SHENSTON IAN 88 - Old Silhillians Association

SHENSTON IAN 88

from 

the 

headmaster 

1988 has been an important milestone in the school's history in many ways: as 

such it will take some time to assess its real significance. The immediate impression 

is certainly that it has been another good year, with some notable aspects to make it 

rather special: a record number of pupils, for we have never exceeded 980 before; 

our best A Level pass and higher grade percentages; by far the most successful 

Charity Week programme, raising over £4,000 more than last year's previous 

highest total; the most generous gift to the school by any individual — the Gordon 

Wilcox Squash Courts; the major refurbishment and development of School House 

at a cost of £1/2 million; as high a standard of music making as we have probably had 

and an exceptional number of concerts; a cricket team reaching the semi finals of a 

national competition; and splendid records by athletes, swimmers and rugby 

players. For most individuals too it has clearly been .a notable year, as the reading 

of many excellent reports which highlight commitments to an impressively wide 

range of activities bears out. 

It is particularly good to see the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme producing its first 

Gold Award winners and to note the popularity of house and individual 

competitions at all levels. Each section of the school has its own atmosphere and 

programme of activities; and the staff responsible for these take immense trouble to 

ensure that everyone finds at least one satisfying 'niche'. Anydne who opts out of 

such opportunities is assuredly missing the flavour of the school. 

One development that has certainly made the year distinctive is the completion 

of the first of the GCSE courses. As I write this letter, I obviously have no idea how 

the results will come out or whether we shall see any notable differences between 

external assessment for this new scheme of things and that which one could 

generally expect at 0 Level. So far, the media search for drama has not been 

fuelled by evidence of excessive pressures or lack of direction from our experience; 

and all departments comment favourably on the level of commitment that has been 

shown. The emphasis on problem solving in as contemporary a context as possible 

has had an obvious and beneficial impact on teaching and learning below the Lower 

Fifths; and one can expect some changes in the near future in relation to A Level. 

A good year and distinctive year — but why an important milestone? For that 

we have to register the passing of an era — for during the course of the year we 

have had to say goodbye to six most important and loyal servants of the school, 

whose distinguished contributions total nearly 200 years and average over 30 each. 

Fulsome tributes are appropriately paid in the pages of the magazine but they will 

do scant justice to numerous initiatives and kindnesses over the years, or to the 

ways in which they have contributed to the immense progress that has taken place 

here since the 1950s: in particular, the meticulous way in which Mr. Peter Arculus 

has managed the Science Department and development initiatives for Combined 

Science courses; the development of Design and Technology at the hands of Mr. 

Trevor Archer, who also managed to find time to lead the Middle School so 

successfully for 13 years; the dedicated commitment of Laurie Bailey to people in 

the Solihull area through Community Service and to boys and parents in the Lower 

School since 1977; and Mr. Tomlin, whose ceaseless enthusiasm for all school 

activities, combined with the maintenance of the highest standards in relationships 

and performance, has been the hallmark of his 19 years as Second Master. They 

have provided Solihull School with an absolutely exceptional contribution, and one 

which has assuredly confirmed its position and reputation for the next century. 

We seem to have spent the last fortnight of term, in our various ways and 

groups, trying to express our gratitude and admiration for such outstanding 

teaching careers. The record of 1988 is' in itself a fitting tribute to them — as is the 

indisputable fact that we have a wealth of talent and commitment to continue the 

work on which they have been engaged so successfully. 

A.L. 

16.7.88. 

Notes and News 

Our congratulations and best wishes to Dr. Jeremy Troth on the occasion of 

his marriage to Miss Susan Hinton. 

Our congratulations to Mr and Mrs Keylock on the birth of a son, Matthew; 

Mr and Mrs Caldicott on the birth of a daughter, Niamh; and Mr and Mrs Smith on 

the birth of a daughter, Louise.

valete 

Mr. D.H. Tomlin 

. .yet I live to say "This thing's to do"; Sith I have cause and will and strength 

and means to do't." 

Hamlet. 

Headmasters come and Headmasters go but D.H.T. would go on for ever, or 

so it often appeared, but the unthinkable has happened and Denis has left us to try 

and carry on without him. Not that he would regard that as a problem. Ever selfdeprecating, 

the job description that he gave to successive Headmasters — "I just 

sort of potter about!" — must be one of the understatements of the century, for, if 

anyone has had a powerful influence upon the last thirty-six years of this School's 

development, it is Denis Tomlin. I doubt though whether anyone could have 

foretold this when he arrived in the September of 1952, fresh from Jesus College, 

Oxford to teach English and Latin, 

His formative years at Oxford Grammar School (in the company of Heinz 

Wolf among others) had made him a good rugby player and no mean academic, 

whilst the sports page of the Daily Mirror had given him a more than competent 

tennis serve. Two years National Service provided "sapper" Tomlin with a fund of 

stories, which have enlivened many an evening, before he transferred into the 

Education Corps and found his true vocation. But, although the Army may not 

have been entirely to Denis' taste, it may have had some hand in preparing him to 

face the unexpected which he certainly found on arriving at the School when he was 

told that he would be teaching more Geography than either of the two subjects in 

which he was trained. Quick words of wisdom, however, from the Head of 

Geography, Guy King-Reynolds, and Denis launched himself into his task. If 

"westerlies" occasionally went astray on spinning globes or coffee found its way to 

Outer Mongolia, what did it matter to students who witnessed his enthusiasm and 

experienced the warmth of his genuine interest in themselves as well as in their 

progress. In such manner has Denis always approached the problems of a 

Schoolmaster's life, never dodging the issue, ever willing to have a go and always 

demonstrating a rare wisdom, not least when at the end of his first year here he 

married Doris and set up home first in Alderbrook Rd., then in the staff flats in 

Glengarif and finally, in Blackdown Rd where staff over many years have been the 

recipients of their warm and friendly hospitality. 

Promotion to more senior post§ came soon to Denis but not before passing 

through that proving ground for responsibility — the Wardenship of the Refectory. 

Middle School Housemaster of School House, Deputy Head of the Middle School, 

Upper School Housemaster of Pole, VI Form Master and, finally, Second Master 

for 19 years from 1969 to 1988. And even this final promotion was not all, for in 

1983 the Governing Body requested him to take on the task of Acting Headmaster 

for two terms while they sought for a successor to Giles Slaughter. After 

considerable persuasion Denis accepted and carried the School through this 

difficult period with apparent ease, even finding time to hold a series of parties in 

the Summer Term at which staff could meet the incoming Head, Alan Lee and his 

wife, Anne, themselves suitably briefed on the domestic details of each family by 

the indefatigable Tomlins. 

A record of Denis' progress through the hierachy of the School, however, 

gives little indication of the man. Let R.W. Beach shed a little light:— 

—wowmix' 

"Denis could never forego a dramatic opportunity if one occurred to him as 

frequently they did. Not many present members of staff can have been there when 

on the chairs under the Common Room table with his audience crouched on the 

floor, the better to appreciate the finer points, he recreated a vivid caving 

expedition which he underwent with Guy King-Reynolds and the then Headmaster, 

Mr. Hitchens. In similar vein, as one of the leaders of a Terriers Expedition in 

Scotland in 1957, something triggered him to give a powerful rendering of Gregory 

Peck as Captain Ahab on the subject of the great white whale, Moby Dick, while 

on the steam-ferry crossing the Clyde to Dunoon; this to the delight of the boys 

present and the utter consternation of the local Scots. Nor was he slow to volunteer 

for any social service, without thought to count the cost. Again with the Terriers, a 

group of staff returning from an evening stroll at "Hammarbank" in the Lake 

District, found they were denied entry as the front door was locked. In a flash, 

Denis leaped over a low balustrade, expecting to rush round to the back to open the 

door for us. However, beneath the wall was a twenty-five foot drop, fortunately 

onto a grassy slope down which he rolled like a parachutist. We are fortunate to 

have retained the services of such an enthusiast." (R.W.B.) 

Fortunate indeed; and Bob picks out the vital quality of the man- en thusiasm. 

Nothing is ever done half-heartedly, be it gardening, photography, wine-tasting, 

acting, rugby, fishing or indeed the multifarious duties of the Schoolmaster. 

"He was introduced to the mountains in the early days of the Terriers when 

they had an annual visit to the Lake District and he soon took to this new 

environment, thoroughly enjoying the high hills. In later years he spent many 

Easter Holidays there with three colleagues and their wives. He was the joint

organiser of these walks which went all over the top peaks for he enjoyed the 

gingery" places. He was not a rock climber but one of his ultimate aims was Jack's 

Rake, a severe scramble which he eventually persuaded us to climb, so confident 

had he become in his handling of his Wainright and the Ordnance Survey maps." 

(K.A.B.) 

How typical of Denis that he should be introduced to an activity by others but 

end up as one of the organisers of these same people, enthusing them by his own 

evident enjoyment, backed up by his willingness to learn. 

That his pupils over the years have appreciated his capacity to enthuse was 

evident in the various functions held at the end of last term to mark Denis' 

retirement and few things have given him greater pleasure than the ability of at 

least one former (and not unduly gifted) student to quote from a Shakespearian 

speech that Denis had taught him many years previously. Present pupils showed 

their affection and response to his deep concern for them in the warm and 

prolonged applause that greeted him at his final assembly in Big School. But that 

applause was no warmer than that given by Denis on so many occasions to all the 

drama productions that he unfailingly attended and to the concerts that are such a 

source of joy to him. His love of music, particularly that produced with skill and 

verve by young people, and his desire to spread the pleasure of listening to high 

quality music, led to the "Thursday Tapes", when he and and a small group of likeminded 

people could be found in Big School creating an area of calm, like the eye 

of a hurricane amid the whirlwind of School life. 

But, if the quieter members of the School community enjoyed his company, 

the "hearties" too had much to thank him for. He always enjoyed coaching rugby, 

initially the junior teams but then, for a golden period, the First XV when they 

reached one of the peaks of rugby in the School, giving Denis some of his happiest, 

(as well as some of his most despairing) moments. To this day, there is little doubt 

where Denis will be found on a Saturday afternoon in Winter; still encouraging and 

exhorting the rugby players to greater efforts with ever constructive criticism. 

All who have worked with Denis will remember him with affection, not only 

as a fellow teacher but also as an orator whose farewells to departing colleagues 

gave so much pleasure and amusement; as a performer, whether of "Pretty Little 

Polly Perkins of Paddington Green", the monologues of Bernard Miles or "That 

Daring Young Man on the Flying Trapeze"; as a wise counsellor whose advice, 

often sought, was freely given but never thrust upon one; but mostly as a friend for 

whom nothing was ever too much trouble and whose friendship was not a tool of his 

office but the fruit of the genuine open-hearted sincerity that is his essence. 

Three Headmasters have had cause to bless Denis' enthusiasm, wisdom and 

calm. Bruce McGowan recalls Denis' phlegmatic reaction when, after persuading 

an intruding member of a gang of "rockers" to leave peaceably, he was told by the 

police: "What a pity! If only he had done you actual bodily harm, or better still , 

grievous bodily harm, then we could have had him!" Alan Lee recalls Denis the 

"Crime-buster", steadily breaking down the more nefarious members of the 

community by his patient detective woik and apparent ability to see through walls! 

Denis, himself, has said that he would like to be remembered as the one who 

fought for years, with eventual success, to bring trees and shrubs into the 

Quadrangle and onto the hallowed lawns of the School. But perhaps Giles 

Slaughter best summed up what we who have been privileged to know Denis and 

Doris will remember when he said at the final Staff Dinner, attended by two 

hundred present and former colleagues and their partners, that Denis, more than 

anyone he knew, had been responsible for creating the ethos of the School during 

his years as Second Master and that in any serious history of the School, the period 

from 1969 to 1988 should be known as "The Tomlin Years". 

Well, the "Tomlin Years" are now over but we have little doubt that The 

Tomlin influence will continue and that the Tomlin antennae, ever alert in 

Blackdown Rd., will register little waves of discreet disapproval if we who are left 

should err. 

Thank you, Denis, for your kindness, your humour, your immense labours, 

your belief in high standards and your selflessness which have so benefiyed the 

School and us all. May you and Doris continue for many long and happy years — 

"just pottering about". 

H.R.R. 

Mr. L.C. Bailey 

Mr. Bailey's association with the school began as a boy in 1940 during the 

headmastership of A. R. Thompson, since when, apart from his years of training at 

St. John's College, York and a period at Mottram's, the junior house of Caterham 

School, his service here has been unbroken and when he retired in the summer he 

had become the doyen of the staff. 

It is clear from entries in faded copies of the School Magazine of the 1940s that 

his life as a schoolboy was as full as it could be in those difficult wartime years. One 

reads of accomplished dramatic performances, or record-breaking cross-country 

runs and in times when wing-three-quarteers, even at International level, expected 

to receive the ball occasionally, of frequent tries run in from that position. 

Following his appointment to the staff of the Lower School in 1950 he quickly 

established himself as a vigorous housemaster, immediately accepted by the boys, 

whose response to his enthusiastic leadership was such that the outcome of house 

competitions, sporting and cultural, soon became monotonously predictable and an 

embarrassment to his colleagues who strove to produce teams capable of matching 

his. His style as a schoolmater was, and still is humane but straightforward — firm 

on matters of principle but tolerant whenever he could be, friendly and 

approachable but always maintaining the necessary distance between teacher and 

taught. 

A skilful debater himself, and the possessor of a fine speaking voice, he 

encouraged generations of boys in the Debating Society, and as a story-teller 

provided the juniors with endless pleasure. At this time, too, he began to write a 

long series of Lower School plays, based loosely on traditional stories: Robin 

Hood, Ali Baba, Treasure Island, Jonah and the Whale, David and Goliath 

(tempting into the role of the Philistine giant Robin Everitt, the Senior 

Mathematician, large of stature, stentorian of voice.) His order or priorities as a 

producer was absolute: cast first, audience (paying or not) second. He regarded it 

as a matter of professional honour that at some point in the evening every boy in 

the Lower School should strut and fret his hour upon the stage, whether as a 

leading player or heavily disguised as a sugar cube or wine-jar. Management of 

such numbers of junior boys would have taxed the organising talents of Cecil B. De 

Mille, but most of the time, Laurie remained unruffled and confident, as the 

multitude surged on and off the stage, more or less on cue. His ambition to involve 

the maximum number of actors and to attain the highest possible level of realism 

was not infrequently achieved at some cost to his audience. On one occasion a 

coachload of more senior boys, returning wearily to school at 11.30 p.m. from a 

professional production of their 0 level play were astonished to find the junior 

production of Robin Hood still in full swing, with the audience visibly wilting, some 

loriging for their beds, others, mindful of that shocking incident at Hastings, 

ducking fearfully below the ramparts of Big School balcony to avoid the arrows of 

the Merry Men — this wa's, of course, before the days of Health and Safety. In later

years when no obvious successor emerged to take over management of Upper 

School drama, he characteristically stepped into the breach and staged a number of 

successful Shakespearean plays as well as a memorable production of The Crucible 

by Arthur Miller. 

In due course, when a fourth division of the school was created in 1977, he was 

the natural choice to become Master of the Lower School, responsible for the 

eleven and twelve-year olds. Here he has attempted to foster a happy and 

purposeful atmosphere, and, judging by the number of parents who seem surprised 

that their sons actually enjoy coming to school, he has not failed in this ambition 

either. In the classroom over the years he has taught English and Religious Studies 

for preference, but in emergencies has been prevailed upon to turn his hand to 

other subjects. To his teaching he has brought the essential qualities of patience, 

clear exposition and insistence on accuracy and stylish presentation of work, so that 

his pupils never leave him deficient in the basic skills. 

Most mortals would regard such pastoral and academic responsibilities as quite 

arduous enough to occupy them fully during their working lives, but beyond the 

boundaries of Solihull, Laurie is known for what has become one of his major 

preoccupations, Community Service, and it is for his work in this field that he will 

be especially remembered when he goes into retirement this year. In 1962 he was 

asked by the headmaster of the time, H. B. Hitchens, to join forces with 

representatives from Winchester and Marlborough in initiating a pilot scheme in 

community work. It was a step into the unknown and naturally scepticism was 

expressed in some quarters. The Commandant of the CCF gave the scheme his 

qualified blessing and offered eight boys to form the Solihull Group! Now, 25 years 

later, its membership stands at over 150 boys and Sixth Form girls whose activities 

cover a wide range of voluntary service. On Monday and Wednesday afternoons 

volunteers set out to visit private homes, schools and hospitals where help is 

needed, some to bring company to the lonely, some to assist overworked 

professionals in caring for the mentally or physically handicapped, some to 

undertake gardening or do-it-yourself jobs for pensioners, and, in the holidays, 

camps have been organised for under-privileged children from inner-city areas. 

Memories of the early years of the Group remain vividly in the mind: the.telephone 

call in the middle of the night after the volunteers' first attempt to paint a ceiling; 

"Mr. Bailey, my ceiling seems to be hanging down like curtains." (Moral: always 

rub down loose surfaces before repainting); Walter Gunzberg, the senior boy 

whom Laurie encouraged to take full responsibility for the C.S. group, who almost 

succeeded in taking over the whole school; and later, when Laurie had been invited 

to tea by Harold Wilson, the inquisitive London cab driver who, proud of what he 

took to be the exalted status of his fare, asked, "You in the Cabinet then, guy?", 

only to express-his disappointment and scorn in forthright Cockney terms when his 

hero of a minute or two before, having been delivered at No. 10 too early, was 

forced to walk away sheepishly from the famous portals in order to kill time! 

His concern for community service per se rather than as another school activity 

led him to found the Solihull Young Volunteers, an organisation which drew its 

members from some fifteen schools in the Borough. Its success attracted the 

attention of the BBC who in 1968 made it the subject of a film which was submitted 

as one of two British entries in an international film festival in Japan. 

Annually, convoys of coaches travelled under his direction to Malvern for 

sponsored walks to raise funds for the Volunteers' activities. Since their inception 

thousands must have joined in the trek over the hills and no participant was ever 

lost without trace, although there were some near misses! Regular suppers and 

entertainments, too, have been arranged for the elderly and he was frequently to be 

seen driving like Jehu round the environs of Solihull, picking up stragglers whose 

'lifts' had failed to appear at the last minute. 

His value as an adviser of Social Service matters was recognised by 

organisations and persons of influence in many places. He acted as Chairman of the 

Solihull Council of Social Services from 1968 to 1973 and for ten years was 

Chairman of the Birmingham Young Volunteers" Trust. He negotiated with 

Government departments for the establishment of a National Young Volunteers 

Resources Unit, which now operates within the National Youth Bureau. To 

encourage others, in 1968 he published his book, Youth to the Rescue about which 

Alec Dickson, Founder of VSO, wrote, "Lessons emerge from this book that are

valid far beyond the world of Solihull, of school, or even of social service." Having 

now become something of a celebrity in this field, Laurie was invited to speak on 

the subject in many parts of Britain and on television. He eagerly seized these 

opportunities to spread the word, and so the movement itself spread. 

Within the Headmasters' Conference, prompted by Bruce McGowan, Headmaster 

of Solihull at the time, he called a meeting in 1972 of almost one hundred 

schools to confer on the development of Community Service and as a result a 

Working Party was set up, which he has chaired until this year. Annual conferences 

of staff and students have been held at Windmill House in Warwickshire and 

regional meetings also take place to exchange ideas and foster community work 

throughout the HMC. 

Surprisingly, he has also managed to find time to pursue a range of private 

interests. Solihull people know him as a prominent Methodist preacher and he has 

impressed us all with the startingly high quality of his photography, a hobby which 

he has only recently taken up. 

In all he has done he has been sustained — cossetted, one might say — by his 

all female family. Sylvia, his charming wife, has made his life hers and has actively 

joined in the schemes and projects which he has initiated, and his three daughters 

obviously bear no grudge against the profession which has claimed a disproportionate 

amount of their father's time, for they have all become teachers themselves. 

In Robert Bolt's A Man For All Seasons Sir Thomas More identifies those who 

will be aware of the worldly Rich's success if he makes his mark as a teacher — 

"You, your pupils, your friends, God . . . Not a bad public, that." Laurie Bailey 

has surely found such an audience, and has even gone a little further, having had a 

founding hand in a movement which has changed the attitude .of many young 

people by making them aware of problems faced by others less fortunate than 

themselves. In the play More adds, "Oh, and a quiet life" This has not been a 

feature of Laurie Bailey's long career at Solihull. 

Mr. G.T. Archer 

D.H.T. 

Trevor Archer was appointed to teach Woodwork and Engineering Drawing at 

Solihull School in 1955. Unusually for that time, he was permitted by the 

Headmaster, Mr. H.B. Hitchens, to continue working in the evenings as Principal 

of the Handsworth Wood Centre for further Education, a centre which he had 

started in 1947 and whose student number rose to eighteen hundred. 

After gaining his technical qualifications at Loughborough Training College 

and before starting his teaching career in the employment of the Birmingham 

Education Authority in 1946, Trevor served as a pilot in the Royal Air Force. 

Training at the Empire Flying School in Canada, he flew Tiger Moths, Defiants, 

Mustangs, Hurricanes and Spitfires during the war years and later engaged in the 

somewhat hazardous task of target towing for the Royal Navy and then calibrating 

radar equipment at Heathrow Airport. It was his flying training and lightning 

assessment of a situation which prompted his famous laconic observation at a Cadet 

Force Inspection in the mid-1960's. Two of the school cadets held civilian pilot 

licences and had been allowed by their instructor to "fly past" the parade. They 

approached simultaneously from different directions and their priority, it seemed, 

was to have a good view of the scene below. "Those two are on a collision course," 

Trevor remarked as he strolled under the protection of the trees. Fortunately, 

seconds later, the young aviators reached an identical conclusion and turned 

abruptly away. 

When Trevor came to teach at the School, he brought with him not only his 

teaching skills, but also hard earned and priceless experience from his years of 

flying. His mature judgement, confidence and masterly organising ability were 

quickly recognised and he embarked on a series of appointments which were of 

great value to the School. He was Lower School Housemaster of Fetherston, the 

Middle School Housemaster of Shenstone; as Warden of the Bookstore, his 

simplified system of administration greatly reduced the time taken to issue and 

return the text-books at the beginning and end of the year. This post was combined 

with the supervision of Lost Property, though here, admittedly, he had less impact 

on forgetful students! He was Deputy Head of the Middle School in 1963, with 

special responsibility for the Shell forms; in 1967 he became head of the 

Department of Technology and presided over its development at the "fort", its new 

location at the top of the playing fields. Now, at his very moment of retirement, he 

has seen his dreams come to fruition in the new, large, splendidly equipped and 

designed Technology Department. 

In 1973 his marked organisational ability in the broader aspects of education 

led to his appointment as Master of the Middle School. Those who worked with 

him during the years that followed will always remember his calm constructiveness 

in times of crisis. Without fuss and always with a flexible approach to a problem, he 

seemed to reach a practical solution with effortless ease. He always made time to 

see colleagues and pupils alike and his judgements were invariably fair, consistent 

and firm. 

He was not, however, a friend to those with a lame excuse and young 

colleagues on the games field, protesting their ignorance of this or that game, were 

swiftly lent his copy of the relevant Rule Book. Trevor had the respect of everyone

with whom he came into contact: pupils of the Middle School because he cared for 

them as individuals and nothing was too 'much trouble for him; colleagues because 

they could rely on his judgement, integrity and professional excellence; student 

craftsmen because his standards were those which they were struggling to achieve; 

and members of the school policy-making Boards because of his incisive appraisal 

of what was required. In the Middle School he organised three mammoth 

Mediterranean Cruises, after earlier trips to Belgium and Guernsey and a school 

bus drive through France, noteworthy in that it had been organised by two 

colleagues who dropped out leaving Trevor to carry it through. Master of 

understatement in crisis, on one "Terriers" expedition after a long day's climbing, 

he once stood with two colleagues on a stormy evening in the Longdale Valley 

looking up at the "Band" which was half-covered in wet skimming low cloud; one 

of the sections had failed to arrive at the rendezvous and the prospect was one of 

having to set off again to find them, "It looks a bit nasty up there, I think I'll get 

another pullover" was his only comment. 

His skills were of great value in Staff working parties at the Mountain Cottage, 

though his presence was sought as much for his company as his craftsmanship. His 

ability to recognise an opportunity on one of these occasions unusually caused him 

to put down his tools and stop work. He had spotted a fisherman walking across 

from the moor; after a few moments of earnest conversation, Trevor returned to his 

task and there was trout for supper that night. 

Despite his very wide range of educational ability, Trevor has never lost his 

love of craft, design and technology. His own hands provided the highest standard 

needed for gifts to mark the great occasions. He made the elegant wooden fruit 

bowl presented to the retiring Chairman of Governors, the dining tables at the 

Mountain Cottage, a memorial to Chris Sayer, and the magnificent glove box 

presented to the Princess Marina on her first visit to the School. Her Lady in 

Waiting left it behind, but Trevor, always quick with a practical solution, ran down 

the drive after the disappearing car, to present it once more to its new owner. 

Late in his career Trevor still had further contributions to make to the School. 

He served in the Combined Cadet Force as a Flight Lieutenant from 1973 to 1987, 

as acting Second Master in 1983 and as acting Bursar in 1987 and 1988. 

To walk or trot with Trevor to the Technology Block was to learn that he never 

wasted time, although, deceptively, he never gave the impression of haste. To work 

with him was an enjoyable and rewarding experience and to have shared his 

company is to have profited from his wisdom and dedication to whatever he 

undertook. We all wish him and his wife Pam every happiness in retirement. 

H.M.S. 

Mr. P.D. Arculus 

Peter Arculus came to Solihull as Head of Science some 29 years ago after 

teaching at King Edward VII School, Sheffield. His contributions to the life of the 

school have been many and varied, ranging from his accompaniment of Pole House 

Cottage trips (and his provision there of haute cuisine) to his prowess as a batsman 

and very safe fielder at point (testimony to which lies on film in the School 

Archives). 

Picture him in Italy reminding a party of young Silhillians that Birmingham 

had more miles of canal than Venice. PDA has also proved himself a mountain 

walker and man of the wide open spaces, doubtless discoursing to attentive pupils 

on aspects of the flora and fauna, or perhaps on the general ecology of the Lakes 

and Dales. 

Third formers over the years have had their attention directed from one 

member of the Whipsnade pride to another on their annual trip down the A5. 

PDA's involvement in the School trials for the Nuffield Combined Science was full, 

and he was subsequently asked to lecture around the country to teachers on the 

whys and wherefores of the new practically based course, which brings one to a 

mention of his unique style of delivery. 

Colleagues who have had to teach along the E corridor (never mind those 

within the Science Block itself) will testify to the very insistent manner in which 

PDA imparted the finer points of his subject to classes of all ages. His 

vociferousness obviously derives from his thespian tendencies which were 

brilliantly exploited in 'Staff and Nonsense' which PDA co-wrote with the then 

Headmaster, Giles Slaughter. One favourite was his portrayal of an old, bearded 

sea dog in the classic item 'Sam', but his operatic contralto struggling against all the 

odds was equally memorable. 

The revue was followed two years later with PDA's pantomime 'Aladdin', in 

which his skills in haute couture were given full rein. His portrayal of Widow 

Twankey will certainly be remembered long after the panto has been forgotten. 

PDA's interest in the performing arts has seen him in many diverse roles; from 

founder member of the Heart of England Music Hall Society, to elected member of 

the Council of Management of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. His 

many guises on stage include a trumpeter, a pirate, a gladiator, a principal boy, a 

seaside landlady, a land girl and a Dame of the British Empire. PDA has appeared 

in Old Time Music Hall with Ben Wariss, Reg Dixon, Tommy Trinder and Sandy 

Powell.

All in all then, it can be fairly said that PDA has been a man without parallel at 

Solihull. 

And oh, lest we forget — he was a superb Head of Science, indeed a visiting 

chemist commented on the excellence of his departmental organisation. 

We all wish him a long, happy and (knowing him as we do) an extremely active 

retirement. 

R.J.M 

Mr. S.E. Skippings M.B.E. 

Stan Skippings retires this year after nearly 26 years as S.S.I., Adjutant, and 

for the last three years OC the Royal Navy Section of the C.C.F. His other duties 

included ordering and delivering all the School stationery and running all forms of 

shooting in the School. His love of shooting can be traced directly back to his career 

in the Royal Marines. 

Stan joined up in 1940 and after basic training was sent to HMS Hood but 

before he could take up this posting a further order gave priority to some trainee 

officers. HMS Hood was totally destroyed in the North Cape battle with the 

Bismarck. Stan meanwhile was doing more gunnery training and in 1942 was posted 

to HMS Belfast. It was here that his penchant for accurate shooting developed for 

on one occasion he, and the other gun crews, hit the target 1995 times out of 1995 

rounds. Perhaps I should mention that the target was France, we were not in the 

Common Market at the time, and the ship was only about a mile off shore. More 

courses followed and a posting to the Pacific on HMS Implacable, an aircraft 

carrier, took him into contact with the Japanese forces. Here, firing a multibarrelled 

machine gun, he helped an enemy pilot achieve his second ambition. 

Another carrier, HMS Glory, (on which the surrender of the South East Japanese 

Forces was taken) followed and Stan became Drum Major of the Band. He led the 

Victory Parade through Sydney. 

Peace time saw much more training and competition shooting. His achievements 

are too numerous to mention here but suffice it to say that as an individual he 

won the English XX Championship, the Services Championship, and has 

represented England, Great Britain, and travelled as reserve in the British 

Commonwealth Team. He is also a Maltese International Shot. (Now do you know 

many of those?) - 

Stan came to Solihull School in December 1962 as School Staff Instructor in 

the C.C.F. His talents of course tended to make him specialise in shooting, weapon 

training, and drill. For twenty-five years he has organised the parades and he has 

that strange ability that enables him to bark one simple order that changes a 

seething mass of schoolboys into serried ranks of cadets. A stalwart at camps and 

adventure training courses his compo meals (with Yorkshire Pudding of course) 

have to be tasted to be believed. Above all it is his total unflappability that is so 

reassuring. When all else goes wrong, Stan can stroll into the melee, pace stick at 

the ready, and peace ensues. 

Whilst at Solihull School Stan has been involved in many non-school activities. 

Seven years with the 7th Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers, 12 years as Chairman of the 

Royal Marines Association, Vice-Chairman of the Birmingham Nautical Club, and 

6 years involvement in running the Midland Rifle Association. It was fitting that in 

the New Years Honours Lists of 1988 he was awarded the MBE specifically for 

services to the Royal Marines Association. 

Recently a cadet came to the CCF Hut saying that he came to School in 

uniform but had forgotten his beret. Stan bawled him out of the building. A week 

later another cadet asked to purchase a beret badge. Stan gave him one with a 

smile. He has always been a stickler for doing things the right way. 

Beneath that gruff exterior is a man with a big heart who will do anything he 

can to help you in a crisis. 

We all wish Stan and Laura a long, happy, and well deserved retirement. 

D.R. 

Miss Eleanor Chapman 

In 1955 the Professor of Metallurgy at Birmingham University wrote to Mr. 

H.B. Hitchens, Headmaster of Solihull School, to recommend to him a secretary of 

'outstanding ability'. He added that 'her shorthand and typing are impeccable, her 

filing and book-keeping are excellent and she organises the general office duties of 

a fairly large and busy department with ease and efficiency'. 

These qualifications and qualities made Eleanor Chapman an ideal candidate 

for the vacant post of Headmaster's Secretary and Mr. Hitchens must have had no 

hesitation in appointing her to it in June of that year. 

When she retired 32 years later, in December 1987, she had more than 

justified the generosity of the Professor's remarks. The office system can be 

observed to have undergone an immediate and highly effective transformation 

from the moment of her arrival. The card index on which pupils' and parents' 

details were entered preserves an immaculately presented record of each school 

career. The files, sifted and pruned at appropriate intervals, amplify this and 

reduce the apparent jumble of an academic year to a neat and orderly record. The 

millions of words of shorthand and the typing are remarkably free from any hint of 

error. The major items in the school diary (parents' evenings, choices for academic 

subjects or extra-curricular activities, beginning and end of term routines) were 

prepared and circulated with clarity and accuracy — but none more so than the 

Speeches programme and the GCE results on which it was based. The office hours 

were supposed to end at 5.15 p.m. but much of this essential record keeping and 

administration was done late into the evening. 

And that was because it was so difficult to achieve the peace and quiet needed 

for such accurate and concentrated work. The office was always subject to 

innumerable interruptions: casual enquiries about the school, anxious parents 

bringing forgotten items- for immediate delivery to far-flung corners of the 

buildings, worried boys seeking urgent medical assistance or money for bus fares, 

persistent staff wanting two or three envelopes of varying sizes. And it has to be 

remembered that during the period between 1955 and 1987 the numbers on the 

school roll rose from 728 to 980 with all the extra pressures that followed from that. 

There must have been easier and equally responsible posts in the area but Miss 

Chapman never hankered after them. And I am sure that this was because she 

loved being part of the school community. She took great delight in being a resident 

of the boarding house and attending their annual Christmas suppers and 

entertainments. She was an enthusiastic and regular attender of all plays and 

concerts. She was a devoted supporter of the Chapel. 

As the end of the Christmas Term approached, we invited Miss Chapman to 

Sunday lunch — having plotted a surprise reunion with all her surviving 

Headmasters (Bruce McGowan, Giles Slaughter, Denis Tomlin and myself). It was 

a most happy occasion, not least because it enabled us to express together our

appreciation for the years of outstanding service and commitment to us in our jobs 

and also to the school as a whole. If her garden is tended with anything like the care 

and intelligence that the Headmaster's office received between 1955 and 1987, it 

will certainly be the finest in the West Midlands. 

A. L. 

Miss F.M. Till. 

Miss Fiona Till taught in the Geography department from February until July, 

1988, while Mrs. Mills was on maternity leave. Miss Till was a Durham Geography 

graduate, with a higher degree in Soil Science from Reading University. 

From the start she showed great determination to understand her students, 

and transmit her enthusiasm for her subject to them. The examination forms in 

particular will have benefited from her careful revision work, and the Lower Sixth 

from her contribution to the Yorkshire field course. For her patience, hard work 

and absolute reliability, we are all most grateful. 

D.D.K. 

Aberdeen 

DANIELLE M. COLLODI 

Bangor 

JOHN K.BLAND 

Birmingham 

LARA B. HOGGARTH 

MARK JENNINGS 

LIZO L. MZIMBA 

DAVE K. NANDA 

Bradford 

ANTHONY J.P. MORTON 

Bristol 

ROBERT E. GAUT 

KARIN A. MELLING 

T. JAMES TRUSCOTT 

UNIVERSITY ENTRIES 

Land Economy 

Banking. Insurance and Finance. 

Chemical Engineering. 

Civil Engineering. 

Medicine. 

Accountancy. 

Mathematical Sciences. 

Law. 

German. 

Economics with Accountancy. 

Brunel 

RICHARD D. HUNIPHRIES Manufacturing Engineering (1988). 

Cambridge 

ROBERT M. CAREY 

BENJAMIN E. HILL 

DOMINIC M. HORSLEY 

ANDREW J. KENNEDY 

DAVID KIRK 

ANDREW J. LLOYD 

PHILIP A. MARSDEN 

STUART L. REA. 

MITCHELL J. REYNOLDS 

Cardiff U.W.I.S.T. 

TRACY E. HUMPHREYS 

Dundee 

SIMON H-L.T.CLARK 

Durham 

NICHOLAS F. MONEY 

ANNA L. WOOD 

East Anglia 

CHARLOTTE L. HALL 

Hull 

ADRIAN J. GARGETT 

GREGORY R. ORME 

Leeds 

RUSSEL C. DALE 

KATRINA P. M. SUNESON 

STEPHEN J. WILSON 

Leicester 

HUGH R. WRIGHT 

Music, St. John's College Choral Exhibition. 

Natural Sciences, Christ's College. 

Economics, Pembrokc College. 

Engineering, St. Catharine's College. 

Engineering, Selwyn College. 

Economics, Sidney Sussex College. - 

Engineering, Jesus College. 

Philosophy, Gonville and Caius College. Choral 

Exhibition. 

Engineering, Trinity Hall. 

Town and Country Planning. 

Zoology. 

History 

Music. 

Business Finance and Economics. 

History. 

English. 

Medicine. 

Business Studies. 

Biochemistry. 

Electrical and Electronic Engineering.

Liverpool 

NIGEL J. CANIN 

DUNCAN K. LUCAS 

NEIL T. RINTOUL 

CHRISTOPHER A.P.H. WARD 

London 

BASSIM BASMA 

VANESSA A. KETT 

CLARE E. LANGFORD 

ROBERT J. OWEN 

JOANNE E. TUCKEY 

Loughborough 

SUSAN A. CROFT 

Manchester 

SIMON A. SPORTON 

Manchester U.M.I.S.T. 

STEVEN J. HARRISON 

JAMES W. McEWAN 

MELANIE R. WESTLEY 

Nottingham 

DAVID M. HANDLEY 

JAMES R. QUANTRILL 

DAVID A. WHITEHOUSE 

OXFORD 

HUGH C. ADLINGTON 

STEPHEN D. AYLIN 

DARREN BAKER 

PHILIP M. BUTTIFANT 

PAUL A. COWLEY 

JOHNATHAN D. GAVAGHAN 

ADAM C. MACLEAN 

ALAN G. MORTIS 

TIMOTHY F. PRICE 

PHILIP J. WESTWOOD 

Reading 

SIMON F. WRIGHT 

Southampton 

ANDREW M. BLAND 

S. MARK McCLENAGHAN 

JAMES R. MACGREGOR 

A. NIGEL WIDDOWSON 

Surrey 

ALISON C. JONES 

Swansea 

JOHN D. MILNE 

York 

SIMON C. BARTLETT 

Mathematics with Management. 

Electrical Engineering Systems. 

Combined Honours in Arts. 

French. 

Mechanical Engineering Imperial College. 

Geography, Queen Mary College. 

Music, Royal Holloway and Bedford New College. 

Classics, University College. 

Physiotherapy, King's College Hospital. 

European Studies. 

Electrical Engineering. 

Pure Mathematics and Language Study. 

Engineering. 

Modern European Studies. 


Economics. 


English, St. Edmund Hall. 

Engineering, St. Catherine's College. 

Geography, St. Edmund Hall. 

History, Magdalen College. 

Mathematics, St. Anne's College. 

Law, Worcester College. 

Engineering, Exeter College. 

Physics, Lincoln College. 

English, Christchurch. 

Physics, Lady Margaret Hall. 

Food Science. 

Accountancy and Statistics. 

Business Economics and Accounting. 

Aeronautics and Astronautics. 

Physiology and Biochemistry. 

Mechanical Engineering. . 

Economics. 

History. 

POLYTECHNIC ENTRIES 

Birmingham 

NICHOLAS SOFRONIOU Law. 

Kingston 

PHILIP M. BROWN Business Information Technology. 

Leeds 

HELEN B. THOMAS Food and Accommodation Management. 

Oxford 

SAMANTHA C. BRIT'. 

MARIE C. NEWMAN 

Portsmouth 

ROGER M. YOUNG 

Trent 

JASON H. FIGG 

MARTIN A. HALL 

STEPHEN L. JOBERNS 

NEIL P. JONES 

French Language and Literature. 

Cell Biology. 

Estate Management. 

'Business Studies. 

Quantity Surveying. 

Law.. 

Quantity Surveying.

the 

houses 

FETHERSTON 

Upper School 

After the loss of Mr. Chacksfield from Fetherston Upper School, the house 

was pleased to welcome Mr. A Dunn as a sixth form tutor. 

Once more the house showed a keen "esprit de corps" during the year, which 

ensured that participation rather than success was the key factor in sports and other 

activities. Mark Lucas, Jon Glanfield, Victoria Hicken and Naomi Winnifrith were 

the leading lights in the school production of "Twelfth Night". Fetherston was also 

blessed with its usual sprinkling of school team captains and members, yet was 

unable to make a great impression on the Cock House competition. At both Cock 

House and League level, the rugby and hockey teams played with great enthusiasm 

and team spirit, but without much skill! The strongest teams were those for chess, 

basketball, boys' swimming and water polo. 

Once again, the House had a busy social diary: two house meals and an outing 

to see "Dick Whittington" — the production was terrible but the House enjoyed a 

temporary (!) lapse of maturity. 

The House cottage week-end was wet, but most enjoyable and passed without 

serious incident. This year we managed two walks; one on Arghency and the other 

in Cwm Idwal. 

I would like to thank Messrs. Savidge, Rickman, Lloyd and Dunn for all their 

effort on behalf of the House, and congratulate Mr. Rickman on his appointment 

to Second Master next year — another loss to U.S. Fetherston! 

Thanks also to all the team captains, and particularly to Ruth Stembridge for all 

her splended work as House Secretary. 

John Errington. 

This year we lose the services of Mr. Rickman as a House Tutor, following 

his appointment as Second Master in succession to Mr. Tomlin. Mr. Rickman has 

been associated with Fetherston for the greater part of his 28 years here. On joining 

the school he at once became a House master to Fetherston, later taking over the 

Boarding House, and later still returning as a House Tutor. It seems very urilikely 

that we shall attract him back again, but our very best wishes go with him in his new 

appointment. 

HMS 

Middle School 

Fetherston experienced both success and disappointment this year, but the 

determination of all members achieved an overall performance to be proud of. 

Nowhere was this determination more evident than on Sports day, when the House 

team won by half a point. The captain, Russell Price, encouraged the team and 

good performances from Jamie Arbuthnot and David Nicklin helped us on our way 

to victory. 

Jonathan Sheriden and Rakesh Odedra were outstanding on the rugby field, 

and the team was unlucky to reach only third place. The Hockey team, captained 

by Paul Griffin, also came third. 

Unfortunately, luck was with us neither on the cricket field nor in chess, but 

this did not deter the teams from giving 100% effort. 

On behalf of my fellow benchers, Jim Hatton and Stephen Wort, I would like 

to thank all members of the House, especially Mr. Harding and Mr. Belcher, for all 

their constant encouragement throughout the year. 

A .P.Jones 

Lower School 

The most memorable events of the year were the trip to the ice rink, and the 

(intended) trip to the bowling alley, a House Christmas party, and John Pickles 

playing cards in House meetings along with Mr. Holt's spontaneous quiz questions 

(how many league clubs with 'X' in the name?). 

I must report, however, an excellent year in competitions: a win in swimming 

and athletics, potentially good results in cricket, an excellent debate, success in 

badminton, great effort in the cross-country, and the highlight for me, a brilliant 

team performance to win the Shell Form rugby against the favourites. 

I am especially grateful to Robert Stembridge and Ian Shovell, and, for various 

outstanding performances, to Barnaby Sheriden, Mark Spendlove, Edward Dawes, 

and many others. 

J.B.M.P.

JAGO 

Upper School 

This year the House has been unable to match the outstanding successes of 

recent years, but it has nevertheless been memorable for the continued spirit which 

prevails in Jago Upper School. Ceaseless enthusiasm and cajoling by many 

members of the upper sixth, in particular Corrie Forrester and Tim Norman, have 

enabled many to enjoy house events and Cock House matches-even when victory 

seemed unobtainable. Notably successful events have included the highly successful 

House meal; the "Grease" production during Charity week, and the Cottage trip, 

when spirit and friendship were particularly evident. Unfortunately, this spirit was 

not translated into success on the games field, hence we will not be in contention 

for the games shield this year. The only high point proved to be a superb victory in 

the Hockey competition, although success was more recurrent in the various House 

league competitions-particularly in cricket and hockey. We turned out keen teams, 

playing hard, and on occasions, well, but often without success. Despite this, strong 

individuals in lower years, particularly Dan Pritchard and Simon Saunders, will 

hopefully be able to transform effort into success in future years. Such talent has 

been equally evident in other activities, notably the strong performance of Rachel 

Shannon in "The Merry Widow". 

Such talents mean that we can look forward to the year ahead with the same 

enthusiasm and optimism as we did in July 1987. After such a happy and enjoyable 

year we are finally indebted to our housemaster, Mr. Williams and to Mrs. Clark 

and Messrs. Wormald and Benge for their help, patience and constant encouragement. 

Mark Turner 

Middle School 

Middle School Jago has again enjoyed another rewarding year with creditable 

results in most fields. 

Although the Rugby team under the captaincy of J. Mayers finished third 

overall, our strength has been predominantly in athletic events. A. Hill and S. 

Pitchford, who finished first and second respectively in the cross-country, led 

Lower Fifth Jago to first place, while an easy win by barefoot M. Jeavons took the 

Fourth Form team to second place. 

Our strongest showing was without doubt in the Basketball competition, in 

which our team, captained by A. Hill, easily stole first place, remaining 

undefeated. The same result was not reflected in the chess tournament, in which 

only fourth place was achieved, or in the Hockey, when we reached the same place. 

The Cricket competition was also something of a disaster for us. Our Cock House 

team was knocked out in the first rOund, whilst the league team had only one 

victory. Credit, however, must go to R. Hall for his team organisation. 

Once again, the Athletics were a success for our team. The captain, J. Lodhi, 

was the lower fifth Victor Ludorum and records were broken by M. Jeavons in the 

800 metres and by S. Akel in the shot. Unbelievably the twenty first places 

achieved by the House were only enough to secure second place for us overall. We 

were first in the Lower fifth but only third in the Fourth forms. 

The standard of swimming again saw Jago in second place, and with the 

swimming sports close at hand success is forecast under the joint -captaincy of R. 

Kinning and R. Ennis. 

Thanks must go to the House Bencher, M. Giddings, who honoured us by his 

performance in the Middle School play, and especially to Mr. Miller and Mr. 

Ditchfield for their much appreciated support and guidance. 

R. Murphy 

Lower School 

I am pleased to report an increased number of successes in House activities this 

year which reflects the excellent spirit discernible in both years of the House. 

Certainly I cannot remember such widespread commitment as I remarked when I 

came to write my Housemaster's reports. This is undoubtedly the key to success 

and it is good to see so many boys willing to take part. 

The year again started splendidly with our winning the Third Year Cross 

Country competition. Hill, Knight and Giddings finished in the top six which laid 

the foundation for our victory but all runners played their part. In the Reading 

Competition Jago finished a creditable second in both years, Pye and Burton being 

highly praised. Our most satisfactory result in the cultural competitions came in the 

Debating contest which we won outright, Vaughan's Mrs Thatcher and Effmann's 

American footballer being singled out for praise by the adjudicator. 

Thence to the Summer and Athletics in which we did not fare well, although 

Protheroe, Abraham and Giddings won their events. With the cricket still ongoing 

at the time of writing, our Shell sides led by Vaughan and Culverwell and the 

Thirds led by Giddings and Rootkin have all acquitted themselves well. Most 

satisfactorily, though, our swimming team finished runners up, only two points 

behind Fetherston. It was particularly pleasing to see our clean sweep of the relay 

races which made this a real House effort. Fetherston be warned next year! Nock 

led a strong team and Hill, Abraham, Giddings, Marshall and Studdert-Kennedy 

all won their events and the Thirds were overall winners in their year. 

Lastly I must thank my House Tutor, Mrs Jill Spurrell for all her time and 

commitment to Jago, particularly in the Swimming and my House Captain, James 

Vaughan for his leadership and enthusiasm. Our monitors, Waters, Nock and 

Culverwell all served the House and School very well this year. 

RJW 

POLE 

Upper School 

Pole House has had an above average year finishing second in the Cock House 

competition. 

Sport has again produced a set of mixed results, — winning the cross country 

team event and also the individual event through Robin Francis. First in the water 

polo and second in the swimming resulted in a fine all round team performance. At 

sports day we came third overall although we won the sixth form boys with fantastic 

performances from Matthew Pay, captain of School Athletics, who broke the 

school high jump record and set a new sports day hurdles record, and Miller 

Crockhart who-both of his events. Some of our more unfortunate results were the 

basketball, rugby, chess and squash though great performances were ,produced by 

all the teams. Due to the fine British weather the hockey and cricket competitions, 

in both of which we expected to do well were not finished. 

Members of the House have also excelled in other walks of life, both at school 

and outside. This year Pole has contributed the greatest number of benchers, 

twelve in all. Academically we have produced some fine results, the most

noticeable being the Oxford successes of Chris Finnie, Matthew Pay, Mark Ellison 

and Nick Kembery, also the Oxbridge hopefuls Stephen Glaze, Madeleine Mattar, 

Alan Jones and Tracey Riddlesdin. Recently, from the Lower Sixth, Geraldine 

Byrne, Emma Haddleton and Elizabeth Hanson have been elected to the Sixth 

Form Centre Management Committee. Our congratulations go to Madeleine 

Mattar for her fine performance in the Young Musician of the Year, reaching the 

semi-finals in the piano class. Also our congratulations go again to Madeleine and 

also to Matthew Pay, two thirds of the winning chamber trio in 'The National 

Chamber Music Competition for schools' competition. 

My thanks go to Colin Cameron, my deputy, whose help has been invaluable 

during the year and also to all in Pole who have shown a great spirit of camerderie 

and participation. The House would also like to thank the House Tutors for their 

guidance through the year. 

Finally, the house would like to thank Mr Beavis, who is retiring as 

Housemaster of Pole to take up a new position, for his many years of service to the 

House. Our best wishes go to Mr. Cluley who is taking up the position of 

Housemaster of Pole. 

Thanks again and good luck to everyone next year. 

Richard Aitchison 

Middle School 

Pole has had a good year both on and off the sports field. The Christmas term 

brought the rugby season and a great performance from the rugby XV. Although 

considered the underdogs the team reached the final under the captaincy of 

Matthew Gallagher. In the chess tournament Pole went one better and won due to 

excellent play by Robert Crawford and Gary Baker. Off the field a good 

contribution was made in the Middle school play both on stage and behind the 

scenes, with Stephen Darling putting in a good performance as Dickie. 

Academically Pole achieved a good standard in both term grades and exam 

results. With the arrival of the summer term came the cricket league tournament in 

which Pole came first with excellent performances from Graham Hughes and 

Rober Crawford. With the Cock House tournament yet to play Are have high 

hopes. The form had an excellent 12 hour football competition which raised £600 

for ctn. ity week. 

Lower School 

There has been a revived spirit of determination within the House this year. 

We came third in the chess competition after some fine efforts, in particular from S. 

Elkes. Our readers achieved first position overall with memorable performances 

from M. Pryke and R. Fackrell. 

Although we achieved .a lower result in the cross-country, the first boy home 

was J. Padmore of Pole. The badminton competition brought to light a star player 

in our midst — J. Munro. The rugby, debating and swimming competitions were 

not to our taste this year but we achieved a creditable third place in the athletic 

sports with some fine individual achievements by B. Leyland, M. Pryke and J. 

Padmore. In the swimming sports the cup for winner of the individual medley was 

presented to H. Shaw who won every other event that he entered. 

All members of Pole enjoyed a marvellous evening of ten pin bowling during 

the Easter term. We will make this an annual event. 

The House extends thanks to M. Bullock for his sound captaincy this year, to 

S. Skyrme and C. Griggs for their assistance and to Messrs Keylock and Wickson 

for their organisation and patience. B.J.K. 

SHENSTONE 

Upper School 

Shenstone started and finished well on the sports field this year. In the 

Christmas term an un fancied rugby team carried off the rugby trophy after a hard 

fought final. After this, despite spirited efforts in basketball, chess, polo and 

swimming, success deserted the House. Cock House hockey resulted in a 

disappointing fourth place, but this was compensated for by a resounding win in the 

league hockey. Even though lowly placed in the cricket and tennis Shenstone did 

not disgrace itself. In the last competition of the year Shenstone achieved its 3rd 

successive win on Sports Day, though by the narrowest of margins. 

Away from the sporting side Shenstone sixth form enjoyed two extra mural 

events. First was the House Meal, excellently organized by Karen Sheward. This 

was taken at the Plume of Feathers and a good time appeared to have been had by 

all. The second was the House weekend taken exclusively by the lower sixth in 

company with the Flood family. Verbal and visual records of the trip clearly 

indicated that this was a memorable and enjoyable experience. 

Overall the year has been very enjoyable due in part to the good spirit of the 

pupils in the House but equally to help and encouragement given by the House 

tutorsand above all Mr. Flood. 

My personal thanks go to my very able deputy Karen Sheward. I wish Giles 

and Fleur every success and I hope the House goes from strength to strength. 

Middle School 

LMoppett. 

Middle School Shenstone have had a very successful year. The Cock House 

Rugby was won in the winter term-even with an understrength side! The swimming 

standards were also won in convincing style with most of the house participating. In 

the Easter term the Shenstone hockey XI won the competition held at Copt Heath. 

There were also creditable runners-up positions in basketball and cricket. Even in 

the weaker sports like cross-country and chess there was a marked improvement. 

Also during the Easter term most of LVS played in the twelve hour basketball 

match in aid of Charity week. By the end of the game only one point separated the 

two exhausted teams. 

On the academic side LVS excelled with only one minus collected in the whole 

year. 

A. Price. 

Lower School 

The House has produced average performances in most fields but the Shell 

formers won the athletics sports. Despite the lack of success the spirit within the 

House has been good and is a credit to the House captain, Stuart Mills. Next year 

will see some changes as Mr Dunn will take over as Housemaster. 

I am grateful to Mrs Chell for her help as house tutor and to the upper school 

benchers Barry O'Leary, Andrew Wilson and Martin Brown. 

A.J.G.

WINDSOR 

Upper School 

This year has been a most successful one in many ways and follows on from our 

victory in the Cock House competition at the end of last year. 

In all three major sports the House has reached the final of the respective 

competitions, but poor weather prohibited two of these finals taking place. The 

victory in the basketball comes as a culmination of three years persistence by nearly 

the same players and the skill of Newman and Barrington was a pleasure to watch. 

Vitek Aukstolis led the swimming team to a good victory, with the girls' team 

contributing significantly to the success. The girls also provided much needed 

support on Sports Day. The performance of Jo Bridgewater was outstanding. 

Victory in squash and sailing ended a year pleasing not only for the results but for 

the spirit in which they were achieved. 

Jason 011ivier organised two very enjoyable theatre trips and Martyn Fisher 

wrote and directed the now traditional performance in Big School Assembly. The 

Cottage. trip in October was memorable and the House would especially like to 

thank Mrs Griffiths for all her hard work behind the scenes and also for the 

delicious food at the cottage and at the House Supper in January. In March over 

fifty members of the House attended the House meal superbly organised by Lucy 

Cracroft. 

On behalf of the House I would like to thank Mr Griffiths for all his efforts and 

for his contribution to the House over the last seven years. We wish him every 

success in his new position. Mr Melling succeeds him as Housemaster and we wish 

him all the best for the future. 

S.J. Barrington. 

Middle School 

Windsor have performed well this year, obtaining a first place and two second 

places in House competitions. The year got off to a disappointing start with the 

House being narrowly defeated in the preliminary round of the rugby competition 

and hence finishing sixth. However, a good all round performance led to second 

place in the Chess competition. 

After a creditable third in the swimming standards, Windsor achieved second 

place in the cross cduntry, with the fourth form performing particularly well. 

Moving indoors, the House played well to obtain fourth place in the basketball 

competition, despite the lack of school team members. 

However, the highlight of the year for Windsor was the Hockey competition, 

The House achieved victories in the A, B and C team competitions, with 

considerable commitment from all the players and an overwhelming first place 

overall. 

M. Cox 

Lower School 

In the Lower School, Windsor had varied success. A good start to the season 

with a win in the chess competition was followed by disappointing results in the 

cross country, reading and debating competitions. Our fortunes improved with a 

second place in the badminton, first place in the Shell cricket despite losing our 'A' 

team match to Jago by one run. Sadly we were knocked out of the IIIrd form 

cricket in the first round. Second place in the Shell rugby, third place in the 

swimming and a moderate performance in the athletics highlight how everybody in 

the House has tried his hardest in all events. We convey our thanks to Dr. Troth, 

Dr Sheffrin and all the sixth formers who guided us through this year in all our 

House activities. 

S.C. Birt. 

Upper School Cock House 88 

1. W 

2. P 

3. F 

4. J 

5. S

SCHOOL HOUSE 

The School House has had resident members since its earliest days in the mid 

1600s, and on its present site since 1883. For many years the school was supported 

by several hundred boarders situated in various houses spread across the town, 

which provided enormous scope for them to dominate in both the sports and the 

Arts; this was reflected in the fact that for many years in succession the Cock-house 

trophy was held in the case marked "School House" in the corridor of Big School. 

But over the past 40 years the strength of the House has been considerably 

weakened by the improving Transport network within the midlands. 

The Final year of School House was entered, though with the remaining 

members determined not to let one of the greatest traditions of the school peter out 

with a whimper. We had a trip to the Mountain Cottage, a swimming match against 

the Old Silhillians and a "Last Supper". However, the end of the year was reached 

even though it proved a difficult time for the majority of us who were not only 

locked in battle with the external examiners, but also having to fight off the 

disturbances of room changing, billowing clouds of dust and the echoing sound of 

hammers as the builders moved in during the exam period. But this provided the 

opportunity for us to find new areas of School House previously unencountered. 

With numbers that were severely limited, School House yet again excelled 

itself with members representing the School, for the LAST time, in Rugby, 

Hockey, Swimming, Athletics, Tennis, Squash and Cross Country, and also played 

a major role once again in the school's theatrical productions. Earlier in the year, a 

group picked from the elite ventured towards the unknown in the form of the 

sprawling peaks of Snowdonia, or more specifically the scenic route through Aben, 

which was undertaken as if to pay respect to the multitude of teachers who had 

undertaken the same route before them. 

The other major event of the year was the swimming match against the various 

clubs of the Old Sihillians in which the School House came an honourable second 

from a field of seven. 

Thanks must go to the Matrons, the house tutor, Mr. Irving, and the Housemaster 

and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Melling. 

We must all share the sadness felt by students , parents and masters alike at the end 

of an era. 

T.C. Norman. 

games 

CRICKET the Eleven. 

Clouds rolled in and rain poured down: the cricket season had arrived again. 

Early on the 1st team performed rather like scattered showers with sunny intervals, 

losing to K.E.S., M.C.C.C. and King William's College thanks to very poor 

batting, and then producing an opening stand of 160 against King's Worcester, 

including a century by Edward Jones. Later on in the season the sun shone more 

consistently as the side at last approached its true potential. This was partly the 

result of a good run to the semi-finals of the Barclays Bank U.17 cup (separate 

report). Partly also the improvement stemmed from a most enjoyable Isle of Man 

tour. Exams forced us to call up reserves for this tour, but they performed very 

creditably. We ought to have won the game against our hosts, having bowled them 

out for only 142, thanks to the pace of Stuart Randall. In the end it needed a ninth 

wicket partnership of 45 from David Cartwright and John Smith to lend 

respectability to an 11 run defeat. A weak Isle of Man U.19 XI was then totally 

overrun on the following day as Paul Wheeler scored an unbeaten 100 out of a total 

of 273-2 before the Island side were skittled out for 80. This tour, however, was 

most marked for the development of spirit within the party, and in the second half 

of term this was continued with a narrow failure to beat Warwick, in spite of Justin 

Inglis' 5-50 spell, a victory over Bromsgrove, including a second 50 for Damian 

Kelly, and a splendid bowling display against the M.C.C. Our batting in the latter 

fixture once again proved fragile in the face of genuinely quick bowling, which is a 

weakness we must look to correct with much of the side returning next year. A rare 

victory over the Old Sils set us up perfectly for the end of term festival in London. 

Here we started with a comfortable victory over U.C.S. set up by Richard 

Hatcliffe's 5-31, which was his 3rd 5-wicket haul of the season. For once we bowled 

rather badly late on against Barnard Castle and they reached 228-9 from their 50 

overs. At 111-6 our cause seemed lost, but a magnificent unbeaten partnership of 

119 between Dan Pritchard (93) and Martyn Bevins (44) saw the team record a 

memorable victory. On the 3rd day the clouds rolled in again to round off the 

season in the usual way, but not before we had bowled out Lytham for 100 and seen 

ourselves well on the Nivay to victory at 32-1. The season leaves us with much to look 

forward to, as long as we manage to repeat only the best features of it next year. 

We must learn to bat with more determination when conditions are difficult and to 

be more concerned to maximise occupation of the crease! Miller Crockhart, Nick 

Heath and Phil Goodson provided responsible leadership throughout. 

Down the Elevens 

Well led by Tim Fowler and John Smith, the 2nd XI successfully brought on a 

number of eventual 1st team regulars and blooded some younger players who will 

challenge for places next year. Much as the 1st team, they generally bowled better 

than they batted, but Cox and Fell applied themselves well and Franklin, Cattell 

and Baddeley all show promise with the ball. 

Mike Small produced a swashbuckling century for the 3rd XI as Stuart 

Barrington's motley crew despatched Warwick amid a highly successful season in

which no match really looked in danger of going the full distance! 

Keith Mortimer led a useful U15 side which again suffered from inconsistent 

batting and owed its victories to stronger bowling. The same fault cost the U14 side, 

led by Rohan Kalicharran, a better record, though again there is much potential 

here, not least in the leg-spin of Faber. 

The U.13 XI suffered too many drawn games but promise was shown by 

Vaughan with consistent batting, backed up by the Mills and the Prescotts. 

Stuart Legg scored a fine century for another highly successful U.12 XI, in 

which the bowling of Edward Dawes was also a highlight. It was pleasing to see that 

a number of our players were selected for Warwickshire teams at various levels this 

season, and particular congratulations must go to Martyn Bevins on his H.M.C. 

U.15 trial as a wicket-keeper. 

Thanks, as always, are due to the many staff who give up their time on 

Saturdays to umpire games and to Mr_Bailey and his staff for the splendid lunches 

and teas. Thanks too to Vanessa Lloyd, James Proudfoot and James Evans for their 

work in the scorebox. 

M.R.B. 

The Under 17 Barclays Bank Cup Competition. 

We entered this competition for the first time this year on a rather casual basis 

to enable us to look at some of the younger players in match situations. From an 

original entry of 442 schools, we reached the last 4 in the country. Our run had a 

number of batting and bowling highlights, but it was .the overall spirit generated 

within the team and the determination later on to do well that most contributed to 

our success. In the early rounds Justin Inglis scored two undefeated 90s; Richard 

Hatcliffe laid the foundations for big scores in the Midland semi-final and final with 

two 70'; Dan Pritchard hit a morale-crushing 83 (70s, , sixes and 8 fours) in the 

Midland semi.; Paul Wheeler's 48 in a low-scoring, close game against R.G.S. 

Worcester was just as great an achievement. That game was turned into a victory by 

Hatcliffe's 5-17; Inglis demolished Joseph Chamberlain College with 5-13 in the 

first round and we missed his bowling, through injury later on in the competition; 

Pritchard proved too fast for Roade School with 4-23 in the Midland final and 

accurate, economical bowling by Stuart Randall, Simon Bushell and Chris Griggs 

always produced a firm foundation and often included crucial wickets. Good signs 

for next year were the form of Martyn Bevins behind the stumps and the efforts of 

Simon Fell with the bat and Simon Franklin with the ball. At all times the team 

fielded with full commitment — none more so than David Cartwright and Edward 

Jones. Eventually we bowed out in the national semi-final to eventual winners 

Durham School, in another low-scoring encounter. Our total of 133-7 was only 

reached by the opposition with 3 balls to spare and for the loss of 8 wickets. It was 

typical of the fighting spirit of the team to find them afterwards so depressed at 

losing such a close encounter, having got so far! 

M.R.B.

RUGBY 

Played Won Drawn Lost For Against 

1st XV 20 9 1 10 234 231 

2nd XV 14 7 1 6 149 126 

3rd XV 12 3 0 9 117 237 

4th XV 7 3 1 3 113 97 

U15(A) XV 20 18 0 2 544 26 

U15(B) XV 4 2 1 1 40 26 

U14(A) XV 19 17 1 1 654 82 

U14(B) XV 3 0 1 2 36 38 

U13(A) XV 14 9 0 5 290 96 

U13(B) XV 4 2 0 2 80 62 

U12(A) XV 7 2 0 5 88 79 

U12(B) XV 4 2 0 2 50 42 

U12(C) XV 1 0 0 1 0 32 

The wheel turned full circle for the 1st XV in 1987-88. Only three of the 

previous year's successful team remained and a large number of young players had 

to be called upon. Success at times proved to be elusive as we struggled against 

experienced teams, failed to turn pressure into points against mediocre opposition 

but, occasionally, performed heroically in victory and in defeat, thereby providing 

much hope for the future. This hopeis reinforced by the performances of the junior 

teams who gained some notable victories during the season. The Under 15 XV only 

lost two matches, the Under 14 XV only lost one, by a single score, while the Under 

15, 14 and 13 XV's made a clean-sweep of the Solihull Borough knock-out cups. 

The season started well for - the 1st XV with a (15-14) victory over King Henry 

VIII Coventry and a dour (0-0) draw against a determined Bishop Vesey's G.S., 

before we were narrowly defeated by a much-improved Ratcliffe College (10-14). 

Defeats against Nottingham H.S. (8-22), Warwick (7-17), and King's Worcester (8- 

26) followed in rapid succession and the Captain, Miller Crockhart, and packleader, 

Warren Roberts, had the difficult task of instilling confidence into their 

young team. 

There were some bright spots, however,and the gloom was pierced with 

victories over our local rivals, King Edward's, Birmingham (25-7) and King 

Edward's, Stratford (8-4). The latter game, however, highlighted our inadequacies 

in the backs because, having gained a great deal of possession, the backs could not 

cross in the line. In this game and others, Paul Wheeler opened up defences with 

his penetrating running but the lack of pace on the wings prevented the team from 

capitalising on this. Miller Crockhart, in the centre, displayed some flashes of real 

class but, under the pressures of captaincy, only occasionally showed the form 

which earned him his caps for Warwickshire Colts and a place in the Midlands Colts 

team. 

As the season progressed, more young players began to force their way into 

the team until the season ended with seven fifth-formers playing regularly for the 

XV. James Croft (Midland Counties U16) was ever-present and, having started at 

lock, moved to loose-head prop, where he should prove to be a most formidable 

opponent for the next two seasons. Patrick Regan (Midland Counties U16) and 

Martin Gallagher (Warwickshire U16) joined the experienced Christopher Pullen 

and John Shaw in the back row and any combination of these four proved to be a 

quick and competitive unit. However, despite their spirit, with so many young 

players in the team defeat was inevitable against mature opposition and this was 

illustrated in the defeats at the hands of Aylesbury G.S. (7-27), Loughborough 

G.S. (6-22) and Queen Mary's Walsall (6-23). At Wrekin College, however, the 

determination of the "old guard" of Warren Roberts, Kenneth Talbot and David 

Viney inspired a 6-3 victory, soon to be followed by a win over Leamington College 

(6-3) and a courageous win over a rugged Newcastle-under-Lyme (12-4). In the 

spring term, more young players came to the fore. Robin Batson, Daniel Pritchard 

(War.wickshire U18) and Justin Mayers began to make their presence felt and 

heavy defeats were inflicted on Shrewsbury School (35-0), Wolverhampton G.S. 

(25-0) and King Edward VI Stafford (48-0). The 1st XV can look forward to better 

times next season since so many young players have gained invaluable experience. 

The 2nd XV always.seems to produce a captain who is determined and who 

leads by example and in Mark LUcas this season proved to be no exception to the 

rule. He had a young and inexperienced squad to control and he did an excellent 

job by helping the younger players to settle down quickly. He was ably supported 

early on by Giles Richardson at lock and Jason 011ivier in the back row, while Alex 

Retallack at hooker was described, by a most knowledgeable member of staff, as 

the best 2nd XV forward that he had known. Fifth-fomers Rory Maclean, Mark 

Brown, Andrew Smallwood and Richard Viney, all progressed through the ranks 

of the 2nd XV to make their 1st XV debuts, while the 1st XV ambitions of props, 

David Cox and Richard Bragg, promise a bright future for the school. The 2nd won 

the majority of their games, only succumbing to more physically mature and 

experienced opponents. 

The 4th was excellently led by John Errington and proved a team of 

enthusiastic and capable players. This year, the team achieved much success and 

provided many an enjoyable afternoon. 

The Under 15XV proved to be a difficult team to beat. They lost the first 

match of the season (0-4) at King Henry VIII, Coventry and later lost at Bablake 

(3-4). These were their only two defeats of the season and some fine victories were 

earned against Warwick (4-0), Loughborough (16-3) and Bishop Vesey twice (6-0 

and 7-6). A long list of schools were defeated by over 30 points, the most notable 

being against Ratcliffe College (32-0), King Edward's, Birmingham (36-0), King's 

Worcester (46-3), Wrekin (32-0) and Nottingham H.S. (34-0). James Vertigen set 

an excellent example as Captain. His play at No.8 was uncompromising and he was 

ably supported in the back row by the speed of John Masters and the power of 

Richard Wilcox. "Fruit Jones" developed into a fine hooker with a natural ability to 

win "Loose ball". Adam Reuben and Tony Jones were fierce scrummagers and 

competitors, as tight and loose-head props, while Nigel Franklin was a powerhouse 

at lock. Jonathon Sheridan moved from centre to scrum-half and swiftly settled 

down; his service improved rapidly and his running posed real problems for 

defences, while his partner at fly-half, Matthew Gallagher, showed that he had the 

flair and ability to control the game. In the centre, Anthony Wilkins improved with 

every game; Daniel Burton showed real pace on the wing and Jamie Mayer became 

a most solid and competent full-back. 

The Under 14 XV only lost one match, to Loughborough G.S., and were 

certainly the most exciting of the school teams. This was due to their desire to 

attack opponents by running hard and supporting in numbers. In Richard Chapman 

and Christopher Wakeman they had two players who combined skill with 

competitiveness and that most elusive of qualities, real speed. Between them, they 

scored some most thrilling tries and few teams were able to cope with their joint 

threat. Stuart Calcott and Oliver Raesbeck were an accomplished half-backs under 

real pressure. Next season promises an even more memorable team with Robert 

Ennis and Stephen Akel now available.

The Under 13 XV were a small but enthusiastic team. Their forwards were 

well drilled and were often inspired by the skills of James Thorp and Peter Averill. 

They worked hard against much larger packs and managed to win their fair share of 

possession. James Kilby and Douglas Culverwell made a speedy pairing in the back 

row, ably supported by John Carrington, while Stuart Mills and James Mayer were 

a solid and determined pair of backs. The half-back pairing of Lee MacDonaugh 

and William Laidlaw used the ball well enabling Michael Johnson to give good 

service to his wings, where Barnably Sheridan was outstanding in scoring some 

thrilling tries. There were some particularly pleasing victories in the games against 

King Edward's, Birmingham, Bablake, Queen Elizabeth H.S., Bristol and King's 

School, Macclesfield, but the real determination of the team was shown in the 

narrow defeat at the hands of King Edward VI Lytham and in the thrilling victory 

over a much larger Lode Heath team in the final of the borough cup. 

The Under 12 XV appeared to lack a number of boys who could compete hard 

enough in the forwards to gain sufficient possession for the skilful backs of Stuart 

Legg, Edward Dawes, James Padmore and Matthew Pryke. James Knight proved 

to be an effective scrum half and Robert Wilson showed some elusive running on 

the wing. The mainstay of the team, however, was Guy Atkinson who played and 

carried out his duties as captain with great commitment. If Guy Cuthbertson and 

Mark Spendlove can continue to develop next season, the future should look 

bright. 

The seven-a-side season proved to be an interesting one. The 1st VII reached 

the final at Wrekin, losing narrowly to Bromsgrove. They never really fulfilled their 

potential although, both at the North of England Sevens and Rosslyn Park, they 

were knocked out by the eventual winners, King's Macclesfild (10-14) and Millfield 

(6-12) respectively. 

The junior teams won a number of competitions against strong opposition, the 

most notable being the U14 VII's victories at Solihull and Warwick. The most 

nailbiting victory, however, went to the U15 VII in the Solihull School tournament 

when Matthew Gallagher dropped a goal in extra time, at his second attempt. The 

Under 13 VII reached the semi-finals at Bedford Modern, lost in the final at 

Warwick and narrowly lost to the eventual winners at Rosslyn Park, having 

outplayed them for much of the game. 

None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication 

and commitment shown by numerous members of staff and the support of the 

parents. Many staff gave freely of their time and expertise and ensured that Solihull 

School remains in the forefront of school rugby in the Midlands. In particular, I 

would like to express thanks to Messrs. Garret, Cluley, Griffiths, Benge, Swain, 

Sheffrin and Dunn for their commitment to the teams and to Messrs. Williams and 

Lloyd for their willingness to referee on many occasions. 

Numerous members of staff accompanied teams during the season and to them 

we are most grateful. Most notable among them was Mr. Denis Tomlin who is 

retiring this year, having run the 1st XV and junior teams over three decades. I am 

sure that all those who have been involved with Denis over the years would like to 

express their thanks to him for his help and encouragement. We will miss his stories 

and his selfless involvement and only beg him to remember that shopping trips and 

gardening must not take place on Saturday afternoons. 

G.A.G. 

The Under 14 Rugby Tour of the Netherlands, March 1988 

It seems rather rash for this report to be written by someone with no 

qualification as a rugby referee nor any skill as a rugby coach, but there is no doubt 

that all of the party thoroughly enjoyed a most successful tour of the Netherlands. 

Tourist visits were made to the most impressive flower market at Aalsmeer, to a 

cheese farm, to a clog maker who demonstrated his skills; then we went to the 

quaint old village of Volendam on the Ijsselmeer. A canal excursion in Amsterdam 

was more interesting than some realised, but the swimming pools at Scheveningen 

and Duinrell were much appreciated. The main purpose of the tour was to play 

rugby. The 'B' group players seemed always to have giants as opposition, but they 

responded well to the challenge, playing especially well at Haarlem. The 'A' group 

players were impressive too, producing excellent open rugby with skilful moves 

splendidly performed at speed. Matches were played at Leiden, Den Haag, 

Haarlem and Utrecht, and four of the matches were recorded on video. Our expert 

cameraman was Mr. H.J. Thomas who also claimed to be doing all the real work on 

the tour; certainly he demonstrated strength at all times, almost immediately 

breaking a sail off his presentation windmill. The best tour speech was delivered by

Mr. D.G. Bentley; the pocket money and video equipment were efficiently 

organised by Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Sheffrin; and the popularity prize was shared 

by Justin Mayers and our Welsh driver, Geoff, always ready with a joke. The hotel, 

in Noordwijk , was comfortable and the food too, we sometimes had too much to 

eat. The Dutch clubs are very keen on playing rugby; when we arrived at the 

Haagsche club, a match was already in progress on a pitch which had very little 

grass left; after our match another kicked off immediately, so it was perhaps not so 

surprising that during our match the groundsman was out marking the lines on the 

very pitch where we were playing! The high quality of Dr. Sheffrin's coaching was 

evident; the best player of the tour was arguably the Captain, Richard Chapman; 

and the best try was scored by Chris Wakeman. The warm reception we received at 

all the rugby clubs is a happy souvenir; the Dutch are exceptionally friendly people, 

and their ability to speak English (and other language) is as amazing as their 

engineering and agricultural achievements. All too soon it was time to say "Tot 

ziens" and set off home. The entire tour was organised by Mr. M.J. Williams whose 

hard work and careful preparation made it all possible. He is not only a splendid 

organiser; he is also an excellent referee. No doubt we shall soon see him at 

Twickenham! 

A.H.B. 

ATHLETICS 

The momentum of previous years has been maintained with another very 

successful season. 

In the Borough Championships the school won the U17, U15 and overall 

trophies and proceeded to the `SuperSchools' competition for the fifth year 

running. Here there was another excellent performance with 13 individual victories 

gained and the school again narrowly missed overall victory by 9 points. 

In school matches the strength of our athletics was most evident. The U17 

team was undefeated and the U13 and U15 teams lost only to the very strong 

Loughborough Grammar School team, having each competed against 13 schools 

during the year. 

Individually, another first was achieved when Chris Wakeman gained selection 

for the English Schools Championship after finishing 2nd in the West Midlands 

Championship — a position equalled by Mathew Lawson, Jo Smallwood (twice), 

and Nick Lowndes — who ultimately brought the 1500m record below 4m lOsecs — 

a marvellous achievement. In the U14 championship Barnaby Sheridan won the 

hurdles to maintain our unrivalled record in that event and ensure that the West 

Midlands Championships were our most successful yet. 

Many thanks go to Matthew Pay, the captain, who broke the school high jump 

record with the final jump of his school career — a very apt way to finish — and to 

the staff who assisted with matches — including our new and successful invitation 

event. The fact that we can provide 20 staff for a home match is the envy of all other 

schools and my special thanks go to Messrs Ginns, Dunn, Sheffrin and Keylock for 

their assistance with teams and training and to Dr. Gosling for his great 

contribution to the school, and the borough, as an official. 

MG. 

BASKETBALL 

The U15 side, playing in division 1 of the Solihull.Schools Basketball League 

got off to a good start, and were unbeaten until jiist before Christmas. They 

emerged as title contenders and were only narrowly defeated by Arden who 

remained unbeaten. However, after Christmas, a surprise defeat in overtime by 

Lode Heath ruined any chances of winning the league and though the team still 

played attractive basketball, the results did not go in their favour. 

They also progressed in the West Midlands Cup before meeting Duddeston 

Manor who included their 6'5" international player and, though they were 

defeated, it proved good experience. 

The U14 side went from strength to strength as the season progressed. They 

too lost only once before Christmas and had particularly impressive wins over 

Lyndon and Tudor Grange. After Christmas a better team pattern emerged and 

had it not been for two narrow defeats, they might well have emerged as winners of 

their league. 

We all eagerly await the start of next season when we will field a team in each 

of the U16, U15 and U14 leagues, hopefully building on the impressive experiences 

we have gained this year. 

L For Against 

U15 9 5 4 356 337 

U14 12 9 3 540 336 

DJD.

SOLIHULL SCHOOL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP 

Played at Olton Golf Club on Monday 4th July. 

Gross Competition. Net Competition. 

1st David Dunnet 78 1st David Dunnett 65 

2nd David Fleet 79 2nd Arthur Thomas 67 

3rd William Hunt 81 3rd William Hunt 68 

4th Robert Crawford 82 4th Simon Harrison 69 

5th Philip Whittam 84 5th Alex Hill 69 

6th Arthur Thomas 85 6th James Dawson 70 

7th Simon Harrison 86 7th David Fleet 71 

8th Alex Hill 87 8th Robert Crawford 71 

9th James Dawson 88 9th Philip Whittam 77 

10th Jim Hatton 90 10th Jim Hatton 73 

11th Simon Williams 91 11th Simon Williams 73 

12th Robert Hall 91 12th Robert Hall 73 

13th Robert Murphy 96 13th Robert Murphy 78 

Winner CG. Malin Shield — David Dunnett. 

Winner Old Silhillians Golf Society Statue — David Fleet. 

CROSS COUNTRY 

MKS. 

The cross country team performances have grown significantly in quality and 

quantity over the past year, mainly due to the influx of new talent from UV and 

LVI. The season saw the revitalised tgam enter in the Birmingham League for the 

first time and, from twenty fixtures, both 'A' team and 'B' teams did well to obtain 

7th place in the 'A' team and fourth position in the 'B' team competition. 

Another good success for the team was the school's domination of the borough 

events. We won both team and individual events with Chris Murray and Andy 

Levine first and second in the individual event. The team's efforts were rewarded 

with colours being awarded to the majority of the team. 

Finally, I would like to thank Mr. Holt for his encouragement and 

management of the team and hope that this vast improvement can be maintained as 

the majority of the team should be eligible to run next year. Neil K.J. Sinclair 

HOCKEY 

This was perhaps a routine season at home, and an inspired one on tour. Stuart 

Barrington and Iain Moppett inspired a surprisingly large number of players to 

great feats in Holland, with two wins out of three, and also in Cambridge, where 

they succumbed by only three goals against a very powerful University Wanderers 

side on a magnificent pitch. This in preparation for the tour to Oxford, in which a 

record of 2 wins, 2 draws and one defeat against some of the best schools in the 

country shows how far the school has progressed. 

The pick of the other teams this year was probably the 2nd Xl, who only lost to 

a school 1st XI, and one other game by two goals to three. At the other end,they 

averaged three goals per match, shared by a large number of players. Entertaining 

play for the spectators — many thanks to captain Robert Hudson. 

The standard of hockey played is at times excellent and highly exciting. Both 

boys' teams and girls' teams, which are reported elsewhere, are a credit to

themselves and the staff who continue to work so hard. It is only a disappointment 

that so few spectators ever observe this, when so many observe the alternative 

game. 

P WD L For Against 

1st XI 24 10 6 8 35 23 

2nd XI 12 10 0 2 37 13 

U16 XI 13 8 2 3 26 14 

U15 XI 10 3 2 5 17 26 

U14 XI 6 13 2 7 8 

SWIMMING 

Played Won Lost 

Juniors 16 14 2 

Intermediates 16 15 1 

Seniors 18 8 10 

Girls 12 6 6 

JBMP 

This has again been an excellent season with the School Teams winning some 

major competitions. Thus we have the honour of being unbeaten for one and a half 

years. 

The first major event of the season was the Borough Gala where wins were 

recorded at U12, U14, U16 levels and the senior team achieved a close second to 

the Sixth Form College with an excellent victory by Jon Glanfield. The second 

event was the Bromsgrove Relay Gala, where the school won at senior and 

intermediate levels with the juniors coming second, missing victory by one point, 

thus winning the overall competition for the second successive year. Finally,in All 

England Schools Division Six Trials, all the teams came second, therefore earning a 

chance for a place in the National Competition. 

During the year, excellent swims have been achieved by Jon Glanfield, Rich 

Ashford, Mark Ashby, Rory Maclean, Neil Sinclair, Ed Chacksfield and, of 

course, our ever modest Captain, resulting in the breaking of the backstroke record 

by Jon Glanfield and the breat stroke and freestyle records by the Captain. 

It is encouraging to see so many good swims at the Junior and Intermediate 

levels with Matthew Shaw and Steven Wort producing the most impressive swims 

showing great potential for the future. The girls proved themselves to be capable of 

achieving some good results with excellent swims by Sally Brotherhood, Naomi 

Hames, Vickie Shelley, Lucy Rowbotham and Joanne Duck. 

Again, great thanks must go to Mr. Caldicott for his enthusiasm and 

dedication which enabled him to reform the teams with clever training sessions 

throughout the year which resulted in the best overall record yet. Also, the spirit 

and great determination of all the teams must not go unmentioned. 

Vitek Aukstolis 

Not to spare their blushes, much of the credit for the success of the team must go to 

Vitek Aukstolis and Naomi Hames for their organisation, determination and 

motivation as well as their outstanding swimming ability. They have both been 

excellent Captains. 

S.L.C. 

SAILING 

School sailing has again enjoyed a successful year in which the young 'A' team 

won all their matches. The fixture against Malvern College, sailed in tricky 

conditions on the River Avon, was particularly pleasing. The school 'B' team, 

however, narrowly lost both their matches. 

Saturday sailing has again been very popular throughout the year with many 

new faces amongst the regulars. Sailing in the Middle School is popular and well 

supported and, again, the standard of helmsmanship promises well for the fu ture. 

The School Regatta, held at Olton Mere on 25th June, was well supported and 

provided some interesting light-air sailing. So at the final event of the day, the 

Handicap race, fifteen boats came to the start line, though not all of them crossed it 

on time!! The Inter-House Shield was won by Windsor. In the Helmsman's 

championship, the Harrison Cup was won by Andrew Dutton and his crew, 

Lawrence Shell, won the crew's shields; second was Simon Rose and third, James 

Pick. The Hill Handicap Cup went to Simon Rose and the Bodenham Trophy for 

second place to Lawrence Shell. The Novices Trophy for the most improved sailor 

of the season was awarded to Chris Temple. 

At the end of the season, full colours were awarded to Andrew Dutton, Simon 

Rose and Lawrence Shell and half-colours to Philip Hackett, John Matthews, Steve 

Penton, James Pick and Chris Temple. 

Thanks, finally, to all the staff involved in running sailing at the school for all 

their help and enthusiasm during the year. 

Andrew Dutton 

SURVIVAL SWIMMING GROUP 

The survival swimming group has continued to flourish this year. Members of 

the group have achieved over fifty awards for survival swimming. Many of the boys 

have also been working on stroke improvement and speed swimming awards. This 

year, there has been a greater interest shown by pupils from the Middle School with 

the appointment of Robert Murphy as a trainee instructor for next year and the 

possibility of further appointments in September. 

Thanks must go to all the instrutors — Edward Chacksfield, James Houston, 

Sarah Hutchings, Pippa Robinson, Karen Sheward and Mark Turner — who have 

make this such a productive year. 

Congratulations to Edward and James who are to take charge of the survival 

group next year. On behalf of the group, I would like to thank Mrs. Instone whose 

help and encouragement throughout the year has been much appreciated. 

Naomi Harnes. 

L.S.T.A. 

The Lifeguard Corps 

This year has not been the most active for the Lifeguard Corps. However, we 

have maintained a regular weekly presence at Tudor Grange Pool for the 

Handicapped S.E.A.L.S., and provided Lifeguard teams for a number of major 

local galas. 

The highlight of the year was the saving of one small boy who, having taken 

the plunge, had evidently forgotten how to swim! 

In continuing to provide this valuable service next year, the Lifeguard Corps 

would welcome new members. 

C.M.Pullen

SHOOTING 

After being the Coach and later Master i/c Shooting for nearly 26 years at the 

School I have had a lot of fun and great pleasure in trying to teach quite a large 

number of boys, and a number of young ladies how to shoot competitively whilst I 

have been able to continue my own sport. It has been a great pleasure to see some 

of those who have continued with their shooting after they have left the School 

making their names in the sport. • 

I could not be more pleased that, in my 'swan song' year, we at last had two 

members who were placed in the British School Championship and the same two, 

Richard Price and David Griffin, both being members of National Junior Squad, 

being selected to shoot in the Schools International Match, both in the England 

Team. I hope that I shall soon hear that they have both qualified for the Senior 

Teams. 

I cannot go into retirement, without thanking the Headmaster(s) and the 

O.C's of the C.C.F. under whom I have served, for allowing me to carry out the 

duties of Master i/c Shooting, thereby allowing me to teach the art of shooting for 

fun, and to keep up with my own shooting, which has given me a number of 

International Honours, and a number of trips abroad with the Great Britain 

Teams. My greatest honour came in 1978, when I was selected to be the Adjutant, 

and Coach to the British Schools Shooting Team which toured Canada. That year 

the team managed to win a record number of trophies, badges and medals, not to 

mention $987 which was shared between them — I did not win one thing! 

I sincerely hope that the shooting group will continue to flourish in the years to 

come, and that the members will 'bear up' in the fight against the elements, which 

you meet in the art of shooting; if they can overcome them, then they will learn the 

discipline they need to be good shots. 

S.E.S. 

The School Shooting Team has enjoyed a most successful season, due to a 

strong group. The school's `A'team, whose members included Mark Read, Richard 

Price, John Read, Polyanna Jennens and David Griffin, were declared the winner 

of their division in the British Schools Small-Bore Autumn Leagues 1987. The 'B' 

team also acquitted themselves well in this competition. In the Spring Leagues both 

teams were placed 2nd, slipping up in one match. 

Two members, Richard Price and David Griffin, were placed 4th and 11th 

respectively in the Individual Championship and both were selected to shoot in the 

Schools International Match, Richard in the England 'A' and David in the England 

'IV Team. 

The younger members gained invaluable match experience which will have 

prepared them for their role as senior members of the team next year. Fiona 

Tocher and Polyanna Jennens proved themselves equal to the task of enduring the 

chauvinistic attitudes of some of the team's members. 

Mr. Skippings, who retires this year, will be sadly missed by the team. His 

effort in rebuilding the range and his patience in coaching the team have been 

greatly appreciated by all. We wish him well in his retirement. 

M.S.D. Read (Captain). 

BADMINTON 

The school teams have had another busy season with some degree of success. 

The under 16's team reached the semi-final of the county inter-schools tournament 

and the undet 14's team reached the finals of the same tournament in their age 

group. The under 12's team were undefeated which is encouraging for next season . 

Colours have been awarded to Stephen Havers, Leigh Skillett, Adam 

Hogarth, David Eccles, William Laidlaw, Niall Faber, Richard Moore and Mark 

Shepherd. 

Lower school colours have been awarded to James Mayer, Philip Hughes and 

James Munro. 

Results for the 1987-8 season are: 

Played Won Lost For Against 

Over 16's 3 1 2 9 20 

Under 16's 4 3 1 26 13 

Under 14's 5 4 1 31 16 

Under 13's 7 4 3 49 38 

Under 12's 3 3 0 36 0 

CHESS 

DMH. 

On the whole, this has been a disappointing season as far as results are 

concerned. The first team was unlucky to lose all its matches against strong 

opposition by narrow margins, and so come fourth in the first division of the 

Birmingham League. They also lost narrowly to King Edward's Camp Hill in the 

Times' competition — they went on to reach the last eight nationally. Philip Holt 

on board one won all his games except one, was awarded full colours. (He is also 

Warwickshire U18 champion). Robert Crawford and David Pearson also played 

well. 

The 2nd, 3rd and 4th teams all played well below potential — a reluctance to 

practise and learn about the game has meant that too many players are just not 

progressing. The IIIrd form team were doing well until they arrived at Handsworth 

Grammar School in no mood to play, and lost very quickly. We hope next season 

will bring greater success. 

Our thanks to Mr. Ayers for the time he has spent on transport and 

supervision. 

G.Baker 

SQUASH 

The facilities for squash in the school have been immeasurably improved by 

the construction of three new courts adjacent to the Sports Hall. This provision was 

only made possible by an extremely munificent gift by an Old Silhillian and 

governor, Mr. E. Gordon Wilcox. 

The new courts were officially opened by Mr. Wilcox on 13th February when , 

in the presence of a large number of guests, inaugural matches were played by 

current members of the school, Old Boys and parents. 

The new courts together with their self-contained changing-rooms are of 

superb quality and in the space of four months have attracted a growing number of 

players from all age-groups (including staff!) 

The school team, captained by Nic Heath, has had a mixed season, winning 

about half of its matches. Now, however, we can look forward to better times, and 

will cease to be a "cinderella" among the sporting activities of the school. BDWC

GIRLS' GAMES 

Once again, there has been a wide variety involving a large number of girls in 

both competitive and non-competitive sport. 

The hockey teams began the year strongly, playing in a number of fixtures. 

The first XI, captained by Alison Bramley were particularly successful and ended 

the season in superb fashion by winning the West Midlands Hockey Tournament. 

The swimming team too had an eventful year. Out of 12 matches they won six 

and all team members were awarded colours. Naomi Hames proved to be an 

excellent captain, who led impressively and organised meticulously. 

Although we only managed one 'all girls' tennis fixture, which we won against 

Wroxall Abbey, girls played strongly in the school teams. 

Sports day saw performances of distinction by many of the girls competing. A 

number of records were broken and, in the javelin, Jo Smallwood won with a throw 

which bettered some of those by the boys. 

Two more firsts for the girls this year were participation in League Cricket and 

the introduction into the school sporting calendar of an equestrian competition — 

won decisively, thanks largely to the horsemanship of Jackie Tyacke. 

In non-competitive sports we witnessed a keen interest in weight-training and 

aerobics. May we thank Mrs Chell and Miss Till for all their help and 

encouragement. We would also like to record our thanks to Mrs Beavis, who has 

left after many years of dedicated and enthusiastic coaching, especially in netball. 

Lucy Rowbotham. 

UNDER 15's TENNIS 

The teams have had another successful season. The first team, who were 

undefeated, again won their league in the Solihull Schools Competition sponsored 

by the Midland Bank and the second team came a creditable third in their league. 

The Middle School doubles competition attracted a record entry of 82, the 

final being between Jamie Mayers, David Nicklin, James Dawson and Alex Hill. 

The results for the 1988 season are: 

Played Won Lost 

U15 A 5 5 0 

U15 B 5 3 2 

DMH.

c.c.f. 

activities 

ARMY SECTION 

The section goes from strength to strength, with 150 cadets probably increasing 

to 170 next year. The army's support has also increased substantially, with extra 

training provided in canoeing, fieldcraft and two cadre groups this year. Increased 

contact with our parent regiment, the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, has also 

brought extra support, especially at the annual camp at Wathgill, Yorkshire. This 

will be attended by nearly 60 cadets and help has been promised by an Old 

Silhillian, Captain Simon Diggins from the 3rd Battalion. 

The revised Monday afternoon programme has worked well and it is hoped to 

increase the amount of basic signals training even further next year. The signals 

section has improved considerably and radio contact has been re-established with 

many CCFs on the national net. Good basic training provides a firm base for 

advanced work. The strength of the section lies with its NCOs and these have 

maintained the hundred per cent pass rate for all recruits in the vital skill at arms 

test. Courses provide the extra training so vital for an NCO. This year cadets have 

attended leadership, signals and physical training courses. In the Welbeck 

Pentathlon the Senior team was fourth and the Junior team second. Both teams 

faced strong competition, as did the B Platoon Marshal Shoot team. They came a 

creditable second in the CCF competition. 

This year Captain Skippings leaves after twenty-five years service to the CCF. 

He has inspired many to seek service with the Royal Marines and has always 

provided superb support. We wish him well in retirement. 

P.J.G. 

NAVAL SECTION 

At the end of the year we are able to reflect on three terms within which the 

Naval Section have spent many afterndons sailing at Olton Mere in pursuit of an 

element of nautical prowess. Whilst most have become adept on all tacks others 

have undertaken navigational courses, shooting, drill and turnout. 

Spring Field-day was spent at HMS Collingwood, Gosport, which provided an 

opportunity for us to yisit HMS Dolphin and to board our 'Ship' HMS Birmingham 

and also to compare this very 'up-to-the-minute' fighting machine with that of 

former days in the shape of HMS Victory and the Mary Rose which were also 

visited. 

Trips have also been made by various members of the Section, to courses in all 

parts of the country in the form of 'Air Days', 'Submarine Days', Sailing and 

Helmsman courses. Four members and the O.C. were guests on board HMS 

Birmingham for two days when they sailed from Portsmouth round to Greenwich. 

Sadly this year we found ourselves saying farewell not only to Chief Petty 

Officer F. Hamilton BEM, MSM. who retired from the Royal Navy after 50 years, 

but also to Catain S.E. Skippings MBE who will be casting off hsi shorelines from 

Solihull after an 'attachment' with the school which had remained steady for very 

many years. 

T.C. Norman P.O. 

R. A.F. SECTION 

The highlight of this year's activities was an Easter Camp at R.A.F. Bruggen in 

Germany. These camps occur every three years and nine cadets led by Cdt. Flight 

Sergeant Aitchison and Cdt. Flight Sergeant Wardman were selected to attend. 

Off-station visits included trips to the Philips Evoluon exhibition at Eindhoven, to 

Phantasialand and to Roermond. The major interest was, however, the section 

visits to the four operational Tornado squadrons. For the less fortunate there were 

also an Easter Camp at R.A.F. Halton and a Summer Camp at R.A.F. Benson. 

The two Field days and Thursday afternoon visits during the Summer Term 

enabled virtually all cadets to fly Chipmunk aircraft at the Air Experience Flight at 

R.A.F. Shawbury whilst visits were also made to R.A.F. Cosford, the R.A.F. 

Museum at Hendon; there was a map-reading exercise across the Wrekin and one 

group of cadets also took part in the Army Section Training.

The new syllabus for proficiency has enabled more time to be devoted to basic 

weapon training carried out by the Army section N.C.O.s but the new Part II 

Proficiency was successfully completed by those who entered. 

Two cadets, Cdt. Flight Sergeant Wardman and J/Cpl. Randall gained Flying 

Scholarships which they take up this Summer whilst three cadets, Cdt. Cpls Baud, 

Burrows and Grieves, should gain their Gliding Wings as well. Cdt. Sgt. Michael 

Harris was fortunate to be selected for an Air Cadet Leadership Course at R.A.F. 

Hereford. 

With the arrival of Sixth Form girls in the CCF Pilot Officer Instone 

W.R.A.F.V.R. (T) has been appointed to the R.A.F. Section and our thanks go to 

her, Sqn. Ldr. Beavis and Flying Officer Loynton for their support and 

encouragement throughout the year. 

Cdt. Flight Sergeant M.J. Wardman. 

12th Solihull (Solihull School) Scouts 

Summer camp 1987 was held at Salcombe, Devon. Once again we were beset 

by bad weather, having 3" of rain on the first night. Despite this everyone seemed to 

enjoy themselves and develop their camping skills well. In September two 

patrols were entered in the County Camping and Cooking Competition where we 

had a first place in the Cooking section, the first time the Troop has gained this 

award. Later in the Autumn we sucessfully defended the Swimming Trophy at the 

County Gala with consistent performances by every member of the team. In 

November the Troop had a very successful bonfire party/backwoods - cooking 

evening. A good deal of training has been undertaken in the Winter months and 

this has resulted in an even greater number of awards being made. In March a 

number of boys spent an evening ten-pin bowling, in May 9 boys took part in an 

expedition around the peaks of Shropshire. This year summer camp. is in the 

Sherwood Forest. On reflection a rather quiet year has been a very successful one. 

My congratulations to all members of the Scout Troop. 

J.T. 

Venture Scouts 

This year Venture Scouts have participated in many activities, some the same 

as previous years, but others were entirely new. 

The Christmas Term started with Life Saving which was run by Mr. Thomas 

and Mr. Dunn and helped by the older Venture Scouts. The awards taken were the 

Bronze Medallion by the LVI. Later in the term the troop went to an aerobics 

lesson run by Mrs. Chell. 

Expeditions Day, proved as fruiful as ever with many activities being carried 

out from a Youth Hostel in the Peak District. The activities were Caving, 

Abseiling, Orienteering, Pony Trekking and a visit to the Blue John Mines. 

The next two terms consisted of various organisations and people giving talks 

and discussions to the whole group. These included a visit from M.P. John Taylor; 

a well prepared talk by the UV on alcohol abuse followed the next week by 

Alcoholics Concerned; a talk from the Samaritans concerning their work from 

preventing suicides to telling people how to boil an egg. 

More outdoor pursuits were continued with the yearly visit to Tudor Grange 

Swimming Baths and the LVI visit to Gloucester Dry Ski Slope. The March field

day was different from all previous ones. This year we visited The Thomas Webb 

Crystal Factory and then spent the afternoon at the Great Adventure Game (a type 

of war game). Also training continued with the LV taking a First Aid Course run by 

the St. Johns Ambulancemen. 

This summer holiday many Venture Scouts will be going to America to spend 

time with an American family, do a 70 mile hike and see the sights in Boston, New 

York and Philadelphia. 

To subsidise this trip several fund raising activities have been held such as the 

two Jumble Sales which raised about £1,500 and the Xmas card sales. The proceeds 

have also been used to buy new equipment (Tents and possibly some canoes) and to 

subsidise some of our activities (field days). 

Many awards have been gained this year including 7 Bronze Duke of 

Edinburgh awards and 4 Silver; 14 Venture Scout Awards and 4 Queens Scouts 

Awards (congratulations to John Glanfield, Amit Rastogi, Philip Smith and Mark 

Turner). 

Also many thanks to Barry Thomas and Mr. Dunn who have organised and 

helped the Troop to operate. 

J. Roberts 

The David Grilli Trust 

The David Grilli Trust is a fund set up in memory of a particularly fine young 

teacher who began his career at Solihull School before meeting an untimely end. 

David was a vigorous, adventurous, outdoor person and, with this in mind, the 

fund's trustees invite applications for funds from boys undertaking an adventurous 

yet educational activity. 

Activities could include canoeing, flying, long-distance walking, cycling, 

climbing, indeed anything will be given consideration. Applications for funds 

should be made to Messrs Keylock, Flood or Melling before the end of the Easter 

term, for activities taking place in the summer vacation. Applications are invited 

from boys in the Shell to Lower Fifth forms inclusive. 

B.J.K. 

Terriers 

This year more boys than usual, around 87%, passed the First Class Terriers 

Certificate. This is a credit to the excellent set of Lower Sixth Instructors under the 

organisation of Mr. M. J. Williams. In the second half of the year all boys undertook 

climbing, canoeing, cycling, shooting and cooking courses. During the course of the 

year videos of canoeing and climbing expeditions were shown. All the boys have 

gained a great deal of experience from the- year and I am very grateful to all 

the staff and instructors. 

A.J.G. 

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award 1987-8 

The Award Scheme has again enjoyed a very successful year within the school. 

In the twelve months ending September (1987) students gained twenty-nine medals, 

including eleven silver awards. Already in the current year we have three Gold 

Medals (Mark Read, Stuart Dorman and Jacqueline Tyacke) and a string of 

Silvers. By September we expect to be approaching our one hundredth award since 

the school joined the scheme in 1984. 

A highlight of 1987-8 was an expedition to the Peak District in, excellent 

weather conditions in October, while many students have shown great initiative in 

organising their own separate ventures, (Jason 011ivier will be using his 

forthcoming Himalayan Expedition as part of his D. of E. programme). 

This July we shall be going abroad for the first time — to the Isle of Man, 

which is officially 'rough country'. We hope that this will be the first of several widerranging 

trips. 

My personal thanks are due to B.J.K. for his ceaseless energy and zeal in 

organising expedition work. Congratulations are also to be given both to medal 

winners and those who, though not yet successful, have availed themselves of the 

many fine opportunities for adventure and the practice of skills. 

M.H.D. 

School Community Service 

Lawrie Bailey set out with a handful of pupils a quarter of a century ago. They 

were to offer help to nearby elderly people during time which had been squeezed 

from their otherwise traditional weekly timetable at Solihull. Similar undertakings 

were made at Winchester and Marlborough, and School Community Service so 

developed from these early pioneering days that it is now recognised as an integral 

part of a young person's educational experience in hundreds of schools throughout 

the country, both in the independent and state sectors. Lawrie's imaginative insight 

and his exceptional commitment to provide a framework for young people to 

develop their potential for voluntary service is yielding a rich harvest indeed. His

pathway is described more fully in the Valete section of this Shenstonian. When he 

has retired in July he will have fully deserved the immeasurable gratitude and 

respect, not only of the many people who have received service, but also of the 

huge contingent of volunteers who have had the good fortune to be influenced by 

his inspirational leadership. 

One hundred and seventy boys and girls are currently volunteers of the school 

group, serving in a wide variety of situations. Many have been sharing the warmth 

of companionship with elderly people in their own homes, while tackling useful 

tasks about the house and garden. Ever resourceful, David Landey has enlisted the 

genial company of a neighbour's Pyrenean Mountain dog for his visits to the elderly 

in the Apsley Ward of Solihull Hospital. The Girls' Decorating Teams have 

brought a cheerful freshness to lounges, kitchens and Lucy Propert's old jeans, 

while Andrew Oliver's re-papering of an elderly lady's bathroom was achieved in a 

generous portion of his half term holiday. Regular contact has beeen maintained 

with cancer patients at Warren Pearl House, very competent contributions given in 

speech therapy at the Oakenshaw Centre, and the programme of Conductive 

Education of a local child has received weekly assistance. 

Several service opportunities have enabled pupils to use specific skills learned 

in the classroom. Philip Hackett and Simon Bushell have applied their knowledge 

of computing to develop programs which assist slow learners and handicapped 

children at Swanswell School. Other local junior schools have received the able 

assistance of sixth form girls in their classrooms. Volunteers studying A-level 

Biology have been able to add valuable support to the work of the Springfield 

Environmental Centre which enables children with various handicaps to study 

nature at first-hand, both outdoors and in a laboratory situation. Another team has 

visited many different junior schools with snakes, rats and an axolotl to give a 

lesson about vertebrates. It is very pleasing to be able to offer the Norman Green 

Community Service Award to Jacqueline Tyacke who has given excellent service 

both in this junior school work and at the Environmental Centre. Further 

developments in these activities are planned for the coming year. 

The care of mentally handicapped people has developed strongly during the 

year. The girls have successfully renewed contact with residents of the Hampton 

Manor Home, providing friendly companionship and sensitive support for their 

activities, while Upper Fifth boys have been equally effective in fulfilling their 

established roles at Middlefield Hospital. A team of eight boys has made a new and 

lively contribution to the life of Chelmsley Hospital, providing spirited assistance 

with residents' physical leisure activities and helping some prepare for the 

Handicapped Olympics. 

Throughout the year, the sixth form Area Leaders have provided valuable 

support for pupils and for the staff who have helped to coordinate the work of 

volunteers. The S.Y.V. have continued to arrange evening and weekend events for 

the elderly, such as the Harvest Festival Service, dramatic performances and the 

trip to Weston-Super-Mare, for which transport arrangements, made by David 

Mugridge, have again benefitted from the generous support offered by many 

parents, friends and staff of the school. 

R.A.S. 

The Nature of Springfield 

When first introduced to the term "Community Service", an image of an army 

of stereotyped enthusiasts wearing badges and bearing banners immediately sprang 

to mind. This rather preconceived attitude was soon dramatically changed after my 

first visit to Springfield Environmental Studies Centre. 

This establishment is a day centre which caters for children with a wide range 

of disabilities, although it is specifically designed for the sensory handicapped and 

physically disadvantaged. It aims to play and succeeds in playing an integral part 

in introducing these children to the natural environment and giving them as far as 

possible the means to appreciate nature and wildlife in he same way that so-called 

'normal' children can. 

The centre was initially funded by the Variety Club of Great Britain. It was 

Birmingham City Council that provided the eight acre site for the development to 

begin and the City of Birmingham Education Department which has maintained 

the centre since it opened in 1982. It is amazing that the centre caters for so many so 

efficiently as there is only one full-time worker, Rosemary Dewar, employed by the 

City of Birmingham to combine the roles of both director and teacher. 

The centre consists of a modern building which serves as a highly equipped, 

spacious classroom. Immediately surrounding this is the "Walled Garden" 

encompassing pounds, an orchard and a botanic garden. From here the carefully 

constructed paths allow easy access for wheelchairs to the lake (which has a special 

platform extending right into the middle), the woodland, meadowland, birdhides 

and streams. The stagnant backwater provides a stark contrast to the abundance of 

life in the SSI river — the only river of "Special Scientific Interest" in the Midlands. 

The classroom reflects the atmosphere of Springfield. It is colourful and 

decorated with large posters, displays and mobiles that the children themselves 

have made. There are numerous animals (both alive and stuffed!), books, leaflets 

and slides, as well as microscopes and other standard laboratory equipment which 

reinforces the practical work. The emphasis is on outdoor activities. The special

adaptations of the reserve such as ramps to lower wheelchairs into the water, touch 

posts and the six listening posts that constitute the "Springfield Listening Trail" suit 

this purpose admirably. In this way a day at Springfield more resembles an exciting 

investigation than a natural history lesson. 

The centre caters for children between the ages of four and eighteen and has 

ample facilities to accommodate the blind, deaf, immobile and those with severe 

learning dificulties. Activities vary according to the season and can range from 

freshwater studies to "minibeast hunts". 

From the school's point of view the community service scheme has provided a 

link between those in a very privileged environment and those who are not so 

fortunate. We were fortunate that Rosemary was able to find time to teach our 

team of four 'A' Level biologists how best to guide and communicate with the 

children in their studies. Each different type of handicap presents its, own special 

challenge in terms of the techniques needed for helping the pupils. From a more 

personal point of view, being accepted as these children's equal, gaining their 

confidence and learning to talk 'with' rather than 'at' someone has been extremely 

beneficial. I do not believe that an education is purely academic, and to work with 

people in a place like Springfield has certainly broadened my outlook and extended 

it beyond an otherwise sheltered enivironment. It is really satisfying to hear squeals 

of delight on lowering a wheelchair-bound deaf child into a stream for the first time 

— a stunning realisation for someone who has always taken sight, hearing, speech 

and movement for granted. 

So much for the "Benevolent Brigade". Springfield has shattered all my initial 

illusions and my false concept of Community Service has been redfined as "the 

education of those who believe they are educated". 

Mary O'Brian. 

IIIrd Form trip to Normandy. April 1988 

Regular readers of this column may recall how, three years ago, your roving 

reporter noted with mild amusement that Brittany , our destination that year, was 

closed when we arrived. History, nor, thankfully, geography does not repeat itself 

though and this year we were all delighted to find Normandy very much open for 

business. 

At the somewhat absurd hour of 4 a.m. our party of scholars (shome mishtake 

shurely!) left Solihull in search of peace and relaxation — an absurd notion worthy 

of Ionesco himself. However, after a calm and abdominally stable crossing, blazing 

Normandy sunshine greeted us and, thanks to the expert skills of Alan, our 

incomparable driver, we reached our coastal destination of St. Pair sur Mer (trans. 

St. Pair on Sea) in next to no time. what followed were several days of mainly fine 

weather, consistent good humour and occasionally nail-biting tabletennis. 

Our excursions took us through some of Normandy's finest scenery and on to 

many of its famous landmarks. Wednesday morning found us puzzling over the 

Bayeux tapestry, while the afternoon sunshine provided the perfect setting for us 

to gaze over the expanse of Omaha and Utah beaches. Le Mont-Saint-Michel was 

the highlight of Thursday's trips, though the Rance Dam ran it a close second. At 

the former of these two attractions, Jason "Bloodhound" Effman must not go 

unmentioned. But for his uncanny sense of direction, we should all still be 

incarcerated in the cellars of the abbey. The picturesque town of St.Malo was also 

on Thursday's itinerary — a certain Brittany Ferries vessel anchored in the 

harbour gave some of us an opportunity to relive the nightmares of three years 

ago, mentioned briefly at the start of this epic. 

Our accomudation was of an exceptional standard, as was the cuisine. At 

meal-times Mrs. Chacksfield \had the singular knack of turning wine into water, 

much to the amazement of all save her husband; but this did not stop even him 

wallowing in the true Normandy spirit. His colleagues may be interested to learn 

that, by his own admission, he is soon to retire from the Staff, in order to establish a 

Porta-Loo empire on Le Mont-Saint-Michel: "I'll triple my present salary in a few 

shakes", he observed. 

On behalf of the boys, may I extend hearty thanks to Messrs. Chacksfield Snr., 

Brooker, Goatham, Chacksfield Jnr. and Houston and to Mesdames Chacksfield 

and Keil for making our Easter break an unforgettable experience. 

Darren Gandley 

Upper School Ski Trip: February 1988 

Risoul is a purpose-built ski resort in the French Alps. The buildings have been 

designed to merge into the landscape and the general facilities are good. 32 

students arrived after a tiring journey to discover the delights of apartment 

,accommodation and the Club Leo Lagrange. The Club has extensive facilities — 

theatre and cinema, two restaurants, a discotheque and even a sauna. The outside 

terraces faced south and, with delightful sunshine everyday, it was a joy to choose 

the plentiful and varied salads on offer at lunchtime. The apartments were 

furnished although some were rather crowded. The skiing was good. There were . 

enjoyable nursery slopes for the beginners. These varied in length and degrees of 

difficulty to provide an excellent introduction. For the experienced skier the runs 

could be long and challenging. The more adventurous could try the 'barrel' — a 

steep-sided, narrow and quite long gulley — and the expert could attempt the 

'wall', a formidable drop. There was ample skiing for a week's holiday. My thanks 

go to Mr and Mrs Flood, without whom the trip would not have been possible. I 

wish them success for their trip to Abetone next year. 

P.J .G . 

"Ms. 2001" 

With this speech Martyn Fisher won the Birmingham Final of the Lloyds Bank/ 

Junior Chamber Schools public speaking competition earlier this year. 

2001, 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000. . . 5000 B.C. Ms for miserable. This is 

persumably what the Ms. 2001 would like us to believe they have been all this time. 

There is no suggestion of nature not taking its course. We see men and women 

combined in wedlock, reproducing, which after all is the main reason why quite 

literally, we are here. Yet one could be forgiven for thinking the birth of the 

feminist movement in the 60's, was a result of a coupling with only one partner. 

"Yes we want to be equal with men, we are all equal!" Knickers! . . well perhaps 

that's not the right expression, but let us not kid ourselves, men are more physically 

able. Very few women, I venture to suggest, would be capable of lifting 1500 kg, in 

an Olympic strong man competition. Therefore there have to be accommodating 

differences, in many ways and many attitudes. Also vanity. A man, quite naturally, 

is as old as he feels, a woman, as any mirror will tell her, is as old as she looks. Men 

are more aggressive. When a challenge arrives, a man attacks it, he goes for the 

thrill of conquest. On the other hand, she wavers, she hesitates, in a word she is a 

woman. But what is woman? Only one of nature's arguably moire agreeable 

blunders. Women are fairly tricky creatures, to say the least. As men subdue their 

passions better than women, women dissemble their passions better than men. 

Let us be mental contortionists, stand on our heads, turn reason inside out,

and look at the so-called thoughts of the feminists. Vocabulary for instance. They 

are feminists, we are male chauvinist pigs. Be on your guard all you right-handed 

meat-eating chaps, they're being sexist! Let's reverse the role, and see how they 

like it. We are maleists,they are female chauvinist sows. These extremists from the 

distaff side come out with such suggestions as "There should be equal representation 

in Parliament, and that men should, quite literally, share the burden of giving 

birth." Next they'll be wanting the same design of gentlemen's stand up 

conveniences. These women know what to talk about. They know how to make 

what, to any ordinary eyesight, would seem a fair situation, seem unfair. 

The other day I attended a meeting, presided over by someone, who, with all 

normal attachments, insisted on being called a chairperson. Only this morning 

wanting, I think it was not an unreasonable wish, a simple bit of bread, cheese and 

pickle in a pub — what was I given? A ploughperson's lunch. 

It would not surprise me if after this meeting, especially in view of what I've 

said, I were to plummet, the cover being carelessly removed, into the depths of a 

personhole. Would this ludicrous insistence on renaming be a - comfort for my 

injuries, would it be a balm for my bruises? Good grief! Are they being serious 

when so much of their energy is spent on such petty insistences? And what is their 

latest outcry? We don't want to be called Miss or Mrs, we want to be called Ms. 

Men don't complain about being about being called Mister or Master. These are 

merely indications as to the stations to which we are naturally called in life. 

Marriage, too, is an institution to which we are invited, nay compelled, by the basic 

principle of every culture under the sun. Most births occur within wedlock, and we 

are now seeing women going to work during the first two years of a baby's life. How 

can one accept the callous decision of a woman who carries and creates a baby for 

nine months, then dumps that baby in some nanny's arms, to go out to work at the 

laundrette, or as a mill girl, or as a nanny herself? There is a deeply important 

sense, although a metaphorical one, in which the umbilical cord, in spite of being 

cut, remains. A bond, ladies and gentlemen, a bond not to be taken lightly. 

If two people are in love then they should share. Share amongst other things a 

name. As in the vast majority of cases, the income earner in the family is the man, 

then that name, of course, should be the name of the man. 

Women, however you spell it, — a man of sense only plays with them, trifles 

with them, humours and flatters them, but he neither consults them about, nor 

trusts them with, serious matters. For women are merely children of a larger 

growth. They have an entertaining tattle and sometimes wit, but for solid reasoning 

or good sense, I never knew in my life one that had it, or who acted consequentially 

for four and twenty hours together! 

Ms! Mischievous 

Misled 

Misbehaved 

Mistaken 

Meself. . .I think it's all poppycock!! 

2001? It'll always be poppycock! 

CHARITY WEEK 

Charity Week was organised early, as ever, this year with the committee being 

called and having their first meeting in September. We decided to choose the 

N.C.H. as a charity again this year as it meant children would be raising money for 

children and also because we could buy specific items for them (a light-talker and 

peripherals). We also decided to support the Birmingham Institute for Conductive 

Education by providing wooden furniture, as it was a local project and was 

providing a service not previously available in this country. 

We decided to have some new events this year, and these were generally 

successful. The Alternative Revue and the Magic Show (kindly performed by Mr. 

Shelley) both raised large sums. As well as this, of course, there were the 

traditional events during Charity Week itself including Blankety Blank, Blockbusters, 

the 1st XV Drag Contest and the Band (who rehearsed very hard). We were 

also very grateful to Jago for their production of Greasy and to the Girls for playing 

a LVI vs. LVI Rugby match and to the Royal Marines for their two excellent 

displays. 

The Car Wash and Fun Run took place on the Saturday and Sunday after 

Charity Week. The Car Wash proved successful again; this event seems to provide 

a real service to Solihull (it was even suggested that we should do it weekly). The 

Fun Run was not quite as popular this year and we think the enthusiasm may be 

dwindling, but both events raised about £500. 

This year's total was a record £14,300 and this was achieved mainly thanks to a 

tremendous effort by the pupils, parents and staff, particularly lower down the 

school. The Junior School raised £1,800 just on their walk and in their individual 

forms raised considerably more. IVbc also deserve praise for their tremendous 

effort in raising £900 and gaining a half day. 

Thanks must finally go to the Charity Week committee for all their efforts and 

especially to Mr. Williams for his help and advice. 

THE REVUE 

This year's down-to-earth revue was primarily targeted at the staff and this 

contributed greatly to its success: 

The opening sketch, where it was stated that no revue had been written, was a 

direct quote from the previous Sunday's rehearsal. The extra rehearsals in Charity 

Week were very useful. 

Phil Goodson's Cilla Black left much to be desired as did his legs. There was a 

very clever Mastermind sketch written by Paul 'Les' Newman, our resident PPE 

professor. Alison Marshall and Kate Hazlehurst added some spice to Martyn's 

teachers sketch. The whole school got their own back on Messrs. Thomas and 

Flood thanks to David Brown's and John Errington's rendition of 'We've got them 

on our list'. The band provided a fitting end to an exhausting revue. 

We would like to thank Mr. Melhuish and Mr. Holt for giving up their time to 

supervise the rehearsals. Thanks also must go to all the - actors and actresses who 

turned up to the rehearsals (except Eric Bristow). 

J.R. Smith 

M.B. Fisher 

ALTERNATIVE REVUE 

J.R. Smith 

M.B. Fisher 

John Freeman Errington 

The first Alternative Revue was a great success (honest !). Although we only 

had one rehearsal and a cast of a mere seven, we poked endless fun at members of 

the sixth form Community (and some still speak to us). The atmosphere of the 

Sixth Form Centre was just right and Mr. Willywoms and Mrs. Chell supervised.

Just because it was for the sixth form only does not mean it was a 'blue' show but it 

was a true acidic revue and should remain so in future years. 

Sketches were written about Mr. Benge and Mrs. Keil together with many 

involving Showjumping, trips to Blackpool and 'Mr. and Mrs.' There was some 

improvised Spike Milligan poetry and the Show was topped with a vicious roll-call. 

M. Fisher 

JAGO'S GREASY 

A Director's View 

"Run along, David, and be a good critic. . ." Right, the acting was dreadful, 

the stage management was diabolical, the sound was unsound and the lighting was 

dull. All I can say is, what did you expect ? No formal drama on the curriculum, no 

school money to support the students, no atter-school slots and a myriad of 

bureacratic hurdles combined to produce Greasy, the accident of the year waiting 

to happen. 

Now can I say something nice? Oh goody. Greasy was produced in just two- 

and-a-half weeks, including scripting and casting but was the most popular singleperformance 

stage show in school history. People didn't walk out after ten minutes, 

either; they kept coming in till the aisles were full too! It was 'the one that I want' to 

the Evening Mail and a 'hit musical' to the Solihull Times, and two newspapers 

can't be wrong! 

Personally, I cannot claim that our success was the result of any individual 

endeavours. Greasy was simply the 'right' thing to do. The Opera Group wouldn't 

touch it and the Drama Society never thought of it, so it fell to the students 

themselves to give what was wanted and redress the artistic imbalance. 

Perhaps Greasy is the signpost to a brighter future for a revue that has lost its 

way in recent years. Perhaps now the Opera Group will 'take the plunge'. As for 

Jago, there is much up- and-coming young talent with even more ideas and I wish 

Ed, Rick, Jim and the two Daves all the best for next year. In the immortal words 

of Ronald Reagan: "You ain't seen nothin' yet" and he ought to know; he's been in 

acting all his life! 

D. Viney

the 

Junior 

school 

Rugby 

Overall it was not a very good season for Solihull Junior School's rugby team, 

but we never lacked determination and confidence. Our first game was against the 

Lower School B-Team who narrowly beat us even though our scrum was a lot 

better than theirs. 

Our first competitive match was against Warwick School who out-played us 

from the first whistle. Our first tournament was the Blue Coat Sevens in Harborne, 

Birmingham where we reached the semi-finals but were crushed by Warwick again. 

We also played a festival at the Old Silhillians Rugby Club where we were 

unsuccessful but we had a good time. 

Cricket 

Our first match was a practice game against the Lower School. Our second 

match was against a powerful Nottingham team. The highlight of the batting was a 

gallant 30 not out from Paul Howes, but our bowling was not steady enough to beat 

the opposing team. 

A week later we played King's School Worcester away. Barnaby Dowding and 

Morgan Jones got us off to a slow but sure start. James Legg made 13 runs in 5 balls 

but was then clean bowled. This led to a sudden collapse and we lost our last 7 

wickets for no runs. Simon Waters and Philip Holt produced good bowling with 

encouragement for the team. We fielded well but not quite well enough to win. 

Our next match was against King Henry VIII at home. Simon Waters bowled 

well with 9 overs, 6 maidens, and 4 wickets; Philip Holt returned similar figures. 

We dismissed them early on in the game. For once, our batting was very good and 

Simon Waters and James Parks hit them all over the place to win the match for the 

loss of only 4 wickets. 

Our fourth match was a bit of a disaster. After a clatter of early wickets Simon 

Waters gave us a glimmer of hope scoring 19 in partnership wih Philip Holt who got 

8. Morgan Jones also made a good contribution. Sadly Warwick knocked the runs 

off very quickly and won with only 2 wickets lost. 

The last matches of the season were in the Warwickshire 8-a-side Tournament. 

We won our first match with no trouble at all, but there were harder to come. Our 

next match was against the favourites-and we were crushed. In our last match the 

light was poor. We lost the toss and had to field. We fielded well but in our batting 

the later stages formed a collapse. Simon Williams and Morgan Jones tried hard to 

rescue us, but unfortunately we lost and we were out of the competition. 

S. Waters 

S. Williams 

Cross Country. 

C. Raisbeck. 

You either like cross country or you do not; some people have genuine 

problems like asthma; others just do not like the sport. Of course fit people would 

enjoy the sport, but people who are unfit probably dread it! 

The first cross country race in the Junior School was the inter-form one. This 

race was very enjoyable, the rules were: twelve to run, ten to score and the race was 

for all the J3 and J4 forms. The first five to come, in order, were Morris, Parmar, 

Downing, Bomford and Moussa. The final winners were form J4S. 

The second cross country race was the Inter-house race, with the same rules 

except that the house captains picked the teams. This was again won by Morris with 

Parmar second. The most enjoyable race of the lot was the Borough cross country 

race. This was a superb race and only eight could run. Our team was Morris, 

Parmar, Bomford, Richards, Elsheikh, Spicer-Freeman and Butler, the two 

reserves were Andrews and Thomason. We won the race easily and the Borough 

Shield for the sixth consecutive year. 

Football 

C. Parmar 

The Junior School 1st Football XI had a superb season. They played 11 games, 

winning 10, losing 0 and drawing 1. They scored 43 goals and let in only 10. They 

also managed to beat the teams which the school class as arch enemies, such as 

Warwick and King's School Worcester, and beat the Borough Ulls and UlOs 

easily. The only team they drew with was Nottingham in a thrilling, competitive 

draw, 4-4. 

The First VI also had a tremendously successful season, playing 7, losing 1 and 

winning 6. Unfortunately the lost one was in the final of the Solihull Borough Cup 

against an efficient Knowle team. Incidentally this Knowle team carried on to play 

at Wembley in the national 6-a-side competition. It is also noticeable that we beat 

this Knowle team earlier in the year in a friendly although it was taken with deadly 

seriousness by both sides. 

Possibly, if not certainly, our best achievement this year was our success in the 

Solihull Borough Cup 4-a-side competition. This was held in our own Sport's Hall 

and we aimed to go one better than last year's side who lost in the Final. Our squad 

consisted of James MacDougall, Stewart Murray ; Philip Holt, Ramez Moussa, 

Nathan Downing and Barnaby Dowding. The first game was played against 

Knowle and after a hard fought game, we ran out winners by 1-0. In our second 

game against Sharman's Cross we won by the odd goal in five, meaning we were 

through to the semi-finals. In the semis we had to play hot favourites Langley, but 

with 5 minutes to go we were leading 2-0 and it looked as if an upset was on the 

cards. Langley managed to get one back but we held on to secure a place in the final 

against Peterbrook. The final was a bit of an anti-climax but we ran out winner by 

3-0, after a match which we thoroughly deserved to win. We did go on to play in a 

Birmingham 4-a-side competition but we failed to qualify for the semi-finals. 

Finally all this would not have been possible without the time, help, 

encouragement and organisation of Mr. Thomas who was magnificent. I would also 

like to thank the parents for their tremendous support. 

P. Holt

Swimming Sports 

A large crowd of enthsiastic on-lookers and Parents turned up to watch what 

turned out to be one of the closest Junior Swimming Sports in recent years. 

The final outcome was only settled in the last event when the Pole relay team 

narrowly beat their close rivals, Fetherston, to ensure their second overall victory 

in two years. 

A number of excellent performances were recorded with Stephen Morris 

setting a new record in the 4th year back-stroke competition. This won him the 

Victor Ludorum for the best performance on the day. Two other records were 

established by two very promising swimmers in J2. Giles Blessed got the afternoon 

off to an excellent start by setting a record in the U9 back-stroke. This was shortly 

followed by Jacob Davis, who broke a well-established record in the U9 freestyle. 

With nearly every boy in the Junior School taking part in the event there was 

plenty for the parents to cheer about.The lead changed hand many times and it was 

not finally settled until the last relay. 

Final Results: 1) Pole 94pts 

2) Fetherston 93pts 

3) Jago 83pts 

4) Shenstone 82pts 

5) Windsor 81pts 

Sports' Day 

H.J.T. 

June 20th was a glorious sunny day and the Junior School Sports lived up to the 

occasion. Slick organisation made it an enjoyable affair; not least for those brave 

toddlers, mothers and fathers who ran so well in the 'special events'. In more 

serious events Stewart Murray ran and jumped brilliantly to give Windsor the 

spring-board of their successful defence of the trophy. He was well supported by his 

team in the novelty races but Shenstone were in the lead as the final relay set off. 

Windsor won the race in fine style and with it the house trophy for the second 

consecutive year. 

Final placings: 

1) Windsor 

2) Shenstone 

3) Jago 

4) Pole 

5) Fetherston 

The Borough Junior Schools Sports 

The Junior School athletics team produced their best ever performance at the 

Borough Junior Schools' athletics sports held at the Norman Green Athletics 

Centre, on Thursday 30th June. 

Cheton Parmar began the evening with a confident run in the 800m. winning in 

a time of 2 minutes 38 seconds. The 80m sprint heats and semi-finals saw all 4 of the 

school's runners reaching their final. In the Under 11 final James Spicer-Freeman 

produced a very determined run to win. Edward Keating came fourth. Stuart 

Murray came first in the Under 12 80m sprint. Michael Mina came 8th. 

The Under 11 and Under 12 relay squads practised their take-overs and won 

their events. The under 11 squad needed a good run from James Spicer- Freeman 

to ensure their victory but the under 12 team won comfortably in a fast time of 57 

seconds. 

This clean sweep of the boys track events was backed up by some good 

performances in the field events. Michael Butler took second place in the under 11 

cricket ball and Khaled Elsheikh and Ramez Moussa produced good performances 

in the high jump competition. 

These excellent performances enabled the team to finish in 4th place just 2 

points away from the runners-up spot, despite being able to enter only half the 

events! 

Tennis Final 

H.J.T. 

This year's entry was a record and the cornpetition also produced two of the 

best finals ever seen. In the singles Stewart Murray eventually triumphed over the 

wind, rain, cold, breaks in play and Barnaby Dowding, who proved to be a worthy 

opponent. The second set was taken in a tie-break before Murray won it 7-6 to add 

to the 6-2 result of the first set. Dowding, who showed a likeness to John McEnroe, 

partnered Murray in the doubles' final and they eventually beat Simon Waters and 

Morgan Jones 6-4, 6-7, 6-3 in a match that lasted over 2 days because of the rain 

showers. A memorable tennis season was over. 

Chess 

G. Deeming 

This school year has seen a lot of regular chess, particularly for the top VI. As 

well as the Solihull Primary League Title being defended, there have been the 

individual tournaments and chess club every Thursday and Friday. In the League, 

Ulverly took our title in a nail biting finish. Our only other set-backs were against 

St. Patrick's and Shirley Heath against whom we drew. We finished as runners-up. 

This year's Captain and Vice Captain were T. Richards and Matthew Jones 

respectively. 

In the individual tournaments the first and second year competitions were won 

by Daniel Keating, the third year was won by James Boys, next year's captain, and 

the fourth by Thomas Richards. 

On behalf of all the players I would like to thank Mr. Loynton for encouraging 

and organising the Junior School's Chess. 

Tae Kwan-do 

For the first time ever, the Old Gym has resounded to the shouts of the Korean 

martial art Tae Kwan-Do, every Wednesday and Thursday after school. This 

exciting 10 week course is led by Mr. Dave Oliver, the Chairman of the British Tae 

Kwan-Do Association. 

A thrilling demonstration, organised for parents, included the smashing of 

wooden blocks with bare hands and feet, but unfortunately you have have to be 16 

or over to learn this skill. We have been practising self-defence techniques 

including lots of stretching exercises in preparation for our yellow belt test. The 

course is open to the third and fourth years and has proved extremely popular. 

Jeremy Bomford.

Expeditions Days 

J1 and J2 enjoyed a day out at the Avoncroft Museum of old buildings. They 

saw exhibits which ranged from the Iron Age to the Industrial Revolution. The 

Danzey Green windmill proved a great attraction! 

One of the most interesting trips made by the J4 classes was to Chadderly 

Whitfield Mining Museum. We experienced the thrill and excitment of actually 

going underground into a real coal mine. It really is an eye opener to see how 

miners worked long ago, and even in more recent times. A terrific day out was had 

by all. 

Another visit was one made to the spectacular Chatsworth House. Set in 

superb grounds, this stately home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire is 

beautifully preserved with so many treasures of history. We all enjoyed the trip, 

especially the bingo on the coach run by Swan Enterprises, and the adventure 

playground where a chicken stole Mr. Loynton's sandwiches! 

On Wednesday 18th May, J3 set off for their trip to the Coal Mining Museum 

at Blanafon in Wales. 

It was very exciting down inside the mine and we learnt lots of interesting facts 

about mining. Later on we went horse-riding over the Brecon Beacons which was 

very good, apart from when Michael Bedson's horse galloped off, upsetting my 

horse and making him buck. 

Afterwards we had to groom the horses before we returned to the coach after 

an enjoyable day out. 

Cubs 

J. Morden 

C. Parmar 

C. Evans 

The continuing success of the Junior School Cub Pack is due to the enthusiasm 

of the boys and the watchful and caring eye of Mrs. Davies. Many badges have 

been undertaken and in the course of the year no less then 7 Gold Arrow awards 

were made, as well as 9 Silver and 6 Bronze. 

Between 21st and 22nd February a group of cubs and badgers went to London. 

We stayed at Baden-Powell House. On the first day we went to Hyde Park on a bus 

tour with commentary armnd London, and later to the National Science Museum. 

Next day we took the tube to Cleopatra's Needle, and took a boat down the 

Thames to the Tower of London. We then walked over Tower Bridge and toured 

H.M.S. Belfast before going to the London Dungeon. 

We all enjoyed a great trip and hope others will be just as successful. 

Introduction of C.D.T. in the Junior School 

T. Richards 

With the completion of the new technology building came the introduction of 

C.D.T. in the Junior School. Until then, only boys in Shell Forms and above could 

participate in C.D.T. But last year C.D.T. teaching was extended to the Fourth 

Year Junior boys. 

With a generous donation of £600 from the Parents Association, a comprehensive 

range of hand tools was purchased which has made it possible this year for third 

year Juniors to take part as well. 

Problem solving, which is seen by educationalists as very important for the 

development and reinforcement of learning skills and information, is at the heart of 

C.D.T. We are finding that skills and concepts drawn from many other subjects in 

the curriculum are brought together in a dynamic learning situation as the boys 

work out solutions to C.D.T. problems. 

Our goal in the coming year is to introduce the subject into the other two 

Junior forms. By September I will have completed a course at the Coventry 

Lanchester Polytechnic on t.D.T. in the early years of schooling. This will, I am 

sure, provide further ideas about current trends and methods of introducing 

C.D.T. to young boys. I look forward to an exciting year ahead in this field and to 

watching the development of budding designers. 

M.Allen.

Computer Club 

The Computer Club meets during Tuesday lunch hour and after school on 

Wednesday. Sixteen boys are allowed to attend each session -and there are boys 

involved from every form in the Junior School. 

A variety of discs are used on the B.B.C. Network System with the most 

popular being: "Space Mission", "Tea Shop", "Granny's Garden" and "brick up." 

Other important programs used involved work in: 

English ("spelling week by week", "star spell" and "story writer"); 

Maths ("decimal defence", "table worms" and "meteor multiplication") 

Geography ("identifying Europe"); 

History ("how we used to live"); 

Science ("science starts here"). 

The main project last term was the production of a new sheet by J3 using the 

program 'front page extra'. 

Ski Trip '88 

M. K.S. 

4.30 a.m. on 22 February was the time that Solihull Junior, Lower and Middle 

School left for Abries in the French Alps. We dicovered that refreshments were 

very dear at the hotel and when we went to the slopes, the snow was quite hard 

which was a disadvantage to the people trying to do snow-ploughs, including Mr. 

Thomas and Mr. Caldicott. Higher up the mountain the weather was great, with 

snow and conifers everywhere. We ended the holiday back at school a week later, 

tired, bronzed and bruised! 

Aston Hall 

A. Burns. 

On Friday 29th May, J4S went to Aston Hall, however they looked more like 

seventeenth century villagers. Among them were some famous characters such as: 

Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Little John and even Maid Marion! 

We were welcomed by the Lady of the House, Lady Holte. The first thing we 

had to do was get rid of evil spirits in the house by blowing horns to frighten them 

away. Then we entertained Lady Holte by singing a song. 

We then split up into three groups, sampling skills such as wool spinning, quill 

writing and making cough candy. A quick tour of the house followed, before we 

returned back to school. 

P.H. McClenaghan.

CHARITY WEEK 

The Junior School made a splendid contribution to the record sum raised 

during 1988 Charity Week: our final total was almost exactly £2,750, certainly our 

fair share of the overall figure! 

As usual, there was hectic activity during Break times on the Wednesday and 

Thursday, with great ingenuity being shown by many boys in their fund-raising 

efforts. There were traditional favourites, like the J4L Maze, and a wide variety of 

feeding stations, but throwing wet sponges at monitors and undergoing exotic facepainting 

(by R.M.I. and C.D.L.D.) were particularly popular new activities. 

The most lucrative events, however, were a Sponsored Silence by Jl and J2, 

which raised over £500 and was hugely enjoyed by their form-teachers; and a 

Sponsored Walk on the Malvern Hills by J3 and J4, that remarkably produced over 

£1,800. An army of parent chauffeur/ walker/marshals turned out in support of the 

84 intrepid boys, most of whom opted for the longer — 11 mile — course. Everyone 

completed his allotted distance in remarkably quick time: a couple of parents who 

began slowly proved the potency of pasta on these occasions by accelerating 

remarkably after a generous lasagne at the Malvern Hills Hotel en route. We were 

blessed by perfect February walking weather, and all those involved seemed to 

think that the outing was worth repeating, whether sponsored or not. 

Thanks are, as usual, due to all who supported our efforts in any way. We are 

anxious that mercenary considerations do not mar this annual event, which 

generates such heart-warming spirit among the Junior School boys. 

TUTANKHAMUN 

T.S.C. 

On Wednesday 23rd March J4L entertained the Junior School with their 

production of "Tutankhamun". 

The play was set in the year 1922 in Egypt. It began with Lord Carnarvon 

(played by Philip Holt) talking to Howard Carter (Jamie Ahdrews). They talked 

about how other tombs had been robbed, and their words and thoughts came to 

life. There was a tomb. Into the tomb crept 2 robbers (Michael Fletcher and Angus 

Burns), to rob it of its treasures. Suddenly a mummy (Thomas Spittle) sprang up 

and chased them away. 

Next we were whizzed back through time to the year 1344 B.C. We saw 

Tutankhamun being carried in, on a platform, by his slaves (Simon Collier, 

Matthew Jones and Andrew Thompson). Tutankhamun was young and influenced 

easily by the high priest (James Baker). He was told he had to marry so he married 

his step-sister Patty (Stephen Evans). 

Next we were. in Tutankhamun's throne room. Tutankhamun was on this 

throne dead. He had been poisoned. The high priest ordered the captain soldier 

(Tom Richards) and soldiers (Stewart Murray and James Scrivens) to prepare his 

tomb. 

Next he •was taken to be mummified. The master mummifier (Russel 

Dickenson) got into the job straight away. He was helped by his assistant (Mark 

Sandison). One thing they had to do was take out the brain. (They had a real brain, 

a sheep's brain). 

• After this we had a trip into imagination, this is what the Egyptians thought 

happened to them after death. Three Gods: Amun-Ra (Guy Deeming), Anubis 

(Richard Gibbs) and Horus (James MacDougall) appeared on the stage with a puff 

of smoke. Before Tutankhamun could go to the afterworld he had to pass a test. 

His heart was weighed against a feather to measure his sins. He failed, his fate was 

to go to the Devourer (Simon Hogan), but there had been a mistaken identity. 

Pharaohs went straight to the afterworld and became Gods automatically. Instead 

of Tutankhamun becoming a God a poor peasant (Adam Sturdy) became a God. 

Then it was back to the year 1922 in the valley of the Kings. Lord Carnarvon 

and Howard Carter had found Tutankhamun's tomb. 

Realistic costumes, imaginative scenery, superb acting and a well written script 

by Mr. Loynton made this an enjoyable form of History for everyone. It was one of 

the highlights of the year. 

Percussion Group P.H. McClenaghan. 

Over the past months Mr. Allen has kindly given up his time to the Junior 

School Percussion Group. He plays the guitar, but there are many other 

instruments involved such as kazoos, cymbals, a drum kit, and many other weird 

and wonderful percussion instruments such as the vibra slap. Singing is a main part 

of the group, so any Junior school singers are welcome to come along and join in. 

We have performed twice this year and both events were very successful. The first 

was during a Junior School assembly when we sang a Harvest Song written by Mr. 

Allen, and the second was during the Christmas Play where we performed our 

•version of Mary's Boy Child. We are hoping to reach a standard which would make 

us eligible to take part in various competitions with other schools and go on trips to 

other schools to perform. 

We need more singers in .the band, 

so come along and make it sound grand! Adam Collins

JUNIOR SCHOOL SUMMER CONCERT, AND 'SWEENEY TODD'. 

The Junior School Summer Concert is always an oasis of calm in the frenzy of 

the end-of-year clearing up. As usual, we were treated to enthusiastic and able 

perfomances given to a gratifyingly large audience. 

The Junior School Orchestra, led by Simon Williams, started the proceedings 

with two numbers from Space Travellers, by Bruce Lawrence. It is remarkable that 

year after year Mrs Spurrell is able to produce a substantial orchestra, which plays 

already in a relaxed and professional way. 

Orchestras depend on a supply of violinists, which is why they are usually so 

rare in junior schools. Mrs Spurrell and Mrs Solomon work to such admirable 

effect, however, that in addition to the orchestral item we were able to hear a trio 

of violinists (Simon Williams, Robert Love and Nathan Downing) play an 

arrangement of 'Lift Thine Eyes' from Mendelssohn's Elijah. This item was 

followed by a brass trio of two trumpets and a trombone (Guy Deeming, Michael 

Fletcher and Christopher Jones) playing music by Fleming and Schumann. The last 

item in Part 1 was a charming account of a Purcell Rondo for two recorders and 

cello (Richard Gibbs, Jamie Andrews and Louis Meryon), this showed real 

understanding of ensemble by the young players. 

Part 2 of the concert was a spirited performance by the Junior School 

Percussion Group of 'Hand me down my silver Trumpet, Gabriel!'. Mr. Allen has 

developed this type of work very greatly, and it is delightful to see the obvious 

enjoyment of the players and observe their commitment. 

Finally, in Part 3, we were treated to another remarkable 'happening'. This 

time , Mrs Instone had chosen the grisly tale of Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber, 

by Carey Blyton with a script written by Mrs Instone herself. The excellent set was 

dominated by an ingenious collapsing barber's chair designed by Mr. Belcher, 

which despatched the murdered customers via a chute to the cellar, where they 

were processed into meat pies by the gin-soaked Mrs Covett. (It is of course not as 

sinister as it seems to notice that our gifted kitchen manager had helped with 

properties by producing the said meat pies: Mr Bayley assures me that every Junior 

School boy is accounted for and will return home for the holidays.) The set itself 

was flanked by the raked choir, in fine Victorian costumes designed by Mrs Davies. 

The choir acted as both commentator and chorus. 

Jamie Andrews was the self-assured narrator. Thomas Spittle, resplendent in 

mustachios of decidedly repulsive aspect, went about his foul business with great 

enthusiasm and an excellent singing voice. His final downfall was encompassed by 

his new apprentice Tobias Ragg (presumably a replacement for a predecessor who 

had been turned into sausages), the returned seafarer Mark Ingestre (performed by 

Adam Collins with a fine stage presence) and his sweetheart Joanna Oakley (Neil 

Dodson), and the Law represented by Christopher Jones. The observant passer-by 

was Guy Deeming. 

Mrs Instone, as producer, has that art which conceals art which only excellent 

producers have. She is able to impose on a large group of people order, and above 

all stillness when it is needed. Perhaps it can only be truly appreciated by those who 

have witnesssed elesewhere the choas and fidgeting which beset amateur 

productions. It makes a superb setting for excellent singing, which is what we were 

treated to thanks to the work of Mr Irving. At a time when choral singing in English 

schools is in general either lamentable or non-existent, it is our great good fortune 

to be treated to the clear, tuneful and well-produced voices of the soloists and choir 

alike. 

Our thanks for a most enjoyable afternoon to the large number of boys who 

took part, and to the many members of staff who enabled this production to run so 

smoothly. 

DMT 

R.S.P.B. Bird Films. 

On 17th November 1987, Solihull Junior School went to the Solihull Library 

Theatre to watch an array of bird films by the R.S.P.B. 

The first was a film about migrating birds and their long dangerous flights over 

seas and rugged landscapes. 

The second was about the everyday life of a puffin. It showed how it lived on 

cold damp rock faces, and caught fish from the water with ease. 

The final film was about river birds. It showed us how birds cope in the rivers 

and marshes of Britain. It was amazing how each bird had its own methods of 

survival. 

Between films, a talk was given by the chairman of the Solihull R.S.P.B. 

association. The films were enthralling to watch, and I hope that there will be more 

showing of them in the near future.

The Fairground 

The fairground's a great place to be, 

With the rides and stalls to see. 

Noise echoes everywhere, 

And there's a buzz of excitement 

In the air. 

Parents are dragged to and fro, 

As the children can't decide on which rides to go. 

It's "Mummy, here" and -Daddy, there"; 

There's parents scattered everywhere. 

"Let's go on this ride." "No, let's go on that." 

"No more rides, and that's that." 

"Just one more ride, please, just one more. - 

"Oh, all right then, just one more, but please hurry 

It's getting a bore." 

But remember, parents, on your next day out, 

If you want to hear not a shout, 

I'm sorry to say this, but it's true — 

It's the old people's home — not fairground — for you. 

Patrick Palmer. 

Foggy Morning 

The bleak dank fog of this mystical day. 

Encloses you and wraps you in its depth. 

The mist then thickens and swirls around you, 

Stopping you in your way. 

Anything could be happening out there in the gloom, 

Beyond the most penetrating of lights. 

The loom of tall buildings and the silent streets. 

Make it even more spooky at night. 

Buses and cars are scarce in this weather, 

And most people stay in their homes. 

But, if they go out, they wrap up warmly, 

In scarves, gloves, and coats made of leather. 

Jeremy Bomford. 

The Pond 

Sliming, climbing in the pond, 

The green frog vanishes, safe from the net. 

The thick marshy water is safe, 

For you can't peer in its gloomy water. 

Floating and boating in the pond, 

The water-boatman glides into hiding, safe from the net. 

The tough boggy water is safe, 

For you can't seek anything in its dark waters. 

Andrew Wilkins. 

The Fairground 

Autumn 

Autumn is such a beautiful season, 

For which I am sure there must be a reason. 

The leaves change colour to shades very bold, 

Then fall off the trees leaving the boughs cold. 

Temperatures fall and drop very deeply, 

Bad weather builds up extremely steeply. 

Cobwebs hang majestically when formed in the nigh 

Waiting for the morning to shed its light. 

Harvest is then collected in, 

And the Festival is set to begin. 

As the blustery gales blow the trees all around, 

The conkers and acorns crash down to the ground. 

The swallows fly home to escape to the sun, 

They will only return when winter is done. 

Animals scurry to stock winter supplies, 

Before they curl up and close their weary eyes. 

Nature is tired as Winter is near, 

It must have a good rest and wake up next year. 

Philip Holt. 

The hustle, bustle, pushing, shoving, shouting, screaming, waiting to get on that 

ride, 

The hitching, itching, sneezing, wheezing, sitting on the side. The attendant, 

smoking, choking, soaking on that wet dreary day. 

But, oh that ride! — nothing on earth could be so gay! 

On the ride — faces happily gleaming, the wind running through their hair. 

Oh what fun I'm having, at this beautiful fair! 

But now it's off to the candy store, 

Stocked full of sweets galore. 

The lights go off; 

The adults scoff, 

At watching heads droop in dismay, 

But then we remember the fair is coming for another day, 

Hurray! 

Thomas Reding

music 

drama 

MUSIC 1987/8 

The work of the Music Department of the School falls into three main areas: 

'class' music and work for A level and GCSE; music-making by large and small 

groups in out-of-school time, instruction instrumental in playing and solo singing. 

Each of these areas has thrived during the year 1987/8. The first GCSE set has 

taken the History and Appreciation of Music examination, and the syllabus seems 

to have real potential for those with a general knowledge of music of many different 

kinds. The Lower Fifth set has completed the first year of the GCSE Music 

examination, and there has been a set of eight girls and boys working for A level in 

Music. Much of the work now going on in 'class' time is very different from what 

has happened in previous years, and we are grateful to the governing body for 

providing much new equipment. Every boy in the Lower School can now learn 

music with the aid of a full set of electronic keyboards, and get intensive extra 

tuition by means of computer programmes. Those whose taste for the 'church' 

organ can get practice now not only on the Chapel organ but also on the new twomanual 

electronic organ with full pedal-board installed in the Music School; 

mercifully (in some cases at least) the early stages of learning can be private to the 

player, through headphones. A new television has been bought for M1 so that 

.greater advantage can be taken of the excellent videotapes now available for music 

instruction — how lucky the A level set has been, for example, to be able to study 

their set work by means of a Glyndebourne tape of the Marriage of Figaro. All 

large teaching rooms are now equipped with CD players. In addition, a generous 

gift from the Parents' Association, made at the instigation of Mr Tomlin, has 

enabled us to replace our old speakers with some high-quality modern ones. All 

this, with the doubling of the amount of time for classwork in the SheM next year, 

means that a much better structured musical education can be given to all our 

pupils by the twenty full-time and part-time music staff. In addition, many boys and 

girls have been able to extend their musical horizons by attending concerts in 

Birmingham given by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, now 

indubitably one of the world's great orchestras, thanks to the continued work of Mr 

Ayers. Recorder playing is thriving in the Junior School under the guidance of Mrs 

Aldis. Mr Harding continues to share his immense knowledge of jazz with the sixth 

form. At all hours of the day, and sometimes it seems it seems a good many of the 

night, music is being played and sung in the Music School 

Inevitably, however, it is concert work performed by singers and instrumentalists 

from the department which is most in the ear of the community as a whole. 

Once again, the availability of excellent solo players within the School has allowed 

us to mount a home-made concerto concert. On October 22nd, Judith Carey played 

Tschaikowsky's Variations on a Rococo Theme for Cello and Orchestra, and 

showed us how good a cellist she is. It was no surprise that later in the year she won 

a place at the Royal College of Music. Madeleine Mattar was the soloist in Mozart's 

Piano Concerto No. 21 in C Major, K.467: she and the orchestra gave a marvellous 

performance of this great work. Madeleine is a splendid pianist whose gifts were 

admired by a national audience when she appeared in the piano semi-finals of the 

BBC Young Musician of the Year Competition in the Easter Term. Both soloists 

would agree that they owed much to the admirable orchestral accompaniment 

provided by members of the school, ably conducted as ever by John Geddes. Also 

included in this concert was a powerful account by Stephen Penton of Khachaturian's 

Toccata for piano, and motets by Mozart and Bruckner sung by our fine 

Chapel Choir under the direction of Peter Irving. 

All the concerts during the year have been very well attended. In addition, on 

the Friday morning after the Concerto Concert the Mozart concerto was repeated 

in Assembly to the Upper School. We hope in future to perform more frequently to 

large groups of pupils in school time; this development has been made possible by 

the move of concert days from Fridays to days earlier in the week, which greatly 

facilitates the organisational aspects of such concerts. 

At the St Cecilia Concert, the musical fare was the traditional mix of music 

performed by the first and second orchestras and the various school ensembles; it is 

referred to below under the appropriate headings. Solo offerings were a group of 

Roumanian Folk Dances transcribed by Bartok, played by Nicholas Ahmod, and 

the Wieniawski Scherzo Tarantella for violin played by Matthew Pay —Jill Godsall 

accompanied both violinists. The final item, Nicolai's Overture to the Merry Wives 

of Windsor, was repeated to the Lower School on the following day.

The Choral Society has performed two works this year. On Sunday, 6th 

December 1987 there was a concert of Haydn's music. The first work was his 

Sinfonia Concertante in B flat, conducted by Jill Spurrell. Solo parts played by 

Matthew Pay (violin), Iaian Moppett (cello), Simon Bushell (oboe) and Timothy 

Fowler (bassoon). The orchestra was led by Nicholas Ahmon. This was followed by 

a performance of The Creation, Part 1. As usual soloists were provided from within 

the society. Rachel Shannon, Clare Turnbull and Rachel Smith shared the soprano 

arias, David Brown and Giles Richardson sang the tenor solos and Alan James and 

John Errington the bass items. It was good to see the increased size of the Choral 

Society, particularly at a time when choral singing is at a very low ebb in British 

schools in general. This concert ended with Haydn's great hymn "Austria", written 

in emulation of our own national anthem which Haydn had heard on one of his 

visits to London. 

The second major work performed by the Choral Society was Purcell's "Dido 

and Aeneas", which formed the second half of the Commemoration Concert on 

19th May. "Dido and Aeneas" is an admirable work for a society like ours, because 

there are a larger number of short choruses well integrated into the opera. The 

chorus is both participant and commentator and is required to show infinitely 

varying moods. Rachel Shannon gave a beautiful performance in the part of Dido. 

Clare Turnbull sang Belinda and Rachel Smith the "First Woman". The Forces of 

Evil were represented by Rachael Jones, (the sorceress), Penny-Anne O'Donnell 

and Jo Ditchfield (Witches) and James Vaughan (Mercury). Giles Richardson sang 

the Sailor's song, deputising at short notice; John Errington was a polished and 

affecting Aeneas — a most difficult part to perform because the music is all in 

recitative. Particular credit goes to Iain Moppett, Stephen Penton and Joel Price 

for their continuo playing on which the opera so largely depends. 

We have enjoyed a number of musical recitals after Sunday Chapel. Stephen 

Penton has played two piano recitals during the year. After the last Sunday service 

of term, Rachael Jones played Faure's Pavane, Madeleine Mattar played the 

Schubert G flat major impromptu, Rachel Shannon and Clare Turnbull sang arias 

by Handel and Bach, and David Brown gave us a memorable account of a song by 

Vaughan Williams. The preceding service included the magnificent Monteverdi 

setting of the psalm Beatus Vir performed by singers and instrumentalists from the 

sixth form, and the Lower School was represented by Julian Smith's beautiful 

treble voice singing Geoffrey Burgon's setting of the Nunc Dimittis. This last work 

first became popular after being used as the theme music for the television series 

'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy',and Julian sang it as his test piece which won him a 

place in the finals of the Chorister-of-the-Year competition — the last round - will 

take place in October, and we will be keenly interested in the result. We are happy 

to be allowed to share the services of Julian Smith with the cathedral choir of St 

Chad's in Birmingham, in the same way that we are also able to use John Cotterill 

as our assistant organist to accompany the Chapel Choir. 

At the end of another year of music making we part with our Upper Sixth 

pupils with mixed feelings. We are sorry to see them go, but grateful to them for all 

they have achieved. But schools exist to send people out into the world, so our 

sadness is only a temporary one. But there are also others leaving for whom we also 

have much gratitude. Mr Tomlin has been the devoted friend of music in the School 

for thirty-six years; he has attended almost every musical event with his inimitable 

• enthusiasm — who will now laugh at all the jokes and call for encores in our annual 

operatic gambols? Mr. Bailey and Mr.Archer have, in their respective tenures of 

the Lower and Middle School Headships, both done music here proud. Perhaps 

only those who know how music still has to struggle in other schools can fully 

4F 

- 

appreciate how much these great teachers and generous men have contributed to 

our musical life. Which of us who witnessed them will ever forget the guest 

appearances of Mr Arculus, in the chorus line of Orpheus's pupils or in the great 

party on stage in Die Fledermaus ? Hopefully they will all now have time to extend 

their love of music still further,and we hope they they will often be with us at our 

musical events as guests for many years to come. 

String Music 

D.M.T. 

This year, particular thanks must go to Iain Moppett and Matthew Pay for the 

superb contributions they have made to music in the school during their time here. 

Without their skills on the cello and violin, a large amount of our repertoire would 

have been impossible to perform. We wish them well in the future. 

Chamber Music has really been highlighted this year with the Trio of 

Madeleine Mattar, Judith Carey and Matthew Pay winning the Alfred de Regir 

Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding performance in the Midland and North 

of England semi-final of the Chamber Music for Schools Competition. For the 

second year in succession they appeared in the Finalists' Concert in St. John's, 

Smith Square, and the trio also gave a breath-taking performance in Chapel after 

the Governors' Service. 

Mention must be made of the quartet of Stephen Pollock, Rhydian Peters,

Angus Grundy and Timothy Clark who got through to the semi-finals of the 

Chamber Music Competition, with some fine complementary playing. 

Lower down the school it was good to see emerging a very promising string trio 

comprising Charles Crabtree, Charles Allgrove and Richard Williamson. Unfortunately 

Charles Allgrove has now gone to the City of London School but we hope 

to be able to form a Quartet next year with our younger players. 

The Second Orchestra started the year in their usual fashion, having to learn to 

work as a team, but later in the year at the Commemoration Concert they gave a 

splendid performance, one of the best for several years. We hope that next year's 

intake will be able to reach the same standard. 

J.S. 

Music for Wind 

This year the Wind Ensemble performed an arrangement of Peter Warlock's 

Capriol Suite, the Gavotte and Variations from Stravinsky's Pulcinella, and a littleknown 

Divertimento in E flat by Mozart. In the summer term a separate flute 

group emerged, and played a Concerto for four flutes and continuo by Molter in 

the Commemoration Concert. Among members or sometime members leaving are 

oboist Tracey Riddlesdin and clarinettists David Hare, Zoe Hatton, David Burton 

and Stephen Penton. Richard Pomfret (horn) has done long and faithful service; 

but of all instruments, a good bassoonist is a godsend to this type of music, and 

Timothy Fowler's reliable support over several years will be greatly missed. The 

music of Giovanni Gabrieli is the mainstay of any brass group , and this year we 

performed two of his canzonas, one for two four-part choirs and one for three; and 

a quintet played some pieces by Johann Pezel in the February Chamber Concert. 

Apart from Stephen Glaze, who joined us for the final concert, we are sorry to lose 

our other horn player, John Langstone. However, two leavers have been leading 

lights of the group for several years: Alan James (trombone) and our first trumpet, 

Paul Newman. 

Any school orchestra which can boast seven violas must be in a healthy state, 

and ours gave performances this year of two works of the classical repertoire, 

Nicolai's Overture to "The Merry Wives of Windsor" and Britten's ‘"Matinees 

Musicales", based on Rossini. Apart from those mentioned above, many of the 

following leavers have played a big part in the orchestra's success: Judith Carey, 

Damian Kelly, Michael Wardman, Richard Aitchison, Martin Mence, Richard 

Price, Colin Cameron, Rachel Smith and Jacob Low-Beer. However, particular 

mention must be made of Iain Moppett, principal cello, and Matthew Pay, an 

outstanding leader. The orchestra has relied on their strength for several years, and 

will be the poorer without them. 

JG 

Chapel Choir 

The Chapel Choir has continued to impress this year with some inspired and 

exciting singing in and outside the School Chapel. The highlights of the year, apart 

from the two carol services, were the visits to Birmingham and Norwich cathedrals 

to sing evensong, and to Gloucester to sing the weekend services. The choir made 

such an impact on these occasions that it was immediately asked to return in the 

near future. Such regard for the choir's high standards is always greatly appreciated 

and make its efforts seem worthwhile especially as the singers are always having to 

work under considerable pressure. 

The carol services were once again an enormous success, the choir singing 

being enhanced by John Cotterill's colourful and sympathetic accompaniment. We 

were privileged to have with us on this occasion an ex-chorister, Peter Scurlock (at 

present choral scholar at Trinity College, Cambridge) who gave a memorable 

performance of Cornelius' exquisite carol, 'The Three Kings'. 

The Open Day service of Choral Evensong, which has now become a 

permanent end-of-year feature, was the last for four members of the choir — Alan 

James, Stephen Penton, Timothy Fowler and Martin Mence. Their services have 

been greatly appreciated and we wish them well for the future. 

PJI 

TWELFTH NIGHT 

Shakespeare, aided by Mark Lucas, managed to wring some laughs from even 

the most reluctant culture-vulture in the Dramatic Society's production of 'Twelfth 

Night', in December. The presentation was lively, humorous and quick-moving and

was undoubtedly dominated by the performances of the three Lower-Sixth girls 

playing the leading female roles and Mark Lucas as Malvolio. Alongside such talent 

the minor characters provided solid but reliable and constant support to the main 

roles. Vikki Hicken was sensitive and moving in her portrayal of Viola and was 

well-matched with David Viney, whose sighing and sentimentality captured well 

the spirit of Orsino, the in-love-with-love duke. Olivia was played with great 

dignity and bearing by Naomi Winnifrith, aloof yet full of emotion in her lovespeeches. 

Charles Knight, as Sebastian, was not too unlike his supposed twin to 

make the plot totally incredible, while his friend, the loyal Antonio, convincingly 

played by Gareth Keeley, effectively highlighted the confusion experienced at 

some time or other by most of the characters in the play (and also by some 

members of the audience!) 

The sub-plot provided light relief and occasionally hilarity, especially in the 

smoothly executed and very effective box-tree scene. Penny-Anne O'Donnell was 

very impressive as Maria, holding her rich, country accent convincingly to the end 

and ably supported by Jonathan Glanfield as the bawdy and belching Sir Toby, 

Stephen Skyrme as a suitably insipid Sir Andrew and Philip Goodson as Fabian. 

Thomas Laidlaw was, well, intriguing as the slightly alternative and very out of 

tune Feste, tunefully backed by Matthew North playing Stephen Penton's 

melodies. But the real jester of the play had to be Mark Lucas as the yellowstockinged, 

cross-gartered Malvolio. Both despicable and ridiculous, incorporating 

some preposterous getureS into his performance, Mark showed both humour and 

originality in his portrayal of the staunch puritan, misguided by his own vaniiy. His 

skilful soliloquy in the box-tree scene admirably avoided tedium and was wellappreciated 

and applauded by the audience. 

The cast was well-supported by the backstage team. The neutral but 

atmospheric scenery, designed by Mr Nickson and ably constructed by him and 

members of the Upper Sixth, was effective and, as usual, superbly lit by Mr. 

Melling and his team. Mr. Holt's stage-management was suitably undetectable and 

Jo Ditchfield prompted . . . promptly! 

Congratulations to Mr Willshire on a well-cast and entertaining production. It 

was good to see Shakespeare raised from the realm of the text book and enjoyed by 

so many. 

Jo Field. 

THE MIDDLE SCHOOL PLAY 

The Middle School Play — Badgers Green by R.C. Sheriff — took place in Big 

School on the evenings of the 23rd and 24th of May 1988. The play, a light comedy 

with a serious plot, was a great success and played to full houses both nights. 

The scene for the play was a peaceful, English village in 1929, and the plot 

concerned mainly cricket but the arrival of an enterprising builder livened up the 

play. The main characters, Dr. Wetherby and Major Forrester, were lively, and 

well played by A. Reuben and R. Murphy respectively. These two characters were 

complete opposites — The Doctor, a peace-loving humanitarian, and the Major, a 

self and noisy man — but this only served to liven up the play. Mr. Twigg, played 

admirably by M. Giddings, had a hard job of keeping these two•from their quarrels, 

and he rapidly gained confidence and popularity. Eventually, however, they are all 

united. against the common evil — Mr. Butler, played by N. Faber, a scheming 

builder who intends to turn Badger's Green into a bungalow town much to the 

villagers' dismay. 

With cricket featured prominently in the following plot the Doctor, the major 

and Mr. Twigg manage to persuade Mr. Butler to build his bungalows elsewhere. 

The final cricket match scene and climax of the play featured some funny calls for 

the ball and despite Mr. Twigg's injury, Dickie, played by S. Darling, batted well 

enough to save the day. With the opposition beat and Mr. Butler teamed the play 

ends on a happy note with everyone as friends. 

A good cast strengthened the plot and no prompts were needed on either 

night. The pseudo-women provided the audience with many laughs, especially Mr. 

Butler's secretary, played by M. Green, who was told by Mr. Twigg that she was 

not like any other girl he knew. The Doctor's arid Major's wives, played by D. 

Stokes and R. Ennis, also provided much humour with their sound performances. 

All in all it was another successful performance by the middle school and 

thanks must go to all those involved in the production. The backstage hands did an 

invaluable job under the direction of Mr. Holt, and Mrs. Clark provided the cast 

with marvellous costumes. Thanks also to the sound and lighting crews, and to Mr. 

Rickman for his skills in make-up. 

Last but by no means least thanks must go to the Producer and Director Mrs. 

G. Chell who made the most of the resources available to produce another first 

class play, thank-you. • 

Major Forrester (Robert Murphy) 

VI FORM OPERA 

That 60 members of the VI form joined the Opera Group this year is some 

measure of its popularity. That there was a substantially larger proportion of girls 

than boys is less satisfactory, particularly when we find that boys enjoy the 

experience equally, once they have plucked up the courage to have a go. 

This year's production — "The Merry Widow" by Franz Lehar — proved to be 

challenging not because of numbers but because of the need to dance! In Waltz,

Bohemian Folk Dance and Cancan the members of the chorus put their best foot 

forward (sometimes rather heavily) and worked hard to master steps, rhythm and 

pattern. The Cancan dancers had inevitably the most strenuous part but earned the 

praise of their coach, Madeline Hackett and the enthusiastic applause of the 

audience by their stylish, colourful and vigorous routine. 

The role of the widow herself, Madame Glavari, makes very particular 

demands on both the vocal and acting talents of the player and Rachel Shannon 

rose, apparently effortlessly to meet those demands. She manipulated her menfolk 

shamelessly and delightfully and held her audience enrapt. The object of her 

scheming, Count Danilo Danilovitsch, was well played by Tim Fowler whose ability 

to look so easily like a young roué was slightly alarming. Together these two 

provided some memorable moments, not least when "Riding in the park", but they 

were splendidly supported by the other principals and chorus. As Baron Zeta, John 

Errington contrived to look very distinguished, to sing with authority and to act 

with a nice blend of assurance and incompetence. His wife 'Valencienne' was 

delighfully played by Clare Turnbull with sure voice and a very natural command of 

her lover, 'Camille', (David Brown) who followed her like a rather devoted, if 

slightly confused, St. Bernard, and whose splendid voice did justice to his beautiful 

tenor arias. As 'Njegus', The Baron's servant, David Viney seized the opportunities 

offered by the role to produce a humorous, eccentric but credible character, 

demonstrating to younger actors the necessity to be always acting when always on 

the stage. 

Lesser roles were more than adequately filled by Giles Richardson (Cascada), 

Philip Smith (St. Brioche), Rachel Smith (Sylvia), Rachel Jones (Olga), Claudine 

Pearson (Praskovia), Richard Aitchison (Kromov), Matthew Pay (Bogdanovitsch) 

and Alan James (Pritsch), all of whom performed with style and sang with 

confidence. They were ably supported by a chorus who coped admirably with the 

limited size and entrances of the School's stage, on a splendid set, masterminded 

this year by David Fowles, with us on teaching practice at the time but joining the 

staff in September, to our distinct advantage! 

Colour, life, enthusiasm, enjoyment, to say nothing of real talent — all were 

there on stage to be appreciated by large and lively audiences who also enjoyed the 

playing, the best Opera Orchestra we have ever had. 

The VI form Opera is always hard work for all involved in it, in whatever 

capacity, but its ability to draw together very large numbers of boys and girls in 

what is always eventually a happy and rewarding enterprise makes it a vital part of 

the School's life. Long may it remain so and let us hope that the high standard set 

by this year's cast can be met by their successors. 

HRR

societies 

MOUNTAIN CLUB 

The Club has again had a very active and varied year, and members have spent 

many happy hours on mountains, with varying degrees of temperature, precipitation 

and cloud cover. It does seem regrettable that more members of the school do 

not take the opportunity to come on trips which are always very enjoyable, but 

perhaps next year our membership will increase. 

The Arans were the Club's first venue in September, and rather dull, if dry, 

conditions cleared later on in the day to permit a shirt-sleeved descent to our 

starting-point at Cwm Cowarch. 

On the Third of October we returned, after an absence of some years, to the 

Lake district, and an area of mountains which was new to many younger members. 

The trip was a great success and well supported, though the accommodation near 

Potterdale did not compare with the comfort of the cottage! We did two good high 

level walks, Helvellyn via Striding Edge and High Street. Our final day dawned 

dull, foggy and wet and it was therefore decided to visit the memorial stone to Mr. 

P.R. Ansell, the founder of the Mountain Club, and the little mountain of Barrow, 

near Keswick. 

Our December walk was in the Berwyns and this was certainly one of the 

coldest and most impressive walks of the year. As we gained height on the ascent, 

so the terrain became increasingly icy, with long, thin icicles formed by the wind 

hanging from posts, rocks and vegetation. 

Our December walk was to have been on the Long Mynd, but weather 

conditions forced a walk over Caer Carodoc, the Lawly and Hope Bowdler Hill, 

which turned out to be an excellent walk, and was much enjoyed by those who had 

come prepared for "plastic bag sledging"! 

The annual visit to the cottage at February half term was as enjoyable as ever, 

and the highlight of this trip was the ascent of Snowdon from Rhyl-Ddu, returning 

over Yr. Aran. The summit was under deep snow but many other parties were also 

on Snowdon that day. That evening was also noteworthy for the totally undrinkable 

"tea" brewed by a leading member of the club! 

The final walk of the year was to have been over Arenig Fawr, but the weather 

was so wet on gur arrival at Bala that we did a scenic drive to Lake Vyrnwy where 

we' were led on a brief but pleasant "yomp" through the low hills. 

This year we say goodby to two students of the Club, John Matthews our 

former leader, and David Landey, Committee member. We thank them both for 

their work in the past on behalf of the Club, and we hope they will join us in future 

outings. 

Stuart Blanco. 

LOWER SCHOOL SOCIETY 

This society operates to allow boys of the Lower School to give talks to their 

years on any subject imaginable. The talk is given in the lecture theatre and the 

usual audio-visual resources can be utilised. 

One of the most memorable talks this year was from B. Hassell of 3A. He 

produced an excellent talk on Leonardo Da Vinci, supported by slides. The 

research and understanding shown were outstanding. 

We have been equally fortunate in having J. Effman of 3K with us this year. 

He has enlightened us on the subjects of American education and sports, in 

addition to feeding us with his favourite cookies. 

Indeed, there have been a wide variety of interesting talks and we look 

forward to next year's offerings. With thanks to senior boys A. Upton and Z. Al- 

Salihi for their assistance. 

BJK 

UPPER SCHOOL SOCIETY 

This year we followed the pattern of the last few years with lectures/ 

presentations only in the first term, and then activities for the rest of the year. This 

format is not particularly successful, but circumstances make it very difficult to 

make significant changes within the present structure. Nevertheless, the standard 

of the lectures/presentations was again very high, and I am happy to report that the 

• behaviour of the Sixth Form was better than in the previous year. 

The highlight of the presentations was the return of Ray Spence who showed 

some excellent and very interesting slides. As usual our Scientific and Services 

presentations were well received, while the films were disappointing. 

I wish my successors, Messrs. Dunn and Brough, every success. 

N.A.C.

THE CAXTON CLUB 

With a tremendous start to the year at Open Day, with the club taking over 20 

orders in one afternoon, the pace hasn't eased up. We've printed reams of 

personalised note paper, tickets for all occasions, business cards, the 6th Form Ball 

menus and tickets, school certificates, and even detention cards! The busiest time 

of the year was around Charity Week: with so much to do in a limited time, we 

printed well into the evenings to meet the deadlines. My thanks must go to Miles 

Turner, Stephen Urry, James Evans and Anne Pemberton, the club's first female 

member. Good luck to James Evans, "cricketstar extraordinaire", who will be the 

future head printer. However, with the departure of the UVI we now need more 

members. Come along and try it — it's great fun, really! (IVths and above). 

During the year we received a very generous donation of paper from a parent 

(please could he, through his son, contact the head printer) of the school to whom 

we extend our sincere thanks. 

Finally, my thanks also to Mr. Melling who has been especially helpful- it was 

much appreciated. Anyone wishing to place an order or join the club should see 

Mr. Melling. 

Paul Cusack 

Head Printer 

THE POETRY SOCIETY 

The poetry society was formed at the beginning of 1988, and is run by Mrs. 

Chell. A small number of boys attend the meetings, which are held in D1 every 

Wednesday lunchbreak. 

At the poetry society we do a number of things which involve writing, reading 

and discussing poetry. 

A great deal of work and time is spent writing and discussing poetry, but most 

of the boys who attend the meetings like reading poetry the most. 

S.J. Alkini 

WATCH AND CONSERVATION CLUB 

Conservation proved popular this year with increasing numbers of people 

giving up their Sunday mornings (and in some cases afternoons) to help preserve 

the countryside. 

Many successful trips were arranged to assist the Worcester Nature Conservancy 

Volunteers (WNCV). These trips were mainly to the Lickey Hills nature 

reserves; Spinneyfields, Beaconfields and Grovely Dingle. The work undertaken 

included tree felling, bracken basking, path clearing and protecting badger sets. 

The weather was on our side for most of the time and everybody greatly enjoyed 

the trips. 

If you're interested in helping out keep an eye on the notice board outside F4 

or see Dr. Sheffrin. 

Alex Messenger. 

SIXTH FORM CENTRE 

A hard working committee have provided an excellent Sixth Form Ball and a 

lively Barn Dance. The coffee bar has remained in profit and has contributed to the 

centre's funds. The ball provided its usual spectacle of smart young men and 

women but was especially memorable for the zest and enthusiasm of the 

participants. Perhaps the new, and very effective, choice of band helped. The far 

more informal Barn Dance was remarkable for its friendly atmosphere and the 

determination by all to put into operation the instructions of the caller. Thanks are 

due to Mr. Tomlin and Mrs. Keil for all their efforts. 

As term ends the centre has been invaded by builders and surrounded in 

scaffolding. The final result will be an improved and enlarged Sixth Form area. I 

wish Mr. Brough, the new warden, and his new committee every success with the 

refurbished building. 

PJG 

ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTING. 

Much interest has been 'aroused this year in the use of computers to synthesize 

and interpret human speech. This has resulted in a great deal of intermingling of 

computing and electronics expertise. DAC and ADC had a bit to do with it; they 

both came up with . very good designs on the bus! 

At last, the first stage of BB's infamous robot is complete; it does not yet have 

a mind of its own, but we're working on it! The result of much feverish wielding of 

soldering iron and screwdriver, this creation of the 'Great Fusion of 1988' can 

frequently be seen trundling menacingly,around the School terrorising all who get 

in its path! 

C.C.

THE DEBATING SOCIETY 

Liveliness, wit and intelligence displayed on the Big School stage totally 

undercut any criticism of 'formality' in our two debates. The debate on the question 

"Is Aids a moral issue?" was understandably well-attended and rumbustious with 

Jason 011ivier and Martyn Fisher's "Wacky-Doctor-routine" losing out to Dave 

Viney's and Mark Lucas' puritanical "Onward Christian Soldiers rant to the effect 

that Aids was indeed a moral issue. 

Our second debate, on capital punishment, was equally lively with a complete 

polarisation of ideologies through the addition of speakers John Errington and Paul 

Newman. Unfortunately, the advocating of hanging as a legal punishment was 

carried through the unscrupulous use of impressionable Third Formers to bias the 

voting. 

While speeches were intelligent, witty and entertaining, attendances were low 

— a sad state of affairs — we look to younger boys to revive a fast-fading art. 

Many thanks go to Mr. Melhuish for his help and for his excellent 

chairmanship and to Martyn Fisher for his invigorating enthusiasm. 

POLITICA 

M. Lucas. 

This year has seen a sustained growth in the popularity of the school's political 

and current affairs discussion group. Following a plea for a more representative 

turnout of the Upper School years, there have been an encouraging number of 

UVth pupils who have given a much valued contribution. 

The topics, as always, have been varied, from serious to humorous, and 

sometimes controversial. Some of the various topics discussed have been: 

"Abortion — 100% wrong 100% of the time." 

"Sex equality is a myth — women are superior." 

"The return of capital punishment." 

We wish the success of Politica to continue in future years and especially wish 

Barzan Rahman the best of luck as chairman next year. Many thanks to Mr. 

Brough for his continued support and interest in what is possibly the school's most 

popular society. 

THE COMPLEX NUMBER WEEKEND 

Martyn Fisher 

Paul (Les) Newman 

Jason 011ivier 

On a Friday night towards the end of April we set out in the minibus for a 

'complex number' weekend at the school cottage. Five of our party were 

'mathematicians', and Mr and Mrs. Flood with their daughter Caroline and dog 

Charlie came along to make the whole thing legal and to feed us. 

The sun shone on Saturday so we set out for a mountain "walk". Lucy 

Cracroft, Karen Sheward, Stuart Barrington, Mrs. Flood and Caroline were 

content to leave it at that. However, Iain Moppett, Anne Pemberton, Paul Cusack, 

Michael Wardman and Mike Small decided it was their mission in life to get Mr. 

Flood to the top of the mountain! What we failed to discover was how they got back 

to the minibus first. 

Special thanks to the Floods for making the weekend possible. We all agreed 

that the break was just what we needed to revitalise us for our exam revision. 

L. Cracroft 

OMNI, 

CONTRIBUTIONS =---

Cluedo 

"Give it me!" he growled, moving menacingly towards me; "I want it back." 

Looking around, he picked up the candle stick from the table and gripped it 

meaningfully with clenched fists. his eyes burned with the genetic hate of a million 

years, bloodshot with an illogical, calculated frenzy. Suddenly he seemed a good bit 

taller and stronger, and my fear welled up inside me — first as a slithering, clammy 

snake up my spine and last as an Indian war-drumming in my temples. My 

perspiration glistened in the sinister light. From a picture — a frozen instant — one 

might describe his nose as comic or cute but now it snorted like a bull's, spilling 

droplets of venomous vapour into the air. It was his mouth, however, that terrified 

me most. It had all the appearance of a circus clown, with glistening teeth and red 

lip, yet the maddened leer was a comedy of the grotesque. I half imagined a lizard's 

tongue would flick out at me, cutting my smooth, defenceless skin. Disfigured like 

a cubist image of Satan, his face was etched forever on my retina and every cell 

screamed at the touch. 

Still I clutched tightly at the prize, with whitened knuckles. I had my principles 

to think of and I had to be brave: if I lost this time, I would be a slave forever. "No, 

you can't have it. . . what you did was wrong!" I couldn't think of anything more 

eloquent, but my words were useless anyway. 

"Give. Give. Give me, give;" the words echoed around my dizzy head. "I want 

it, want it, want. Give it me now, I want it back. Give it me now or I'll. . .or 

I'll. . ." 

Time stood still, choking with anticipation, and the hairs on the back of my 

neck seemed to be pulling me away; telling me to run. 

"I'll kill you!" 

I felt sick and suddenly it was all happening to someone else. Even my senses 

had deserted my condemned carcase. So it was to be. . . I would be a martyr to my 

cause. 

The impact was a distant door slam, between one world and the next. Blood 

trickled down the age lines of the forehead, matting the hair and painting the 

kitchen floor the colour of poppies. 

The grip was still tight in death but not for eager fingers. It still contained the 

odd shard of tell-tale glass even now, but Tommy's best conker would survive and it 

was a sixer now. Mummy had been a bad little girl. . . 

Story 

D. Viney. 

I was trapped in an unreal world, confused in its ways and guided 

misconceptions. Wrung out by years of deservedly catastrophic war. Mindless like 

the thousands. Moulded to the shape of 'Them'. Left in cages, enclosed behind iron 

keys which unlocked the doors of time and fraternity. They had broken me. 

Snapped me like a frayed rope, stretching and twisting me till I said "no more" and 

was one with them. They had removed my tongue for being human. Now I was not. 

I started across the 'crete-scape', at the dead tower block, lying dormant and 

inactive in the endless sleep, at the river which curled its way through our time 

searching for its haven, and us, searching for ours. There was nothing left whole, 

no-one was anyone. Now I wanted to be someone. They had won this earth and us 

for themselves, but no person would take pride in us or our nobodies. I returned to 

my task, snapping the pencils of creation. Burning the wood in the hole at the end 

of the cut-wire grate, black like all else, tarred by the unceasing onslaught of the 

crazy magnetic smoke, wrapping up our lives with its blanket of darkness, dulling 

our sun with the ultimate night of terror and hope. They were married now; night 

and day. Night with his son, the moon, and day with her daughter, the sun. The sun 

only came out for a while, so shy and timid, and, seeing this world, hid in shame. 

The moon would then sometimes come out and show us our World, but not hide, 

for he liked the deadness. 

I wished to create, now all was devasted. Was I the only one who would 

remember? I remembered. I had not words to speak but I could write, but what 

with, or what on? Anyway, who would read them? They didn't guard the cells 

anymore, they didn't need to. However, as I sat I pondered awhile. "To go out 

there was death itself, nothing lived out there!". There used to be a man whom they 

called a doctor, but he just removed unwanted, dead or decaying limbs or teeth. 

There was no need for him any more! Nature could not cope with this world, it was 

also dying. I needed to get out. My exasperations were growing, my brain no longer 

had any connection. It needed a link, a voice. My hands were its saviour but what 

could they do? I sat for a while, what else could I do? Staring at nothing. Then from 

the sky, the mud and filth of the war came. No one knew about the rain except me. 

Only I can picture the pure white grenades; white in the sense of pure and fresh, 

hurtling earthwards. I knew my cellmates didn't knoW of them, they sat fOr ever 

pacified. Forever. 

I was near the edge now, for I was regaining more and more sensation and 

feeling. I needed some selfish expression to free me from my inextricable position. 

Maybe I had the last civilised , human, feeling, reaching, loving brain left? I did not 

doubt for an instant that they had a brain, but theirs, I guessed, would be bruised, 

conditioned, idealistic in the wrong sense, the brain of an evil, caused, I know and 

fear, by the diminishing supply or lack of oxygen. There were no plants or trees 

left, soon I would die, I hoped. 

I gazed out of the room; outside at the poisonous gases and starved flames, at 

the dead mud and sea of floating debris, at the polystyrene, dirtied by the thick 

scum. Bacteria did not care to live down there. Maddened now, I set about my 

crazy task. I used the pencils to cut into my flesh, carving the words, "Be free, 

no . . ." but I stopped, or lost consciousness. I knew the words but didn't finish the 

word "war"! 

When I awoke I saw the glazed eyes of the cell mates, they just drank the 

liquid and ate the tablets. They had no spirit! I returned to an enormous pain in my 

leg and left my stupid scoring for a while, no one would ever read it anyway. 

Another idea came from nowhere, nearly as stupid and insane as the last. I was 

surely mad. 

I set about constructing a small box, no more than the size of my hand, long 

and misleading with different compartments. The iron grate sufficed. I spent days 

just bending the resistant wires. When the initial outer shell was almost complete I 

covered it with tubing which came from our latrine, melting it in the heat of the fire 

but it was not hot enough so I, in some weird contortion, led the oxygen supply 

down to the mouth of the fire. It glowed fierce and soon I had covered nearly half 

of my box. Many thoughtless moments later I finished and crushed up some of my 

tablets into one of the compartments. In another I placed a small leather bag made 

from a dead rat that previously had cohabited with us until his source of food, next 

cell along, had been taken away to make room for another work person. I think he 

died from heart disease. Who cares? 

Now all that remained was to find a rib. I classed my next action as a deed for 

mankind. My other cellmate was in no way put out by the loss of his friend. I threw 

his body outside. It sunk slowly into the putrid mud. With a drop or two of blood I 

placed the rib into the box and punctured the leather bag filled with oxygen. I 

sealed up my box.

I walked down the stairs, not even dust dared tread on the earth now. I knew 

to send God back his creation was virtually impossible but oxygen when 

unavailable causes men to think like crazed mad dogs. I entered the waste chute 

and was carried along to my destination. From my cell the power plant looked a 

mile away but in the fast flowing human waste tunnel I arrived but a few seconds 

later. My idea was in some way to block up the exhaust tower and in the time I 

thought the waste gases would build up and a huge explosion would blow the rib 

back to God in heaven. I was indeed a sick man. I stood and watched the plant turn 

up the waste and create energy, then I knew the time had come. I waited for a 

while, then climbed up to the top of the exhaust tower, about the width of a large 

bin. I covered the grid and burnt my hands. The stench was incredible. I clutched 

my box. How was I to block the tower? I could fill the hole. Death was now so 

close, then from the hole came a blast of hot gases and my box was taken up into 

the air and then it began to fall. I watched transfixed and saw my box blown about 

in the convection currents, then it sank into the pools below. Suddenly the liquids 

flew apart and the box flew apart, the heat expanded the living air and then the 

flames leapt up greedily eating the oxygen, then fell down dead. My hope was 

gone. Now nothing was left. I turned from the violence of the exhaust and looked 

out across the world as I saw it, the pollution, death, uncleanliness of it all, I turned 

again and flung myself to death. On the way down I died and from me came my last 

few thoughts. I knew the world would kill itself soon, everyone would be dead 

soon. I had just speeded up my part of the total death of everything. They and us 

and me had destroyed the world God created, now we, all, have decreated. 

"In the beginning when God created the Universe, the earth was formless and 

desolate. The raging ocean that covered everything was engulfed in total darkness, 

and the power of God." Genesis Chapter 4, verse 1. Now the power of God was no 

more, nothing was no more. 

I looked up, and from a point somewhere came a great flash and blinding white 

light and a heavenly figure appeared. I trembled in fear, was I not dead? A voice 

spoke and said, "Nothing was no more but now you are here". I stood and replied, 

"God?". 

Victor 

N.J. Cowley 

It was a cold, bright, Spring afternoon. Lewis sat down stiffly on the ground 

and felt the customary fear tingling throughout him; he was weary of its nagging, 

and his thoughts were dulled by the closed routine they followed. His fear of the. 

race was strong, certainly, but far stronger was his fear of Elliot. He knew how 

easily failure could be concealed by excuses, and deceit itself excused; but that day, 

in direct competition, there could be no equivocation; there was only winning, the 

supremacy of one man over another. When he thought of the race he only thought 

of Elliot's victory, and that sickened him until he closed his eyes and his head 

throbbed miserably with dread of his defeat. 

What of the past? Elliot was now, the present; what had gone before was 

shadowy and irrelevant. His arrival had shocked Lewis out of his complacency and 

assumptions of abstract superiority; and the rivalry that had sprung up, upspoken, 

between them, had become a door Lewis dare not open for fear of the truth; it was 

dangerous, not healthy. The sweaty, everyday comparisons, he came to realise, 

were ephemeral verdicts, for there was no judgement to be made; there would 

simply be a time of 'is', when no one would ever again doubt, and that would be 

decided not by paper writings, or mark schemes, but by physical facts; the strength 

of the body and the quickness of the mind. To find himself wanting would create a 

gap in himself that Lewis dared not contemplate — it was a space that might suck in 

all nf himself. 

Since he had arrived, the force of Elliot's personality and the quiet momentum 

of his achievements had become apparent; not that he was not at all arrogant or 

proud. He had drawn friends to him quickly, popular with all, yet Lewis was 

convinced that he was confident of his own superiority in the most effacing of ways, 

relying on himself only, never on others, even as he joked and laughed with his 

friends. Between Lewis and Elliot there was not the least acknowledgement; it was 

inconceivable to Lewis that there could be any friendship between them, and he 

made no attempt to join in when Elliot was with his friends, retreating from any 

more comparison than was necessary, shielding his brittle self confidence. 

Their first real contact was accompanied by a feeling of which Lewis had read 

but not experienced. He came to know him through his behaviour with others, his 

dark hair, shuffling walk and open smile as familiar as those of a close friend; but it 

was not till four months after his arrival, on a cold January morning, that they first 

spoke. It was the first day of term, and in the buoyant sparkle of the moment, and 

the jarring of familiar and forgotten images, when Lewis and Elliot found 

themselves face to face, it seemed natural to talk like old friends picking up a 

conversation, speaking in high, excited tones of the day, for Elliot was a genial 

man, if he sensed the strangeness he gave no sign. Lewis was struck by the shock of 

seeing the face he had watched from other angles finally looking at him, and he 

examined it as for the first time — the pale skin with its brush of freckles, the 

grooves in his short hair, and the wrinkles of his eyes all alien, like a stranger. 

When they had parted, Lewis felt that the barrier between them had been broken, 

and there would be no more awkwardness between them — but they did not speak 

again, and he felt the sharp sense that he had merely played a part in Elliot's 

richness ilbefore returning to anonymity. But their eyes now met from time to time, 

and it was here that Lewis found the real recognition of the strange rivalry between 

them; Elliot leaning back in his chair to catch his eye with a smile of 

acknowledgement for a good mark, a smile with no malict but an awesome selfconfidence. 

Such were Lewis's thoughts as he shivered in the cool breeze, every moment 

bringing the starting time closer. So it had gone on; the endless comparisons in 

Lewis's isolation, the constant self doubt; and all the time Elliot loomed larger, and 

Lewis's hate with it, until it had become a struggle on all levels; and thus the race 

had become 'that time', when the matter would be closed. The minor shows of 

strength no longer concerned Lewis; it was the confrontation of spirits he sought, 

spirits that rose above petty circumstance. That the race was a purely physical test 

meant nothing; victory would be complete, it would be decisive. 

He had been alone; now, as the moment approached, the other competitors 

began to drift together, bending, stretching, running, perhaps stealing a glance at 

each other, or at the track. As he stood up, Elliot passed him, joking with a friend, 

and Lewis ignored him in part. Elliot was silent, but it was not a silence born of 

anxiety; Lewis conjectured that he never considered losing, not in an arrogant way, 

but trusting simply in himself; and he marvelled that he showed no weakness not 

even now. And. . . and . . . he shook, he shook, his whole body shaking, as the 

nauseous fear swept through him, his thoughts shattered and gone, and the dread 

unmanned him as he covered his face with his hands. (The starter calls!) It seemed 

he was disembodied, his body moving unbidden, rising to its place; his unreal flesh 

forming a caricature of a couch. . . 

!!GO!! 

the roars of the crowd in his ears! 

the hurling of his body by his pounding legs! 

the dragging for breath in his throat! 

the dasperate, desperate search for speed! 

His heart surges — the horizon bobs — there is only his body, 

straining and pumping.

he strives and strives, images big in his brain, 

but the answer is only screaming pain. 

The ground beats him, sun and earth rotating in his eyes like a carousel, and 

there is no room for thought, only the grasping of air, the contraction of muscles — 

and what he was is gone, the tamed animal, he is only a naked want, a need that 

cannot be satisfied; and the flood overtakes him with horror, that he cannot be 

what he was, that he 'is' not. 

Pebble 

The casual toss of a pebble, 

The heedless drop of a harmful word; 

Ripples spread and in my mind 

A sparkling pool of thoughts grows dim; 

Distorted reflections; the pebble 

Sinks slowly to the murky swirling 

Depths of suspicion and fear. 

Deceitful eddies, underlying currents of despair, 

Foaming breakers of sorrow and regret; 

By all of these the solid cliffs 

Of loyalty and trust are broken, 

Crumbling into sullen discontent: 

For a friendship abused is a friendship washed away. 

J. Puckering 

Holocaustic Valediction. 

Oh! For the lack of a teaspoon! 

What a tangled web of anachronisms we weave! 

The many political tessellations surround us in their firm grasp, 

Spewing forth long-forgotten ideals of dialectical materialism. 

Oh! Had we listened to the prudent caterpillars in the Apple of Life 

We should not struggle in the ever-tightening snare of despair, 

Where hope is extinguished in a last gasp of wretchedness, 

While the fate of the world hinges on a small red button, 

Encased in the sententious narwhal or our society. 

The gnarled hand of the captalist poises above it, 

Suspended in limbo, 

Only awakened from deepest slumber by the quavering voice of the nations 

Lamenting their folly, 

Imploring it to relinquish its hold upon their anguish of countless millenia. — 

for lack of a teaspoon the remedy was lost. For lack of the the remedy the race 

was lost. 

Andrew Dunbar, Stuart McGill. 

A Sailor Returns 

She stood there on the beach. 

She -stared out at the sea. 

The cold, dark, forbidding sea. 

The harsh salt-wind blew in her face, 

And she smiled. 

D. Mugridge He would never forget her. 

He would one day come back. 

The ship had carried him far away. 

The bobbing ship would never return to the shore, 

But he lived on. 

Kindred Spirits 

Then she saw the ship on the horizon. 

She saw him waving from the deck. 

She was happy now. 

She turned and walked back up the beach. 

She finally knew that he was dead. 

Victoria Hicken 

My lonely soul is only half of whole 

Removed from the set, the lost jigsaw piece. 

The bestranged black sheep, shut out of the fold 

Rejected by those seeing only fleece. 

For a moment there's God, so suddenly 

Beneath the ashes, the embers still glow. 

Another brief span of joy cocoons me 

But nothing of beauty from this can grow. 

I wonder if I'm wrong to cry inside 

When every animal finds its mate 

And deeper hope with sorrow doth abide. 

As I await the perfumed hand of fate. 

So woman cross the line twixt dream and life 

And kill the spectres of past gloom and strife. 

Beauty and the Beast 

Of many a tale I may have heard told 

That flies on gossip's wings o'er land and sea, 

There's one sweet song that I as favourite hold; 

Of a cursed beast and his fair beauty. 

Wandering gaily to forest from lea. 

The young girl loses her way and is lost 

Sleeping, the beast finds her under a tree 

And woke she bathes in the eyes of her host. 

Startled, she shrinks like a flower in a frost 

Yet their love blooms in the first rays of Spring. 

Now she returns on the paths she once crossed 

To tell of the beast she holds as a king. 

Thus they were joined as eternally one; 

I promise to pay the bearer the sum. . .

SHENSTON IAN 88 - Old Silhillians Association

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