The

Aymestrey Magazine

AUTUMN, 1967
 THE AYME STREY MAGAZI NE AUTUMN – 1967
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OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION

The twenty-fourth Annual General Meeting was held in the new Edith Asterley
Memorial Science Room at the School on Saturday, 12th November, 1966, at 5 p.m.
Present were : The President Mr. A. B. Aitken, and Messrs. C. W. Massey, A. H. Slade,
R. J. Thomason, C. G. B. Scovell, E. R. Lane, J. B. Hughes, J. E. Coates, R. Coates, N.
Leakey, H. Tuthill, J. S. Sherwood, A. G. Duncan, R. H. Collins, J. S. Beard, D. H. Griffith,
P. Dorrell, J. Page, D. A. N. Asterley and C. J. A. Gallimore.
The Chairman being absent, the President A. B. Aitken was unanimously elected to the
chair for the evening. He welcomed those present to the meeting and a resolution was
proposed by C. W. Massey and seconded by J. E. Coates that Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Griffith
be elected to Honorary Membership of the O.A.A. This was passed unanimously.
The notice convening the meeting was read and apologies for absence were received
from W. Jay, J. Perry, J. A. G. Coates, S. R. D. Coates, J. R. Fink, D. P. Stratton, G.
Tuthill, F. Tuthill, B. W. Massey, E. J. Gallimore, Hugh Morley.
The Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were taken as read and passed. The
Statement of Accounts for the year ended 31st August, 1966, was adopted on the
proposition by J. E. Coates and seconded by J. B. Hughes. The Secretary drew attention
to the fact that owing to expenditure on various printing and postage the Association has
incurred a loss. He also pointed out that the Magazine Fund had dropped below £100
and that contributions were always required to keep the balance up. It was also
announced that 141 members had contributed £70 to Taylor's retirement fund and the
President thanked all those people and congratulated them on making such a fine effort.
Election of Officers for 1966-67
President: A. B. Aitken.
Chairman: J. R. Fink was elected in his absence.
Vice-Chairman: P. G. Dorrell.
Committee Additions: J. E. Page and A. G. Duncan.
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer: C. J. A. Gallimore was re-elected.
Honorary Auditor: J. S. Sherwood was re-elected.
School Correspondent: D. A. N. Asterley.
Edith Asterley Memorial Fund
J. B. Hughes gave a progress report on the Fund announcing we had from
contributions and estimated interest £1,434. 12s. 5d. plus £100 which could be drawn
from the O.A.A's. Deposit account, and estimates for doing the work on the Science
Room came to £1,538. 3s. 4d. He pointed out that the Fund is still open.
Members present at the meeting were able to see for themselves how the Room was
working and boys who had been doing Science subjects all term had set up various
experiments. The President thanked and congratulated the Sub-Committee and Mr.
Griffith for their great efforts. Mr. Griffith thanked all members of the O.A.A. and said
that the Room has only just been completed in time and even then the decorating had to be
left until the School Holidays. C. W. Massey then proposed that the meetings' thanks be
given. to the Sub-Committee and J. B. Hughes' short statement of accounts be
accepted.
 3

The President then voiced a vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Griffith and Staff for their
hospitality and tea for those present.
Annual Dinner
The Annual Dinner followed the A.G.M. and was again held at the Georgian
Restaurant in Worcester at 8 p.m. attended by 43 Members, wives and fiancees.
Joseph Coates, of the many Coates' present, proposed the health of the School and
the O.A.A. and Hugh Griffith replied, giving a resume of the progress of Science in
Aymestrey and how important it was going to be in the future.

OLD BOY NEWS

R. A. SPARROW
Richard Sparrow died in April 1966 in a climbing accident.
Coming to Aymestrey in 1948, he was a Prefect, a member of the Rugger, Soccer and
Cricket Teams, winner of the Swimming Cup and Reading Prize, a First Class Scout and
Patrol Leader, and a member of the Choir.
At Bradfield he distinguished himself as a swimmer and as a cadet in the C.C.F. ; and
going on to the R.M.C., Sandhurst, he passed out top of the list for his year and received
the Queen's Medal. Commissioned in the K.S.L.I., he rose to the rank of Captain. He was
married and had a daughter.
He had a deep love of action and wild places, which led to a devotion to ski-ing,
wildfowling, and climbing, and was complemented by a great fondness for good music. At
Aymestrey he commanded both the affection and respect of all who knew him; his great
charm was no mere thing of the surface, but a reflection of the joyful courage and
determination with which he treated difficulties no less than the modest zest with which
he revelled in all the good life had to offer him.
J. R. Coates was married in April to Valerie Williams. He is manager of Harlow Mill
Restaurant in Essex.
A. P. J. Parry was married in November to Miss M. J. Gauge. He is working with
Watney's Breweries.
E. D. S. Ellis is engaged to Miss Melanie Moore. He is with a firm of solicitors in
Swindon.
M. A. H. Duncan is engaged to Miss Jane Walker. P. G. Vale is engaged to Miss Suzanne Martin.
Dr. B. W. K. Fayle has another son, born in October. He is still in Canada.
M. R. Bomford is married and has a daughter, born in March. He is on the staff of the
Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, and a member of the Council of the Navy Records
Society.
W. V. Machin visited us recently. He lives in Hereford and works for the Ministry of
Agriculture, covering most of Wales.
S. S. Penoyre celebrated his wedding by sailing with his wife to America in a 25-foot
yacht.
P. D. Coates, on the staff at Berkhamsted School, has been appointed Housemaster to
the National Youth Orchestra, and is on the committee of the schools section of the
Incorporated Society of Musicians.
P. J. T. Robins is in Australia, having got there by way of Leningrad, Moscow,
Tashkent, Kabul, travelling round India by train 3rd class, and continuing via Nepal,
Burma, Thailand and Malaya.

W. B. Robbins works for a firm of estate agents in Cirencester.

P. D. Stokes won the R.A.F. Squash Championships as usual, reached the quarter
finals of the Amateur and Open, and played for the British team in the world championship
in Australia.
A. R. Bomford is reading for a degree in zoology; he specializes in ornithology and
photography.
R. D. Scholefield has passed his 2nd M.B. at Guy's Hospital.
D. N. Wilson has passed his 2nd M.B. at King's College, London.
D. F. Butterworth is in an estate agent's office in Liverpool; he plays rugger for
Wrexham.
H. T. Green, having majored in English and Political Science at Monash University,
Victoria, is now studying for the Diploma of Education. He is a Lieutenant in the Australian
Cadet Corps.
A. Duncan has passed two more of his Law exams, one with distinction.
C. G. Heatley, studying catering, has been cooking on Lord Shawcross's yacht.
P. A. Baddeley, having left Kingswood with three 'A' levels, is doing a 'sandwich'
course in industrial chemistry at City University, London; he has passed his first year
exams, and now does six months' practical work with I.C.I. at Runcorn.
A. J. Powell at Cheltenham got three 'A' levels, was a house prefect, and a member of
the 2nd XV, playing twice for the 1st. He has been working on a farm near Bishop's
Castle before going to the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, in the autumn.
P. M. A. Ashwell was a School Prefect and Captain of his House at Uppingham.
W. J. E. Jay was a School Prefect at Bromsgrove and Captain of Rugger.
N. C. H. McNeil was a School Prefect and Head of his House at Epsom, and Captain
of Rugger. He goes to Guy's Hospital in the autumn, having passed three 'A' levels.
W. I. C. Clark, also at Epsom, has six 'O' levels, is in the VIth form and the Shooting
VIII. He and McNeil last summer were members of a party which made a 220 mile
pony trek through the Highlands, following the route of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
T. M. Steadman was in the rugger XV at Bromsgrove.
R. D. C. Maughan is a Prefect at Cranleigh, played for the cricket XI, was third string
in the squash team, and in his house rugger XV.
C. J. Dowson has left Uppingham and is working on a farm at Shelsley Beauchamp.
He was in the third XV, playing once for the second, was in the cycling team, and won the
school carpentry prize.
At Wycliffe, W. A. Hart has just taken his 'A' levels and is in the second rowing VIII;
and A. R. Barber was a prefect, and in the rugger XV and rowing VIII.
N. J. Fisher played for the rugger XV at Merchant Taylers.
G. A. R. Green, at Repton, passed two '0' levels at Christmas and has just taken his
others. He was in the school under 16 soccer XI and captain of his house under 16 team.
J. W. G. Perry won the Scripture Prize at Malvern; he was in his house rugger XV, and
plays in the orchestra.
 M. P. Aldersey was in the shooting VIII at Sebright.
5

I. G. Urquhart was in the Colts swimming team at Tonbridge, and captained his
house junior rugger XV. He has taken up the French Horn, and sang as one of the
policemen in the Pirates of Penzance.
M. C. Powell was in his house second team for rugger and hockey at Cheltenham.
At Kingswood, P. Bradshaw was in the junior colts rugger XV; and J. B. Baddeley
passed one '0' level at Christmas and has just taken his others.
C. F. C. Maughan was top scorer in the colts cricket XI at Cranleigh, and in the under
14 rugger XV.
M. and S. Hickman were both in the swimming team at Sebright, and the latter was in
the under 14 rugger XV.
A. S. Woodward was captain of the under 14 rugger XV, and in the junior cricket
XI at King's, Worcester; he was in the junior athletics team, beat the junior 100 yards
record with a time of 11.2 sec., and represented Worcester City in the county athletics
meeting.
At Lucton, A. P. Bond was in the under 15 rugger and cricket teams, and C.
Chatfield was in the under 14 rugger XV and read a lesson at the school carol service.

Besides those coming to formal functions, we have also had visits or letters from :-
I. R. A. Leakey, D. R. McLeod, W. B. Dewing, R. I. C. Turner, G. M. K. Evans, P. D. L.
Thomson, N. A. K. Brown, R. H. Collins, D. Lewis, C. W. Massey, N. Blake, E. C.
Pearce, S. J. Dorrell, S. M. Andrews, G. H. Daniel, C. R. A. Leakey, N. St. J. Hall, R. C.
Wightmore, D. Clarke, J. H. Chaplin, B. S. Marshall.

LEAVERS AND NEW BOYS

The following have left:

M. Ashford. Came May 1964; left Dec. 1966.
J. H. Chaplin. Came Sept. 1965; left Dec. 1966.
T. R. Harrington. Came May 1962; left Dec. 1966. Prefect, Leader of Blues.
Rugger XV 1966. Colours for Swimming, Shooting. Leader of Choir. Reading Prize.
Patrol Leader.
S. J. Hickman. Came May 1962; left Dec. 1966. Prefect, Leader of Greys. Rugger
XV 1964-6, Capt. 1966. Soccer XI 1965-6, Capt. 1966. Cricket XI 1965-6. Colours for
Swimming, Gym. Swimming Cup. Pentathlon White Badge. Patrol Leader.
P. Lewin. Came May 1962; left March 1967. Prefect, Leader of Greens. Patrol Leader.
B. S. Marshall. Came Sept. 1963; left March 1967. Rugger XV 1964-6, Soccer XI
1966-7, Capt. 1967.
R. M. W. M. Nosworthy. Came Sept. 1962; left March 1967. Cricket XI 1964-6; Soccer
XI 1965-7.
C. R. W. Bannister. Came Sept. 1962; left July 1967. Prefect. Rugger XV 1964-6;
Soccer XI 1966-7; Cricket XI 1965-7. Colours for Boxing, Shooting, Patrol Leader.
A. N. K. Brown. Came Sept. 1962; left July 1967. Leader of Greys. Cricket XI 1967.
W. H. Collins. Came May 1962; left July 1967. Prefect. Leader of Greens. Rugger
XV 1966-7; Soccer XI 1967; Cricket XI 1964-7, Capt. 1967. Shooting Colours. 100 yards
record.
6

A. D. Dorrell. Came Sept. 1962; left July 1967. Rugger XV 1966. Patrol Leader.
D. A. Hill. Came Sept. 1963; left July 1967. Rugger XV 1966; Soccer XI 1965-7;
Cricket XI 1964-7.
M. T. Hobbs. Came May 1965; left July 1967. Cricket XI 1967. Swimming Cup.
J. C. Richards. Came Sept. 1962; left July 1967.
D. Shelton. Came Jan. 1964; left July 1967. Rugger XV 1965-6;
Soccer XI 1966-7.
E. F. Weaving. Came Sept. 1962; left July 1967. Head Prefect. Leader of Blues.
Ogden Cup. All-rounder Shield. Rugger XV 1964-6; Soccer XI 1963-7; Cricket XI
1964-7. Colours for Shooting, Gym. Shooting Cup. Patrol Leader.
New Boys:
September : C. D. Samwells, P. D. Lead, R. Mead, C. Yuvaboon.
May : S. Kingston, P. Martineau, J. Pratt, S. Twinberrow.

SCIENCE
The Edith Asterley Memorial Science room was opened by Mr. Lindsay, the
Headmaster of Malvern College, on March 18th. It was a great pleasure to have so many
parents and Old Boys here for the occasion.
The Nuffield Science Project is being taught in the school. This is a Five Year Course
leading to 'O' level and the elder boys have covered Year One in both Physics and
Chemistry and made a start on the Biology. In September 1967 the top two forms will begin
Year Two Physics.
We are most grateful for all the help we have received from the Old Boys, Parents and
Friends in making this possible and in particular to Mr. Hughes who not only managed
the business side but also dealt so efficiently with the builders.

GIFTS
We are very grateful to all those who have contributed to the Memorial Science
Room building fund. Cheques were forwarded to the Secretary of the O.A.A.
Also for many gifts received during the year :
To Cdr. and Mrs. Hall for a new Air Rifle.
To Mr. and Mrs. Harrington and Mr. and Mrs. Nosworthy for a Slip Catcher.
To Mr. and Mrs. Gaskell for a Trombone.
To Mr. and Mrs. Lewin for an Electric Clock for the Science Room.
To Dr. and Mrs. Brown for two Microscopes.
To Mr. and Mrs. Collins and Mr. and Mrs. Dowell for a Van de Graaf Generator.
To Mrs. Hiller and Col. and Mrs. Bannister for a Stereoscopic Microscope.
To Mrs. Hill for a pair of Dynamics Trolleys.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hobbs for a Microscope.
 To Mr. and Mrs. Rosoman for a Microscope.
7

RUGGER
The XV had on the whole a satisfactory season. We were short of material, the available
players lacking for the most part both speed and weight, and the general spirit was at first
not up to average. But about the middle of November both the team and the senior game
as a whole began to catch fire, we won 5 matches out of 8, and the last three were very
satisfactory.
Against Seaford Court, who were a very much heavier side, we led precariously
13-11 at half-time, but fairly let outselves go in the second half to win 31-16. Then on the
Abberley ground, as last year, we played extremely well against a vastly superior side,
unbeaten for the second season running; the score was 6-26, but it was a classic game to
watch. The Abberley forwards and scrum-half were very powerful, but they got only one
try in a threequarter movement. Our tries each came from lovely combined play, the
second being launched from inside our own 25. The Elms had beaten us 3-18 at home in
our worst game. The return match was played in heavy mud and was on the scrappy side;
but after being 0-6 down at half-time, we came back to win 11-9, which was satisfactory
from the point of view of fighting spirit. The final team was : Hill, Hartley, Marshall,
Collins, Ticehurst, Hickman (Capt.), Weaving, Skelton, Bannister, Harrington, Dorrell,
Lewin H., Schilizzi, Lane, Hughes. Woodward and Yeoward also played in some matches.
The junior game showed spirit and promise, among the most prominent of the younger
boys being Maughan, Lane A., Knox, and Davies D.
In the Colour Matches, both Blues and Greys beat Greens, and in the final Blues
narrowly defeated Greys, who considering the material at their disposal probably played
best of the three.
The Kicking Cup was easily won by Blues, the best individuals being Hickman,
Collins, Weaving, Dorrell and Woodward.

SOCCER
The 1st XI did manage to win one match this year by 4-3 v. Seaford Court but they
were not a very good side.
MARSHALL. Captain. Inside left. A player with considerable dash but not very
much tactical sense. He has quite a powerful kick but his main strength lies in a very hard
tackle.
WEAVING. Vice-Captain. Right half. He improved greatly as the term went on and
became very accurate with his passes, particularly the valuable one to the inside left. Very good
coverer.
NOSWORTHY. Left back. Very sure in defence with an excellent kick. Somewhat slow
to turn and recover but a most valuable member of the side.
 BANNISTER. Goal-keeper. A competent goal-keeper with a much improved punt.
HILL. Inside left. Better than he was on the wing and when things were going
well he gave good constructive passes. His great weakness is failing to get back in
defence.
SHELTON. Centre-half. Strong and with a good kick. He managed the responsibilities
of his position very well.

COLLINS. Right back. Very fast and strong with a good tackle but his kicking is
clumsy and too often with the toe.
YUVABOON. Centre forward. A natural controller of the ball and very fast off the
mark. Gave some excellent passes but was too often in the wrong place at the wrong time.
HOBBS. Left-half. The most improved player in the side. A great trier and spoiler
but he lacks a real kick.
MAUGHAN. Outside right. A fast balanced runner with good control. He put over
some beautiful centres. He promises very well for next year.
YEOWARD. Outside left. A strong runner with a good left foot. Not very much ball
control.

CRICKET
The First XI again won the Father's Match and the Old Boy's Match and this time
they also beat the Claines Church Choir XI. There is no doubt the team will have to do
considerably more work on their cricket if they are to win the more formidable games against
schools.
COLLINS. Captain. Most unfortunately he had an "off " season with both bat and
ball. He managed the captaincy pretty well on the whole, particularly the bowling
changes.
WEAVING. Bats with a good free swing and can hit hard. He does not always
discipline himself to play the first few balls quietly. Good safe fielder.
BANNISTER. He developed into the best player in the side. His batting is good off
the front foot though he is inclined to pull across the line when attacking. Very steady
bowler who understands the value of length. Safe field.
SHELTON. Potentially the best bat in the side if only he will concentrate. Can drive
with power. His wicket keeping improved but he must bring his weight forward if he is
ever to be the very valuable attacking force a wicket keeper can be.
HILL. Quite a good batting style but he made disappointingly few runs. He is not
quite straight and does not really put his front foot to the pitch of the ball, consequently
too many get through the 'gate.' He bowled some very good off-breaks mixed with a great
many loose balls. Good fielder.
HARTLEY. Vastly improved as a bowler. Fast and accurate on a good day though
inclined to press and over-pitch a little. A somewhat erratic fielder who needs to
concentrate more. His batting went to pieces though he can hit very hard indeed.
SMITH. Went in first throughout and played beautifully straight. He did not make
many runs but played a most useful part in taking the sting out of the opening bowlers. He
caught some excellent catches at point.
HOBBS. A trier who can bowl a bit and at the end of term began to bat effectively with
a very good shot past mid-off from either foot. Plays straight.
SCHILIZZI. The most alert fielder in the side. Caught some excellent catches. Quite
promising with the bat.

TICEHURST. Very quick in the field. He has some nice strokes but does not often play
them.
BROWN. Good eye and can hit quite hard but his front foot goes down so wide that all
his shots are pulled round to leg. Good fielder and very safe catcher.

PENTATHLON
Hickman won the white badge, and Hobbs, Weaving and Aldersey were only one test
short, and Powell A., Woodward, Schilizzi, Hughes and Maughan did very well. Blues were
the best colour, ten of their sixteen boys having passed Second Stage, against two Greens and
one Grey.

GYM
Those who reached 'Expert' stage were Hickman, Ticehurst, Weaving, Powell A.,
Woodward and Harrington, Ticehurst passing eleven out of sixteen tests at the advanced
level. Davies D. and Maughan also did well. The competition was won by Blues.

SHOOTING
The standard was good - considerably better than last year's. The Cup was won by
Blues, and the individual competition by Weaving.
Scores: 150
BLUES. Weaving 48 47 42 137
Bannister 46 45 45 136
Hobbs 42 43 40 125
398
GREENS. Collins 45 40 41 126
Shelton 38 38 35 111
Ticehurst 41 46 40 127
364
GREYS. Hill 35 40 35 110
Richards 41 36 33 110
Hartley 46 40 40 126
 346
Colours were awarded to Weaving, Bannister, Ticehurst, Hartley, Collins, and Hobbs.

CROSS-COUNTRY
We did a considerable amount of cross-country running during the Spring Term, and a
competition was held in which the first five seniors home were Collins, Hughes,
Dorrell, Hobbs and Aldersey, and the first five juniors Schilizzi, Nicholas, Andrews,
Maughan and Pratt. Blues won the senior team race, and Greys the junior.

10

SWIMMING
Though we started a little late, weather from then on was warm and favourable.
About the same number of tests were passed as last year, but the standard among the
older boys was not so good, this being compensated for by some promising younger
ones. The competition was won by Blues and the individual cup by Hobbs. Colours
were awarded to Hobbs, Smith, Woodward and Maughan, the two latter being under 11,
and Lead, Pratt R., Harris and Davies D. did particularly well amongst the younger boys.
In a swimming match against Abberley, Hobbs won the Free Style and Under
Water, Smith the Life Saving, and Woodward the Junior Free Style. We were
outclassed in the Diving, but if Aldersey had been available we like to think that we
should have won the Back Stroke and perhaps the Relay. Though we lost more events
than we won, we did at least have the fastest man in each division.

The results of the swimming sports were

SENIOR : Free Style 1. Hobbs 2. Woodward 3. Aldersey
Breast Stroke 1. Hobbs 2. Collins 3. Maughan
Back Stroke 1. Aldersey 2. Hobbs 3. Collins
Life Saving 1. Smith 2. Richards 3. Aldersey
Under Water 1. Hobbs 2. Woodward 3. Lead
Diving 1. Hobbs 2. Woodward 3. Davies D.
JUNIOR : Free Style 1. Woodward 2. Lead 3. Maughan
Breast Stroke 1. Maughan 2. Schilizzi 3. Lead
Back Stroke 1. Woodward 2. Pratt 3. Maughan
Under Water 1. Woodward 2. Lead 3. Pratt
Diving 1. Woodward 2. Davies 3. Maughan
RELAY : 1. Blues 2. Greys

ATHLETICS
Weather was favourable, and there were no hold-ups through rain. The number of
Standards was about the same as last year, and those who obtained all their Standards were
Hartley, Woodward, Schilizzi, Pratt R. and Kingston.
The outstanding performance was Collins' 100 yards record of 11.8 sec. Hartley and
Woodward showed themselves very good hurdlers, and Maughan's Long Jump and Cricket
Ball were promising. The Competition was won by Blues.
 DIVISION I.
440 yards 1. Collins 2. Dorrell 3. Hobbs 63.8 sec.
100 yards 1. Collins 2. Weaving 3. Ticehurst 11.8 sec.
Hurdles 1. Collins 2. Aldersey 3. Ticehurst
High Jump 1. Collins 2. Bannister 3. Shelton
Ticehurst 4ft. 2in.
Yuvaboon
Long Jump 1. Collins 2. Ticehurst 3. Yuvaboon 13ft. 5 ½ in.
Cricket Ball 1. Skelton 2. Hobbs 3. Bannister, Collins 56 yds.

DIVISION II.
220 yards 1. Hartley 2. Yeoward 3. Hughes 30 sec.
100 yards 1. Hartley 2. Yeoward 3. Hughes 13 sec.
Hurdles 1. Hartley 2. Powell
High Jump 1. Hughes 2. Hartley, Lane, Yeoward 3ft. 8in.
Long Jump 1. Hughes 2. Yeoward 3. Hartley 12ft. 9 ½ in.
Cricket Ball 1. Hartley 2. Blake 3. Powell 51 ½ yds.
11

DIVISION III.
100 yards 1. Maughan 2. Woodward 3. Schilizzi 13.8 sec.
Hurdles 1. Maughan, Woodward 3. Schilizzi
High Jump 1. Maughan, Rosoman, Schilizzi, Woodward 3ft. 71n.
Long Jump 1. Maughan 2. Schilizzi, Woodward 12ft. 7 ½ in.
Cricket Ball 1. Maughan 2. Woodward 3. Davies 51 yds.

DIVISION IV.
80 yards 1. Pratt 2. Kingston 3. Martineau 12.2 sec.
Hurdles 1. Pratt 2. Kingston
High Jump 1. Pratt 2. Kingston 3. Martineau 3ft. 6 ½ in
Long Jump 1. Pratt 2. Kingston 3. Mead 10ft. 3 ½ in
Cricket Ball 1. Kingston 2. Pratt 3. Samwells 33 yds.
MEDLEY RELAY 1. Greens 2. Blues
HURDLES RELAY 1. Greens 2. Blues
SPRINT RELAY 1. Blues 2. Greys

CAMP
When our D.C., Mr. Handy, came to visit us (I must be careful because he gets a copy
of this), I told him the camp was not up to our usual standard; after his inspection he said
he did not see what I had to grumble about. Well, he saw it at its best, and certainly things
were pretty good that day; but my complaint is that we took too long to get really going.
Let us go back a day or two and have a look round. The Peckers' guyropes have not
been tightened since the rain and the tent is flapping wildly like a duck. Aldersey's mack
is still by the dining-table where he left it two hours ago. Tildesley's face is dirty. Under
the table are a fork and a piece of bread. There is a sweater on the ground in the kitchen:
guess ; Hill; right first time. A billy lid lies face down, so that when it is put on there
will be grass in the tea. Lewin, who has no business in the kitchen anyway, tries to lift a
boiling billy without a pothook, glares at it in rage when it bites him, and retires to sulk
for ten minutes before setting off to find something else that he ought not to do. There
is a dirty mug lying on its side on the path, doing nothing in particular. Hobbs is lying
on his side close by, doing even less. The rest of the Pigeons are a little way off, arguing.
Lane A's. shirt is hanging out. Richards is in bed, having fallen in the river and
forgotten to bring his spare shorts. The water cans are empty. The refuse bucket is full,
in fact overflowing. Willum comes out of the food tent with a piece of bacon, because
Hughes has forgotten to make it cat-proof. Here is another mack: Hartley's, with jam on
it. Tildesley's face is now dirtier. The cooks have forgotten to stoke the fire, which is
nearly out. Instead of going through the door, Woodward jumps over the string round the
kitchen: no, not quite over. There is a spoon in the water at the washing-up place. There
are three carrots and a fried egg in the refuse pit, not covered up. No one has changed
the rushes on the grease pit, and they are covered with tea-leaves and porridge. Two boys
collide: " Out of my way, can't you." " Well, why don't you look where you're going?"
Someone's pyjamas are hanging on the line because cocoa has been spilt on them. I
have picked up seven sweet papers so far this tour. A boy is visiting the first-aid box
because he did not know that barbed wire has barbs: he puts on the lid the wrong way
round so that it does not fit, and retires, leaving two bits of plastic and the scissors on
the ground. Tildesley's face is . . . yes.

12

Well, perhaps you would not find all those things at once, but they did happen too often
at first. Perhaps, too, each is a trifle in itself; but they are all signs of a camp that is not
quite in top gear. And all the lazinesses and untidinesses are things which in the long run give
more trouble, not less.
Come round again three days later. There really is not much to say, because
everything is happening right without anyone's actually having to think about it much.
The water cans are full, the refuse bucket empty, the pits all covered, everything in its
place (even Lane A's shirt), and Tildesley's face is . . . well, nearly clean. The cooks are
hard at work over blazing fires, with plenty of wood in reserve, and you can see at once
that everything has been thought out for an hour ahead ; the steamer, for instance, is
already getting warm over an unused corner of the boiler-plate, ready for washing up.
Someone takes off a billy-lid and it is automatically put down the proper way up.
Someone else uses the pot hook and hangs it up in its place, instead of leaving it on the
ground as he would have done a few days ago. Two scouts collide : " Oh, sorry." " O.K.,
my fault." There isn't a sweet paper or bit of string in sight. Willum appears with a
mouse, not being able to get any free food by stealing . . . and so on.
We did reach this stage in the end, and the only grumble is that we did not reach it
soon enough for the Camp to be regarded as really first-class. Even so, there was much
to praise from the beginning. Tent-pitching, for instance, and all the first day jobs were
carried out very quickly; the heavy jobs such as carrying water and milk from the
Neuadd were willingly and cheerfully done; there was always enough wood, and the
tools were never left out; there was not a single cooking failure, and Hughes'
management of the food stores was first-rate; and the hard and unwelcome task of striking
camp on the last morning was done with quiet speed and efficiency.
Various things must be briefly mentioned as matters of history. Andrew Duncan was the
latest of the line of Old Boys who have so kindly and generously given their time to act as
unofficial A.S.M's. for the week, and we are deeply grateful for his most efficient help. On
the Wednesday we had the short hike to Llandegley Rocks as usual; it rained a good deal
but everyone was dry by the time they got home and no one got lost this time. Mrs. A.
arrived the same day to stay at the Severn Arms, bringing our second load of food supplies.
On Thursday we had a most welcome visit from Mr. Griffith; and on Thursday evening, for
the first time for many years, we had an inspection by the Local District Commissioner
and his Assistant, who seemed pleased with what they saw. Friday brought the long
hike; fewer boys than usual, owing to sickness and blisters and so on, went on it, but
they travelled well, and those who did the full course covered 15 miles. On Sunday we
entertained over 40 parents and other visitors to tea, and we hope they were pleased with
what they saw. Our own D.C. and Captain Spreckley inspected the camp the same
evening, and this visit too went well as far as we know; we were certainly pleased to see
them and grateful for their coming so far.

We had, unfortunately, much more sickness than usual, having imported a germ from
school, and we were very sorry that Ticehurst and Smith had their camp spoiled for
them and had to go back to school in the end. The other sufferers were quickly better
and no one ran a temperature. There were also more wounds than usual, most of them
avoidable, and some looked quite nasty at first, but all healed without the slightest difficulty.
The Peckers had an unusual and unwelcome adventure when they became the target for
a piece of stupid humour, on the part, probably, of some boys (not scouts) from a camp
over the hill, who let their tent down in the middle of the night; fortunately there was
bright moonlight and we were able to get the tent pitched again. without much trouble.

13

We received the usual kindness from Mr. and Mrs. Collard at the Neuadd and from Mr.
Lloyd; their treatment of us is so unvarying that scouts must beware of taking their
goodness for granted and must try and realise how remarkably generous to us they are.
We are also most grateful to Mrs. Griffith for the extreme efficiency of her organisation of
our food and for all her hard work over it at a difficult time.
Eagles, who had also won the term's competition, were the best patrol in camp, with
Cuckoos second; Peckers were sound, if rather slow; Pigeons wobbled between being
occasionally very bad and mostly very good, and Dorrell deserves great credit for their
being as good as they were.
There, we have managed all that without mentioning the weather so far: but it cannot
be left out altogether. We were very lucky. There were thunderstorms in many parts of the
country, and there had been a terrific one three days before we came. But the worst we
had was three hours steady rain the first evening, which we coped with successfully; there
were two showery days after that, and for the rest of the time it was perfect.
A great camp? No. But for various reasons it could easily have been a rather bad one,
and it was a very long way from being that. Anyway, we had a lot of fun.
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