ (121/2-14) 1st S.
McPherson St. V; 2nd S. Kerswell N; 3rd S.
Clarke N.
„
(14-151/2) 1st S. English St. V; 2nd P. Lock N; 3rd P. Potter N.
„
(151/2 + ) lst A. Williams N; 2nd A. Batty N; 3rd L.
Tierney St. V.
Backstroke (Under-121/2) 1st B. Wilson D; 2nd W.
Kunkler D; 3rd P. Bleby
St. V.
„ (121/2-14) 1st S. Kerswell N; 2nd S.
McPherson St. V; 3rd
E. Darroch D.
„ (14-151/2) i,Sjt s. English St. V; 2nd
C. Plumpton St. V; 3rd P. Lock N.
„
(151/2 + ) 1st C. Vine N; 2nd M. Hughes H; 3rd D. Jackson N.
Free Style (Under-121/2) 1st B. Wilson D; 2nd P.
Bleby St. V; 3rd J. Scrivens
N.
„ (12J14) 1st S.
Kerswell N; 2nd M. Hodgson H; 3rd S. McPherson
St. V.
„ (14-151) 1st S. English
St. V; 2nd P. Lock N; 3rd E. Covington D.
„
(1S| + ) 1st P. Hannan St. V; 2nd C. Vine N; 3rd S. Hammond D.
Diving (Under-14) 1st J. Jones St. V; 2nd
P. Bleby St. V; 3rd M.Modgson
H.
„ (14 + ) 1st P.
McPherson St. V; 2nd S. Hammond D; 3rd
C. Brundle H. Relay1st Hawkins; 2nd
Drake; 3rd Nelson.
Again
this year the School won the Royal Life Saving Society Trophy. This
is awarded to the school with the highest number of points gained by
successful candidates in
the various Life Saving awards of the society.
Those responsible for our success were: —
Elementary Certificate
D.Porter U. Payne C. Morris M. Clapperton
Intermediate Certificate
E.Hide M. Griffin P. Wheeler M. Fitzsimons C. Pretty
C. Delaney K. Brunsdon C. Simmonds B.Wilson V. Pocknee C.Young C. Brown W. Green
A. Trubshaw M.
Hodgson J. Lewis L. Symons J. Hode S. Kerswell S. Hammond S. Pazowski S. Curlis J. Drew L. Wilcock D. Hansen P. Bleby
S. Caldwell A. Franklin J. Dren
A. Bentley J. Giles
Bronze Medallion
ATTodd W. Cruickshank
M. Pazowski A. Witherspoon C. Hollister B.Holland
C.Brundle D.Little
S. Scammell P. Lock
S. Birkett S. Hammond
Bronze Cross
L. Tierney A. Sinclair M. Hughes S. Hammond
Award of Merit S. Hammond
Scholar Instructor
Certificate L. Tierney P. Bale H. Clemett A. Sinclair
Instructor's Certificate
A. Batty
SCHOOL RUGBY REPORT 1962=63.
Considering the relative inexperience
of many players, we had a quite
successful season. The gap left at full-back, after Melton's
departure, was filled
admirably by Breslin. Our other key
player, Fraser, was missed at fly-half, but Munro substituted well. The speed of
Randall and O'Brien, in the centre, was a big asset - - this was shown to its fullest
advantage against the Overseas R.F.C. The outstanding forward was definitely A. Ashforth,
whose speed and tackling ability made him an ideal wing-forward.
Once
again Lindley hooked well, but due to bad binding, the ball
barely reached
the hands of scrum - half, A. Wilkin. In Passmore and
Shorters, we had two capable prop-forwards, and
although they were opposed by bigger and more experienced players, they acquitted
themselves well.
The team would like to thank
Mr. Bowen for arranging the matches, and also Mr. Morris for the loan of jerseys on two
occasions.
Colours Awarded to: A. Ashforth, A. Wilkin, A. Lindley,
J. Passmore, G. Randall and J. Payne.
Old Colours:
B. Breslin, T. Brown.
Results.
School v. Exiles 11 - 11
School v. Exiles 11 - 5
School v. Exiles 0 - 19
School v. Overseas 18 -14
T.R. BROWN (Captain)
DRAKE
HOUSE REPORT-BOYS
At last Drake has broken the "Jinx" which has kept us third or last in
previous
meetings.
A
magnificent effort was put in by all to place us first. The girls also
put up a fine show, thus gaining us tb'3 coveted Sports Cup. Well done,
Drake.
Ian O'Brien won the cup for the outstanding field event performance
by breaking
the records for the high jump (5 ft. 5 ins.) and the long jump (19 ft. 2 ins), the
former being a long standing record. Congratulations,. Ian. Each year did well
and no one outshone the others, and so I think It unfair to single out
any one boy as everyone really did his best. For the second time our muscle
men won the Tug of War Cup fairly easily, only needing two pulls out
of the three to decide the winners.
I
wish to thank House and Sports Captains Jon Haylock and Ian O'Brien
for their
contributions to House notes. Our success in the sporting world must be attributed to
the keenness of the above boys, who have worked hard to inject a
commendable House spirit into DRAKE. We hope this spirit will continue to
inspire all future activities.
Cdr. Des Clayes and Mr. Fuller merit our sincere thanks for their enthusiasm
throughout the year.
E.J. MoALLISTER House
Master.
ATHLETICS (1962)
A
good performance was put up here by everyone in the house, the outstanding
boy being Payne received the cup for the best boy in the Field events
of the meeting.
The strong men of the house, turned out and easily won the Tug of War. We were
placed second among the Boy's Houses (by Ij pts.) but the feeble effort
of the girls pulled us to last position overall.
CROSS COUNTRY (FEB. 1963)
Once again we have won the cross country, though the margin between
us and the
second place has greatly decreased (11 pts. ahead 1962 — 2 pts. ahead 1963).
The first year boys put up a 'splendid performance again. There were no
less than four
in the first ten, Diarrock Jamieson McKay and Nicholas coming 2nd, 6th, 7th
and 8th respectively, while the rest were in the first fifteen.
The Second Year and Junior teams did not do so well, both being placed
3rd. Janmon
(2nd) and Bradshaw (4th) ran well for the Second Year team while Taylor
(4th); 5th last year ran well for the Junior team. The trouble was none of
these fine efforts had any support from the rest of the team.
Finally the Senior boys brought a pleasant surprise when Fraser came
in 1st, then
Standen 3rd and O'Brien 6th and when though the support was poor we won this team
event.
Well done boys and the best of luck for what will, I hope, be the Hat
trick next
year.
J. HAWKINS (House Captain)
SWIMMING (SUMMER
1962.)
It
appears that Drake's aquatic abilities are far from good. I am afraid
that we came well and truly last. The two boys who came anywhere, English and Beaumont, must be congratulated on
their fine effort. English won the 14-151/2 freestyle and Beaumont won the 121/2-14
freestyle, but there wasn't a second place and with only one third our points
lingered well behind the others.
This
poor performance was mainly due to lack of enthusiasm, especially among
the Senior boys,
SOCCER
This
proved to be a very successful season for Drake house. To be more precise
we finished joint 1st., Hawkins managing to tie with us by the
proverbial 'skin of
their teeth'.
The
first year team, ably captained by Barrie managed to salvage 5 points
from their 6 games. That they were not more successful, I think, is due
to the fact
that the team, although overflowing with enthusiasm, lacked
co-ordination.
Gaining
one more point by winning two games and drawing the same number, the 2nd + 3rd years, captained
by Bradshaw, suffered the same defect. They showed themselves at times to be capable
of good football but unfortunately their play was inconsistent.
By far
the most prominent of our teams, however, was that of the 4th, 5th and
6th years who finished first in their section with the loss of only one
point. They won 5 matches and drew 1, scoring 14 goals and conceding
only 2. We were
lucky in having 4 school 1st XI regulars and 4 of the under 15 team.
The defence was perhaps slightly more effective than the attack and our
half back line
of Jackson, Caunter and Standen, .together with our left back Townsend,
are worthy of mention.
IAN O'BRIEN — Games Captain.
DRAKE HOUSE 7-A-SIDE RUGBY REPORT
Although
not as brilliant as their soccer counterparts, the rugby teams succeeded
in gaining second place in this competition. Hawkins, their luck still
holding, won the competition worthily.
The
seniors, in doing battle with the other three houses, emerged victorious
in two but lost the third to Hawkins. Our team contained three first
XV players and their
experience and speed, especially that of Passmore and Payne proved
invaluable in this fast game.
The 4th
year team, under the captaincy of Jackson, (another 1st XV
player), met with less success losing two of their games and winning the
remaining one. This, I am forced to say, was not due to lack of skill so
much as to
lack of co-ordination.
Even
further down the scale, the 2nd and 3rd years could boast of no
victories. Their failure was largely due to the fact that the full team
did not turn up
for the matches. McCallum, the captain, despite his valiant attempts,
lacked support.
Much of
the credit for our position must go to our 1st years who won two of their
games and drew the third. Davroch, the captain, played well and was
supported by .the speed of Jameson.
IAN O'BRIEN — Games Captain.
GENERAL
This year has been a fairly successful one for Drake, even though few,
expected us to have any success at the beginning of the year (1962-63).
The boys came first in the running for the Sports Cup but unfortunately
it was not the girls year and consequently we were last overall.
As Drake boys were not represented in the Verse Speaking Competition
(1963) I must conclude that our literary abilities tend to be zero.
In closing I should like, on behalf of all the boys to thank our House
Masters - - Mr. Fuller, Mr. McAllister and L Cdr. Des Clays. - - for
all they have done; and gone though, for us.
J. HAYLOCK (House Captain) I.
O'Brien (Games Captain)
DRAKE HOUSE — GIRLS
GAMES
This has been a most successful year for Drake House. We have won both
the tennis and hockey cups, and the netball teams were placed second,
being narrowly beaten by Hawkins on the goal
average. The Athletics' and Swimming cups
also came to Drake.
-Tennis
The tennis team played very well, beating
Nelson by a comfortable margin.
The team consisted of: —
1st Couple: Rosemary Dearden and Jane Carver.
2nd Couple: Rosemary Sutherland and Susan
Hammond.
3rd Couple: Maureen Sillis and Denise Kyle.
Reserves: Christine Butcher, Rosalyn Holroyd.
Hockey
The Senior team were unfortunately placed last, on a goal average, but
the Junior team, playing exceptionally we'll, won 2
matches and drew 1, and enabled Drake to
obtain the shield. Deserving mention for their ability are: — Janet
Osborne, Denise Parker, Elizabeth Darroch, Joan Price, Wendy Kunkler,
Glynis Meade, Kathleen Batchelor.
The teams were: — Seniors - GKJane Carver RBSusan Wildish LBNicola Newton RHMichelle Burns CHBarbara Thurfow
Juniors - Linda Barnett Glynis Meade Kathleen Batchelor Ann Davis Wendy Kunkler Diane Carpenter Joan Price Elizabeth Darroch
Janice Drew Janet Osborne Denise Porter
Reserves - J Record P Rodger M Lusty K. Brunsdep, C. Symmons,
Swimming
Our
success here owes a lot to those who have gained life-saving awards.
Susan Hammond gained her Intermediate, Bronze Medallion, Bronze Cross,
and Award of Merit, and Ann Sinclair gained the Bronze Cross and
Instructor's
Certificate.
Athletics
For the
first time since 1950, Drake House has won the Athletics Cup, due to good
all round effort and team work. Congratulations must be given to Janet
Osborne, who won both the 2nd year 80 yardfc and 150 yards, and Susan
Arzu who was
awarded a cup for her outstanding performance in the track events.
The 2nd year relay team came first, setting up a new record, and
Rosemary
Sutherland equalled the 4th year High Jump record of 4'4".
General
Drake
girls have taken part in several of the debates held, this year. Susan
Hammond came first in the 6th form section of the Verse Speaking
Competition, and
Nicola Newton came 2nd in the 5th form group of the same competition.
In the 'Mock Trial', Cecilia Focken, Nicola Newton, Susan Hammond and
Rosemary Dearden all took part, and the
House has been fairly well represented in the School productions of 'lolanthe' and
'Spring Fever'.
We should
like to extend our thanks to the House Mistresses, particularly Miss
Hurley for their encouragement and help.
R.
DEARDEN -- House Captain. J. CARVER
— Games Captain.
HAWKINS HOUSE REPORT-BOYS
Overall a very successful year's sport, due mainly I
think to the excellent House spirit which was much
in evidence .this year. Hawkins retained the Rugby 7-a-side cup with the 4th year and 5/6th year
sides winning all their matches. Randall was the
most outstanding 5th/6th year player and his powerful sprinting scored numerous tries. Shorters, Stenton
and Saunders all played a prominent part in
the successful 4th year side while Patterson and Shorters Jnr., played well for the 3rd and 2nd years
respectively.
Our soccer maestros retained the trophy for the third
year in succession although Drake had the
privilege of sharing the trophy with us. That we managed to retain the championship was mainly due to a great
performance by the 1st years who won
five of their matches. The 2nd/3rd years were very steady but the seniors were disappointing. T. Brown
was the leading goalscorer
while Peddie and Breslin represented the 1st XI. Walker, Stenton and C.
Brown played for the under 15 side.
The cricket season was rather disappointing except for
the senior side who lost only one game. B.
Turner was the most prominent 2/3rd year player while Fraser, Peacock, Turner I, Randall and Brelsin
represented the 1st XI. The
lack of success was I think due to the waning enthusiasm for the game
throughout the House. I hope this will be rectified
this year.
Once again the Cross Country was a big disappointment.
The House finished third but this could have been much improved upon if the seniors
especially, had been willing to do some
practice. As a result of this lack of practice Fuller was the only senior runner of any note.
We were unfortunate to lose our House Captain T. Fraser
at the beginning of the season but his place
has been admirably filled by T. Brown. I would like to thank both he and Mr. Griffiths for the work they
have done towards the sporting activities of
the House and with new talent coming in I 1ook forward to a successful
season next year.
B.M. BRESLIN — Games
Captain.
HAWKINS HOUSE — GIRLS
SPORTS
On the whole Hawkins have had a fairly successful year
by winning the Netball Shield for the fourth year in succession and
being fairly well placed in all the other team events.
The one main fault however is lack of enthusiasm which was greatly shown when .the senior tennis team was
picked. Eventually the following couples were
chosen: —
1st Couple: Lesley Kearns
and Veronica Mackney.
2nd Couple: Maureen
Fitzgerald and Angela Foster.
3rd Couple: Candy Brundle
and Susan Cronin.
Hockey
The team consisted of: —
Seniors
GK Pauline Morgan LB Mary Hughes RB Heather Williams LH Rosalind Evans CH Maureen
Fitzgerald (Capt.)
RH Margaret Bradshaw LW Candy Brundle Kay
Robertson
LI Sandra Currie Karon Jones
CF Veronica Hackney
LWMarian Fitzsimons
(Capt.)LI Valerie Duncan — Rosalind Hubble
CF Christine Smith
RI Jean Giles
RW Vivian Hunt
The Senior team had two wins and one loss. This was a fairly
reasonable
effort, considering that all matches were played with two players
missing. It
is hoped
next year, that the team members will remember the times of the
matches. Special mention must be given to Veronica Mackney who
managed to save the total collapse of the defence in two of the
matches.
The Junior team had two draws and one loss. These were good results
which
could have been better if all the team had played.
Netball
The teams consisted of: —
Juniors - GSMarian Fitzsimons
GARosalind Hubble(Capt.)
WAAnn Bentley C Christine
Smith
Seniors
- GS Shirley King — Anne Carter
GA
Candy Brundle
WA Veronica Mackney C Maureen Fitzgerald (Capt.)
WD - Stephanie Hollier GD
Wendy Green
GK Alison Bigden
Reserves: Mary Bishop, Miranda Sharp.
The Junior team won all their house-matches. The team were fortunate in
having two excellent shooters, the rest of the team worked well and they
deserved their fine wins (Goal aggregate: For 28 Against 0). The Senior
team
were not as successful as the juniors, they lost two matches and drew
the third.
The team worked very hard especially the defence and centre-court
players. In
defending the Netball shield again this year, Hawkins managed to draw
first
with Drake, with seven points each. (Hawkins had the higher goal
average, and
thus managed to retain the Netball cup once again).
NELSON HOUSE REPORT-BOYS
Annual Report
Results for the 1962-63 Sports Season have been on the
whole, rather disappointing — particularly
in view of the effort made by members of the House in all years. The House spirit has been good and
much of this has been
to the credit of Jim Cooper (Games Capt.), who has shown a fine
example of effort and determination in all House-activities.
Soccer
Our most successful side was the 2nd and 3rd yr., which
gained almost maximum points and gives
promise for the future. Other teams, though working hard on .the field-of~play, could not match the
strength of the other Houses, and we must obviously practice harder
and experiment next season.
Rugger
Here again the 2nd and 3rd Yr. team was the mainstay
of our House, with excellent results — but
there was an encouraging fighting-^spirit displayed by all the teams, especially by a handicapped Senior VII.
Cross-Country
Honours for .this event went to the 1st Yr., who ran a
very good team-race led by Readings (1st). We
had first place in the 2nd and 3rd Yr., too, (through Bell), but despite efforts by Cooper and Ashforth we
made little headway in the
Senior Sections. It was however pleasing to find such numbers willing to
participate.
Athletics
Once again it was individuals rather than the House
generally, which gained successes, Cooper Ashforth,
Hannan and Webster all did very well in their events, and there were many supporting performances of note.
General
Whilst we have found Sports results disappointing,
there have been many signs of an improved
response to House-activities — and we look forward to a year of greater success. We must also thank the
House-Captain, Eustace for his work for the House
during the year and those in the Senior School who have helped in various ways.
E.J. LEWIS — Housemaster.
NELSON HOUSE REPORT — GIRLS
Tennis
1st Couple: Caroline Bayley and Pamela
Hinton.
2nd Couple: Anne Williams and Dawn Hawkins.
3rd Couple: Pauline Potter and Pat Hatton.
Unfortunately we had to hand over the Cup to
Drake this year but I have no doubt that we will make a concerted effort
to retrieve it next season. There was certainly no lack of
enthusiasm and we played some very exciting games.
Hockey
Seniors
Juniors
GK Caroline Bayley
Moira Clapperton
LBCatherine Conneroy
Jennifer Bayley
RBPamela Hinton
Janet Townsend
LHPauline McKinley
Celia Brown
CHPat Cutler
Maureen Houghton
RHDawn Hankins
Janet
Vale
LWCarol VineJacky Miller
LIPauline PotterTeresa Sargant
CFAnne Williams
Catherine Johnston
RIBarbara Williams
Linda Symons
RWSandra Hayward Suzanne
Clark
Reserves: Maureen Houghton, Susan Grant, Lesley Holmes.
Once again the Seniors managed to win their section of the
inter-house
hockey competition, mainly due to Anne Williams who shot all our
goals and Caroline Bayley, as goal-keeper, who managed to stop
most of the oppositions
goals. The Juniors, although very keen, only managed to draw one
of their
matches and so the cup finally went to Drake and we were the
runners-up.
Netball
Seniors
Juniors
GK Diana Jackson
Maureen Houghton
GDPat Lock
Susan Norman
CDPamela HintonSandra Kerswell
C Pat Sawyer
Linda Symons
GAJill ScantleburyPat Lewis
GADiana Shek
Susan Grant
S Linda Beaugcard
Rose Lovett
Reserves: Lesley Fidian, Celia Brown.
Nelson never seem to do very well in their netball matches and I am
afraid
that this year was no exception. However both teams played some very
exciting
matches, only losing by a small margin and the Juniors especially
were very
good about turning up to practices.
Athletics
The Nelson athletics gave a good all-round performance but were
unabie
to beat the other houses. We seemed to do better in the field events
with
Sandra Light coming first in the second year high jump, Susan Grant
winning
the third year long jump, Linda Beaugeard in the fourth year,
gaining first
place in the discus and Vanessa Freeman coming first in the obstacle
race. The
third year relay team managed to win their event and break the
record too.
PAMELA HINTON — Games Captain.
General Report
Nelson has not had a very successful year although this not due to
lack
of enthusiasm.
During the Spring Term a Verse Speaking competition was held.
Although
it was not "inter-house". I would like to congratulate the winners
of the third and fifth year who were both from Nelson.
Susan Norman, Pat Lock and Pauline McKinley all gave excellent
performances in "Spring Fever" which was held at the beginning of
the Summer
Term.
A new disciplinary system was introduced at the beginning of this
school
year. If involves House Courts which are held twice a week and the
offenders
are judged by a jury of three prefects. When the system was first
introduced
the number of defaulters in Nelson far exceeded that in any other
house
unfortunately, but the system seems to have been effective as the
numbers have dwindled significantly although .the House could still
do with some improvement
of certain members.
Our previous House Captain, Anne Williams, left at the beginning of
the
Spring Term. We were very sorry to see her go as she has done a
great deal
for us and although she is now in U.K. I would like to wish her, on
behalf of the House, the very best for the future. I would also like
to thank Miss Reed
for all the help she has given us, and for her unfailing support at
the games
practices.
ISOBEL SIMPSON — House Captain.
ST. VINCENT HOUSE NOTES-BOYS
(SUMMER 1962 --
APRIL 1963)
The summer months of 1962 were very fruitful ones for St. Vincent
House.
Besides running away with the House Cricket and Swimming
Championships,
we also came a creditable third in the Athletics Meeting. However,
these sports are more fully covered elsewhere in the Magazine.
September saw the beginning of the Soccer Season, which turned out
to be
reasonably successful for the Saints. The 1st years were a moderate
side, getting
off to a good start, but tapering off during the Season. Everett,
Gray, Ball and
Hamilton are deserving of mention. The 2nd/3rd years were perhaps
our best
side, contributing 6 points to the League. Price, their centre-half
and skipper,
again showed himself as the best defender in the lower school. The
Seniors who
are always a mixed bunch, did surprisingly well. Three of their 7
points were
taken off the eventual co-Champions, Hawkins. The ever-safe Norton
in goal
was the most noteworthy player.
After the Christmas recess, the 7-a-side Rugby Championships took
place.
St. Vincent House however, does not excel at this sport. The 1st and
2nd years
were a complete washout, the 3rd years won every game, the 4th years
did not
exactly shine and the Seniors tried hard, scoring some degree of
success. Better
luck next Season, Saints!
Finally to Cross-Country. Again, the Saints came an overall second.
The
1st years did not do very well, but Wall (12th) ran a useful race.
The 2nd years were second in their department. Four Saints came in
the first ten, namely: Struve (3rd), Hill (6th), Roberts (7th),
Kelly (10th).
With the U/15s. came our glorious moment. How wonderful it was to
see
those two big-hearted youngsters Nigel Saunders and Arthur Parmenter
sprinting hand-in-hand over the finishing line in equal 1st position
!
The Seniors ran commendably well too. Gettings (4th), Holmes (7th),
and
Wilkin (8th) led the team in.
In closing, I would like to say a big Thank-you .to Mr. L. Smith (my
House
Master) and to Peter Gettings (Games Captain) for their constant
help and
encouragement during my 2-year term in office with St. Vincent
House. Good
luck in the future, Saints !
ANDREW WILKIN —
Head Boy and House Captain.
To the excellent and well-prepared report above, I would like to add
my own
-sincere thanks to Andrew Wilkin and his prefects for their
whole-hearted co-operation at all times, and above all, to the house as a whole. Their
behaviour and general
demeanour have made my job as house-master much easier, and ensured the smooth running of the community at all times.
L.C. SMITH — House Master
ST. VINCENT HOUSE REPORT — GIRLS
Tennis
Although the
individuals were good, there was trouble in finding a sixth
player
and consequently we finished last in the tournament. The
following girls played for St.
Vincent.
Maria KadlecAmanda Hinton
Pat O'BrienLorna Tierney
Barbara PikeSandra English Pauline Bale
Hockey
The Seniors
played very well as a team but unfortunately finished third.
The
first match was played without a goalkeeper but Phyllis Hannan
volunteered for the last
two although she had never played in that position before.
The Juniors had
a good defence; the forwards played with enthusiasm but were not
accurate enough in their shooting.
Seniors
Juniors
GOAL
P.
Hannan
E.
Steel
RB
S.
English
S. McPherson
LB
G.
Buckeridge
F.
Jones
RH
L.
Tierney
P. Johnson
CH
P.
O'Brien
R. Saliba
B.
Pike
C. Attard
RW
A.
Hinton /C. Miller
E. Thompson
RI
C.
Bracey
V. Pocknee
CF
M.
Woolett/A.
Hinton
H. Edwards
LI
R.
Waghorn
J. Pierce
LW
A.
Upton
U. Hoole
Reserves: C.
Miller, M. Darington. Netball
The Senior team
played exceptionally well and won all their matches Pat O'Brien being
the outstanding player. The Junior team won none of their matches due to
lack of practice but showed enthusiasm in playing for their
house. St. Vincent finished third (with 6 points) to Drake and
Hawkins (with 7 points each) for the Netball Trophy.
The teams were
as follows: —
Seniors
Juniors
GS
M. Sewell
P. Johnson
GAL. Tierney
C. Streets
WAS. Lyall
H. Edwards
CP. O'BrienP.
Bleby
WDG. Buckeridge
J. Franklin
GDS. McPhersonS.
Sargent
GKP. Hannan
L. Fairhall
Athletics
On the whole St. Vincent did fairly well and showed enthusiasm
on Sports
Day. We were placed third to Drake and Hawkins in the final
results.
Barbara Pike of St. Vincent received the cup for the outstanding
girl this
year.
General Comments
This has been an average year for St. Vincent House. We achieved
creditable results in netball, hockey
and athletics but were unfortunate in tennis. A vote of thanks
must go to Miss Lister and other members of staff who have
helped us during this year.
A. HINTON - - Games Captain.
P. HANNAN — House Captain.
OLD
PUPILS
Here at Tal-Handaq, where it is most unusual for old pupils to
remain in
Malta we have to rely on letters for news of our old boys and
girls.
Quite a few have written since .the last issue of the magazine
and I hope
that more will do so in the coming year.
At the beginning of this term we had a visit from Walter Willman,
now
a Cadet at Cranwe'll. He was in Malta on Duty and came to speak
to the V and
VI form on the R.A.F.
Bernard Hoctor is also an R.A.F. Cadet but at Henlow. Mary
Sponham and Rita Mays are W.R.A.F. Officers and David Smith and
Roger Melton have both been awarded Reserved Naval Cadetships.
Beverley Pearce from a recent
letter appears to have some form of employment in the City and
does not enjoy the
English climate.
Peter Franks now represents Tal-Handaq at King's College, London
which John Knight left last
July, having gained a B.Sc.(Hons). He is now employed on research at R.A.F.
Farnborough; also Diane Edgell has been accepted for King's in Sept. 1963.
Charlotte Finnic is doing dentistry at Edinburgh University.
David Bendal is now in
the Merchant Navy and David Gerrard is now at the
Nautical College at Cardiff.
The school has several representatives at Training Colleges;
Wendy Morrell is doing a P.E.
course at Bedford College of Physical Education. Annette Noonan and Glenys Hart are in
their last year at Portsmouth Training College, and Ann Beare is in her last
year at Maria Assumpta College, London.
Last year's Head Girl, Jocelyn Duke, worked for several months
as a laboratory assistant at I.C.I, but has
now joined her parents in Germany. Barbara Jones is working for I.C.I, and
studying for the O.N.C. Patricia Roden and Vivienne Paynton are training as nurses.
Wendy Roden, after several changes of school is working on her own for A level and
hopes to get an appointment in a Pathological laboratory.
I think it is safe to say that former Tal-Handaq boys and girls
can be found
in all sorts of jobs, most of which require hard work and
enterprise; space prevents me from
giving a more complete list, but the Universities and Services
are not the only targets — I
have heard of Marks and Spenser employees and even a Disc Jockey who can
claim Tal-Handaq as their Alma Mater.
A
FAIR-GROUND
It was a warm night, and the sounds of laughter made it gay.
People were
bustling from stall to stall to try their luck. The roundabouts
whizzed round
and round. As they slowed down the attendants shouted, "Sixpence
a go, come
and try it!" in their rough voices.
From the big wheel gradually getting faster came playful shouts for help.
The dodgems were doing a roaring trade, everybody wanted a go.
The cars were bumping and crashing into each other. Sparks flew
as the cars went round and
back. Nimbly the careful attendant)? jumped from car to car, to
collect the payments.
Bang ! Bang ! Bang ! was coming from the shooting gallery where
boys were
trying hard to score a bull, so that they could win a prize to
show off with.
"Bad luck!" was more often said than "Well done!"
Bold and large was the notice showing where the Bingo sessions
were being
held. Most of the players were women, which Is usual.
'Madame Fortune' was written on a small black tent, in a corner.
Inside
there was a table, on which was a crystal ball, and two chairs.
On one was a
lady, with long black hair, and big gold earrings. Madame
Fortune told people
what their fortunes or misfortunes were, if they crossed her
palm with silver.
A little girl with a large teddy bear was carefully following
her jubilant
father from the shooting range. Children with candy flosses in
their hands
mingled joyfully in the crowds. Some children had masks on,
funny noses and
comical hats. Squeals of laughter drew me to another corner.
There to the children's delight was a Punch and Judy show.
At about 8.30 p.m. the boxing booth opened. Outside the two
boxers stood, eyeing the crowd and occasionally taking a punch
at their punch bags. Now the
roundabouts were getting faster and faster and people were
hanging on for their
lives.
This went on through the night, but I did not stay too long. As
I walked down the street the sounds of gaiety followed me.
JANET OSBORNE — 2B.
A DAY IN A HOSPITAL WARD
On my arrival my body was deposited on to a stretcher and
transported to a nearby Casualty Ward.
I woke up the following morning after a pill-drugged sleep and
when I opened
my eyes a startling spectacle confronted me; at the far end of
my bed was an
array of pulleys and ropes all of which I found out were helping
to suspend my right leg above
the bed. This conglomeration was an extremely delicate piece
of machinery as I
found out later that morning, when in an attempt to move
my injured leg a pulley was entangled with a nearby Nurse's arm.
Much to her horror a five
pound weight toppled off the uppermost pulley and missed her
head by a
hairsbreadth. For this dangerous incident I was severely
reprimanded by the Matron for endangering the life of a young
girl; of course it did not occur to her that the weights might
have landed on me.
Following this episode came breakfast. I awaited a luscious
dream of bacon and eggs, without luck; my breakfast consisted of
a variety of different coloured
pills and a rather dismal looking sausage surrounded by bacon
rind. Absurdly
the menu appeared to regard the rind as bacon and so with heavy
heart I
swallowed my pills and ate my rind and sausage.
Dinner arrived at 12.30 and so did my pills accompanied this
time by
medicine and a nurse. The lunch hour proved to be wholly
interesting, and the
nurse's errands of mercy for my cups of tea were frequent;
however Matron's
eagle eye observed this and I was again in her little black
book.
During the afternoon I became acquainted with the occupants of
the beds
surrounding me; all of whom were suffering from a variety of
skeletal complaints
such as broken limbs, noses etc. On a first glance we looked
like a museum room
with an ancient collection of mummies swatched in bandages.
At about 6.00 the 'mummies' had congregated around my bed which
had
proved to be a useful card table. But the game was broken up
quickly when a
Doctor entered the ward on his rounds. Each player scrambled his
winnings
away in a wild rush to their berths.
After a tiring day I sank to rest and awaited the entry of
another day in
a hospital ward.
RONALD MADGE — 4A2.
ALONE
In a lonely, old, darkened room I sat, wondering when my
landlady would
arrive. There I tried to think what I could tell her which would
sound a good
reason as to why I wished to move. The time slowly ticked away,
it grew
darker and as silent as a morgue.
Sitting in the creaky old chair by the flickering fire I looked
about me. On the mantel-piece stood an old firearm and beside it
a head — at least it looked
like one. The moon-beams crept through the shutters casting
unnatural shadows
around me. As the silence continued I became a little nervous.
My eyes and
ears became attuned to any movement or sound which I could not
account for.
There was none.
Next door to me was a
little room where my landlady used to sit in the quiet hours of the
day, sometimes reading, sometimes resting. The door between
the two rooms w>as always kept closed. Alone, I sat on;
I became a little frightened and tense. And then, I heard it; the
slow 'phut, phut, phut.' I
listened. The noise stopped; but only for a second, for then it
started again.
This time there was a sort of hiss to the 'phut, phut, phut.' I
stood up. My
hair was standing upright. What was it? And then the sonorous
chimes of the
grandfather clock, 'Ding-dong......' My heart raced —• raising
my hand for the
did firearm, grasping
it like a drowning man at a straw, I walked out of the room. I
advanced towards that closed door.
Turning the knob gently and pushing the door cautiously open, I
peeped in. I felt like dying; there on a sofa sat my landlady's
friend. Her eyes were
closed, from her neck dangled her pincenez on a silken cord •—•
she must be
dead! But what was that noise which had terrified me ? Then I
saw the cause
— the record player had a record going round and round with the
needle running
in the same groove at the end of the record.
Now I knew what to tell my landlady. This old house had ghosts
and I
was petrified at the thought of them. She might disbelieve me
but there were
ghosts — just as I had convinced myself of my excuse, the old
lady on the sofa
sneezed!
With my whole person shaking like a jelly I walked to the table
and putting
the firearm gently down, I switched off the record player,
hoping I had not awakened the peaceful sleeper. And then there
was silence!