aymestrey magazine 1984

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T H E

AYMESTREY

MAGAZINE

SPRING 1984


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MINUTES OF THE 41st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

OF THE OLD AYMESTRY ASSOCIATION

HELD AT AYMESTR EY SCHO OL ON

SATURDAY 18th JUNE 1983

Present: The President, John Hughes who took the Chair; The Honorary Secretary, Bill Stallard;and Messrs. Christopher Blake, Andrew Collyer, Timothy Duncan, George Edmonds, Richard

Evans, Jim Fink, Hugh Griffith, George Johnson, J. P. Kimpton, Edward Lane, William Lane,

Francis Peate, Julian Packman, Robin Paske, Andrew Perryman, Timothy Prince, Andrew

Powell, David Richmond, Andrew Simpson, John Taylor, Jerry Thomason and Hugo Tuthill.

Apologies were received from the Chairman, Air Vice Marshall D.N.K. Blair-Oliphant; the Vice-

Chairman, John Phipps; Anthony Claydon, the Venerable Christopher Mayfield and

Messrs. Keith Aitken, Rupert Bader, David Banks, M. Bates, Tom Bates, Stephen Beard,

Nigel, Richard and David Blair-Oliphant, Jack Coates, John Eyton Coates, Jonathan Coates,

W.N. Coates, Bill Dewing, Philip Dorrel, Jonathan, James and Thomas Edwards, Malcolm

Hughes, Nigel Helsby, Richard Johnson, Andrew and Robert Lane, D. R. McLeod, Brian

Massey, Charles Massey, Robert Massey, Stephen Nelson, J. D. P. O'Leary, Julian and Mark

Packman, David Powell, T. R. Powell, Jim Page, J. E. Page, Christopher Rawlings, Bill Robbins,John Shew, J.C. Smith, Lester Steynor, A.H. Slade, Richard Stallard, Roger Thomas, Oliver

Mayfield and Francis Tuthill.

The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on the 19th June 1982 having been circulated, were taken as read

and approved. The Secretary reported on the following matter arising out of the previous Minutes:-

a) Appeal fund: The funds had been fully distributed except for a reserve for Corporation Tax.

b) Membership subscriptions: The response to the invitation to members who left school more

than 12 years previous to the 1982 A.G.M. had been quite good though further contributions would

be welcomed. The contributions received would be invaluable in rebuilding the Association's funds

following the substantial donation to the Appeal fund and would enable a more economiccontribution to be made in future years to the heavy costs of production of the School Magazine.

The Accounts for the year ended 31st March 1983 were presented by the Honorary Treasurer and were

adopted.

Thefollowing Officers were elected for the ensuing year:-

CHAIRMAN: John Phipps

VICE-CHAIRMAN: Francis Tuthill

HONORARY SECRETARY/TREASURER: Bill Stallard

SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT: Dan Asterley

COMMITTEE: Messrs. Norman Green-Price, and Michael Rosoman having retired by rotation, Messrs.

Christopher Blake and George Johnson were elected to serve with Messrs. BrianMassey, John Shew, Nicholas Coley and David Richmond.

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OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION

Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1983

1982 INCOME 1982 EXPENDITURE

29.20 Membership subscriptions .................... 172.50 50.00 Contribution to School Magazine

expenses ............................................ 50.00

2.05 Magazine Appeal subscriptions . ... .. .. .. .. . 2.05 400.00 Contribution to the Asterley

Appeal Fund ................................ .... . -

Interest on Abbey National Building Inland Revenue - Corporation

39.21 Society Share Account 20.06 9.43 Tax..................................................... 6.80

Interest on Lloyds Bank Deposit Lloyds Bank - bank

2.30 account .............................................. 1.48 0.55 charges ............................................ 0.99

387.22 Excess of expenditure over income ... Excess of income over expenditure. . . 138.30

459.98 196.09 459.98 196.09

Balance Sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1983

1982 1982

Balance brought forward 31st March Balances at Lloyds Bank:-

659.31 1982 .................................................... 273.09

25.90 Current account .................................... 140.61

15.83 Deposit account .................................... 19.36Excess of income (expenditure) Balance on Abbey National

387.22) over expenditure (income) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 138.30 230.36 Building Society Share account . .. .. .. .. .. 250.42

273.09 410.39 272.09 410.39

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It was proposed by Hugh Griffith and seconded by Bill Stallard that Mrs. Beard's services to the School and

the support she had given as Secretary to successive Headmasters over many years should be marked by the

conferment upon her of Honorary membership of the Association. This was unanimously agreed. The

Chairman of the meeting, John Hughes, proposed a warm vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh

Griffith and their staff for their hospitality and, there being no further business, the meeting then

closed.

The Association's Annual Dinner was held once again at The Union and County Club, Worcester,

under the Chairmanship of the President, John Hughes, the attendance numbering 29. The president

proposed the health of the school and Hugh Griffith responded.

Copy letter to the President O.A.A.

Dear President,

I should like to thank you all very much for the honour you bestowed on me at the O.A.A. dinner. It

is a title I shall guard and treasure for the rest of my life. I have always been happy to serve Aymestrey -

it's not so much a job as a way of life - and I feel very privileged to be numbered among your company.

Sincerely yours,Margot Beard.

LEAVERS

March 1983

D. L. Ridley - Came September 1981. Choir. Rugger XV. Chess.

J.D.B. Woods - Came September 1980.

July 1983

A. Baker (Worcs. Royal Grammar School) - Came January 1981. Choir.

Rugger XV. Soccer XI. Cricket XI. Colours for Soccer and Cricket.

M.D. Bews (Rendcomb College) - Came September 1978. Prefect. Choir.

E.A. Gleed (Bristol) - Came January 1980. Choir.

T. Henshaw (Bowbrook) - Came September 1981.

C.W. Hil l (Worcs. Royal Grammar School) - Came April 1981. Soccer XI. Snooker (Capt.) Chess.

Colours for soccer.

C. Parry (Lucton) - Came January 1980. Rugger XV. Soccer XI Cricket XI. Colours for rugger. Silver

survival.

S.D. Perriton (Ellesmere College) - Came April 1981. Rugger XV.

D. Ridley (Droitwich High School) - Came September 1981.

A. Trove (King's Worcs.) - Came September 1977. Prefect. Rugger XV. Soccer XI.

Cricket XI. Colours for cricket and rugger. Choir. Chess (Capt.) Bronze survival.

G. Young (Bowbrook) - Came September 1979. Choir. Bronze survival.

G.M. Yule (Ellesmere College) - Came September 1978. Prefect. Rugger XV.Colours for rugger.

December 1983

K. Bartlett (Belgium) - Came January 1982. Bronze survival.

J.J.S. Hanley (Aldenham School) - Came April 1981. Rugger XV. Cricket XI. Colours for rugger. Choir.

Chess.

M.B.H. Smith (Blackheath School) - Came September 1981.

J.N.D. Terry (Sacred Heart) - Came April 1978. Rugger XV. Colours for rugger. Choir. Silver survival.

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NEW BOYS

Spring 1983 B.J. Brining

Summer 1983 D. Stocker, M.T. Richardson.

Autumn 1983 C. Calladine, P. McGorman, R.S. Gorman, C.J. Gurney, J.G. Harvey,

R.J. Jaeger, D.R. Jaeger, D.S.H. Maher, D. Montandon, P.M. Reynolds, C.E. Taylor.

C.W. MASSEY

With the death in December of Charles Massey the Old Aymestrey Association lost one of its staunchest

supporters. Leaving Aymestrey in 1927, he went on to Bromsgrove, and from there joined the family firm

of Chartered Accountants in 1931, remaining in the business for the rest of his life, except for his war

service in the R.A.F.

He was present at the inaugural meeting of the O.A.A. in 1936 and served the Association actively tortwenty five years. With his brothers he was Hon. Auditor until 1954, when he became Chairman, and then

he was Joint Hon. Secretary and Treasurer until 1961. When he resigned from that post it was to busy

himself instead with the affairs of the Bromsgrovian Club, of which he was President when he died.

In these activities, as in all else, those around him could feel certain that Charles would serve selflessly,

would always do the right thing, and would moreover do it with extra touches of thoughtfulness and

kindness.

OLD BOY NEWS

C.J. Barnes runs a flourishing restaurant and wine business at Pokolbin in New South Wales. He has

two sons at boarding school, is still interested in music and wild life, and finds time for a good deal of

travel.

A.N.K. Brown is working for the Glasgow Child Guidance Clinic. He is married and is very keen on hill

walking - munro-bashing, if you know what that is.

J. A. Chandler, head of the junior department of a Yorkshire school, had a daughter, who was born

on the bathroom table with John acting as midwife.

S.J. Dorrell held Lounghborough for the Conservatives in the General Election, with a majority of over

16,000.

E. Edmonds has done nine 'O' levels and is now studying for 'A' levels in Maths, Physics and Geology. He

is going to Lapland in the summer on the same expedition as Stephen Nelson.

G. Edmonds is in the Monmouth School Archery team and also in their General Knowledge team. He was

awarded prizes for Art and Poetry.

J.N.K. Edwards is working in London as a graphic designer.J.W.K. Edwards is in his final year at Warwick University.

T.M.F. Edwards, after leaving Malvern College, is at Hereford Vlth Form College, studying for 'A'

levels in Geography, Chemistry and Biology.

J. Hanley writes from Aldenham that he is enjoying his first term, is coping well with the work, shooting

for the Under 14s and is hoping to get into the Under 14s hockey.

M. Harris has a full time scholarship at the Royal College of Music and is studying operatic singing.

N. Harris is going to America or Canada in May for three years to study for a PhD in the gases of the

upper atmosphere.

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D. Ilsley was awarded a scholarship at Wycliffe College, on entering the VIth Form, having passed

eleven 'O' levels - five at A grade.

B. Ilsley writes that boys from Wycliffe still run Radio Standish.

G. Johnson is in his final year at Walford Agricultural College. He is still very keen on music.

R. Johnson has been top student at Walford. He has won several cups for ploughing and took partin the national finals.

E. Johnson is hoping to join his father in Australia soon.

S.J. Kingston, having become deeply interested in Conservation, has qualified as a Countryside

Warden/Ranger, and is at present teaching school leavers in Surrey under the Youth Training Scheme.

A. MacLaren is in Perth, Australia, teaching sport and music at Christchurch Grammar School.

N.A. McCulloch is at Guy's Hospital and hopes to qualify next year.

I.M.W. McCulloch is working for Hill 's Fuels in Ledbury and plans to go into the police later. He plays

rugby for Bromyard, as also does Alan Masters.

R.J. McLeod, after working for several months on a Kibbutz in Israel, went up to Oriel College, Oxford.

He took a Second in Hon. Mods inspired by text books passed on from D.A.N.A., and takes Greats this

summer. He rows and skis for the College and sings Gilbert and Sullivan, including a solo part in the

Mikado.

S. Nelson has passed all his 'O'levels, and was awarded a Lloyd prize at Malvern. He is now working for

'A' levels in Chemistry, Biology and Geography. He has been chosen to go on a geographical expedition

to Lapland.

C. Parry is enjoying his time at Lucton and is playing for the U 15s rugby team.

S.D. Perriton is enjoying his first year at Ellesmere College.

D. Richmond plays for the 1st XV rugger, 1st XI soccer and 1st XI cricket at the W.R.G.S. He also holds

the record for the highest score - 122. He was awarded the Sportsman of The Year trophy for 1983 which

was presented by Peter Walker. He plays rugger for the Worcester County U16s, soccer for the Lent

Term Soccer Schools (Central Region Team) and cricket for the Worcester Cricket Association U 16s.

When he has time he is studying for 'A' level Maths, Physics and Industrial Studies, having passed six 'O'

levels.R.W. Stallard is taking 'A' levels at Malvern in the summer, where he is a Library prefect. He is hoping

to go to Sandhurst to take a three year regular a rmy commission.

G. Yule writes from Ellesmere that he has started German and has joined the R.A.F. section of the

C.C.F.

CONGRATULATIONS

(Staff) Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Wales on the birth of a daughter, Holly, at the end of the Autumn

Term. Congratulations also to Mr. & Mrs. Cleary, and Mr. & Mrs. Chandler who have all had daughers,

this year.

GIFTS

We are very grateful to the following for their presents to the school:-

Mr. & Mrs. Baker Rugger and soccer balls.

Mr. & Mrs. Ridley Rope for assault course.

Mr. & Mrs. Trove Bookshelf for hymm books.

Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Truck trolley.

Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Osborne (Yule) Compasses for orienteering.

Mr. & Mrs. Godsall Potatoes for 5th November.

We should also like to thank the many parents who have helped with transport to matches etc.

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MUSIC

During the year the following Associated Board Piano Exams were passed:-

T. Henshaw Grade IJ. Essex Grade I (Merit)

Oliver Saunders Grade I (Merit)

C. Knappett Grade 1 (Merit)

D. Morton Grade 1

N. Richardson Grade 4

P. Gorman Grade 2

T. Wise Grade 5

SNOOKER AND TABLE TENNIS

We entertained St. Richards and Bromsgrove Junior School on two different evenings to matches in

snooker, chess and table tennis.

Against St. Richard's we won the chess 5-0, lost the table tennis 0-2 and won the snooker 3-2.

The Bromsgrove team was brought by the headmaster, J.C. Page, who is an old boy of Aymestrey. We

won all three - chess 6-0, table tennis 5-1 and snooker 2-0.

The table tennis team was Bews, Perriton S., Baker and Rose-Cooper, and MacLaren and Shafto

played snooker.

UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE A LA MONMOUTH (1983)

We took part again in this extremely well run quiz and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The team was

Bews, Rankin, Adams and Knappett. In round one we were defeated by Monmouth Day Boys but as we

were the best losers we went on for another round and were beaten this time by The Downs, Wraxall.

CHESS 1983

Chess has taken off in a big way this year. In January Mr. Knee, master in charge of chess at Malvern

College, kindly came and gave a simultaneous display. We mustered 27 boards, including one intrepid

father. Mr. Knee is a formidable player and it was no surprise that he won all the games but we kept him

at if for three hours!

In the Spring ho lidays Trow, Rankin, Knappett, Hard iman and Goadby attended the I.A.P.S. Chess

Congress at Oxford. There were some 140 prep. school players taking part and our boys gained a great deal

from the course. Five minutes after the whole thing had started Hardiman was reporting his first win!

Matches played 8. Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 1.

Games played 56. Won 41. Drawn 2. Lost 13.

The one match we lost was in the Times Chess Competition when we were knocked out in the

second round. Trow was captain until he left at the end of the summer when Rankin took over. Other boys

who played in the team on a regular basis were Hardiman, Knappett, Goadby, Hill and Bartlett M.

while Cummins, Hanley, Ridley D.L. Richardson N. and Wise T. played in some matches.

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OXFORD CHESS CONGRESS 1983

On the Sunday after breaking up for the Easter holidays we came back to school. There were five of us:-

Trow, captain of the chess team, Rankin, Goadby, Knappett and me (Hardiman).

Trow, Rankin and I went with Mr. Griffith and Goadby and Knappett with Mrs. Griffith. We arrived at the

Dragon School just in time for lunch on Sunday.

Shortly afterwards we played our first game. I was the first to finish so I had to report to the results

room. My game was so quick that the person in the results room hadn't arrived but he soon came.

Trow arrived about 15 minutes later to report that he had won. Trow and I then popped across the road

to our dormitory. We had to pass the kitchen and then go down a long corridor on the right. Our

dormitory was right outside the Matron's office so we had to be very quiet at night or we would have been

punished. We had comics to read, games to play and a nice cosy room. We sat down and played a game of

scrabble for half an hour and then Rankin and Knappett came in to tell us that one had drawn and one had

lost.

The first night's tea was great. We had hot dogs and chocolate spread on bread. The dining room was

very big and we grouped together to plan the rest of the day.

Usually after lunch we would go with Mr. & Mrs. Rankin who had brought their caravan to Oxford, into

the town. We looked at the colleges and then went to the caravan by the River Evenlode and played a game

like cricket, football or a quiz game in the caravan when it rained. We went to the river and launched

twigs and tried to sink them with stones. We had tea in the caravan and then went back to the Dragon School

to play more games. We left Oxford on Thursday.

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FOOTBALL 1983

This season we continued the style of football that has given the team and the rest of the senior game a

good deal of enjoyment over the past few years. Pushing most of the team into attack inevitably results in

goals for one side or the other and as a result provides some entertaining games. The team only

turned in one bad performance, unfortunately that was our only home match, and on one occasion

played well above themselves to produce a remarkable game of football.

It is worth describing this match, away at the Elms, in detail as it conveniently contains all the

important and interesting features of the season. We were fresh from our first win of the season, away

at the Abbey School in Tewkesbury, and having endured the biting cold and lost horizons of their full

size pitch felt a little more confident than we had done at the hands of Winterfold a week before. That

particular fixture consisted mainly of Brodie, our gallant understudy in goal, picking the ball out of

the net.

Two integral parts of this year's pattern of play were using both wings in attack and operating an

offside trap. In the first half against the Elms both these worked fairly well. Baker moved to the right

wing after his success on the left last year and Knappett took the vacant place. Both grew more and more


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confident as the season progressed and against the Elms ran the ball deep and past the defenders. Despite

these frequent attacks they were unable to penetrate until Parry C. at left half suddenly awoke and

powered a long ball diagonally out to Baker on the right. He crossed it towards the far post and after Trow

and Rose-Cooper, the two inside forwards, had both scrambled for it Knappett pushed it in with his left

foot.

Before the second half began the Elms were back in the game when Richardson, who along with Essex

provided their usual solid defence throughout the season, had a minor misunderstanding with MacLarenin goal. Trow had started the season in goal but MacLaren quickly made the position his when Trow was

absent through illness. He proved extremely useful in this game with some brave saves as well as plucking a

back pass, that hit the bar, off the line.

The second half began with ten minutes of torpor, a trait that appeared in several of our games. The

Elms went one goal up. Fortunately under Shafto's silent but effective captaincy the midfield of Hill,

Rankin and Parry C. began to operate again and the tide turned. Hill showed his composure at centre half

in most of the games and was often in the right place to put a carefully weighted pass to the forwards.

Rankin has the makings of being a very useful player and quickly mastered the simpler skills of

his demanding position. When, as against the Elms, Parry C. managed to find his touch and get in his

tackles he too proved to be an effective half-back.

All this renewed pressure, especially down the left wing, at last resulted in a direct free kick on the edge

of the penalty area. Shafto elected to take it himself. He had two remarkable kicks in the 1983 season

among the many skills that he displayed. One of these was the ball he placed so accurately into the back

row of the audience during the play, this free kick was the other. He knocked it up over the defensive

wall, slid it through the goalkeeper's fingers, and watched it drop gently into the back of the goal. The

final score was 2-2.

The game against the Elms combined all the elements that occasionally raise schoolboy football

into something more than fifty minutes of ragged play. The combination of slowly learnt skills and solid

practice is sometimes given another dimension when the players add the enthusiasm that comes from a

true enjoyment of the game.

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The next few years are going to be difficult as the XI will have to rely on younger players without much

experience. Fortunately the middle game have shown plenty of enthusiasm and a couple of them, Williams

and Harper, played well enough to be included in the Open Day match. This game, played in surprising

sunshine, also provided an opportunity for those members of the senior game who had been unable to

hold down a place in Ist. XI to display their skills. Among those who tried very hard to provide a goodstandard of football in our practice games were Bews, Hanley, Brodie, Cummins, Young, Hardiman, Ridley

D. L., and Perriton S.

The colour matches, decided on goal difference, were won by the Blues.

The following were awarded their colours: Knappet t, Hill, Baker, and Richardson. Shafto and

Essex were awarded theirs last season.

RU'A FIOLA SPRING 1983

We travelled by train as usual, but spent a night at a Youth Hostel at Adgarten. Oban was fine,

unusually for spring and the crossing to Ru'a was smooth. Various activities continued on Ru's as usual,

including climbing, abseiling, canoeing etc.

It was the expedition that proved especially interesting this year. Initially all was well on our walk to


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Russian Bay on Scarba, but half way round we observed a storm heading our way. It was decided that

Richardson, Parry and I would rush to the summit, while the others, with Richard, the chief instructor,

would press on. We arrived on top in time to see the storm raging below us while we stood alone on top in

calm clear weather.

We eventually reached the caves, where we were to stay the night, before the other group. By this

time a mighty blizzard was blowing. We spent an interesting, but warm and dry night with the storm raging

all round.

Ru'a was enjoyed by all and our thanks are due to Torquil and Margaret for allowing us to see a

part of the world quite unlike any other.

CRICKET 1983

At the beginning of term it rained and then rained some more. But while the cricket square grew

lush and green we put behind us the miserable conditions of the first two games of the season and wore out

innumerable composition balls on the hard play area; and then we went to Malvern.

We had entered the six-a-side competitions during the winter and discovered that we could field a

soccer, rugby and cricket team. We set off with hopes of an enjoyable afternoon and an early return. Asthe cricket games progressed, however, it became clear that our games on the confines of the hard play

area had equipped us for the peculiarities of the indoor game. We scratched and scrambled our singles,

fielded fearlessly, and bowled with what might be termed imagination. Mysterious schools from distant parts

crumbled before the combined onslaught of MacLaren, Shafto, Rose-Cooper, Baker, Rankin and Hanley

until we found ourselves in the final against the Downs. We lost but came back to school at some late

hour filled with a new confidence. Every game we played in the competition had its moments of tension

and excitement but certain incidents still remain fresh. Due to the regulation that five bowlers had to

be used we decided the best way to conceal Hanley's complete lack of talent as a slow right arm spinner

was to open with him. Not only did he bewilder his opponents as they waited in vain for his good ball,

playing

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all the bad ones with an exaggerated respect, but he also kept taking wickets, including a remarkable

caught and bowled off the ceiling. MacLaren too was responsible for a fine catch flinging himself full

length to take one off the side wall and Rose-Cooper made sure of the semi-final by knocking up a fierce

straight drive off his own bowling and then catching the gentle rebound.

After these excitements the weather began to improve too and gradually, after we had beaten Winterfold in

conditions almost as bad as those in which we had drawn with St. Richard's, we returned to grass. The final

tally of results for the term was played nine, lost one, drawn three, won five.

The most pleasing thing about the season was that it was a genuine team success. If a certain bowler or

batsman failed one of the others was always at hand to revive the side's fortunes or amaze even himself

with a fine piece of fielding. Because this spirit of co-operation and support was so evident it is

possible to discuss the different contributions made by the individuals that made up this excellent side

without detracting from the fact that it was an eleven and not a few players who gave us such an

enjoyable season.

MacLaren, as befitted a captain, was top of the batting averages, top of the bowling averages, andfielded magnificently. At the beginning of the season his bowling action was still producing too little

accuracy but with the dedication and enthusiasm he brought to every aspect of school cricket, from cutting

the pitch to opening the batting, he turned himself into a fast bowler who took his thirty-odd wickets at


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around four runs apiece. Perhaps more remarkable than this is that almost half his overs were

maidens. Equal ly impressive was the fact that he continued to bowl fast and for very long spells even on

the placid batting wickets at The Elms and Abberley. It was in the final match of the season at Abberley

that he also scored an unbeaten fifty-eight. To confound his critics who thought that he tended to hit too

many balls past square on the leg side on this occasion he gained most of his runs on the off. Throughout

his batting in the second half of the season he almost always looked completely at ease and in control of the

situation. To open the bowling and the batting as well as have to think about the captaincy is a great deal

of responsibility for any player at any level of cricket. MacLaren managed to combine all three duringmatches and also devote a great deal of his free time to practising just as hard and so giving the rest of the

team a high standard to live up to.

Hardiman was one of the players in the senior game who benefited from this exposure to good

bowling and batting. Through hard work, and a great deal of cheerful enthusiasm, he made himself into

a very useful opening batsman. By the end of the season he was playing very straight and was much more

confident on the front foot. He was awarded his colours for his dedication in the opening spot and also

the great improvement he made in his fielding: his returns from square leg were almost always fast and

accurate.

The number three batting place was eventually taken by Baker. He quickly made the position his own

and had some very fluent innings particularly when his off drive was flowing. In school matches his

best innings was probably against the Abbey at Tewkesbury when he just missed making a fifty on a pitch

with huge boundaries, but most people will remember his cavalier century in the colour matches

when he smote most of Grey's bowlers all over the South Lawn. He too won his colours for his batting

and was another agile fielder.

Rose-Cooper made a determined effort to discipline his batting and as a result had some attractive

knocks. When he played himself in and sorted out which were the balls to be hit he batted with a great deal

of spirit and usually spread the fielders out to the boundaries. He also was a useful bowler. The occasional

delivery was as fast as MacLaren but it was usually preceeded by a couple of indifferent balls.

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However if he continues to try as hard next season as he has this year he has the potential to be a very

useful player. He was awarded his colours.

Rankin was the stock bowler and proved to be very hard to get away when his left-arm medium pace

from around the wicket found its length. He was another tireless performer who was prepared to bowl

over after over regardless of the heat, or rain. His enthusiasm for bowling, whether in matches or practice,

was matched by his dedication to improve as a batsman. Unfortunately as the top of the batting order

flourished he could only set some sort of record as being the batsman most of ten padded up who didn' t

go in. However his abilities should find him up the order next year and the ever-increasing weight of

the bats he uses in practice should find an opportunity to score some runs. He was awarded his colours.

Shafto had another excellent season as wicket-keeper. He coped very well with the varieties of pace that

he had to face and in most matches let very few byes past. He will probably be very pleased to see the

emergence of Knappett as a potential left-arm spinner as this will enable him to get back into a regular

stumping routine. After an initial tendency at the start of the season to believe that every ball bowled at

him was destined to be swung over mid-wicket's head he settled down to become a very correct batsman.

Along with the rest of the side he was a good runner between the wickets and contributed some very useful

stands. Once again he was a constant presence at practice in the evenings and finished the season with some

of the more subtle arguments for being asked to pad up and bat.


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Trow was a fairly dependable middle order batsman who suffered like the rest of the lower order from not

having enough match practice due to the success of their fellows. His colours were awarded rather like a long

service medal. As in so many other school sporting activities Trow has been in the team for a long time and

has always tried his hardest in whatever position he has found himself.

Hanley, who always looked surprised when not asked to bowl again after Malvern, batted with a

great deal of zest in practice and proved himself capable of hitting the ball great distances. He remained a

cheerful member of the side even though he had very few opportunities to bat.

Richardson was another lower order batsman who worked hard on his technique in practice and should

have an opportunity to prove himself next year. He was a valuable fielder this year taking some excellent

catches at point.

Cummins too proved a useful fielder taking two stunning catches in the last two matches a skier in the

Father's and a very firmly hit drive at mid-off to dismiss Abberley's number three. His batting too improved.

Parry at number eleven also had little chance to demonstrate his improved batting but always fielded

with enthusiasm and his long throws from the long leg boundary usually found their target.

As always a successful team needs a good deal of practice and it is always a great help if the rest of the

senior game can provide some opposition outside the eleven. This year McGorman, Young, Knappett

and Essex helped to provide some stubborn batting and useful bowling. The middle game also producedParry A. and Dowthwaite as potential players for the coming seasons.

To summarise such a successful season as this year's is very difficult as everybody will hold different

memories but the overwhelming impression is one of a team that grew in confidence so that they were able

to pace their game precisely. The run chases against the Ferrets and Moffats that achieved wins with a few

minutes to spare particularly stand out as examples of this maturity and the steady batting against the

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unfamiliarity of Abberley's spin attack to achieve a good draw showed how far the team had come from

the wet days of May.

The real success of the season, however, with all its marvellous moments was to have a school team

enjoying itself by playing cricket to the best of their combined abilities. Whatever the results, if the players

manage to achieve that, then they have been a good team.

SWIMMING

For the first time for many years we had some good weather at the end of term and as a result everyone

in the school was able to swim a minimum of half a length by the end. In the distance awards Shafto,

Terry, Saunders, Foster, Trow and McGorman swam 1000m., C. Parry and Young 1500 and N.

Richardson 2000m. These are no mean achievements in our cold water. We find that boys who have

passed Bronze, or even Silver survival in a heated pool can hardly swim when they come here. Foster,

Young, Adams, J. Taylor, Trow and K. Bartlett gained Bronze survival, and Terry, Essex, T. Wise, N.

Richardson and McGorman Silver survival.

ATHLETICS

The enthusiasm for cricket throughout the school was so great this year that Athletics became the


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poor relation and very few good results were achieved. However, in the Under 10 Bartlett M. gained

4 star Pentathlon and N. Richardson in the Under 13 5 star in both three events and Pentathlon.

FETE FOR CHURCH

The Church Fete was held here this year while our campers were away and naturally this involved

the school. The boys ran various competitions on the east lawn, the local cubs did a war dance on the

south lawn and Mr. Richardson ran the clay pigeon shoot. The most popular stall with out boys, after theice cream one, was Mrs. Edward's portraits. The church made over 500 towards the roof repairs.

CAMP 1983

This year camp turned out to be one of the hottest so far. We sweated our way from breakfast to lunch

and on to tea. As a result we tended to avoid the middle of the day for our activities.

Due to our new timing our ascent of Radnor Firest started at 7 a.m. on Sunday. We reached the summit,

without being attacked in fly alley or buzzed by trail bikes, by 9.20 a.m. and were back in camp and asleep

by 11.45 a.m. Every year we appear to outdo the last on our expedition, but this year proved to be the most

remarkable.

However, it is the people who count and it is they who provide the best memories. Who can forget Gleed's

up to the minute commentary on every passing train or Trove's evening camp fire antics, complete with

his own special brand of humour. Shafto will be remembered for his look of fear before the second line of

the ghost story had been told and MacLaren for his aggressive batting in our non-stop cricket match. Some,

such as Hanley, discovered that they really could herd sheep, although for Brodie it turned out to be a

busman's holiday. Fine sunsets gave Bews the chance to use his camera al though we have not

13

se en th e re su lt s ye t, wh il e Hi ll enjoyed smashing his eggs everywhere but in the frying pan,

at breakfast. Parry made great use of the f irst aid t in while Yule went one bet ter by

be in g at tac ked by a Yeti which flung him into a nettlebed. The mystery guest provided us with

the ul t imate mystery by not turning up!

Finally we are most greteful to Mr. & Mrs. Green Price for their help and kindness.

CAROLS

When you go down the blanketed stairs for the first time in your life and turn the corner to see 160 parentsstaring at you, a cold feeling goes through your body as the last note of Adeste is sung you sense everyone

looking at you.

When I first went to Carols I was red in the face all the way through. When you forget the words in 'Il est

ne' you expect to be blown up but when Carols is over nobody says anything! It is probably because the

others made mistakes as well.

A ten year old member of the choir.

RUGBY 1983

After a glorious summer of cricket and sun the grass suddenly grew in September and with some timely

rain the rugby pitch was in fine shape for the start of the season. It seemed that the omens were

favourable. When the team trooped off the pitch in the mud at the end of the last remarkable match ending

the season with 235 points for and 58 against the early promise had been fulfilled beyond most of our


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dreams.

The games we played were divided sharply into two groups: those against the schools we usually play

at rugby on relatively even terms - St. Richards's, The Elms and St. Michael's and those larger ones -

such as Abberley, Hawford and Winterfold who appear to have more pitches than we have players. It

is a mark of the team's success that we beat the first group convincingly, conceeding only 6 points

when we played our 'A' team against St. Richard's for the second game, and against the other group beat

Hawford 33-4, lost by 6 points to Abberley, and only missed revenging Winterfold's 14-0 victory by losing16-14 in the replay. Their last and crucial points being scored well into a curious period of extra time.

The roots of this success may be traced in several different directions. Much of the team's resolute

stubborness and determination goes back to the days when we have had weaker teams who, despite their

failure to run up large scores - or any scores at all, have played as hard as they were able determined to

enjoy defeat as well as victory. For players like Shafto who have endured those lean years good humouredly

this season's success was all the more deserving. This year in particular a great deal was also due to the

constant use of the hard play area. Rugby began after breakfast for most of the senior game and the

seemingly endless number of passes, sprints and more sprints to be toiled through or logs to be carried built

up an enviable fitness that was always superior to our opponents. But most of all, perhaps, it was

the same enthusiasm and hard work that had transformed the cricket team that pulled the rugby

players to higher levels as a team and not individuals.

With the early morning training sessions break and games were both usually used to play practice matches

14

so the senior game had plenty of opportunities to try out various combinations and match themselves

against different opponents. With few injuries the side was usually the same for most games. The

front row had Rankin hooking supported by Foster and Brodie. The latter two were notable for not

only being strong and solidly built but also remarkably fast for their size. Brodie was the secondhighest try scorer with 8 and Foster also scored with a piece of quick thinking in the 'A' team match

against St. Richard's. These facts are ample testimony to their speed and fitness. Brodie had been

reluctant to move from the second row. By the end of the season most of his opponents in the

scrummage would probably have preferred him to stay there. The penalty that he developed at the

end of the season and practised gleefully on the rest of the game also inculcated a newrespect intoother forwards and made them seek urgent business elsewhere on the pitch. Foster rapidly gained his

promotion to the team, kept his place and won his colours. By the last game of the season the whole XV

had been awarded colours. Rankin's hooking was only really ever matched by the Winterfold

team and his all round ability was demonstrated by kicking 16 points in conversions, scoring a try as

hooker, playing centre for the 'A' team and dropping a goal against St. Michael's. At the lineout his

throwing was usually accurate and he led the forwards in the loose play with positive determination.

The second row of McGorman and Perriton underwent an interesting transformation as

McGorman rapidly lost all his surplus weight and assumed the speed of his partner while Perriton

seemed to match him in strength. They too deserved their colours for their consistent driving play.

The flankers were Harper and Dowthwaite. The latter was usually the smallest player on the

pitch but his speed from the scrummage and his commitment made him as valuable a member of

the side as Harper who was also sharp at the set pieces and fast to the ball. Hanley's play at no. 8 was a

good example of how an intelligent appraisal of the game can easily compensate for a slight physique.

In the lineout he dominated with his well-timed jumps and safe handling and by knowing when to break

early from the scrummage he was able to add another dimension to the half backs' play. He scored three

tries - one of which was a well planned pushoever from a five yard scrum.

As a pack, which is how any successful team will always hope to see its forwards, they kept solidlytogether, had intelligent variations at kick-offs and penalties and were particularly devastating

in the ruck. Their ability to convert loose ball and scrappy handling into well protected possession for


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their half backs was a vital part in the team's progress to being a very good side.

MacLaren at scrum half seemed to improve in every game. As his confidence increased with the fast hook

of Rankin and intelligent feed of McGorman, Perriton and Hanley his distribution became more and more

impressive. His long pass often surprised the opposition as it went straight to the centres and his dummy

helped him collect three tries for the side. As one of the trio of successful place kickers he added another ten

points with conversions and was unlucky at St. Michael's to see his drop kick hit the post.

Shafto's drop kicking, which he used to collect six conversions, also entertained as he entered into a

slight confectionary wager with the coach that he couldn't score a drop goal - not a conversion - with

both his left foot and his right. He duly managed the feat and finished the season with four drop goals to

his credit to match his four tries. Apart from this stylish ability to collect three points - often under the close

attention of the other side - his running was even stronger than in past years and his passing and handling

was often almost flawless. His captaincy also matured and he showed that he could ensure that the team

played attractive rugby whatever the situation.

15

Rose-Cooper a t ins ide cent re bui l t on las t year ' s exper ience and developed in to a

formidable tackler and intelligent back. His running, selfless supply of ball both ou tsi de an d to

Richardson on the burst were a lways valuable and h is presence in the midf ie ld was

a reassuring e lement in the back l ine. He scored twice but would have amassed a far

larger personal total if he had not been so concerned with ensuring the te am , an d not hi ms el f ,

bene fite d. William s o utsi de him, who also scor ed twic e, benefited from his partner's

skill and dedication and earned his colours through hard work. Knappett and Essex on the wingsreceived a good deal of the ball and ma de go od us e o f i t. Es se x w as pa rt ic ul ar ly us ef ul as

he co ul d be sw it ch ed to an y position when injuries prevented players filling their places. He

scored four tries and was a very rel iable member of the team. Knappett once again

showed his speed and also a formidable tackle that toppled many a giant in his stride. Richardson

made the transition from prop to full-back with ease. For a big player he was not only strong but also

well co-ordinated and fast. To his credit, and that of the side, he ne ve r do mi nat ed th e tea m bu t

wa s a n i nt eg ra l p ar t o f i t. Hi s s pe ed fr om de fe nc e, where he caught, gathered and tackled

well, to attack was particularly impressive and he sco re d se ver al of his ten tri es fro m

strong runs coming through the back l ine between or outs ide the cent res .

Terry and Hardiman also played for the school and tried their hardest on all occasions. Hardiman

played on the wing in the 'A' team and scored twice . Cummins also scored on this occasion and all

the players drafted into the side took the opportunity of playing for the school with greatenthusiasm. Saunders, Goadby, Parry, Everitt, Adams and Wise all played in the forwards and deserved

to be part of a winning team.

Such a successful season brings back many memories - there will be some very boring reminiscences in

future Old Boys' days. But it is satisfying to think that such high points as Richardson's run in the first

Winterfold match, Shafto, Maclaren and Rankin swapping positions to do their party pieces at St.

Michael's, Brodie's penalties and Hanley's jumping at Hawford and Rose-Cooper's team doing

impossible feats on the hard play area, and most of all the magnificent effort in the last game at home

against Winterfold when we scored 14 points and hung on grimly against all their counter attackes until it

seemed that the game should be ours; all these were the products of endless enthusiasm and

determination on the players' part however hard things became. Because of this it was a marvellous team

to coach and one that gained the respect of all the schools we played.

Once again we were also fortunate in our supporters who provided so much transport and


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intelligent appreciation. The treat they provided for the team at the end of term was a generous addition

to all they had already contributed.

The middle game underwent a hard apprenticeship this term and it took some of its members a long

time to discover that nothing comes without a great deal of hard work. But although they may not reach

the heights of this year's team Reynolds, Brining, Gurney, Jaeger D., Bartlett M., Maher and Taylor S. -

who was substitute for the 'A' team - should be able to supply some of the same spirit if not the same

ski l l s .

16

Winners - 1984 Worcestershire Prep School 6-a-side Soccer Tournament.

aymestrey magazine 1984

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