T H E AY M E S T R E Y M A G A Z I N E S P R I N G - 1 9 6 3 " TIEF " Mrs. E. M.

Asterley, 'Tief' to all generations at Aymestrey since its foundation, died on December 23rd 1962, at the age of 92. Soon after her marriage, she and ' Sir,' whose nickname must also be used here since it was universal among both staff and boys, founded Birkdale School in Sheffield. This school still flourishes, one of its houses being called Asterley House to this day, and Tief had recently enjoyed correspondence with the present Headmaster. In 1909 they moved to Malvern and started afresh, with the name Aymestrey House commemorating the fact that the village of Aymestrey in Herefordshire is close to Lucton School, where Sir taught for many years, and not far from Tief's family house at Eyton. The school prospered and grew, and since expansion was difficult in Malvern it was moved in 1922 to its present situation at Crown East. Michael St. John Mildmay joined Sir as partner in 1933, but in the following year Sir fell ill and he died early in 1935. In the next Autumn D.A.N.A. came in as junior partner, living in the Cottage with Tief and her sister, ' Aunt Ness.' Though no longer in charge at the school, Tief continued to play a very active part in its affairs for another twelve years; and though her retirement to Little Aymestrey in 1947 meant that she was no longer living in the grounds, it made no difference to her intense interest and enormous influence. Over the last fifteen years of her life, the waning of her strength and energy was so slight and so gradual that it could scarcely be noticed. In her last term she attended the Old Boys' Meeting and Dinner, came to Church and often walked all the way home whatever the weather, and never missed Sunday evening prayers at the school. Only a fortnight before her death she was at the Carol Party : this she always regarded as her favourite event of the year, and it is good to think that, if she had had the choice, this is what she would have picked for her last great treat. Apart from her family and she was a devoted upholder of family ties , the school was the dominating interest of her life, not only when, with Sir, she ruled its destiny, but no less in later years. Indeed, if a little gentle criticism may be allowed, her devotion had sometimes an almost ruthless quality and she could be unconscious occasionally of other people's point of view where the school was concerned. Aymestrey could do no wrong at least as against the rest of the world, though she could be downright in private criticism. But to individual boys, every one of them, she was never under any circumstances other than kind and understanding; and the more they were in trouble, whether in school life or from outside circumstances, the closer they were to her heart. Nor did she ever forget them : old boys and their parents and former members of the staff who visited her were sure of the warmest of welcomes. Indeed, she must have been one of the most tireless correspondents of her time, endlessly keeping up in this way her innumerable friendships, so that it was said in her family that she ' lived on cups of tea and letters.' But it was what underlay the letters that she lived on. Very occasionally in private she would speak of ' loving kindness,' in a way that left no doubt that for her it was the greatest thing on earth; and surely if ever a human being was ruled by loving kindness it was Tief. 3

OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION The twentieth Annual General Meeting was held in the Memorial Library at the School on Saturday, 13th October 1962 at 5 p.m. Present :- Mrs. E. M. Asterley, the Vice-Chairman J. E. Coates, and Alan B. Aitken, O. Mayfield, C. W. Massey, A. H. Slade, P. Dorrell, D. G. Powell, C. Scovell, C. J. Powell, C. J. A. Gallimore, P. W. Baldwin, A. Lloyd, W. Massey, R. L. Steynor, D. W. Henry, J. Coates, J. T. Coates, W. Banks and D. A. N. Asterley. Alan B. Aitken, acting as Chairman, welcomed members to the meeting and the notice convening the meeting was read. Apologies for absence were received from the Chairman, P. Birks, M. Billingham, J.

Thomson, N. C. H. McNeill, K. Aitken, R. A. Spreckley, P. Thomson, T. S. J. Gallimore, J. Bates, H. Moore, S. Thurlfield, J. R. E. Coates, N. R. A. Leakey and R. J. Thomason. The minutes of the last annual general meeting as published in the Magazine were taken as read and passed. The statement of accounts for the ten months ended 31st August 1962 was adopted on the proposition of W. Massey, seconded by P. Dorrell. One of the joint Hon. Secretaries present, C. J. A. Gallimore, gave a brief report on the past year, referring to the splendid response to the circular on Miss Worton's retirement and the fact that two bound volumes of past school magazines had been presented to the school, and were now in the Memorial Library. Election of Officers for 1962-63 President: Mrs. E. M. Asterley. Chairman: J. E. Coates. Vice-Chairman: C. Scovell. Committee Additions: A. H. Slade and L. G. Coley. Joint Hon. Secretaries and Treasurers: Messrs. D. G. Powell and C. J. A. Gallimore were re-elected. Honorary Auditors: The Secretaries notified the meeting that Messrs. J. W. and R. W. Massey had expressed the wish to resign. This was regrettably accepted and the Massey brothers were warmly thanked for their past services to the Association. As a result of a point raised in correspondence with J. W. Massey, it was decided that there need not in future be Joint Auditors and that one would suffice. On the proposition of Alan B. Aitken, seconded by J. F. Coates, V. W. Massey was elected to be auditor. School Correspondent: D. A. N. Asterley was re-elected. Date of Annual General Meeting It was decided to continue the experiment of holding the Annual General Meeting in midOctober rather than late November because weather conditions are generally easier and it is more convenient from the School's point of view. However, concern was expressed at the relatively small number of members present, but it was agreed that at this stage it was impossible to assess if this was a direct result of changing the date. Register of Old Boys' Addresses The Committee agreed to investigate the possibility of preparing and circulating some form of reference book containing addresses of members. Should this materialise, it would be of great assistance if the Secretaries or School were notified of changes of address. 5

The Chairman, on behalf of all present, thanked D.A.N.A., Jean and the Staff for yet again offering their hospitality to the O.A.A. Annual Dinner The Annual Dinner, following the Annual General Meeting, was again held at the Georgian Restaurant in Worcester at 7 p.m. on October 13th. The Chairman, J. R. E. Coates, the President, Mrs. E. Asterley, D. A. N. Asterley and Jean Asterley and about 20 others including members' wives spent yet another very pleasant evening. D. A. N. Asterley responded to the toast to the School, and all present were delighted to hear of

the School's remarkable performance during the past year. OLD BOY NEWS Sir Laurence Helsby was made a G.C.B. at the New Year, and is also now Secretary of the Order of the British Empire. Lieutenant Commander W. B. Dewing was married at Inverness in April to Miss Irene Munro. Dr. P. K. Sylvester, until recently Deputy M.O.H. at Reading, is now M.O.H. of Cambridge and District. Rev. I. R. A. Leakey, in charge of a school of well over 300 in Rwanda, has been having a more than usually difficult time now that the country is independent; funds and staff are short, and inter-tribal hostility spreads into the school. H. E. R. Jerram has written from Australia, where he has passed the final examination of the Insurance Institute. He has three daughters. L. H. Biggs, who was married three years ago to Miss Denyce Baxter, is second classics master at Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, a Direct Grant School, in Bristol, and is in charge of the Colts rugger. A. J. R. Turner is with a firm of Insurance Brokers in the City, and is in the Honourable Artillery Company. W. B. Stallard is engaged to Miss J. M. Barber. He gained his B.A. and LL.B. at Cambridge, and has been elected to a McMahon Law Studentship P. D. Stokes was placed in Class 2(I) in the Mechanical Science Tripos at Cambridge. At squash rackets he was Captain of Cambridge, helped the R.A.F. to win the Services Championship, and played for Wales in the international matches. J. N. B. Mogg is at King's College, Cambridge. C. J. Mayfield was married in September to Miss C. A. Roberts. I. W. Routh is on the staff of Sutton Valence School. T. Bates has passed his 2nd M.B. at St. Bartholomew's Hospital. T. J. Gerard has left Uppingham and is working in a garage before joining his uncle's business. A. C. E. Parry has a son, born at Christmas. G. M. K. Evans has left Oundle, where he was Head of the School and Captain of Rugger; he goes up to St. John's College, Cambridge, in the autumn. M. J. Bates is Head of the School and Vice-Captain of Rugger at Hardye's School, Dorchester; he took the leading part in a recent production of ' A Man for All Seasons.' I. Bing passed three A-levels at St. Olave's School in London : he is Secretary of the Debating Society, and plays the violin in the orchestra. 6

D. J. Barnard is a House-Monitor at Bromsgrove : in swimming last summer he was second in the plunge, and third in the 100 and 200 yards free style. R. D. Scholefield is a House Prefect at Epsom. He captained his house rugger, won his 2nd XV colours and played in the 1st XV but was injured. P. A. Brinton is a House Monitor at Bromsgrove. He was in the rugger XV, and at swimming last summer he won the 50 and 100 yards back stroke. At Wycliffe, D. H. Snell, C. J. Hoddell, and R. N. B. Davies were all in the rugger XV : Snell was vice-captain, and he and Hoddell were captains of their respective houses. I. C. Turner visited us at Christmas : he was in the XV at Wrekin but missed most of the season through injury.

H. P. Taylor has passed two A-levels at King's, Canterbury, and has now changed over from Languages to Maths. A. G. Duncan is in the XIth at Allhallows, and was in the 2nd XV, mainly, he says, because of his supposed ability to kick goals. J. S. Sherwood has passed two A-levels at Glenalmond. He was in the 2nd XV, and last year had his athletics colours : he won the Long Jump and was second in the High Jump, and he was in the College cross-country team. D. G. F. Banks has left Malvern, where he was Head of his House, a School Prefect, and a member of a highly successful Football X1 : he is working on a farm for a few months before going to the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester. R. H. M. Tildesley is in the Lower Vlth at Uppingham : he has been playing in the 3rd, and sometimes 2nd, Fives game and represented his House, and is taking a prominent part in various musical activities. In the summer he was second in the under 16 hurdles, and swam for his House. J. P. Franklin has passed 8 0-levels at Rossall, and has boxed for the School. W. T. Burrows has passed 5 O-levels at Felsted, and was at Bisley last summer as a reserve for the Shooting VIII. J. Mills got 4 O-levels last summer at Dean Close. R. B. D. Ellam has written from Australia, where his school course si being directed towards his eventual training as an architect; he is a Lance Corporal in the cadets. His brother is studying wine which sounds attractive. G. and F. Tuthill were both in the 1st XV at Abbotsholme. F. Butterworth was Captain of the Junior Colts XV at Wrekin. N. C. H. McNeil was in the Under 14 XV at Epsom. J. Gallimore was in his house junior XI at Malvern. P. M. Ashwell passed 0-level French in his first term at Uppingham. A. J. Powell was in the 'Yearlings ' XV at Cheltenham, boxed for his house, and is in the Choir. A. R. Barber was in the Junior Colts XV at Wycliffe, and he and Powell played against each other in a match. I. K. Johnson was in the Under 15 XV at Redstone. Among others from whom we have had visits or letters are : S. Thursfield, T. E. Christophers, C. A. B. Adams, T. S. J. Gallimore, J. M. Thomson, D. C. Hughes, P. R. M. Conner, A. Lloyd, P. A. Baddeley, J. A. Chandler, P. R. Powell, R. S. Mills, W. J. E. Jay, J. H. Blundell, W. A. Banks, H. Tuthill, A. D. R. Wright, R. F. Snell. 7

SCHOOL NOTES The following have left: M. J. Bate. Came Jan. 1961. Swimming Colours. R. F. Snell. Came May 1958. H. Tuthill. Came Sept. 1957. Head Prefect, Leader of Greys : Ogden Cup. Rugger XV 1960-2; Soccer XI 1960, Capt. 1961; Cricket XI 1961-2: Colours for Swimming, Boxing. Choir. Patrol Leader. A. D. H. Wright. Came Jan. 1958. Prefect. Rugger XV 1962. Choir. C. J. Dowson. Came Sept. 1956. Head Prefect. Leader of Greens. Rugger XV 1962-3. Soccer XI 1960-2. Colours for Swimming, Shooting, Choir. Patrol Leader. J. C. Hartnell. Came Jan. 1961. Rugger XV 1963. Soccer XI 1961-2. Cricket XI 1961-2. Boxing Colours.

R. D. C. Maughan. Came Jan. 1961. Prefect. Rugger XV 1963. Soccer XI 1961. Cricket XI 1961-2. Choir. New Boys : J. L. Alderney, C. R. W. Bannister, A. N. K. Brown, A. D. Dorrell, H. J. Lawrence, M. D. Miller, R. M. W. M. Nosworthy, J. C. Richards, R. Tustin, E. F. Weaving. In the March examinations of the Associated Board the following passed at the Piano : C. G. Heatley, Grade II (with merit); S. J. Dorrell, Grade I (with merit); J. B. Baddeley and G. A. R. Green, Grade I. G.L.W. It is with deep regret that we record the retirement of Mr. G. L. Waller. He joined the Staff at Aymestrey eleven years ago, soon after giving up the Headmastership of Finstall Park, and it was at once apparent how deep was his interest in the whole development and personality of boys, to whom his life's work was given hardly less here, one feels, than in his own school. His many Aymestrey friends will remember him with affection and gratitude, and join us in wishing him a full return to health and a long and happy retirement. INTER-COLOUR COMPETITION AUTUMN TERM WORK : 1 Blues, 40; 2 Greys, 33; 3 Greens, 27. Mentions. Blues: Woodcock 37-3, Hart 40-6, Powell M. 49-3, Dorrell S. 48-2, Urquhart 42-6, Bannister 23-1, Weaving 25-2. Greens: Dowson 44-3, Fisher 44-7, Perry 42-6, Nosworthy 32-6. Greys: Tuthill 69-2, Brown N. A. 42-5, Keeble 57-2, Andrews 36-3, Foster 35-5, Brown A. N. 34-1, Richards 29-2. DISCIPLINE : 1 Blues, 58; 2 Greys, 23; 3 Greens, 19. Mentions. Blues: Hunt 15-2, Maughan R. 11-1, Weaving 14-1, Woodcock 26-2. Greens: Clark 13-3, Dowson 21-1, Perry 16-2, Wright 14-3. Greys: Keeble 11-0, Tuthill 33-2. GAMES 1 Greens, 38; 2 Blues, 36; 3 Greys, 26. Soccer Cup : Greens. TOTAL 1 Blues, 133; 2 Greys, 84; 3 Greens, 83.

8 SPRING TERM WORK : 1 Blues, 36; 2 Greens, 35; 3 Greys, 29. Mentions. Blues: Woodcock 37-0, Hart 28-2, Powell M. 45-4, Dorrell S. 43-4, Urquhart 35-4, Harrington 39-4, Bannister 31-1, Weaving 27-1. Greens: Dowson 41-0, Perry 40-1, Aldersey M. 273, Baddeley 35-1, Collins 25-3, Nosworthy 44-3. Greys: Brown N. A. 36-4, Keeble 48-1, Andrews 38-4, Foster 34-7, Brown A. N. 37-2, Richards 33-3. DISCIPLINE : 1 Blues, 45; 2 Greens, 29; 3 Greys, 26. Mentions. Blues: Bannister 10-0, Dorrell S. 13-2, Maughan C. 13-2, Urquhart 12-2, Weaving 16-0,

Woodcock 15-1. Greens: Clark 11-0, Dowson 24-1, Fisher 19-2, Lewis 11-1, Pearce 10-0, Perry 153. Greys: Benten 10-0, Brown N. V 11-1, Grimshaw 12-0. GAMES : 1 Greens, 39; 2 Blues, 37; 3 Greys, 24. Cups for Rugger, Kicking, Shooting : Greens. Shooting Individual Cup, Heatley. Cups for Boxing, Gym : Blues. Pentathlon,- Winter Sports : Blues. TOTAL : I Blues, 118; 2 Greens, 103; 3 Greys, 79. SOCCER MATCHES Oct. 13th. AYMESTREY v. THE OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION. The unusually early date of this fixture seemed to make it difficult for some footballers to turn out, especially from the public schools, and the O.A.A. were only six strong, instead of the customary seven with replacements at half-time for the exhausted. It made them very energetic however, and one of them must have found Rosslyn Park B a comparatively sedate affair the following Saturday. The game indeed was exceptionally fast and of good quality. The school on the whole were more intelligent than usual in swinging the ball about into the open spaces; but they did not control it well, so that their elders and betters, thundering round in hot very hot pursuit, were able to keep the score down. But unfortunately they themselves were just as apt as they were a dozen years ago to shoot over the top or commit similar errors; and after taking the lead to begin with, they lost it and were gradually worn down. They will have to do better before entering for the World Cup; but it was a good game. The O.A.A. side was : W. A. Banks, C. J. A. Gallimore, A. Lloyd, O. A. Mayfield, D. G. Powell, C. J. Powell. Oct. 20th. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, at home. (Lost 1-3). The first part of the game was fast, even, and good. We were doing better than we had done in practice, and when Hartnell got a good goal from Maughan C's. pass it began to look as if we might spring a surprise. But the Elms drew level before half-time, and after that there was only one side in it. We slacked off and became desperately slow in going for the loose ball; and while neither side showed great skill, the Elms tried harder and harder and Aymestrey less and less hard. The result was inevitable and the Elms were justly rewarded with two more goals without reply from us. Green was our best man on the day, Tuthill worked hard and did all that was possible as captain, and Hartnell never gave up; the rest were moderate or poor. Oct. 24th. AYMESTREY v. HAWFORD LODGE, away. (Won 3-1). This was a better performance, though not good. Playing against the hill and a slight breeze, our forwards did fairly well against an energetic and quick-covering defence, but could not quite score. Our backs and halves 9

were rather uncertain, and in one of Hawford's rather rarer attacks a long shot was deflected past our goalkeeper by a defender, so that we crossed over a goal down. In the second half however we were better and did most of the pressing. Fisher put us level with a good goal from Tuthill's pass, and then we scored a slightly lucky goal with an immense shot by Dowson at left-back from just inside his own half. When we got a third goal through Maughan C., after a good run and centre by Fisher, we looked safe; but Hawford improved and put in several good attacks, so that Clark in goal was busy, and very well indeed he did his job. There was no more scoring, and we just about deserved our victory. Green,

Tuthill, and Hartnell again did well; Fisher and Maughan C. worked hard on the wings, Maughan R. had a better game, and Dowson improved after a shaky start. Nov. 7th. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, at home. (Won 8-1). A wild reversal of form : Seaford had beaten the Elms, who beat us, and yet we won this game by a wide margin. We were certainly playing better than before, and probably a heavy ground and greasy ball were in our favour. Seaford's strength lay in their forwards, while their defence was uncertain : our defence played very well indeed and our forwards well enough to profit by their opponents' mistakes. We started strongly and slowness by the Seaford backs allowed Fisher to score a neat goal from Maughan C's. centre, and Maughan R. got another with a good shot from a weak clearance. The rest of the first half was very even; Seaford's forwards attacked well and this was the critical point of the game, our backs and halves working very hard, while Clark made three or four first-class saves in goal. If we had weakened at this stage, the match would probably have swung the other way. As it was, we weathered the storm; and when Woodcock put us three up with a goal at close range from Fisher's centre soon after half-time, we gradually took complete command. In the last ten minutes we scored five times : Fisher got two goals with accurate ground shots, Hartnell scored one, and Maughan C. two, one being a very neat header. Seaford scored once towards the end with a good shot by their centre forward. Dowson and Green did very well at back, Maughan R. and Steadman worked hard at wing-half, and Tuthill led the side well. Nov. 10th. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, away. (Lost 0-3). We were again decisively beaten by the Elms, and again it was mainly a matter of their trying harder than we did. Probably they were better foot ballers and would have won in any case; but they certainly ran faster and further, pounced with more dash on the loose balls, and in every way showed greater determination. cur backs and centre-half, the strong point of previous games, were most badly at fault, kicking weakly, hesitating, and trying to dribble instead of clearing. The wing halves did their best, and so did the forwards with one exception; but the one really bright spot for us was the play of Clark in goal. He had an enormous amount of work, on one occasion making half-a-dozen saves in about half-a-minute, and he never put a foot wrong. But for him the score might well have reached double figures. It is fair, too, to say that the Elms goalkeeper was also excellent and saved two or three apparent certainties. Goalkeepers apart, 8-2 would have been a fair result. As a game it was a good one, fast and interesting, and the standard of skill was creditable in view of the conditions, a strong wind and steady drizzle; but as regards fighting spirit there was only one side in it. The Elms scored twice in the first half, and once in the second ; and towards the end we twice came extremely close to scoring. 10 Nov. 17th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, at home. (Lost 1-3). As a team performance this was a poor effort. Abberley were not a strong side, and for much of the time it was a stern contest as to who should play worst. Both sides were decidedly shaky in defence, and for much of the first half we were sufficiently on top to have scored several goals; but we did not seem to want to do so, and it was the same again later on when there was a period in which we looked the better team. In midfield our defence was quite good, but near goal we were fatally hesitant, while at the other end our determination in finishing was poor throughout. Clark was again good in goal;

and Green, Maughan C. and Leahey tried hard throughout. Most of our other players did some good things, but were too often lazy and not very courageous. Abberley led by one goal at half-time and added another soon after. Then we pulled up to 1-2, but threw away several good chances to draw level; and in the last quarter of an hour Abberley played well, became obviously the better side, and deservedly made the game safe with a third goal. Nov. 21st. AYMESTREY v. HAWFORD LODGE, at home. (Lost 2-3). Our decline continued and it would be hard to find a better proof than to lose 2-3 at home to a side whom we had beaten 3-1 away. Few of our players however seemed to mind. Only Clark and Leakey came through with real credit. Tuthill and Dowson did much that was good but made glaring mistakes at the most important moments; Green kicked well but was lazy over covering; all the rest were poor. We took the lead with a soft goal due to a muddle in the first minute. Then Hawford scored twice when bad defensive lapses let their centre-forward right through; and we drew level again with another gift goal just before halftime. In the second half we pressed almost continuously for about 20 minutes; but while the Hawford defence worked hard if unskilfully our forwards just messed about, and what few shots there were went over the top. Then Hawford broke away again, Clark was hurt in making a plucky save, and while he was out of action feeble covering allowed our opponents to go on shooting till they scored. They thoroughly deserved to win because once again they simply tried harder than we did. Nov. 28th. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, away. (Lost 0-9). A record for the school, and it must almost be one for the world. We won the first game 8-1, and lost this one 0-9. Seaford took full advantage of our lack of skill and very great lack of spirit, and they played thoroughly well. Only Clark and to a lesser extent Green and Leakey emerged with any credit on our side. It was a sad but fitting climax to our most unsatisfactory season for years. R U G G E R M AT C H E S March 9th. AYMESTREY v. HAWFORD LODGE, at home. (Won 18-0). A gale blew straight up the field and it rained throughout the game : we had had two practice games and Hawford one, but all were anxious to play after the long spell of idleness. Hawford had rather the better of things at first, playing with the wind, but our defence held. Handling was inevitably very difficult, but both sides tried to open up and there was little kicking. The line-outs were inconclusive, 11 and the forwards' loose play was rather vague; but as time went on our scrummaging improved, and a little before half-time Perry scored quite a good try on the right wing. In the second half we were completely on top. The frequent knock-ons led to many scrummages, but we were now getting the shoves and Hart hooked well, especially against the loose head, so that we had the lion's share of the ball. Bad handling and bad tactics spoiled much of our play, but there were two really good combined movements in which Maughan C. and Perry were prominent. In the pack Dowson and Powell M. were outstanding and Leakey, Green and Chandler did some good things. Perry got another

try; Powell, Chandler, and Hartnell scored one each, and the forwards got a pushover, touched down by Dowson, from a five yard scrum. Our place-kickers could make nothing of the wet ball. March 18th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, at home. (Won 13-12). There was more excitement than good rugby; and it must be said at once that we were lucky to get away with it. The tactical set-up was interesting : Abberley were the bigger side throughout, with a special advantage in the pack, and the ground was wet and heavy; we were quicker and neater outside, but were without our regular scrum-half. From the first scrum Abberley heeled, a tackle by Woodcock sent the ball loose, Fisher picked up and reached the full back, and Blake was up to take the scoring pass. Then we achieved almost our only clean heel of the game, Urquhart sent Maughan C. away well, Blake cut through, and Fisher ran fast to score. Dowson converted with a fine kick from the touch line, and we were eight points up in five minutes. But the Abberley forwards now got well on top and they pressed continuously. Our defence against their threequarters was sound, but we were shaky round the scrums, and eventually they scored from close range. In their first passing movement of the second half there was a knock on, Woodcock scooped the ball up at speed and rounded the full back to score. Dowson's kick was from five yards in and against the wind, but it was a beauty, just dropping over the bar with inches to spare. 13-3; but the Abberley forwards now established complete control, and ours began to wilt badly. Demoralised by being shoved yards at every scrum they ceased to work as a pack and lost their heads as individuals, doing silly things and often doing nothing at all. Time after time Abberley kicked and charged and heaved their way to our line; one after another tries were scored from close range, and with five minutes to go the score was 13-12. But there it stayed; somehow or other the last desperate moments passed, we just touched down in time, or scrambled the ball away a few yards, and in the last minute Steadman led a relieving rush, no-side coming in mid-field. We cannot claim to have deserved to win, our forwards being utterly beaten in the second half; and yet, when all is said and done, we did take our scoring chances cleanly, and Dowson's two great kicks settled the issue. March 23rd. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, at home. (Won 13-3,1. We were again up against enormous forwards, and Seaford had just beaten Abberley; but the spirit with which our players faced the game was completely different. In the first half, while fresh, we played both hard and skilfully. Almost at once a movement to the right ended in Perry's being tackled inside the 25; the forwards were up very quickly, heeled from the loose, and had the reward of seeing slick passing send Blake on a fine run for a try in the corner. It 12

could not have been better done, and Fisher capped it with a splendid conversion from a foot inside the touchline. We continued to play well, Maughan C. made a good break and Woodcock went over but lost the ball; but almost at once a wild Seaford kick failed to find touch, Blake and Woodcock pounced on the mistake and Woodcock got the touch down. In the second half we began to tire, as in the Abberley match, and Seaford did much pressing; but this time we did not give up, and though there was much hard stopping to do we stuck to it, and just managed to keep them out. Our backs were bunching however and

not handling well and we rarely attacked. Once however Perry made a good run on the right, Dowson pounced on a loose ball, reached the full-back and gave a well-timed pass for Green to score. Fisher again converted. Right on time Seaford scored a good try, our tired threequarters failing for once to get quickly up on their men. Steadman led the forwards well, and Fisher, Hart and Leakey played a very good game. Hartnell was thoroughly sound and sensible at scrum half, and at full back Chandler made one excellent tackle at a vital moment. Altogether it was very much our best performance. March 26th. JUNIOR XV v. HAWFORD LODGE, away. (Won 6-0). The top limit of age was 11 1/2, and our side included several nines and one eight-yearold. Outside the scrum we were very much the better team, with straight running and better combination; but the difficulty was to get the ball to the backs, because our forwards heeled rather slowly and there was much spoiling round the scrums. Both sides tackled well. Of our more experienced players, Green, Powell M., Maughan C., Urquhart and Pearce all did well; Paton and Chatfield played a good game, and Weaving and Bannister showed up well among the youngest ones. But every member of the side did his bit. The tries were scored by Green and Maughan. WINTER SPORTS During the first three weeks of the term we were able to enjoy almost uninterrupted tobagganing, and we got down at once to the making of the Cresta Run." It was not long before it extended to the far end of the pond, and before a partial thaw spoilt matters it reached half way across the next field, surpassing the record distance of 1947 by twenty yards or more. The `jump ' was not so spectacular this year, but it was more difficult to steer correctly at this point; and a new excitement was added by a patch of flood water, sometimes frozen and sometimes not. A set of three tests of skill wa set up, and so high was the general standard of performance that two-thirds of the school passed all three, including ten boys in the bottom two formss Perry was perhaps the most skilful, closely followed by Blake, Fisher' Grimshaw and Lawrence, but there was not much to choose really between, the first twenty or thirty. Skating conditions were not so good; constant sweeping and shovelling was necessary to keep the snow at bay, and the ice was always rough. A number of beginners however learnt to get along after a fashion; and the best perf ormers were Maughan R., Woodcock, Dowson, Fisher, Maughan C., Hunt, Heatley and Hickman M. GYM This Cup also was won by Blues, and Colours were gained by Fisher, Woodcock and Urquhart. Hickman M. was the only other boy to reach the expert stage, and those who passed 1/2 or more of the 15 tests were White, Dowson, Maughan C. and Leakey. 13

SHOOTING There were few good shots this year and the average standard was low, partly because there was no shooting in the Spring Term until near the end, the gym being uninhabitedly cold. The scores in the inter-colour competition were :

BLUES GREENS GREYS Maughan R. 104 Heatley 128 Steadman 97 Blake 101 Dowson125 Brown N. A. 93 Woodcock 100 Perry 1l l Coates 77 305 364 267 The individual cup was won by Heatley, and Colours were awarded to him and to Dowson. BOXING The Cup was won by Blues. Colours were awarded to Tuthill, Fisher, Steadman, Woodcock, Hartnell and Maughan C.; and others who did well were Blake, Leahey, Grimshaw, Hickman M., Brown N. A., Urquhart, Pearce, Chatfield, Bond, Bannister, Weaving, Dowell A., Brown A. N. and Aldersey J.

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