TGS magazine 1972
THORPE GRAMMAR SCHOOL MAGAZINE 1972
EDITORIAL
In the hectic final days of the summer term, some may have wondered fleetingly about the school magazine – was it to be published at all this year. Well, yes, here it is, deliberately deferred to mid-autumn so that, for the first time, we can record the entire school year, and, for instance, trace what happened in the cricket season to the end. This seemed to us to make sense, and we hope that the change meets with your approval.
On the other hand this magazine does demand a certain adaptability from members of the school, for by the time they are reading these articles, everybody has moved on to the next form, the most senior pupils have left, and the new first formers are not yet represented. Their opportunity will come in the next issue, but in the meantime they should certainly learn a great deal about the school they have just joined from these pages.
Perhaps the most significant innovation is the increase in writing by members of the school. Each year-group, focussing on a central theme, has worked at its own feature, and in this way many more pupils are represented. In a fuller sense than ever before, this is YOUR magazine.
SURVEY
Regular reports by the Headmaster to the Governing Body, and on some public occasions, indicate continuance of co-operation with St Andrew’s School. In each establishment, pressure on rooms, on the field, on all facilities, continues to become more difficult, but is faced with a cheerful spirit. The number of mobile classrooms in autumn 1973 should be sixteen all told, but our neighbours were three short, and we as yet lack some furniture. Supply difficulties always exist. The work put in especially during school holidays, by cleaners and groundsmen and other workmen, is absolutely first-rate in keeping our surroundings attractive and clean. The very careful organisation and unfailing cheerfulness of the kitchen ladies with their assorted tasks sometimes regrettably appears to be taken for granted, but to serve, as they do, nearly 950 attractive and nutritious lunches daily in just one hour and a quarter is fine achievement.
In lessons we have continued intensive use of the Language Laboratory, and German has been introduced as the first foreign language for some pupils. There has been the introduction of Combined Science for First (and now for Second) Forms. Advanced level sciences and Mathematics are all changing in content and in methods. Modern History in the Sixth Form is parallel to comparably intensive study of the Seventeenth Century. Art, Music and Drama are demanding and lively and successful, while minority studies and crafts still offer a wide range of possible interest for seniors.
Results in public examinations included a good proportion of Grade 1 passes in CSE, especially Human Biology and sixty four Grade 1 passes in GCE O’ level. Girls in this examination obtained an average of just over six passes each, boys just under five.
Thirteen Grade A passes were obtained at A’ level, with four distinctions in special papers. Michael Goodyear’s result was outstanding in that it included three of the former and two of the latter reaching the very high standard of the provisional offer made to him by Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
STAFF
As the number of pupils goes on the growing, so fortunately, does the number of teachers. Correspondingly there are more changes of staff.
Mr Heighes, after 13 years of dedicated work, inside and outside the classroom, left in July 1972. Miss Price after five terms very energetically spent, left at Easter, expecting shortly to go to Australia. Mrs Bray took over Miss Price’s work for the summer term, but has now moved to Sprowston. Mr Ruddock, with a Rotary Foundation Scholarship for postgraduate work in Nigeria, will be away for a year. Valued guidance came also from teachers who have left after being with us on part-time basis for varying periods: Mrs Flynn, Mrs Morris, and Mrs Aslin.
Foreign language assistants for the year were Herr H. Dietze, who shared his time between Thorpe and Wymondham and Mlle O Sarcy. In the present term Fraulein Bulach and Monsieur Giroud join us for similar tasks. Their ‘real-life’ contact with small groups of pupils is always helpful informally as well as in improving the particular language.
New members of staff in September 1971 were:
Mr E.D. Hills (UEA and York University) for English;
Miss J. Ward from Gloucestershire College of Education for Domestic Subjects;
Mrs E. Dane from Sibford School for English and Drama;
Mrs S. Duncan from London for French;
Mr T.F. Nicholson from Sheffield University for Physics;
Miss M.E. Manning from Zambia for RE;
Mrs A. Pitcher from Wymondham College for Mathematics. When she left in January 1972 she was replaced by
Mr D. Gamble, from UEA.
When Mr de Wever left (not permanently, we hope) Mrs Mason equally expertly took on his classes for the rest of the year.
In the present term we welcome Mrs Donovan (part-time) for French; Mrs Moore, from Cambridge University, for German; Mrs Lincoln, from Cardiff, and Mr Lewis, from Framingham Earl, for RE; Miss J. Booker, from Manchester University for History; Mrs J. Everett from Loddon School, for PE; Mr C.M. Rowe, from Exeter University, for English; and Mr L. Davies, from a large comprehensive school in Bristol as Deputy Head with special responsibility for the Junior School.
Teaching staff appreciate the support given by others and we record gratefully the work being done by Miss S. Adams and Miss J. Carey in Laboratories, and by Mr Phillips as Assistant Caretaker, since they joined us, alongside the longer service workers of whom Mr Camm is the most senior. Mr Reeve retired at Christmas, and the whole field, especially the cricket square, bore testimony to his devoted work. We are delighted to see him often, always active, still in Thorpe.
F.P.B.
OBITUARY
The late Canon Frank Jolley MA became a member of the Governing Body of the school when he came to Thorpe St Andrew as Rector in 1959. He was Chairman for five years. Canon Jolley’s own intellectual power was attested for example by the evening classes in Philosophy which he took at the school. As a Governor, and especially as Chairman, he always showed a clear awareness of which were the important issues. He and Mrs Jolley, as a matter of personal commitment, were aware of very many matters concerning school, staff – of all kinds – and pupils. His support and judgement were a strength to the Headmaster and to the whole community.
Mr John McKenna and his family were well-known musicians in City and County over a long period. Very soon after the school moved to Thorpe Mr McKenna was among the early visiting specialist instrumental teachers, and even after his official retirement he continued to come regularly to help his pupils, until failing health prevented him.
He will long be remembered for his personal encouragement and skill in drawing the best out of young learners. They had for him a respect, affection and admiration which his modesty said was undeserved, yet which arose from his whole character.
Mrs Pearce died in August. We offered such sympathy as we could to Mr Pearce, while sharing (a little) his loss.
MUSIC
Music in the school continues to flourish and expand. The basic aims during the last four years apart from maintaining high standards have to some extent been realised; those aims are to involve more boys in the music making of the school, and to increase the number of competent string players. It is gratifying to see that the number of string players in the school now exceeds seventy, and next year the first orchestra will have eight first violinists and eight seconds, while the second orchestra will have no less than twenty-six. In order to prevent large ‘gaps’ occurring in the orchestra, a six-year plan was put into operation two years ago. It became essential that every year certain children from the new entrants should learn an instrument so that there would be at least eight to twelve string players, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets and one bassoon, with the same number on each of the brass instruments. Unfortunately, there are now many more pupils wishing to learn instruments than we have instruments or teaching time for.
The autumn term had as its focal point the Carol Service, held in Norwich Cathedral on Thursday, December 16th, 1971. This event involved most of the music groups in the school, the Senior Choir, the Middle, Junior and Boys’ Choir, together with the orchestra. The Service began with the very popular ‘Ding, Dong! Merrily on High’, which was followed by the choirs and congregation singing four traditional carols accompanied by the organ and orchestra. Appropriate readings were interspersed with these carols. The Middle School Choir sang two very effective carols ‘The Angels and the Shepherds’ (Traditional Bohemian) and ‘The Three Drovers’ (W.G. James) with instrumental ensemble. The main musical work in the Service was the ‘Magnificat’ by Antonio Vivaldi, sung by the Senior Choir accompanied by an instrumental ensemble augmented by friends of the school. The solo verse ‘Et Exultavit’ was sung very beautifully by Simon Cullum and Mark Santo (treble) with the tenor section given a professional rendering by Mr Richard White. The Senior Choir sang two chorales from ‘Hodie’ by R. Vaughan Williams, ‘This Blessed Son’ and ‘No Sad Thought His Soul Affright’, and these were followed by ‘Sleep in Peace O Heavenly Child’ by Michael Haydn (brother of the famous Joseph Haydn). Finally, before the Prayers and Benediction given by the Vice-Dean, Canon Gilbert Thurlow, the choirs and congregation joined to sing ‘O Come All Ye Faithful’, with the special descant written by the former Music Director Mr B. Burrell, which brought the Service to a resounding finish.
The Senior Choir has grown in strength over the last two years, so that the membership now totals eighty. This enables us to attempt such works as the ‘Stabat Mater’ of Verdi, one of the four ‘Pezzi Sacri’, and a Bach Cantata ‘Christ Lay in the Bonds of Death’, which were all items included in our Spring Concert. The Choir also performed a smaller work, the ‘Jubilate Deo’ by Gabrieli. This work consists of two echo choirs accompanied by two choirs of brass. As a tremendous amount of effort and dedication had gone into the preparation of this programme it was decided to give two performances, one at the Church of St Peter Mancroft, by kind permission of Canon Westwood, and the other in our own school hall. The second performance included Psalm 150 (Benjamin Britten) sung by the lower school choirs and accompanied by the first orchestra. A highlight of this concert was the Concerto for Viola and Orchestra by G. Telemann, played very ably by Jane Guymer, who leaves us this year to study music at a college in Colchester. We are grateful to Jane for all the help she has given in the school and we wish her every success.
It was at this concert that the newly formed Wind Band made its debut under the direction of Mr C. King. This well-disciplined group played three works: ‘Evening in the Village’ by Bartok, Finale from the Cantata Number 207 by Bach, and a Bohemian Dance. We hope that this group of thirty-six players will become a regular feature of our school concerts.
The school is now one of the centres for the Associated Board Examinations and this year we have had commendable results with Graham Tebby and David Powell (Bassoon and Tuba respectively) gaining high distinctions for Grade VI; we offer our congratulations to them both.
During the spring term two trips to London were organised to see the Sadler’s Wells Opera at the Coliseum. On February 10th we saw an excellent performance of ‘Cavalleria Rusticana’ and ‘I Pagliacci’, and the other party saw ‘Carmen’ on March 9th. It is hoped that we can arrange more parties for the opera next season.
DRAMA
Three important activities in the Lower School have been the Junior Choir, Second Orchestra, and the Recorder Groups. The Junior Choir with a membership of sixty girls has been very enthusiastic, and the autumn term programme consisted of unison songs and carols in preparation for the Carol Service and Spring Concert. In March this year the Junior Choir took part in the Area Festival held at St Andrew’s School where they sang ‘Cargoes’ by Martin Shaw, and in the Norfolk Festival held in St Andrew’s Hall. They are to be congratulated on being awarded a second-class certificate for their performance of Handel’s ‘O Lovely Peace’, as this was the first time the Choir had taken part in this Festival. The Second Orchestra provides a valuable training for the future members of the First Orchestra, and has rehearsed regularly every Wednesday afternoon. This orchestra took part in the Area Festival, joining forces with the orchestra of St Andrew’s School to play the ‘Andante’ by Haydn, and the ‘March of the Priests’ by Mendelssohn. Next year the Second Orchestra will become a string orchestra only, and the woodwind and brass, who are on the whole more advanced, will join the Wind Band. Finally, the Recorder Groups have been meeting every Wednesday during the lunch hour, and under the careful guidance of Mrs Aslin have been prepared for Trinity College examinations and the Norfolk County Festival.
It only remains to say that it is hoped that more pupils will take the opportunity of making music in the many activities now available.
The year 1971-1972 was a most productive and exciting time for drama in the school, not only as part of the general scheme of teaching but also as a popular extra-curricular activity. In the Lower School Mrs Dane has been running a club for the 1st and 2nd Years, and Mr Hills has been responsible for the 3rd Year club, both of which have been mainly concerned with improvisation and the creative and expressive aspects of drama work. Incidentally any pupil interested in drama should contact Mrs Dane or Mr Hills, as the clubs will be continued this year.
In May, the 3rd Year group worked very hard on a programme called ‘Adolescence’ which they performed at Hoveton for the Fringe Festival. Robert Buck, one of those playing in the group, has written a first-hand account of the event: ‘The evening of Friday May 19th was important for the members of TGS Junior Dramatic Society, for this was the occasion on which they were to appear at Hoveton Village Hall and present their production on the theme of Adolescence compiled by Mr Hills.
About an hour before the performance the whole production unit consisting of fifteen actors (Mostly actresses), producer and technicians arrived. The props (four chairs, a table and lights) had been taken some time earlier. Then all moved backstage to dress and make-up for their first scenes. At this time the hall was empty, but half an hour later when most of the performers were ready almost two people had arrived and occupied almost two seats. A quarter of an hour later when we were undergoing last minute rehearsals the audience had nearly doubled. Two minutes before curtain up all were ready, but tense and nervous: the seven girls in the first sketch were on stage, the opening music (Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring, Dance of the Adolescents) crescendoed then faded away until it became a series of thuds, bangs, swishes and murmurs, the curtains opened, and at last all could see what the noise was about.
Six girls were playing various children’s games on the stage. Then another appeared bouncing a ball, and they stopped, grouped themselves together, and began the ‘Bouncing Song’, putting the actions to the lines and finishing by throwing the ball into the wings, almost in disgust. Lights faded, and a boy came on holding a ball. He sat down and began to tell of the viscous circle of events which makes up adolescence. Then there was a blackout – as happened between most scenes – and when the lights came on again one could see a girl looking like someone from outer space, perched on top of a step-ladder, and impersonating a caterpillar. The typical, innocent, nursery-looking, curious Alice walked on, eyeing the insect from all sides, but was greeted by the harsh-voiced caterpillar with the question which teases adolescents, "Who are you?"
So scene succeeded scene, exposing the feelings of guilt, the fears and anxieties of those growing up, until the final moments when the actors were grouped around a young man who reflected on his younger days.
The JP gave verdict and passed sentence – "A superb series of sketches, but guilty of being – a series of sketches".’
Amongst the many other activities organised for the Lower School a special mention should be given to the 2nd Year pantomimes which took place just before the Christmas break. This project was particularly interesting in that the final pieces which were performed in front of all the Second Years were linked to work done in the classroom.
The Upper School has also made a considerable contribution. At Christmas a group of the Lower Sixth produced a lively version of a Christmas Mummers’ Play, which was very well received. At about the same time the Upper Sixth organised a pantomime as an entertainment for the First Year Party.
However, the laurel must really go to a group of the Lower Sixth who earned much respect when they staged a memorable and mature performance of Chekhov’s ‘The Cherry Orchard’. This play is an extremely difficult undertaking for young players in the sense that it demands a certain maturity of experience and ability. At first the actors did indeed find the play difficult, but weeks of hard work and considerable patience saw the play taking shape, and as a result the actors’ self-confidence began to increase. It was only towards the end of rehearsals that they realised how much they were achieving in terms of the understanding of the technicalities of theatre and, most important of all, of the human themes the play expressed. Once the music, the costumes, the lighting, the sets and the make-up were worked into the total undertaking, they were able to see for themselves exactly what they were creating.
The main public performance was excellent. Each player was conscious of the occasion and the complete understanding of each other’s movements and adopted personalities was particularly admirable. A great deal was learnt of the satisfaction and awareness to be gained by working together – actors, musicians, painters and designers, and technicians – on a venture of this kind, where group sensitivity is so essential.
Finally, I should like to draw your attention to this year’s drama production, ‘The Insect Play’ by Karel Capek. It is being produced by Mrs Dane, and will be performed on the 7th, 8th and 9th of December. Book early!
CHARITY REPORT
This year was the most successful in the school’s history from the point of view of our efforts for charity, and much of this success can be attributed to the efforts of Miss Manning, and a group of sixth-formers, some of whom can be seen in the picture which accompanies this report. The facts speak for themselves: in the year 1971-72 a target of a mile of pennies was set – this represented a total of £750. By the end of the summer term the amount raised was £755, and it was distributed amongst the following charities: The Simon Community Trust; Bishop Herbert House for Handicapped People; the Iona Community; The Africa Evangelical Fellowship (for Leper Work); Action for the Crippled Child; Shelter; Oxfam; Save the Children Fund; and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
This fine total was achieved in a number of ways. Many members of the school took part in ‘Multi-Marathons’, some of twelve hours’ duration, and some of twenty-four hours, involving such diverse activities as football, table-tennis, Gospel-writing, disc playing, chess dancing, and various other games. At other times forms made and sold cakes, sweets and cool drinks, and offered services such as car and shoe cleaning. Sponsored activities included three-legged races, swimming, fishing, walking, cycling, snowballing, trampoline bouncing and silence! Christmas cards were sold, newspapers were collected, and competitions were organised, ranging from guessing the number of Smarties in a jar to establishing the identity of members of staff from baby photographs which they supplied. All these activities, to which can be added the ‘straight’ giving of money for those less fortunate than ourselves, resulted in the reaching and passing of the ambitious target figure set at the beginning of the year.
On the 10th July, practically the whole of the First Form made the journey to the British Museum to visit the exhibition of ‘Treasures of Tutankhamun’. Janet Higham of Form 1Y records this impression:
"’Three hours beyond this point’ – read the notice. We groaned inwardly and resigned ourselves to a long wait.
We were all excited at the prospect of seeing treasures almost 3000 years old, and we were all getting impatient. Some had bought magazines at the museum entrance and looked at those. I had not bought one, so I tried peering over shoulders, but it wasn’t much use.
I looked around me, thinking how impressive the place looked. With its great pillars it looked rather like a temple. Between the front pillars three banners were strung up announcing the exhibition, with Egyptian lettering on a lovely yellow background.
We waited for about half an hour in this manner – only half an hour because we had booked. This we were relieved to hear. We walked into the museum, past notices in English, then French, then German, and tried out our knowledge of the languages.
We shuffled in a queue through an exhibition of the ancient world, and by this time I was thoroughly fed up, so by the time we started to go through the Tutankhamun Exhibition I’d lost some of my keenness.
Inside it was hot, crowded and dark. Darkness was supposed to represent the tomb, but to me it did not give the effect at all because the exhibits were shown in extremely modern settings. But they were beautiful. I thought the jewellery especially wonderful, and the miniature statues of Tutankhamun. The gold mask was the last thing we saw: it showed a beautiful gold face with a headdress of blue and gold. Then we came out, groaning at the crowds, and marvelling at the exhibits".
When we went to the Tutankhamun Exhibition, the Present came face to face with the Past. So it is in this First Form writing, which ranges from thoughts and fantasies about Prehistory, to modern experiences – fearful and funny – of a number of first formers. We hope you find it interesting and enjoyable.
TRAVELLING THROUGH TIME
AS IT WAS IN THE BEGINNING…
On the rock sleeps the small lizard, small but fierce-some in its features. The confused background noises of small mammals blend with the sounds of battles – one in particular: the Battle Royal.
This battle concerns all reptiles, for this, the battle of the two Kings will decide who is going to rule their lives for another decade, or maybe forever more.
The small lizard wakes on its rock, the foundation stone of later villages when Man appears, in the Act of the massive killings, Act Five of the Drama of the World. On this rock will be founded ‘Old Catton’ – meaningless name to these Kings in Act One.
These two lash each other with thick, immense spurs on tremendous heels, great kings each mauling the other, drawing blood and giving blood. The sun, a young sun as yet, sets, and still the Battle Royal continues, until…
The victor screeches out his triumph.
The lizard, still on his rock, stares sleepily into the empty sky.
Katherine Manning, Form 1Y
THE CARBONIFEROUS AGE
Dank and humid jungle –
Drops of moisture hit the warm, muddy earth with a dead sound,
No echo here;
All is silent.
But, listen –
The distant flap of musty and cracked wings,
And the constant dripping from the huge leaves
Infested with poisonous spiders,
scorpions, and giant dragonflies:
There is a primeval Silence between each sound,
Like waiting for a thunderstorm
That never comes.
T. Taylor, Form 1Y
BOAR HUNT
It was a cold, bleak morning in the Saxon village of Tortmelt. My horse stamped his hoof and shook his long, flaxen mane. He was ready for the grand boar hunt and was telling me so. I shivered and pulled my thick cloak tightly around my shoulders. I wasn’t looking forward to this hunt. I was scared of the boars.
I, the son of the great Saxon chieftain, Tarkar, was scared! How shameful! Yet I had been scared of them from the age of eight when one charged at me after I had disturbed its den. I had escaped unharmed, but very fearful.
My father gave a cry that was the signal for the hunt to start. I said a silent prayer to Thor, god of courage, to give me the pluck to prove myself a man worth of my father’s place.
We started off at a brisk trot along the road which was just earth hardened by the start frost. Then one of the hounds spoke and we were off at a steady gallop. For a moment I forgot my fear and enjoyed the exciting chase.
Then the boar came into view. He looked noble and fierce. I didn’t want to kill him. Why should I! He hadn’t been doing any damage. Then I saw he had a huge gash across his back. I realised that he was in pain and could not survive in the wild. I would be able to kill him and relieve him of his pain.
He started to charge at me, so I charged at him as if jousting, he with his tusks, I with my spear. He drew closer and closer. His eyes were bright and fierce and he was maddened with pain. My stomach turned over as I prepared to spear him.
Thud! My spear sank into his heart and he fell to the ground. He squealed, his eyes twitched, and his body went limp. He was dead. A cry of praise rang from all around.
I gulped and clutched tightly to the pommel of my saddle. My father’s servant put the boar on the pack-pony, and we rode back to the village… As we galloped along I realised that though I had been scared before, now I had lost all fear.
Shirley Clarke, Form 1S
MYSTERY
The human race,
Master of Earth,
Is very strange.
Growing from primitive self,
Calling himself intelligent,
But is he?
Building houses and factories,
Polluting the world –
Air, sea and land –
The race calls it ‘development’;
Should we, I wonder?
Reaching out to the stars in search of – what?
Savagery is in the past, he says,
Or is it?
Playfully he watched the fox die at his hand.
M.Hill,Form 1W
THE WORLD BETWEEN WORLDS
Floating, flying, it is nothing like that in the world of space,
Of what you will meet you cannot be certain,
You can look upon worlds, worlds of things that you were sure could not happen.
What is this? A city, animals, people, all have been caught in the trap of time;
The air is so vastly different from earth’s,
The air smells of unworldly fruit, things indescribable,
Things that cannot be put into words.
Now it is time –
I have to leave the world between worlds,
Never to go there till time pleases.
Lynda Reeve, Form 1B
IT HAPPENED TO ME…
Experiences of eight First Formers
My Mum and I were going on a day excursion to Felixstowe, organised by Mascot Coaches, and as we got our tickets at the Bell Avenue headquarters the man told us, to my satisfaction, that there would be a half-way stop for the passengers to go to the loo.
We travelled for about an hour, then we made the stop at a place called Yoxford. I got out very quickly, for I was desperate, then discovered to my horror that there were no ‘Gentlemen’ or ‘Ladies’ signs on the walls. So I said, ‘Eeny, meeny, miney, mo!’ and chose the one on the right.
In I went, but soon found I had picked the wrong one. Red-faced, I crept out, and as I emerged I saw a man scratching his head and holding two signs, one with ‘Gentlemen’ written on, and one inscribed ‘Ladies’. Seeing me emerging from the right-hand room, he put the ‘Gentlemen’ sign on it, and as I went on to Felixstowe, I thought of the confusion of later men and women who passed that way.
R. Lee, Form 1D
I was on holiday in Scotland on my uncle’s farm, and was helping to collect the eggs from the hen houses. They had over eight hundred hens and two cockerels. I had fetched the hose and filled the trough with water, while nearby stood the elder cockerel, quite obviously in charge.
I spoke gently to him as I slowly walked up to the tap. Just as I was turning the tap off, the cockerel flew at me.
I charged as fast as I could to the gate where I knew I should find refuge. Over the rough ground I went with a terrifying cockerel flying after me. I had heard of people being pecked to death by birds, and I wasn’t going to be one of them! I got to the gate and I leapt over into the stinging nettles at the other side. I was safe!
I laugh about it now, but I will never forget it. And neither will he, because the next day he was in the deep freeze, ready for Christmas!
Anne Thompson, Form 1P
It was just the perfect weather for painting the outside of the house, so my father got the ladder out and positioned it ready to paint the gable-end. Now and again there was slight breeze which caused a little swaying of the ladder. After reaching as far as he could paint, he then had to move the ladder along. This he did many a time with the paint-pot still being at the top while my mother was steadying the ladder, and my father moving it along. Then, unfortunately, the paint-pot became unhooked, and, SPLOSH! – the pot of paint landed right on top of my father’s head, covering him with paint, and a few splashes streaked my mother. It was just like something from a comic strip.
C. Posford, Form 1B
My dad used to use our car as a van. Every day he carried dusty old fridges and dirty tools.
One day we’d been out to some friends and were driving home in the dark, when I suddenly felt as if something was crawling up my leg. I took no notice, but the crawling went on and I began to wonder what it was. Poison filling my body? Fleas? FLEAS?
I began to feel ill. If it were fleas I’d have to go round shouting "Unclean! Unclean!" And if it were poison I’d have to be rushed to hospital. I decided to look. I looked. I screamed.
My dad put on the brakes with a screeching noise, my sister put her hand over my mouth, and my mum nearly shot out of her seat.
"It’s only a spider," I whispered.
Teresa Peachman, Form 1D
The funniest thing that ever happened to me was when I was at Banham Zoo. It was four o’clock and I was in the woolly monkey sanctuary. The German zookeeper let the woolly monkeys out of their cage and they came swinging and scampering out. They were brown and black in colour. The first thing the monkeys did was to jump up and down in front of the zookeeper because they knew he had the juicy black grapes they loved so much.
The smallest monkey, a very cheeky one, grabbed a whole bunch of grapes from the man’s hand, scampered off under a chair, and started eating them. When the zookeeper came after the monkey, he bounded off up a rope. (The monkey was about the most agile creature I have ever seen.) He was up the rope in a flash. He started eating the grapes again and he thought the zookeeper could do nothing about it. The zookeeper, however, had different ideas and he started to shake the rope vigorously. The monkey looked puzzled and clung on tightly. Eventually the man proved too much for the monkey, who swung onto MY chair.
The monkey started jumping up and down, eating his grapes, and squashing the juice in my ear. The zookeeper came after the monkey, and when I turned round it stuck two very nice black grapes in my mouth with its little black paws. Then the zookeeper caught hold of the monkey by the tail and said "Sorry" to me.
I liked the little monkey, and he seemed to like me, as he stuck his small paw out and shook hands with me. The crowd thought this was hilarious and roared with laughter.
The German popped the monkey back in the cage and told him he could stop there for being naughty. I felt a bit sorry for the monkey; he looked so innocent as he was put back, and his small face seemed to say, "I was only playing, and anyway, I enjoyed it".
S. EASTMAN, form 1W
I was pleased with the lamp-stand that I had made in Woodwork, and on that Saturday I had bought my fittings for it.
I was very eager to try out the fittings so I started to dismantle my bedside light, using a kitchen knife, not a screwdriver. I took the bulb out, and was about to unfasten the screws holding the wires to the terminals, forgetting in my keenness to pull the plug from the socket or even switch off the current.
With my metal knife I touched the screw holding live current, and was immediately thrown back with the violent shock. I screamed loudly, and my mother ran upstairs to find me stumbling out of the bedroom with my face quite grey. She noticed a trail of blood, because with the shock I had pulled the knife down my finger. I had felt nothing, being petrified for about ten seconds. I think I have learnt my lesson… I hope so.
G. Browne, Form 1P
When my family and I went to Belgium, my little sister, Denise, was only three years old and at a very inquisitive age. Because of this we had to keep a careful eye on her all the time.
We were sitting outside a café with coca-colas. My mother and father had finished their drinks and had gone for a walk to have a look round. I had my back turned for only a second, but in that time my dear sister could get up to some mischief. When I turned round she had casually picked up a granulated sugar packet, torn the edge, and was pouring it into her coca-cola. You can imagine the mess! There was coca-cola shooting out of the bottle and flying everywhere.
Of course, my sister found this very funny as it was not soaking her, but I did not find it so amusing because I was wet and sticky all over.
In the confusion I had not realised that we were surrounded by jabbering Belgians who clearly found it hilarious.
I was taken into the café and dried off. When my mother and father came back they ticked Denise off, but they laughed when they saw me, all sticky, with my hair looking like a golliwog’s.
Helen Tandy, Form 1C
"We have not had a single failure yet," said Mr Hart, my Junior School Headmaster, when addressing the parents about our swimming pool. He did with me.
When we were first allowed to use the pool, I stood on the edge, shivering and going blue with cold. The swimming instructress told me to jump in. I hesitated, then espied some steps going down to the freezing water below. One step down – my feet were cold, so I ran up again. Then two steps down – my knees froze to icicles, so again I clambered out. At the third attempt I was successful and actually put my feet on the bottom.
For the whole of the second and third years I held on to the bar and feebly kicked my legs around, as though every movement would give me great pain if I moved too much.
One day of the fourth year that I can well remember was the day we took our Confidence Test. All that you had to do was to jump in and hold on to the bar for one length. As the deepest water was only three feet six it was really quite easy. Well, everyone jumped in and held on – all except me. I didn’t dare jump, and so one person did not get a certificate.
When I started at Thorpe Grammar, things were just as bad, though two boys in my form had to wear armbands with me. Even so, they could let their feet go and almost float about while I still sank if my feet rose just an inch above the bottom.
And then I found I had a verruca. I don’t know if you know what they are, but they are little infectious things on the bottom of the foot, so of course I wasn’t allowed in the water. Last Wednesday it disappeared. Now I shall have to face the horrors of the pool once more.
Catherine Little, Form 1C
GUESS WHAT? – Riddles from 1Y
He is utterly flat;
Some of his kin are covered with a warm blanket,
But others just wear hard squares.
He is trampled on over and over again,
But he cannot complain.
Answer: A floor
A. Mitchell
Round, long, sometimes knobbly,
It has nails upon its waves,
And its plain has one palm.
Answer: Your hand
Katherine Manning
Sprung transport;
A one-man vehicle,
This bouncing demon with a single leg
Moves violently;
Balance is needed.
Answer: A pogo-stick
M. Miller
A mass of foam comes down
On an army of thin men –
Then all is destroyed by a great sword –
None is left: just a smooth, barren plain.
Answer: Shaving
P. Powter-Robinson
SECOND FORMS
Heading by
Alecia Gascoyne
Second Form contributors have chosen to explore the world of fantasy and the imagination
THE BUDGERIGAR
The Budgerigar has two legs like twigs of a tree,
And also blue and green feathers.
It looks around with its beady eyes,
And hops around in its cage
Like a very tame sparrow.
It talks through its beak
And is very playful.
It eats bird-seed and drinks water.
It once bit my finger,
Now I fear the damn thing.
It didn’t lay an egg at all.
It looks like a bombshell
Walking on stilts.
Now it has gone,
Gone forever.
C. Payne, Form 2F
A BUBBLE’S LIFE
At this moment I am not a beautiful bubble, I am just an unpleasant, sticky, oily liquid, a potential bubble in a small pot, beside a plastic ring on which, with many others, I am to be formed. Then suddenly the lid is removed and the bubble-blower ring drawn out; soon it will be my turn. The delighted boy blows softly on to the iridescent film; many bubbles flow into the air but he soon bursts them. Now it is my turn. The loop is replaced and we are lifted out. The boy is smiling happily.
He runs along ‘blower’ in hand and, stretching and squeezing, I am formed. I enjoy the freedom, floating gracefully, softly, slowly. A gust of wind blows me higher. I am flying! I can see to infinity, but I am small, a bubble.
I am no ordinary bubble, I am unique. No two bubbles are alike, each has its own mystic character. The enormous pressure inside hurts, but I am free. This is my life’s final journey. We all fall. The boy waits below, he knows we will return. I fall to the ground, burst, an oily drip. My ephemeral life is over. No longer will I fly above the house. No longer will I be free as the wind.
And the boy, well, he will carry on blowing bubbles, but I wonder if he knew I was different?
P. Bruce, Form 2F
BUBBLES
Blown with the wind,
Twisting, turning, falling,
Darting backwards, forwards,
Never-ending fun.
Cascading downwards
Caught by the wind;
Drifting upwards
Shining glinting in the sun;
Reflecting distorted shapes
Of distorted people.
A hazy field of colour
Darkened by a drifting cloud,
Sparkling with a glowing sheen,
Running free with the wind.
Debbie Rix, Form 2F
In front of me I saw a light. I walked towards it and realised I was walking along an uphill passage. Suddenly I felt something brush past my face, then something else, then my face was covered with tiny droplets of liquid.
I looked up in surprise and found along the roof of the cave there were thousands of bubbles, some bursting, others just bouncing, bumping and playing in the sunlight that streamed from the mouth of the cave up ahead. I stepped out into the open. The air was misty and filled with bubbles, multicoloured, beautiful bubbles, floating and gently gliding. They were as big as I and everything was getting larger. No… I was shrinking, closing up like a telescope. Then I fell into a pool of liquid.
The next moment I felt all my limbs melting into one. Then a strange force started pushing me from underneath. I felt myself being blown up till I too was a bubble. I rose to the roof and became intermingled with the other transparent, distorted bubbles. I floated back down the passage, then flowed over the edge into the open and we were cascading down like a waterfall of rainbows until I was back where I started from.
I danced out into the open air, gliding on the breeze. What fun! I bumped and collided with nameless other bubbles. Then, with a whispered parting my body took flight and dropped from the sky in tiny particles, each to drop in a different place to dry, and die.
Valerie Nockolds, Form 2F
"The answer to number one is…"
The teacher’s voice droned away in the background. The classroom is now a beach with the sun beating down. The gulls are flying overhead, the waves lap up and touch my toes. The tide is coming in so I get up and move higher up the beach.
I lay down and close my eyes. I can feel the sun and the slight cooling breeze. I can hear the gulls and the waves. The waves are pounding against the breakwater…
Then I hear the pounding of the teacher’s fist on the table.
"Well, I’m waiting for the answer."
"I… I… er…""
I come to myself with a start and realise that instead of doing the extra work I was given for not paying attention in class, I was thinking about the lesson in which I was given it.
Jane Fretwell, Form 2G
THE OTHER WORLD OF WILFRED POTTS
Wilfred Potts is a shy little man of sixty-four, and caretaker of Middleton’s Science Laboratories. Wilfred’s intelligence is hidden by his shyness, and this makes his life a bundle of unsuccessful exploits. But, deep inside Wilfred’s mind is another life, the successful life of Sir Wilfred Potts, advanced scientist…
Wilfred was putting some apparatus away in the case in laboratory 2 when a sharp voice said, "Be careful with that, Potts, we don’t want to have to buy another!" It was Professor Masterton a brilliant scientist but a man with an awful temper, which, unfortunately for Wilfred, he usually discharged on him. Wilfred remained silent and continued putting away the expensive instruments, vital to the experiments carried out at the laboratories. Professor Masterton muttered, and as Wilfred strained to make out what he was saying, the tone changed somewhat. He turned to see a group of students hovering over some complicated apparatus. One of them turned round to face him and said "Professor Potts, sir, I think we’ve got it!"
"Hmm, pardon, got what?" said Potts slowly.
"Tolnidal Hydrocarbon," was the reply.
"Oh yes, hmm, well I said that preparation would work, didn’t I?" He paused, and the students gathered round, staring in wonder as he gave the substance a quick stir. "Now," he said, "now to break it down into the pure elements…, Saunders, fetch that decomposing agent over there... Freeman, prepare Monoxoline flush, and Browning, go and ask Professor Masterton in the next laboratory for that new piece of equipment." Potts looked around as the students scattered like a flock of frightened birds. He was well satisfied.
Soon the experiment was underway, but was brought to a standstill when Professor Masterton failed to arrive with the much-needed equipment. Presently he appeared, somewhat flustered. "I am sorry for the delay, but my Tolnidal experiment has failed again. I wondered if you could think of something more complicated. It seems that – Oh, I see you have already set up another experiment with Tolnidal." He put down the glass instrument and stared into the substance saying, "Hmm, it is a puzzling development of acidic and -" Potts interrupted in an irritated voice.
"Come now, Masterton, we haven’t got all day, and don’t drop that equipment!"
"No, I won’t. Here… Oh whoops! Catch it someone. Oh, too late." In his haste Professor Masterton had knocked over a container of Myciline Acid, an extremely powerful chemical. The contents of this container splashed around the bench and much of it found its way into the experimental apparatus. The substance began to bubble like an erupting volcano. The faces of the students fell. That was the last of the Dietzier powder, and it would be weeks before they would have time to repeat the experiment.
Professor Masterton looked dejected. After all it was his fault!
Suddenly, after watching the continuous bubbling of the ruined experiment, Potts cried, "I’ve got it! Saunders, run to the canteen and ask Mrs Fleming for two lumps of sugar. Run quickly before the anti-hydration becomes too advanced!"
The young man set off at top speed and returned half a minute later grasping two slightly misshapen lumps of loafsugar. Potts crumbled them carefully in his hands and added them to the bubbling mixture. It turned green, then, gradually, it returned to its original colour and stopped bubbling. "Sir!" gasped the students as he continued the experiment. "A mere problem of neutralising some properties and strengthening others. Shall we continue?"…
"Good God, Potts, are you still fiddling with that? You’re needed upstairs in Physics. Hurry man!" It was Professor Masterton. Potts was back in reality again. He put away the equipment and made his way upstairs. As he did so he began to wonder what Sir Wilfred Potts would be up to next…
Carolyn Curl, Form 2T
As I sat in the Music lesson and listened to the teacher explaining our exam papers I decided to give up Music. I had not done very well in the exam, and, anyway, why did I want to know about the trials and tribulations of Beethoven?
The sky outside the window was like the reflections in a Mediterranean bay. It was beautiful deep blue, and every now and then a thin streak of white wispy cloud punctuated the uniform blue.
Just as the Music teacher began to talk about the time when Beethoven became aware that he was going deaf, I noticed the grey billowing clouds coming over the horizon. They seemed like candy floss which had been dropped into a damp, grey gutter. Only their edges were white as snow.
Then… As I stepped onto the masses of grey, sticky cloud, my foot sank down. I sank into the cloud until its surface was hanging around my waist. The sun was dull, as if it was in an old cupboard and had not been dusted. A strange magnetism drew me towards the mottled ball hanging beyond what seemed to be an endless platform of misty cloud. As I pushed forwards I sank deeper into the cloud. I reached out, plunged in my hand, and tasted some of the mist which now seemed solid. It was sweet and sickly, like candy floss at a funfair.
Still the magnetism drew me towards the sun. As I pushed through the cloud it seemed to become darker and heavier. Still I persevered, but the further I pushed, the deeper, heavier and stickier the cloud became until it was just a glutinous mass clinging to my body.
I began to fall, fall, fall… down into the air below the cloud-layer. As I saw the ground fast approaching, I tried to scream, but no sound would come from my choked lungs. The pressure in my head became greater and greater, until suddenly it seemed to burst out of my ears.
Once again I could hear the drone of the teacher’s voice.
"Beethoven’s ninth symphony…" it continued. I did not listen. When I walked in the clouds, I was in a different world.
Sally Blyth, Form 2W
NIGHTMARE 1
As soon as I closed my eyes I drifted into an uneasy sleep.
At first I saw or thought nothing, but then I saw two round eyes, terrible, penetrating eyes of a diesel train. A distant rumble filled the silence and all around was darkness. Far away those eyes were advancing nearer and nearer as the rumble increased.
I wanted to turn away and run, but I was rooted to the spot and my arms and legs felt like lead. There was something menacing about the eyes, yet they seemed to hypnotise me. Suddenly, as I watched, the eyes became part of an outlined form, the large black hulk of a train. It was only now that I realised how deafening was the noise of the engines. As the train engulfed me I came to my senses and let out a terrifying scream that was immediately drowned by the train.
Opening my eyes I found myself in the dark – the comfortable dark of my bedroom.
Belinda Hales, Form 2B
NIGHTMARE II
I was so tired as I settled into bed. I had been to the funfair that day, and gradually the sounds of children’s voices and the whirring of the old-fashioned roundabout came back to me.
"Come on, try your luck. Five pence for twelve balls," a harsh voice shattered the music from the barrel organ. I saw the monkey jumping up and down, but, wait, it was not a monkey. The prancing figure stopped, and slowly was transformed to a large toad. The people around began screaming. Then there was silence, a terrible silence. The toad was growing. I watched horrified as the people moved nearer, as if attracted to it.
I saw for the first time the people had long knives in their hands. They dived at the toad, but it vanished. I turned sharply to leave the horrifying scene, but I was enclosed by people – people wherever I looked. They were coming nearer with vengeance on their faces.
I screamed and pushed my way through them. They did not seem to notice me. Then I found myself next to the barrel organ. But it was not a barrel organ, it had become a large piano. Had it always been a piano?
I ran out into the now deserted fairground. Once again there was silence – an indescribable silence.
Suddenly lights flashed on and music blared out. The Big Dipper loomed up in the darkness. More lights came on ‘The fun of the fair’ was in full swing. Yet not a soul could I see. In the bright lights and bustle, I stood alone.
Jacqueline Dickinson, Form 2W
NIGHTMARE III
The mysterious faces carved into the thick grey rock peered, watched as they had done for centuries, silent but knowing. Their shapes, embedded far into the dark cave, were lit by a huge mantle of fire, slowly burning by the Spirits which lingered near. Each one twisted its old bent neck round in the glowing embers of a fire of ages. Here lives The Devil and those who serve him, each one shining in dull, black armour. Yet no man will ever see this fearful place, for I and I alone have the key to each secret locked in its hard grey walls.
Georgina Benison, Form 2G
THIRD FORM
ORIGINAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ABOUT EAST ANGLIA
SUMMER IN EAST ANGLIA
As the evening grew older
The rain increased.
Enshrouding the river in a grey mist
The rain quenched the dry earth
Turning the dry, dusty ground
Green.
The river sucked noisily beneath a bridge.
The streetlights shone wetly
Picking out the thin streaks of rain.
The grassland has already become swampy
Hiding many invisible puddles.
This is summer.
Sandra Daley
PILGRIMAGE
They travel onwards, never fearing,
Children, women and men
Led by priests and holy men of high status.
They go to worship Our Lady of Walsingham.
And on bended knees, they bow their heads
And thank her for her guidance.
Children sing and play,
Maybe they don’t really know the reason
For the journey they have taken.
Women gossip, but what about?
They talk for hours and then discover
The true reason for their journey.
Men, they walk, sleep and talk –
Do they really know why they come?
Old men with grey and receding hair
Will answer their questions
For these old men know well
OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM.
Teresa Slaughter
THE SUFFOLK VILLAGES
Whitewashed in pink and whites. Heavily beamed and shuttered. Neat little gardens. These are the cottages in the villages of Suffolk. The twisting, cobbled streets thread their way between rows of dainty cottages. Thatched roofs, warm in winter, cool in summer, top the effect. This is the typical country village in Suffolk which adorns many a calendar.
But behind the peaceful, serene cover, village life bustles with activity. Little old ladies sit solidly on front doorsteps, watching the world go by with alter, interest eyes. Young mothers pursue squealing children along the worn pavements. Old men lean on their walking sticks as they stop to wish a friend good day. Neighbours enjoy a good gossip over the fence, and the village policeman cycles through, calling out greetings as he goes.
The eyes of the village look down upon this hustle and bustle. They have seen generations of people pass through, and they are content in the knowledge of life in a small community. The sun sets, the shops close, and people go indoors to draw their curtains, switch on their television sets, and cook their teas. The eyes of the village close. Another day is over.
Pat Cooper
THEATRE WORKSHOP
After the massive alterations to the Theatre Royal in Norwich had been completed, greater enthusiasm towards it had to be developed. The public has responded well, and the theatre is now thriving.
For the younger generation, the future audience for the theatre an interest in the theatre has been fostered by ‘Theatre Workshop’. Most Saturday mornings, children between the ages of eight and fifteen flock to the theatre to learn more of the stage, acting and everything that happens before and after the curtain rises. This encourages the children to criticise carefully and enjoy most theatre performances.
Pupils are shown that concentration is a necessity for good acting, and are taught correct breathing and speech by compulsory exercises. Occasionally actors playing at the theatre visit the workshop, and may give a talk, and offer advice to any children interested in any aspect of the theatre as a career. Whatever reasons the children may have for wanting theatre lessons, this has certainly influenced their views on the theatre.
Rosemary Dawson
NORWICH CASTLE
A symbol of eternal strength
The castle stands, alone
Amid men, who, in the folly of their ways,
Think that they are wise.
The castle is wiser still.
An aged man who sits and nods so wisely
At the follies of a younger world of men
Whose wisdom reaches them after age and error,
With wisdom gained, they die and fade away.
But no so the castle.
Man dies, his creations remain
As relics of a bygone time.
How many of these men have passed within these walls?
How many never to return?
When Robert Kett, in defence of his poorer brethren,
Took possession of these strong, protective walls,
Did the castle look down, wisely smiling,
As if knowing that Kett was to fall?
And amid the frenzied tumult of war
Did it frown, its wisdom siding none,
Knowing, like any common soldier,
That its existence here on earth could soon be done?
In the future, when external powers condemn us,
And when man’s life here on earth is at its end,
The castle will remain, though sadly fallen,
And will think of the impermanence of men.
Gillian Robson
A VISIT TO MACKINTOSH’S FACTORY
We arrived at about 9.30 am, and made our way in through the gates of the factory. We could smell the chocolates and sweets – a sickly smell but we soon got used to it. When the ladies came to take us round they gave us coats and hats as a matter of hygiene. Some of the boys had to wear caps with hairnets!
First we strolled into the box-making department; this was noisy but not stuffy. All the jobs in here seemed very boring. The next department was the sweet-making department; the sweets are put on very large trays to cool off and harden, a process which is assisted by the cold-water pipes running underneath. The sweets were cut into squares, then put on the machine which cuts them into the proper shapes. We were allowed to take and taste some cracknels – these were not properly set but made a decent first course! In the soft centre department, which was quite interesting, we were offered some limes, without chocolate on them – I took several and found them very pleasant. On the way to the packing department we saw the Caramac-making machine. They make seventy tons of Caramac each week. We were given some of this which I gobbled down – together with some of the pieces given to my friends. One member of the party, Sutcliffe, was being driven mad, as he had not discovered any orange creams. When I asked the girl in the packing place she said they were at the end. I turned to tell him this, but by then he had heard, and was rushing up to the place where they were.
Towards the end of the visit we went up to the canteen where there were some armchairs that we sat in, but we were not allowed to take off our silly looking hats. We walked down three flights of stairs to the visitors’ room, where they took back the coats, and said that we could keep the hats. We were then given a packet of Quality Street for a present and cycled back to school.
Gary Loome
CASTLE ACRE
In ruinous splendour the castle reigns
Crowning the forested hill,
The undergrowth tight as negro curls.
A dark and suppressing scene
Within creeps, past
Men that trod the hill of battle
Vanquished not in soul
They still live on.
But now a newer battle thrives
National Trustees against nature
A life sequel slaughtered
To show man’s towering stone
Now it reigns its natural subjects slain
The milling and teeming of nature
Dragged and crushed from its cloak
Its new subjects crowd in
Barred to touch its structure
But such subjects pay for their respect
While the symbiotics gave freely.
Jennifer Wright
COCKLEY CLEY
At Cockley Cley, near Swaffham, there is a very interesting and realistic representation of an Iceni village, which shows what it would have looked like nearly two thousand years ago. This is not a model – it is a life-size village, and looks very realistic from a distance. It has been made fairly recently, and it stands in a field by a river.
It is mainly built of wood, and is encircled by a protective row of sharpened stakes, with two large towers by the main entrance, with look-out platforms for the sentries, and a method of raising a primitive drawbridge, in which weights are put into a basket on the end of a lever which will raise the drawbridge, which displays a fearsome array of sharpened stakes on the underside. The inside of the village is mainly grass and contains a number of huts and buildings.
There is a long room that has two stretched cow-skins, one at each end, and the room is dark inside and very draughty – it has models of people in it. From the living conditions it can be realised why these people often died at an early age. On one side there is a grain store and a few rudimentary huts, and the centre contains a snake pit with model snakes in it. On the other side is the round house which is built round a tree. It is partitioned into numerous sections by curtains made mainly of animal skins, which also cover the inside walls. In the round house there is a crude bedchamber with a bed that looks incredibly uncomfortable. Adjacent to the round house there is a natural spring in the river, and this is enclosed by a small type of shed. Nearby is a lookout tree with a small platform on which to stand. The whole village is encircled by a water-filled moat.
Michael Barnes
FISHING IN MY AREA
Fishing is a popular sport in Saxlingham, as the River Tas runs within a mile of us. The most common fishing grounds are those at Newton Flotman and at Smockmill Common.
The Common has a large number of pike ranging from one pound to four pounds. One pike of eight pounds has been caught there, and another one has been sighted quite frequently. Most pike are caught in a wide and deep pool nicknamed the ‘blunderbuss’. Live bait for the pike are caught quite easily at a corner further downstream. Gudgeon and small dace provide this bait. Larger dace, rudd and roach swim under a tree, but are seldom caught. At one point a row of willow trees overhangs the water, and a few perch may loiter there. Minnows and other small fish used for catching eels, which lie in the silt of the blunderbuss, are found near a drainage canal. Trout from private land sometimes swim up-river to the Common and provide good sport if they are caught.
At Newton Flotman there are a number of larger dace. The best places here are ‘The Willow Tree’, ‘The Whitehouse’, and ‘The Hartshorn Bush’. There are also good stretches of water between the new road bridge and the old road bridge, and underneath the former.
Apart from the River Tas there is Hazel’s Pit. This is really a moat surrounding a farmer’s house. Crucian carp are plentiful. Also there are some small roach, rudd and dace, a few eels, and some tench.
Mark English
HICKLING BROAD
The enthusiastic naturalists of Norfolk have conserved over 1,300 acres of wild uncultivated land around Horsey, Hickling and Heigham. The area covering vast marshes, reed-beds and broad provides adequate ground for its natural inhabitants and migrants, but the Trust has to protect its inhabitants not only from pollution, but also from over-enthusiastic nature lovers.
These people can unthinkingly do much damage, by wandering through the marshes, frightening the birds, or stepping into nests and breaking the eggs. The problem has been overcome at Hickling Broad where nature lovers can watch and observe the fine assortment of birds without disturbing or interrupting them. Colonel Bob Sankey, Warden of Hickling, with the aid of a committee, began in May 1970 two-and-a-half-hour-long conducted trips through the immense jungle of reeds and broad. The boats visit hides, and watchers use the fifty-foot observation tower with its breath-taking views of acres of scenery.
This is certainly a good way in which the public can view the birds and their natural surroundings, without damaging either.
Rosemary Dawson
THE BROADS
Frying bacon,
Brewing coffee,
Tempting aromas
Drift on still morning air.
Water lapping gently
Against hull of cruiser –
Gentle sounds of
Early morning activity
Abruptly shattered
By shrill transistor.
Reed-fringed banks,
Swaying willows,
Restored windmills
And thatched cottages;
Graceful swans,
Rare swallowtail butterfly,
Wide horizons,
Broads and meres.
Yachts, cruisers, dinghies
Compete for moorings.
Happy meetings
At riverside inns.
Knitted hats and
Sailing smocks,
Boats of anglers,
Banks of anglers,
All contribute
To Broadland scene.
Timothy Ladbrooke
REED-THATCHING IN NORFOLK
Thatching is an old Norfolk craft which is now declining, as people are moving nearer to towns and cities, so they are living in newly built houses with tiled roofs. It is also very expensive to have a roof re-thatched.
Three main types of reed are used: long-straw, combed wheat-reed, and the most common, the Norfolk reed. This is very tall, and is generally considered the best, because of its weather-tight covering, and for its long-lasting qualities. The thatch is laid in courses or ‘lanes’ of about thirty inches in width. Sometimes they are trimmed immediately, or alternatively after one side has been completed. The thatch is either secured with hazel runners held by iron pegs, or when renewing thatch the runners can be fixed by hazel pegs into the old thatch; yet another method is to sew the thatch with tarred twine, using a large iron needle. In this method a second man is needed inside the roof.
This thatch has a very brush-like texture, not like the looser long-straws; the reeds are very stiff and close-cropped. The finish of the thatching is very ornate in East Anglia; the gable-end is not cut, but turned back and pegged with runners to form a definite peak. The long-straw thatching is always secured by distinctive patterns of runners and spars, just above the eaves, but reed requires no such treatment.
Many barns in East Anglia have thatched roofs, and the village of Woodbastwick has a collection of thatched houses. I hope that thatching will continue for years to come, for I think that nothing looks better than an ornate thatched roof to set off a cottage, and I hope that when I have a house it will have a thatched roof.
Jeanette Cullington
HEDGEROWS IN NORFOLK
Believe it or not half the hedgerows in Norfolk have been destroyed since the war.
This startling figure has come from a survey by the University of East Anglia. Aerial photographs were taken of Norfolk between 1969 and 1970, and compared with those taken by the RAF in 1946-47. As well as hedgerows, copses, small areas of shrubs and trees have also vanished.
There are three reasons why I think that hedgerows and copses should not be uprooted. The first is the effect this will have on a lot of our birds and wildlife, which rely on these for nesting in the springtime, and sheltering in the winter. Secondly, this will cause soil erosion, especially in the Fen districts, which are very flat and vulnerable to winds. Finally, landscapes will be very uninteresting without the beauty of the hedgerows and copses. So enjoy the Norfolk countryside now, before all the hedgerows and copses are destroyed.
Colin Whurr
THE NORFOLK WHERRY
The Norfolk wherry was unique among boats. Nothing approached its design or appearance upon the wide meres and rivers of eastern Norfolk. The wherry was primarily a trading ship when the marsh farmers and those whose land abutted on coastal creeks and estuaries sent perhaps three-quarters of their produce by water.
The average wherry was long and shallow, with a towering mast and a vast sail without a boom. They were from twenty to seventy tons burden and crewed by two men. They could sail very fast and extremely close to the wind. The steersman stood at the tiny cabin in the stern and used the tiller on the cabin top before him. The mast moved on a fulcrum. The lower end was weighted so that one man working the fansail could easily lower or raise it. The quant was used when there was no wind.
Today there are few wherries left on the Broads, and those that are have auxiliary motors. The old Albion, which was saved by the Norfolk Wherry Trust is the last one still propelled solely by sail.
Susan Heard
FOURTH YEAR
The general theme of the contributions from members of the Fourth Year is:
MEMORIES… LOOKING BACK
First we have a general comment of writers’ dreams –
And the young misguided poets
Believe in paradise
That man has never stumbled into
and unfurled his hated flag
that stabs the soil with mistaken victory
They go on believing
in the colours and fantasies of love
They never descend to the grey
paving stones and rain
Above in yellow hazes of peace
They are lost
In nothing, left far behind
Still in the sun
Isolated
and, happy lost in each others eyes and minds
Exploring each other in the red dawn
Knowing together
Mankind struggles
gnarling his own threads
in his haste to get nowhere
Crying children, hungry faces
Ragged bodies, peeling walls
Sad unseeing eyes and
Tired mothers
Lovers crying even in love
Houses fall and dust rises
And the poets dream of paradise.
Alison Wilson
Our next contributor, who wishes to remain anonymous, entitles her article:
‘A CHILDHOOD MEMORY’
When I was very young, I used to take great delight in considering myself a future Fanny Craddock. I would find myself a nice spot, usually under the fir trees, and the old foot-high tree stump would be converted into my all-electric cooker.
I would then toddle off and cart my doll’s tea-service out to where I had decided to have my dinner. Water was the wine that I had occasionally seen on the table when we had visitors. My first course would be a unique dish of what would now be considered as a "mixed grill", consisting of anything that took my fancy, and which, when lumped together, formed a mixture of mud, stones, leaves, twigs, water and grass to give it flavour; I was quite content to think of it as being an exotic dish of ‘mud-gateau’, commonly known as ‘mud-pie’. I jabbed my plastic knife into the ‘gateau’, and a lump of mud sat solemnly on my plate. Not bothering about the knife and fork I had placed on the ground beside the ‘cooker’ I used to pick up this portion of mud, and stuff it in my mouth, my teeth crunching and grinding the stones and twigs. If a stone was bigger than I thought it was, it would get thrown out, but usually I only ate the little bits of grit.
My second course consisted of ‘cordon bleu’ type ‘worm-pie’, without the pie – just the worms. I don’t think I ever managed to eat any worms; I just used to suck half of the vile little creatures, and leave the other half dangling out of my mouth for my mother to see. She would come running out with a flannel as soon as she discovered my absence, and try to pull the worms out, and clean the remaining mud from my mouth. I would then get hauled inside, to be placed on the draining board to have my mouth rinsed out.
Sara Howell also looks back to her early childhood in:
THE WIG-WAM CLUB
My older sister, at the time only thirteen years old, and at other times tending to take a more selfish attitude towards me, did have moments when I became the centre of attraction, and any venture that I decided upon was instantly supported with enthusiasm and willing help. I was used to being teased and aggravated by Philippa, and when these happier occasions arose I made sure that the best use was made of them.
Having seen a friend’s tent and experienced the atmosphere of security in an enclosed hide-out or ‘den’, my one ambition was to have one of my own, and on my daily round of the garden, during which I scrutinized every stone beneath a certain bush to look for pet snails, I discovered to my great delight half a dozen or so long wooden poles. Each having a rather rough surface, they would stand together in the form of a circle, and meet firmly at the top, forming the framework for the long-awaited Indian wig-wam. This was obviously too high up to reach myself, but fortunately Philippa came to the rescue, and also had the bright idea of using some dilapidated pieces of cloth, once curtains and bedspreads, and even a yellow section of a parachute, which had no doubt been kept ‘in case we need it’. These were draped haphazardly over the sticks, and although infested with wood lice and earwigs, it made a highly desirable home for any young people wishing to live as they pleased, and without the restricting comments of elders.
In many ways, our homemade tent was more enjoyable to us than a real one, being varied in shape, size and volume each time it was re-erected. But there were unavoidable disadvantages as well… News of the discovery spread like wildfire, until the entire neighbourhood was aware of the goings-on in the wig-wam. It was a suitable playing area for my best friend, who was called John, and who like other boys of his age, had some rather repulsive habits. In particular, I refer to his great aptitude for finding worms. He insisted on bringing them into the wig-wam during a gunfight with some cowboys. Carefully removing them one by one from his front trouser-pocket he spread them evenly across the floor. The two youngest girls from the immediate neighbourhood were never present at our club when they could seen John lurking somewhere behind the golden-rod bushes searching for worms.
The wig-wam was in constant use throughout the summer, and it was not until there was a storm one day that I realised its true value. A large raindrop dripped on to my head from the tiny gap at the top where the poles met. My sister too had noticed it. In a few minutes the entire outside was covered with large pieces of plastic bags and polythene, with the five members crouched around a small table eagerly awaiting the outcome. Despite pessimistic remarks from our parents, we continued to play an uninterrupted game for over half an hour. At this point our luck terminated. Preceding one loud clap of thunder, rain began gushing through the small crack above our heads. The tree which had partly protected the wig-wam from lighter rainfalls was now entirely wet, the dark green leaves showing a polished effect, while water slipped silently over them – and on to us. Umbrellas were of no avail while inside, but simply added to the chaos and wrecking of the wig-wam. As hope faded, we admitted our defeat, and retreated to the house, wildly brandishing three umbrellas. My sister, the last person out, added to our frustrations as she emerged from the minute portal. As she was the oldest and the largest this was achieved with some difficulty. But there was nothing anyone could do to save the fort, as her umbrella got entwined around a strand of stray thread. With a sound equal to that of the thunder, our wig-wam collapsed in one saturated lump!
Two more anonymous contributors provide us with:
FIRST MEMORIES OF SCHOOL
My first memories of school are not very clear, but a few instances I do remember. My mother taught me in my infant school, and, contrary to what my friends thought, she treated my brother and me worse than the others. The reason was probably that she didn’t like to favour us. One day, when all our class went over to the milk-crate for our daily milk, I received a bottle of milk down my neck. I had gone up in front of boy I liked, and I bent down to pick up my milk; as I got up the boy kicked into me, and his milk went down my neck. I started crying and Peter complained that I had a terrible cry. This upset me even more!
My memories of school are both happy and sad. At my very first school, Green Street School, I can remember feeling lost and scared on my first day. The school was for infants, juniors and seniors, and contained around 2,000 pupils. There was one teacher who right from the start frightened me; her name was Mrs Jones. I can still remember her very clearly. She was in her forties, and had very dark hair and a stern voice. When the class was working she would look over the top of her glasses to see what we were doing. I remember my first punishment as the worst punishment I ever had; I had to pick up the counting-bricks from the floor – to me at the time that was terrible.
Another memory – ‘LOOKING BACK’
From Susan Jack
I laughed, and lay back on the sun-soaked bank of the River Thames.
I rolled over, splashing the water with my feet, then nudging my sister, I pointed to a small bridge, under which there was a waterfall whose waters rushed singing and gurgling. On top of the falls, children sat with their legs hanging over, their feet reaching into the waters’ onward flow. Its waters looked so friendly that I waded in, ignoring the signs that bathers should only bathe in the marked areas. Signalling to my sister to follow me, I plodded in until my knees were covered. I turned again calling her. She came slowly, laughing; her feet kicked the water, spraying it over her, then laughing even louder she ran out. I stood smiling at her for a moment, before going on in to the water. My foot stepped out on to the ground further in – the ground – what ground? There wasn’t any. I let out a scream as my body fell down into the nothingness. My mind sent out messages – swim! I can’t swim – get out quickly. My head surfaced with my lungs grasping greedily at the air; my hands stretched out wide trying to catch anything which lay near by. I tried to shout for help, but my face had frozen and nothing came out. Suddenly I saw my sister, her face white and terror-stricken, her hands flying everywhere. I tried to grab her, but at the same time her hand hit me heavily on the face, and with a bewildered cry I withdrew my hand. The water dragged me under again; feeling that all hope was lost, I just let it pull me, but suddenly I saw its waters smiling smugly at me – this angered me, and I surfaced again my whole body seemed to open up with the will to live. My legs kicked vigorously and my hands moved heavily over the water. I moved! My body moved out of the pothole, my feet felt ground beneath them, and laughing hysterically I fell on to the bank, my mind in a turmoil at the event.
An anonymous contributor describes another memory involving near tragedy:
It was late one Friday night when I first knew that something was wrong. My father was at work, as he works on shifts, and does not normally arrive home until six m. I was woken up by my mother at about two-thirty am, and she told me quietly and shakily that my sister had been in an accident. As I had only just woken up it took time for me to realise what was happening. My sister had gone to a party with a boyfriend in his car, and mum had just had the news of the accident from a policeman. I was so shocked that I feared the worst at once; I had to stay awake to make sure my little brother didn’t wake up, and mum had to telephone the hospital, and then telephone my father at work.
As I lay there, I kept imagining Val, my sister, and her boyfriend before they went, laughing and joking, and I imagined what they looked like now. At this point I didn’t know any details, and this made things worse. Then my mother came upstairs and told me that she had just rung the hospital and spoken to two of Val’s friends who were also in the car. They were not badly hurt, but Val had to stay in, as she had been knocked out, and had 17 stitches in her chin, and also she had badly sprained both ankles. Apparently their car had hit a tree. Dad had gone to the hospital from work to see Val, and so we had to wait for him to come home to hear the rest of the details. We were both badly shaken and upset, and I hated the next hour. I went back to bed again, but lay awake, listening for the sound of dad’s car. Eventually he came, and told me that Val wasn’t too bad, and that the first thing she had said was that she was sorry.
ROOM TO LET
Going cheap, one boudoir six by nine.
Admittedly small,
but
There are daffodils in a green impressionistic
Vase, in front of
Chintz curtains,
Resting on a dusty terracotta windowsill
Accompanied by humorous birthday cards,
And antique post-horn,
A radio with leaking batteries,
And just recently
A pair of tights, drying.
On the walls
Yellowed posters of
Mickey Mouse and Che Guevara
Fastened on with sellotape that
Has worn stickless with age.
And cobwebs
(But no spiders)
A bed
Each particle absorbed, integrated with
My touch,
My music, always playing when I’m there,
Penetrating even the cat-gut tennis racquet
Discarded in a corner.
Outside a bird alights on television aerial,
And listening,
Flies away, leaving
The aerial still bouncing with the wind,
Even after the song ends.
And the relics, my relics,
Slide imperceptibly
Off the wall.
Julia Wright
A MOMENT OF SUCCESS
Is remembered by Timothy Jackson
One of the most important moments of success was when I shot my first game bird. Armed with a double-barrelled sixteen-bore, I took to the field determined to find success this time. For about three months I had been shooting, but my efforts had only resulted in the odd pigeon, rook and rabbit, and the number of times I had shot at pheasants and missed made me rather annoyed. People kept telling me that the trick would come with time and warned me not to be so impatient. The day was right, it was not very hot and so driven birds would be intent of flying. I started to walk down the field towards the five-acre wood. My legs brushed against the large sugar-beet leaves, and I slipped constantly on pebbles. I was unable to cover much ground, and having climbed up the hill three or four times I was quite worn out, and it was at this moment that I was caught off guard. Form nearby underneath my feet the ground exploded into a covey of whirling daunting masses otherwise known as partridges. With the gun over my shoulder and with the safety-catch on I did not stand a chance, and so I did not shoot, but instead I let them go to land further down. I noticed two pheasants disappearing rapidly under the cover of some large leaves. I released the safety-catch and trod warily down the field, as though expecting to stand on a mine. Suddenly the cock bird rocketed off as my muzzle swung on to the target. I had fired in a second, and the gun flew back into my shoulder and the barrels perked upwards. The bird caught the full blast in its back and jack-knifed skywards after impact and dropped to the ground. As I ran forward the cordite stung my nostrils. The bird lay in between rows, all its glory drained out.
In contrast another anonymous contributor provides us with this:
BRIEF MEMORY
I entered the hospital ward, slightly scared, afraid of what I was to see. Four side wards down I saw her for the first time for two weeks, but there had been a rapid change in her appearance. I saw a wrinkled pale body – how different from the healthy, active grandmother I had seen before. It was true that she had been getting worse since then, but it was as if a sudden ageing had occurred. Finally I greeted her, not quite sure what to say, but she did not seem to hear. I repeated it, and although she was pleased to see me, she offered no further conversation. She could not know what she had at that time, because we had decided not to tell her, as she had been given only three months to live. It did not seem to me that it would be possible to live that long in such a condition. I was nervous, and showed it when she gestured that she wanted a drink, my hand shaking badly. It did not seem fair that a healthy woman who had never smoked should die from the disease usually associated with heavy smokers, a disease for which, even in this scientific age, there is no cure.
Julie Tubby
remembers
THE OLD VILLAGE
The village was much smaller about five years ago, without the many housing estates which have grown, and which continue to grow. Then the village consisted of large fields and farms, with a village school and an uninhabited manor. Having an old school had its disadvantages. There were double desks made of old dark brown wood, and the adjoining seats were very uncomfortable to sit on. Some of the teachers were also old in their ideals, and were strict and never to be argued with or the cane would smartly appear. School uniform was not recognised, although tidiness was greatly appreciated. Travelling to school for those who lived a few miles away was by an old mini-bus which seated about twenty people. Lunch breaks were ended by a whistle, blown by a particular teacher who was on duty that day.
The village library occupied the space of one of the school’s classrooms, but the librarian was the headmaster. He lived in the schoolhouse adjacent to the school, which had previously been a farmhouse with a very cold dairy. Dinner at school was eaten in another classroom partitioned off from the infants’ room. Tables were arranged so that there were eight persons to a table. The menu was not varied, and each dinner could be guaranteed to appear on a particular day. Prayer was said before the meal began, and also after the lunch break had finished. The school was heated by a large open fire, or by a bulky grey stove enclosed by a guard. Lessons were often guided by radio lessons which were broadcast every day of the week. These radio lessons also provided the daily assemblies of the two highest classes.
Another feature of the village was the railway station, painted in the familiar green and white. It was always neat with well-kept rose-beds. Tickets could be bought before catching the train, from the stationmaster or one of his colleagues at the ticket-office. Several certificates proclaiming ‘The Best-Kept Station’ decorated the wall above the big black fireplace. A roaring fire was always to be seen in the grate, giving off heavy grey smoke when the green-panelled doors were opened. Large parcels and crates were weighed on the large weighing-machine which stood outside the waiting room. The bell situated high on the platform would ring when a train was leaving the next station. Guards on the train would clip the green cardboard tickets. The station is now used as a doctor’s clinic.
Finally, some memories of two visits of school parties to Germany:
DIE JUGENDHERBERGEN VON DEUTSCHLAND
By Gillian Brazell, Ann Cracknell, Jill Morriss and Alison Smith
On Monday August 23rd 1971, 51 pupils and 5 members of staff were photographed for the ‘Eastern Evening News’ at the start of a twelve-day "walking" holiday in Southern Germany. At one o’clock we descended on Victoria Station, ate some of the food which bulged from our carrier bags, and carried on to catch an afternoon ferry for what proved to be a very smooth four-hour crossing. For many people the first step on foreign soil came at 8.30 pm. We boarded an extremely uncomfortable train at Ostend, which contained some pieces of wood posing as seats. Soon the peace was shattered by a bright young soul who mistook the communication cord for the ventilation system, and it took three hours for people to settle down; for the complete nine-hour journey many people didn’t sleep. Suddenly the hunt was on for Mr Kapherr! He seemed to have escaped with the funds and gone to Russia, but was later found in a comfortable compartment, fast asleep.
We staggered off the train at 6.30 am, on to Geislingen Station, and were assured that the hostel was "just around the corner". Two miles later we met the formidable Frau Bander, the warden of the youth hostel, who terrorized the younger members of the party, and Mr Kapherr. Her meals left much to be desired, especially her ‘spam’, which finished its life in paper bags. After visiting various castles and memorials in the district, and classing Geislingen as "an interesting experience", we moved to Urach. We found to our delight that the Urach hostel was a large, modern building. Food improved, rooms were airy, beds comfortable, and the town was picturesque and interesting. On Sunday morning the boys left to do the only walking of the holiday, ten miles to Munsingen, to stay in a hostel where there wasn’t enough room for all the party. Meanwhile, the female members went to church. Music here was provided by a brass band and peppermints by a German woman at the end of the row.
The following day we joined the boys once again, and carried on to Blaubeuren by coach. Once again the hostel was out in the wilds. We spent an intellectual morning looking round a monastery, then we had a normal English meal, prepared to Mr Kapherr’s specifications in a restaurant. Then we travelled to Ulm, and spent an afternoon looking round the large, modern town. It has the highest cathedral spire in the world, so only the strongest of us managed the 768 step ascent! Many of us classed this as our last real holiday evening, and most of us enjoyed ourselves singing old Beatles’ songs round the piano, and later booby-trapped the staffs’ night-clothes. Needless to say we didn’t get much sleep that night, which was unfortunate as we had to get up at 6.30 am to catch the train to Cologne. Here we spent the last of our pfennigs on German ice-cream, and boarded another train to Brussels, where we stayed one night at an old youth hostel with chickens and guinea-pigs running round the yard. Next day we caught the ferry at Ostend, and it was rumoured we were on the wrong one, as it was packed to capacity, and we spent the four-hour trip sitting on the deck. We hastily filed through customs, and succeeded in hiding our illegal German thistle specimens as souvenirs.
Soon we were to be found relaxing in British Rail seats, whose comfort you don’t appreciate until you have travelled on DB, the German railway. In London we bought drink, food and newspapers, and said goodbye to the Flowerdays, who were leaving to teach in Yorkshire. Eventually the passing scenery became more familiar, and at 7.30 pm we pulled into Thorpe Station to be greeted by a throng of eager parents. In all, everyone had a very exciting and enjoyable holiday.
A VISIT TO BERCHTESGADEN
By
Joy Harvey
The party left the school at 6.30 am on Monday August 14th, by coach, for Dover. All went well until the coach ground to a halt not far from Brentwood. We soon realised we would miss the 12.30 ferry as there was something quite seriously wrong with the engine. Some time later, after the AA had been and gone, we set off once more. After another breakdown we eventually reached Dover, hoping to catch the 3.30 to ferry to Ostend. This, however, was fully booked, so to avoid further delay we took the 4 o’clock one to Calais. After a very smooth crossing we were greeted by fairly mild weather. Soon we were driving through France and Belgium, but it seemed that fate was against us as we had no less than eight more breakdowns before being finally towed away to the hostel at Hofstade at about 1.30 am the next morning. Despite the hour a very welcome meal awaited us at the hostel.
The next morning we discovered that neither the coach nor the driver was in a fit state to continue, so we stayed an extra day in Belgium before going on. We went through the Belgian/German border at Aachen, glad to have reached Germany without further mishap. The hostel for the night was at Heidelberg, which nestles in some quite high hills. The rules here were very strict, and the meal a great surprise – chicken and chips! The next day we set off, hoping to reach Berchtesgaden that evening. We visited the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial, which shocked and horrified us all, and for once the coach was almost quiet. However, the excitement of going through Munich and seeing the much talked about Olypmic Stadium cheered us up a bit. Soon after leaving Munich we discovered that the scenery changed dramatically, and suddenly we were surrounded by sheer mountainsides and occasionally snow-capped peaks.
The Youth Hostel looked very nice indeed, and we were not disappointed when we went inside. Friday morning was spent exploring and shopping in the picturesque town of Berchtesgaden and in the afternoon we went down the nearby salt mine, glad of a chance to get out of the pouring rain, and enjoying the ride on a small train. On Saturday we went into Austria to Salzburg, where most of the party climbed or took the rock railway up to a huge fortress, from which there was a splendid view over the town. We also saw Mozart’s birthplace. In the afternoon we visited the Schloss Hellbrun, built by a mad count who concealed fountains all over his gardens to surprise his visitors – the damp bedraggled party which made its way back to the coach showed that he certainly surprised us!
Sunday included a museum visit, and a boat trip on beautiful Lake Konigssee, and on Monday we visited Ransau, a pretty little village with lovely waterfalls. A real experience in the afternoon was to go up Mount Jenner in a chair lift. From the top we had a most marvellous view of Lake Konigssee and Berchtesgaden. On Tuesday we climbed the breathtaking Alpine Road, with its many hairpin bends, and on Wednesday we set off for home. Our journey home included a look at the Olympic Complex in Munich, a stop at Heidelberg, and a journey through Belgium. We enjoyed a sunny crossing from Ostend to Dover, and after some delay while we went through customs we set off for home, finally arriving at the school at 8.15 pm to be greeted by our parents and Mr Ball. Thanks must go to him for allowing us to go, and to Mr Kapherr, Mr and Mrs Harrowven and Mrs Sayer for making the trip so enjoyable.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE FIFTH AND SIXTH FORMS
- these contributions reflect some aspects of life in the Fifth and Sixth forms, and the interests of some of their members…
THE ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIETY
This is a group of about twenty members, mainly from the Fourth and Fifth forms. We are backed by ‘The Friends of the Earth’, which is an international organization "committed to the conservation, restoration and rational use of the Eco-sphere", and it deals with such problems as pollution, the extinction of many species of wildlife, the problem of waste disposal, the exhaustion of natural resources, and the population problem. The School Group first started work with the Thorpe Conservation Group, clearing rubbish from the riverside at Whitlingham. We have also participated in some peaceful demonstrations against excess packing of food, which results in unnecessary litter problems. We are now collecting money for FOE by selling badges saying "Save the Whale – Support FOE". The money will go towards FOE’s efforts to stop the unnecessary slaughter of whales for pet foods and cosmetics. We have got in touch with several other groups, including the Norwich Environmental Action Group, whose leader is Simon Gooch of the King Edward VI School, and the Norwich Eco-Action Group, based at the University.
We have some ideas for future action, for example a street-theatre about environmental problems, with help from the other groups. I have also asked Mr Robert Waller, an eminent Norwich ecologist and writer, to come and give a lecture at school some time in the future.
David Powell
WITCHES’ BREW
(with apologies to William Shakespeare)
1. Hubble-bubble, toil and trouble,
MANKIND STARVE AND NUMBERS DOUBLE,
SPREAD DESTRUCTION FAR AND WIDE,
TAKE THE ROAD TO SUICIDE.
2. Eye of newt and toe of frog.
ADD A LITTLE CHIMNEY SMOG,
ADD THE OIL OF ONSHORE SLICK,
SOME CYANIDE TO MAKE US SICK.
3. Finger of witch-strangled babe,
PUT IT IN HYDRULIC GRAB,
TAKE THE SCUM OF FACTORY WASTE,
STIR IT WELL, AND HAVE A TASTE
4. Adder’s fork and blindworm’s sting,
POISON MADES THE KILLER KING,
TAKE THE KNOWLEDGE TO BREED A RACE
-
CLOCKWORK MINDS AND COMPUTER FACE.
5. By the pricking of my thumbs
Something wicked this way comes,
A HELL-BROTH MADE WITH HATE AND FEAR,
A WITCH’S BREW TO COST US DEAR.
Julia Burton
ROOM 13
On approaching this sacred dwelling one must knock three times with a muffled banana, taped with Elastoplast, according to the official County Cricket Club rules. Then with a shrill cry of the Kamikaze suicide pilots one must yell "Squirrel Nuts!". On completion of this, safe passage through the minefield, electrified wire, searchlights, numerous mantraps and animated drawings of Sooty, is assured.
Entering the dense, sulphur-filled air, one’s eyes become accustomed to the mutilated bones of last year’s ‘A’ level failures; a warning to all who enter! Behind the sacrificial altar sits the high priest, twiddling with his abacus of cat-gut twine and eyeballs, which once inhibited the sockets of some poor unfortunates who dared to fail to hand in their homework. On the walls are scrawled, in indelible gravy, such things as – dare I mention? – "Pythagoras’ Theorem" and "Cheese and biscuits with coffee". Lurking in the shadows of the lockers are the football-infested fiends who incessantly gurgle their war cry of "Our centre forward wears a surgical boot!" Huddled round the desks, which are a graphologist’s dream, are bunched the illicit card players, who frequently add to the general hullabaloo with cries of "Snap" and "Who’s got Mr Bun?" Cowering in the corner are the delicate, innocent virgins, flinching from the crudity exuded by the male demons. So the die is cast, the scene is set, dear friends, for another Mathematics lesson.
Beverley Franklin
Nancy Buchanan
Barbara Ward
Helen Bartrop
THE POLITICAL SOCIETY
The Political Society, which flourished for a short time a few years ago, has been revived this year. David Kerry, of the Lower Sixth, who has organised the meetings, reports on its activities.
Five meetings have been held since the society re-started, and the attendances have generally been very encouraging. At the first meeting David himself led a discussion on the problems of Northern Ireland, tracing some of the historical causes of the present disturbances. Richard Lawes of the Fifth Year spoke at the next meeting on the claims and aspirations of the Liberal Party, and provoked some lively discussion. At the extreme of the political spectrum, we heard speeches supporting Fascism, when Timothy Cary and Michael Smith of the Upper Sixth talked about this movement at the first meeting of the spring term. Later in the same term two members of the University of East Anglia Anti-Apartheid Group spoke about the situation in Rhodesia. They returned some weeks later to show a film about Apartheid, which focussed attention on the personalities and speeches at a great rally in London. This proved to be the final meeting, when difficulties in the summer term prevented the holding of a planned discussion on the power of Trade Unions. This may well be one of the subjects to be dealt with in the next academic year, when we hope that support for the Society will continue to grow.
WAR, which has been seen as an extension of politics, is the subject of a poem by Colin Tibbenham of the Lower Sixth:
1. A baby is born –
A beautiful thing,
Like a tree or a flower
Or a bird on the wing.
He’ll ripen in time
Like others before,
And twenty years later
Be off to the war.
2. War is a myth
About to come true
For the unknown soldier –
Not me or you,
Who, in our lives
So far from war
Don’t understand
What the fighting is for.
3. War is an army
Of others and him,
And like Russian roulette
The outcome is grim.
They stand to lose all
With nothing to gain
But a ticket to life
Free of fighting and pain.
4. War is destruction
And plunder and strife
Which inevitably ends
In the loss of life.
The soldier fights on
Like a devil possessed,
And his scars, like medals,
He wears on his chest.
5. War is no time
To play games or pretend,
The soldiers must pray
And fight on to the end.
When the final blow comes
They know very well
It’s Heaven for them –
They’ve been to hell.
6. But the time will come
When the fighting must end –
No more’s the time
To attack or defend.
The lucky ones
See an end to the war
And live to go home
And fight no more.
7. Although this war’s over
And the soldiers return,
War will come back
And buildings will burn.
More babies are born
And just like before –
Twenty years later
They’re off to the war.
A THEN-CHILD
The now children channel their energies
Through concrete tunnels,
Sculpture synthetic sandcastles,
Swing from rubber tyres,
And aluminium frames.
The then-children, glen children, what disappeared again children!
Ran till they were out of breath
And still found room for more.
"Now children don’t do this!"
Now children never.
Then-children used to play
Outside in the woods all day,
They stay young forever.
Where I ran my world was free,
Defiant fencing didn’t stop me,
My paradise, without a doubt
Was a forest called
Private, Please Keep Out.
A rain forest, snow forest,
Just a place I know forest,
Fairyland, hold my hand and never let me go forest,
Bracken brown and springtime green,
Girl with yellow hair…
Eighteen, and hating the fences I find,
I still have the then-child freedom of mind,
Never turn away forest,
Forever let me stay forest,
I am the then-child that you kept behind.
He says I’m crazy,
Says I’m a baby,
Tells me he loves me no more,
But you let me cry till my tears run dry,
Lying on your forest floor.
My where the winds blow forest,
My just a space to grow forest,
My just a place I know forest.
And so deep in my forest
I show I don’t care,
For I’m just a then-child,
A beginning again child,
With yellow hair…
Jennie Hurrell
THE CEM GROUP
Jill Robinson of the Lower Sixth reports on the activities of the Christian Education Movement Group, for which she has organised some very good meetings this year. The first of these was a visit from Pastor David Middleton of Surrey Chapel, Norwich. His talk, which was well argued and challenging, dealt with the basic question ‘Is God A Fallacy?’ From the rather rarefied regions of such a discussion, it was good to turn the practicalities of being a Christian in every-day life. Mrs Ruth Smith, a young housewife, spoke on the subject ‘Christianity and Everyday Life’, and impressed all those who were present with her sincerity and practical help. At the next meeting the Rev Trevor Blackshaw, Curate of St Luke’s Church, Norwich, spoke on the ‘Festival of Light’, its purpose and organisation at both national and local level. For the next two meetings, members of the group presented recordings from ‘Godspell’, and ‘Jesus Christ - Superstar’. This was a very interesting look at the new wave of Folk and Rock Jesus music. Live music was presented at a subsequent meeting by a Folk Duo from the University of East Anglia called ‘Exegesis’. Their talented performance, and the linking commentary they provided were greatly appreciated by those who attended, but what was most impressive was the firmness of their faith in Christ. The final meeting of the year was taken by a speaker who is a youth worker based in Coventry – his name is David Saunders, and he spoke on ‘Living For Jesus’.
Members have attended other meetings outside the school – we took a meeting of the CEM Group at the Blyth School, with some members of the middle school providing music. A number of Sixth- Formers attended the annual CEM Conference in Norwich, while others have joined in activities organised by the Inter-School Christian Fellowship – an evening conference for senior pupils, addressed by Mr Frank Hibbert of Keswick Hall College of Education, and a barbeque for junior pupils held at North Elmham, near Dereham. A solid foundation has been laid for next year’s group, and we hope that many will come to the meetings as a way of strengthening their faith and witness.
SPORTS
ATHLETICS 1972
With so much to be fitted into the short summer term, Athletics shared time in the early part of the season with Swimming, Cricket and Tennis.
The first of the Athletic events was the School Sports, held on one of the few dry days in May. The non-arrival of the announcing equipment made communications difficult but did not deter the record-breakers, 27 in all, the largest group being Fleming third year girls who broke records in six of their eight events. Some of the better performances came from: E Tink (100m and high jump records)
A. Bateman (hurdles and 800m records)
Hodgson (pole vault)
Dickerson (hop, step and jump)
Relay competitions, at Dereham for the girls and North Walsham for the boys, resulted in three of the four competing teams winning through to the Lakenham Finals. The weather at the Finals was more suited to a swimming match, but our teams did quite well, gaining third place in Junior Boys’ and Girls’, and Intermediate Boys’ events.
The Area Sports at Hellesdon again saw the home team victorious in the Junior group, with our team third. Our Intermediate team came through with flying colours – comfortable winners.
A strong Area team in the County Sports saw Thorpe competitors excelling on their home ground, James running admirably in the sprinting, Pat Thomas and Elizabeth Tink soaring in the high jump, Sarah Mudway and Goodwin being victorious in the javelin, Benton in the triple jump, and the Senior boys’ being successful in the relay were but some of the Thorpe contributions to the Area team’s successes.
The Quadrangular Sports at Lakenham saw 8 of our athletes competing; in the Six Counties Sports at Peterborough P. Bell, P. Benton, G. Culham, S. Mudway, E. Tink and V. Taylor represented Norfolk; and P. Bell and V. Taylor were in the All-England team at Durham.
BASKETBALL
The Senior boys team played regular fixtures through the autumn and Spring terms, the team retaining the nucleus of the previous year’s team. Over the eighteen games played they turned out all square, winning and losing nine.
The height of their captain, Dave Aldis, was often a deciding factor, with Rick Maddock’s devastating dribbles losing opposition and home teams alike. Stephen Bealey, always a stalwart in defence, raised a cheer from the team on scoring his first basket in the tenth game of the season.
Teams from Bungay, UEA, Hewett, Eaton, Costessey, the American School, Wymondham College, Loddon and the staff gave a much-varied standard of opposition.
TEAM: D. Aldis, A. Measures, S. Bealey, J. Franks, R. Maddocks, J. Dawson, K. Booty.
U/16 Boys Basketball
This team played in the League for the first time and played a total of twelve matches, winning only two, against Sprowston. This is not a great record, but they made significant progress in their late matches. An indication of this was an early season loss of 95-36 against Wymondham, reduced to a 29-26 defeat in their penultimate match. Precision shooting by John Symonds and general vigorous attack by Adrian Minns were features of their play. One of the key players was put out of action for most of the games when Stephen Rowe broke a leg early in the season.
TEAM: J. Symonds, A. Minns, Palmer, Rowe, Johns, Carter, Neave, Webster and Agar.
U/16 Girls Basketball
Like the boys they also entered the League for the first time; the previous season’s successful netball team formed the bulk of the players. Of the six matches played four were lost and two were won. Wymondham Secondary, whose team contained all but one of the County players (Susan Davey of Thorpe being the intruder) proved to be the best organised opposition and scored two convincing victories over our girls.
Pat Thomas was always amongst the highest scorers, and it was felt by some that Susan Davey would make a reasonable rugby scrumhalf.
TEAM: S. Davey, P. Thomas, J. Bardwell, S. Bygrave, B. Barrett, A. Pinching, S. Fletcher, H. Bartropp.
CHESS
Following the earlier successes of both the Senior and junior teams, the 1971-72 season ended with the Seniors maintaining their position (2nd, 1970-71), and the Junior Team becoming League Champions for the first time since 1969.
The team remained the same throughout the season, which speaks well for the consistent form of each member. The League results were as follows:
SENIOR
Lowestoft – Drawn
Wymondham – Won
Eaton – Won
Fakenham – Won
Hewett – Won
Swaffham – Lost
JUNIOR
Town Close – Won
Wymondham – Won
Norwich – Drawn
Fakenham – Won
Yarmouth – Won
Hewett – Drawn
Swaffham – Won
Sprowston – Lost
Once again ten of our members entered the Norfolk and Norwich Schools Chess Congress at Wensum Lodge on February 12th and 13th. In spite of power cuts it was a most successful weekend and we returned with three prizes:
A. Herne, 3rd in Junior Premier; S. Lloyd, 3rd in the Minors, and I succeeded in winning the Junior Trophy which R. Pryke last held for the school in 1969.
Next season we hope to climb even higher up the ladder of success, and we hope that our numbers will be increased when the new intake joins us in September.
Both the Junior and Senior Chess teams wish to thank Mr Howard for the time he has spent in taking us to and from matches, and for the interest he has shown.
Nicholas Baker
(Junior Captain)
CRICKET 1972
With the early season weather more suited to winter games, several of the matches suffered by cancellation and quality.
The Senior cricket promised to be of better quality than of late, with the strong U/16 squad making up the bulk of the 1st and 2nd XI’s. Although the bowling has been of a good standard, the batsmen have generally failed to make the quantity of runs – Neave’s 73 v Langley was an exception.
TEAMS:
1st XI: J. Rowe (Captain), Agar (V Captain), Mason, Tibbenham C, Stannard, Leeds, Emmerson, Johns, Howe, Futter, Minns, Roberts.
2nd XI: Measures (Captain), Roberts, Franks, Perfitt, Lawes, Neave, Foan, Byles, Drake I, Drake A, Giles, Campbell, Buckerfield.
The U/16 team playing at their own level were undefeated with convincing victories over Diss GS, Wymondham Secondary (Agar 7 for 19), St Andrews (Leeds 5 for 9), Sprowston (Thorpe 190 for 8; Agar 45, Leeds 45, Sprowston 35 all out). The team was deservedly successful in winning the Norwich and District Shield.
Apart from a disastrous match against Hamonds, Swaffham, the U/15 team played good cricket and gained creditable results. They scored 109 v Langley; 159 v Paston, North Walsham; and 110 v Yarmouth – all convincing wins, with Moore, Clarke and Hall spearheading the attack.
TEAM; Moore (Captain), Austin, Banham, Hall, Barber, Clarke, Green, Seeley, Harper, Balls, Livingstone, Stangroom and Hampson.
U/14 Team. These players had a generally successful season, losing to Norwich School in the Esso Cup because of slow scoring rather than bad cricket. They avenged this defeat in their next meeting. Among the highlights of the season were Allcock’s 99 in a 188 total v Eaton, Ayers’ consistently good form, and the occasional stump-shatterers of Downing and Newman.
TEAM: Critchfield (Captain), Drummond (V Captain), English, Allcock, Ayers, Williamson, Forder, Santo, Whurr, Evans, Woods, Sayer, Lambert, Downing, Newman.
U/13 Team. This team looked like a cricket team and often played well. The technique of the players is not yet second nature and often let them down. However, they have rarely been beaten and this has been due to good team effort, the bowling of Webster and the batting of Denton.
TEAM: D. Moore, Denton, Webster, Bird, Minors, Stubbs, Nelson, Gorrod, I. Taylor, Bardwell, Killington.
U/12 Team. There are many good games players in this year, and they have been able to turn their hands to the game of cricket. It has been a pleasant task moulding them into cricketers, but we have a long way to go and must avoid stifling natural flair. All matches, except for one tie, have meant overwhelming defeats for the opposition.
CROSS-COUNTRY 1972
After the Block, the Rec, the hospital field and Green Lane had suffered under the patter of tiny (and other) feet, the cross-country season started with the Junior house runs. Individual winners were:
1st Year – Wyatt C.
2nd Year – Webster F.
3rd Year – Critchfield C.
4th Year – Jarvis C.
The Area trials held at Thorpe Grammar School, again underlined the superiority of the Hellesdon runners, who won each of the four age groups. There was some consolation for our boys who were second in the Intermediate and Junior age groups.
Critchfield, Nelson, Webster, Symonds, Jarvis, Livingstone, Leversedge, G. Dawson, Snellgrove, Maddocks, Bealey, Giles, A. Bateman and V. Taylor all represented Norwich District in the Norfolk Championships. Symonds, Leversedge and V. Taylor all went on to represent the County.
Teams were also entered in a run on Fakenham racecourse (for two-legged horses), and in the Grammar School run at Yarmouth, held on a gruelling beach course, Leversedge gave Thorpe Grammar School the individual winner for the Senior Boys for the second year.
FOOTBALL 1972
In a total of 151 competitive games some 716 goals were scored:
Team Played Drew Won Lost For Against
1st XI 18 2 3 13 33 68
2nd XI 14 1 3 10 36 69
U/15 24 2 8 14 54 86
U/14 17 0 10 7 72 53
U/13 24 3 19 2 92 31
U/12 17 2 13 2 76 26
In addition to the above teams, an U/16 Team played occasional matches as well as the regular Sixth Form Thursday League side.
From a quick perusal of the results it is apparent that the junior teams gained rather more success than their elder counterparts. However, as in all sporting activities, the end result is not the only consideration.
U/12 TEAM: Stanger (Captain), Chaney (V Captain), Cocking, Hampson, Eastman, Howard, Hughes, Lythgo, Gunton, Lusher, Adams, Whiley.
The team, with several strong strikers of the ball (especially the big fellows, Eastman, Hughes and Howard) gave Lythgo, Gunton and Whiley plenty of opportunities for scoring. They lost only two of their matches, one to Hewett in the Cup and one to Earlham. They should be well placed for their League debut.
U/13 TEAM: Dickerson, Denton, Bird, Nelson, Tyce, Taylor, Webster, Armes, Smith, Bardwell, Ling, Leggett, Clarke.
This team started off the season badly with a shock loss against Hellesdon – the team they had beaten by 9 goals in their previous meeting. However, they only lost one further game when fielding a B team against Fakenham.
Their defeat by Hellesdon cost them the League title. However, a win in the final of the Votier Cup against Hewett ended the season for them on a high note.
U/14 TEAM: Sayer (Captain), Ladbrooke, Forder, Williamson, Evans, Drummond, Critchfield, Whurr, Stocker, Ayers, Woods, Allcock, Watmore, Stanger.
After being beaten cup finalists and League runners-up for the previous year, the U/14 team found it rather harder going against a skilful age group, especially in the Norwich and District League. Bowthorpe, their main adversaries from past seasons, remained the strongest force. Several of the team – Allcock, Sayer, Williamson, Watmore, Critchfield, Whurr and Woods – played for the Third Year Norwich Boys.
U/15 TEAM: Clark (Captain), Bartram, Jarvis, Sealey, Mann, Hall, Hampson, Harris, Austin, Moore, Fiske, Harper, Smith, Weldon, Hawkes, Davison, Banham, Sutton.
With a very full fixture list they had little time to lick their wounds between matches. They were generally up against larger opposition, but always stuck to the task in hand, often pulling off surprise results.
2nd XI TEAM: Pharoah (Captain), Bidgood, Mann, Webster, Roberts, Johns, London, Kempton, Baxter, Emmerson, Reeve, Leeds, Tibbenham, Minns.
This team, which varied considerably in composition throughout the season, finished as almost as U/16 squad. Generally they conceded more goals than they scored.
1st XI TEAM: Deakin (Captain), Lemon, Bidgood, Mann, Moore, Stannard, Kemp, Whiley, Woods, Culham, Bell, Mason, Benton, Lamb, Gilburt.
With only three of the previous years team remaining, the going was tough and wins were well out-numbered by defeats. On a count at the end of season, Stannard was adjudged highest scorer.
In the Fifth Year Seven-a-side at Earlham, the last match of the season, the team (Howe, Agar, Leeds, Benton, Mason, Johns and Jarvis) beat all comers to win the tournament.
GYMNASTICS
A group of five girl gymnasts began training for Norfolk Schools Gymnastics Championships last September. The competition consisted of a voluntary floor-work routine to music, a set vault and a voluntary vault. The standard in all sections was high, with the competitors from Cliff Park Gymnastic Club dominating the top six places in 11-13 and 13-15. Our best results were: K. Manning, 7th in 11-13 and S. Callis, 3rd in 13-15.
HOCKEY
The hockey season was one of mixed results. Enthusiasm for hockey and particularly for matches seems to be on the increase, particularly in the first three years of the school.
The U/14 Team had an excellent season: of 18 matches played 11 were won and 7 were drawn. The team scored 44 goals and conceded only 7. At Norfolk Schools Tournament the U/14 Team finished equal 1st. The success of the team was a result of keenness among third year girls, and high attendance at practices. The captain, Julie Brown, controlled her team admirably.
Higher up the school the U/15 Team had one creditable success 7-0 over Bungay Grammar School. The Team, consisting of nine 4th years and two 3rds, must be praised for its determination in spite of poor results.
The 1st XI, ably let by V. Taylor, showed much more enthusiasm and practices were well attended. This led to slightly better results than in past seasons.
At County Trials J. Clayton was selected for County U/18 1st Team for which she played regularly in goal, and M. Brown was reserve right half.
RIFLE CLUB
Now that electricity has been laid on to the rifle range, we are able to enjoy electric lights in place of calor gas lamps, and owing to the generosity of some previous members of the club, we have two electric fires. It is almost a home from home! However, though the wall-to-wall carpeting still exists at the firing point, the moths have attacked the three-piece suite.
We regard shooting, though, not as an opportunity to sit and discuss various aspects of school life, but as a sport, and this year a team consisting of C. Dady, K. Dawson, M. Goodyear, P. Roat and myself was entered for the Winter League. For the first time in the history of the Rifle Club we succeeded in winning our division: out of the ten matches played (all against five Senior Teams) we, the only school team competing, won 8 and lost 2, gaining a total of 16 points. Thorpe’s aggregate was 4083, and the next team had an aggregate of 4030.
K. Dawson and C. Dady were also entered in the individual league, where C. Dady won 3 matches, drew 1 and lost 4 and K. Dawson won 6 and lost 3 but both were at a disadvantage when two matches were lost because no cards were received.
A Junior Rifle Club was started at the beginning of the year, on Monday evenings under the supervision of Mr Davison, and on Friday evenings supervised by Mr Heighes. Unfortunately after a good start the membership has dwindled away.
Anne Whatley
ROUNDERS 1972
Several rounders fixtures had to be cancelled because of inclement weather, but those which were played were all won, with the exception of an U/12 match against Norwich High which Thorpe lost by 3-2. The U/14 Team won all their matches very convincingly, scoring a total of 40 rounders and conceding 13 1/2. The U/13 Team won their four matches comfortably in spite of many team changes.
Keenness, enthusiasm and regular practising by members of all teams have helped to raise the standard of rounders. Teams of the future will have to work hard to maintain this high standard. Thanks are due to the parents who have provided transport for their daughters and friends.
ROWING
The 1971-72 season has been relatively uneventful in the annals of Thorpe Grammar School Boat Club. The Club was represented at both Cambridge and Norwich Regattas by two ‘fours’ and met with limited success. More fortunate were the Club’s two scullers, Macallan and Snellgrove, who entered the Schools and Novice events at Whitlingham Regatta, Macallan reaching the semi-final in both events.
At present training is being directed towards providing at least two ‘fours’ in each year. In order to achieve this, more members, especially in the upper part of the school, are required, and they must be prepared to spend some of their own time as well as games lessons in rowing and repairing boats and boathouse.
A. Macallan
SAILING CLUB
The autumn term began with racing on the River Yare, and we were able to continue these competitions weekly almost to the end of term. The winter term was spent on boat maintenance and talks on parts on the RYA Proficiency Certificate syllabus.
During the summer term there were matches against Norwich School at Horning and Langley School at Buckenham Ferry and Hickling. Michael Gilburt did well, with several first places, and Jacqueline Rhodes for the ladies won at Horning and Buckenham. Jill Clayton came a close second at Horning and won the race on Hickling.
The Norfolk Regatta in which many were to take part was eventually abandoned on account of high winds. It was refreshing to note that apart from one other boat the only people able to remain afloat were Thorpe Grammar School members.
Michael Gilburt, Nigel Ferguson, Michael Clayton and Jill Clayton were selected to represent Norfolk in the East Anglian Regatta. The first race on Saturday morning was abandoned when nearly everybody capsized – much to the annoyance of Michael Gilburt and Jill Clayton who would have won their races. As rescue boats were unable to deal with the numbers of boats capsizing in the gale conditions, there was no more sailing that day. On the Sunday the weather was no better, but more rescue boats were available. Despite the fact that Nigel Ferguson broke his broom and tore his jib, he managed a fifth position out of a large fleet of Enterprises. Without this bad luck his other placings would have resulted in a first or second place. Jill Clayton did well and gained second place over all Wayfarers.
The Britannia Trophy for Seamanship was competed for on July 1st. Michael Clayton won the trophy and a cruise on an Ocean Youth Club yacht. Jill came second.
The Club held their summer term Regatta on Hickling Broad on the Thursday of the Show Holiday.
Nigel Ferguson, Michael Gilburt, Andrew Cullum, Michael Clayton, Jacqueline Rhodes, Jill Clayton, John Leech and their crews attended the National Schools Regatta at Bassenthwaite.
SWIMMING
House galas were held for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Year groups and in addition to these the newly-formed Norfolk League saw a great increase in our competitive swimming. Our close neighbours, St Andrew’s also gave opposition in two friendly galas, both of which we narrowly won. In the League, Jim Lynn, Kevin Bishop, Joanna Searle, Fiona Brundish and Bygrave were among our most regular scorers, the boys team being second to Hellesdon and the girls third in the final placings.
In the Norfolk Gala the Senior swimmers found the opposition less exacting than the Juniors, with the boys team winning the trophy, and the girls coming second to Wymondham College by one point. Julie Parker and David Meigh were prominent in their successes.
Lynn Bishop, Julie Parker and Anne Pinching gained selection for the County Team in the Quad Gala, the County Team winning for the first time. Again, training holds the key to this specialised sport, and although regular sessions on Monday evenings and Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes were available, few of the team took regular advantage of them.
TENNIS 1972
The school has five tennis teams, which include girls from each year group. The 1st XI, ably led by Lynda Wilkinson, and including B. Barrett, L. Bonthron, S. Fletcher, C. Tink and A. Cooper have played quite well, winning three of their five matches. In the Marriott Cup Competition the team were beaten 6-3 by King’s Lynn High School, after travelling 50 miles to find the match was to be played on grass courts.
The 2nd XI, unfortunately, have lost all their matches; the team, which consists mainly of 5th form girls, should with more practice do much better next season.
The U/15 Team: L. Nockolds, J. Morris, S. Shorten, A. Cracknell, L. Riches, S. Aldous and K. Arthurton worked especially hard at the beginning of the season. This practice paid off because the team won three of five matches, losing only to Norwich High School and Notre Dame. In the Youngs Cup Competition the team beat Downham Market Grammar School in the first round, but lost to the very talented Norwich High School team in the second round. Norwich High School are the holders of this cup.
Of the five matches which the U/14 Team played, they won two and lost three. Regular practising has raised the standard of play in this team too – K. Watson (Captain), V. Lee, J. Hughff, D. Ayton, M. Allison, H. Skipper, E. Slaughter and E. Tink.
The U/13 Team won both their matches. The enthusiasm for tennis in the Junior School is very pleasing. The team has been efficiently led by J. Owler; regular members include V. Nockolds, E. King, A. Fox and two first years, L. Daniel and K. Ladbrooke.
HOUSE COMPETITIONS
GIRLS
Throughout the year there are matches in games lessons between the four houses in a variety of sports. Results for 1971-72 were:
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year
Netball F B F B
Hockey - F C H
Athletics B C F H
Rounders H B F B
Tennis - - C C
Swimming B B-C C -
Netball ‘B’ F C - -
Rounders ‘B’ B-C B - -
CHAMPION HOUSE B B F-C B-H
House Captains:
Britten Cavell Fleming Hillary
4th Year L. Riches S. Aldous L. Nockolds B. Jones
3rd Year S. Allenden E. Hurrell J. Brown J. Cullington
2nd Year G. Howell M. Marquis J. Hudson A. Jonas
1st Year G. Pointer J. Leeds J. Milne J. Brown
BOYS
Results for 1971-72 were:
1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year 4th Year
6 a side Football F C C H
11 a side Football B B B B
Swimming C F B -
Rugby F F C B
Cross-country F F H F
Indoor Football B B F F
Basketball B C F F
Cricket H F F H
Athletics F F H B
CHAMPION HOUSE B-F F F B
House Captains:
Britten Cavell Fleming Hillary
4th Year Harris Hampson Clarke Hall
3rd Year Sayer Critchfield Allcock Stocker
2nd Year Tyce Bardwell Webster Denton
1st Year Stanger Chaney Cocking Janes
OLD BOYS FOOTBALL CLUB
Both teams having gained promotion the previous season, the beginning of the 1971-72 campaign was eagerly awaited, although with a degree of apprehension.
The First XI started promisingly and by the end of December had suffered only a handful of defeats and had gained some laudable results in the Cup Competition. Once again the talk was of promotion. However, at a crucial stage of the season, the club was beset by a series of injuries to key players and results suffered. The team finally had to satisfy themselves with a mid-table position although they had lost only twelve of their thirty league matches.
The Reserves had a disastrous season. They were never able to field a settled side, and this was reflected in their results. Of thirty games played, only nine were won.
There is, however, good reason for hope for the future. Several signings were made towards the end of the season, notably that of David Lamotte, who looks a tremendous prospect, and it is hoped that these players will provide a solid foundation for next season.
In conclusion, I am pleased to hear that Miles Fish, a former pupil, has been offered professional terms by Scunthorpe United. I am sure that we shall all follow his career with interest.
Chris Ketland
THE PARENT TEACHER ASSOCIATION
One wonders if a written report of PTA activities can supplement the glowing and lively accounts of individual and team efforts, which fill the other pages, and which reflect the enthusiasm of participation at all levels of the school in the various activities.
Yet, by inclusion in the magazine, the role of the PTA is immediately linked with all the school’s efforts, and even if one cannot match the youthful zest that is so evident in contributions particular to sporting successes, certainly even a sober summary of functions and activities associates all parents with the other achievements.
We parents collectively have common ground, in that our children are pupils at the school, and we should find some satisfaction in knowing that by our common effort we have helped in some way to assist the endeavours of staff and pupils in a full and successful school year.
The list of items towards which PTA funds have been made available grows steadily larger, and the total money contributed over the years begins to reach staggering proportions, yet each year brings new problems. With a steadily increasing school population, the resources for extra facilities become strained, and it is not difficult to accept that wear and tear is accelerated. Replacement of items unfortunately becomes more and more expensive, and the PTA will need to continue its role of raising funds.
This year a major requirement is the replacement of the mini-bus, and it was necessary to make an exceptional request to parents for contributions specifically for the replacement fund. Already £130 has been subscribed by parents as a result of this appeal, and the pupils themselves have given a further sum. An amount of money has been conditionally indicated as available from the Education Authority, but if we fail to reach the total asked of us, that allotment will not be available indefinitely.
A first-time effort this year was the Cheese and Wine evening in March. Although suffering rearrangement of date because of fuel difficulties, this was well supported and judged to be a great success. Incidentally it made a profit of £45.
Our autumn and winter programme includes the AGM, a Cheese and Wine evening in October, and a Christmas Fair. You will be advised of these separately in good time.
Please continue with your support, and use the PTA for your suggestions, ideas and as an arena of any anxieties. The Association can only function properly if we, as parents, participate fully.
F. Kerry (Hon Secretary)
NEWS OF FORMER PUPILS
Again, in a somewhat haphazard way, we have come upon various items of news about those who have been at Thorpe. It generally happens that those of us who have been on the staff for some time notice an item in the local press, or are suddenly confronted with a half-familiar face, and from the ensuing conversations we piece together a picture of what some of you are doing.
And so we learn that:
PAUL JEFFERY after two trips to Durban went on to Korea, and after a visit to his
home in Horsford should be on another voyage by now.
MALCOLM GRASS has sailed with the Merchant Navy twice round the world, was
married earlier this year, and is by now travelling with his wife to
New Zealand.
ANDREW PARKE in the course of his sea training has sent postcards from
various places, including Japan.
ANDREW SOUTH is a naval lieutenant lecturing on Computer Technology; his twin
sister ANGELA, is married to MICHAEL WYNNE and they have a
daughter.
PAUL BROADHEAD is being sent jointly by the Norwich Diocese and Rotary to
Popendetta in New Guinea where he will act as Agricultural
Advisor.
RUTH SOUTHGATE is on a three-year contract in Zambia.
SANDRA ABBOTT has been working in a Missionary Hospital in Morocco.
MALCOLM MOGFORD airline pilot, had some local publicity when he brought a
washboard all the way from San Francisco to Norwich to be
played by the percussionist of the Vintage Hot Orchestra who
delights in the name of ‘Count Muffin Moriarty’, but looks
remarkably like one, GRAHAM BURDICK.
We have several members of the pop scene. One of the most successful is NICK MACARTNEY, whose group, Edentree, has a full diary of engagements throughout the country. Another, JAMES MACDONALD, is with a group in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
It was good to hear from one of the first pupils of the school, GEORGE GOODALL, who, having taken a degree in Sociology at Liverpool, is now working in East London in a home for maladjusted boys. He is married and has a small daughter.
We congratulate STEPHEN TRUDGILL on being awarded his PhD at Bristol University, and on his appointment as Assistant Lecturer at the University of Strathclyde. Our congratulations too to others who graduated this year:
MARION CARTER, JEAN MOAR, ELEANOR ROWE, JOHN CHAPMAN, TREVOR HOOK, PAUL SMITH and JOHN STARLING, among them, and we were especially pleased to hear of the 1st Class Honours degrees awarded to DAVID HOLMES (Geography, University College, London) and DAVID LEE (Chemical Engineering, Imperial College, London).
A number of ex-Thorpe members are taking up new teaching posts.
SIMON SANDERS having completed his training at Dartington Hall and Rolle
College of Education, Exmouth, has been appointed Assistant
Music Master and Assistant House Master at Wymondham
College.
GLENN TURNER is joining the staff of East Dereham Boys’ Secondary Modern
School.
JANE HOLBOROW is teaching in a new comprehensive school in Wiltshire.
JULIA HURREN teaches at Ipswich.
SUSAN BRIDGENS in Aylsham.
ANGELA SEWTER in Swindon, and
MICHAEL CULLINGFORD at Langley.
CHRISTINE ALBINS having qualified as a teacher of Domestic Science, is working in
Liverpool.
It was a pleasing surprise to have a visit from the Deputy Children’s Librarian for Norfolk, and to find it was DELPHINE JOYCE.
Among the year’s achievements we note that RAYMOND ADAMS was awarded the Theology Prize at Westminster College, Cambridge, where he is studying in order to enter the Presbyterian Ministry; and that SUSAN HERON won a prize in Radiography for her work at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital. MONICA YOUNGER, who is studying ballet with the Arts Education Trust, has been the first recipient of an award by the Norfolk and Norwich amateur Operatic Society which will enable her to finish her training with a year at the Staats Opera in Munich.
In the Services are NIGEL WOODCOCK (RN), HENRY ADCOCK (RAF), TONY HOUSEAGO (RAF).
DAVID LAMOTTE and MALCOLM PAGE called; the former is continuing his training for Printing, mainly at the City College; the latter is working in a solicitor’s office and will be attending the City College for day release and evening classes. TONY HILLSDON, LESLEY BRENNAN, JANINE SHUTE, JUDITH HARLEY, FIONA MACFARLANE, CHRISTINE LOVEDAY, the brothers HIGH and STEPHEN ALDIS are also students at the City College.
Among other miscellaneous items of information are:
GAIL REEKIE completed a Secretarial Training Course at the County College
of Arts and Technology, King’s Lynn and is working for the BBC
in London helping a producer in the Schools Broadcasting
Department.
ISOBEL DAVIDSON is working at the Head Office of the Norwich Union.
PAT ARNOLD after a year at the Norwich Union is starting a teacher training
Course at Trent Park.
JONATHAN JACKSON is self-employed in a variety of ways, including livestock, building
and antique dealing.
COLIN WHITE has passed the final examination to qualify as a Cost and Works
Accountant.
RODNEY BOAST is working in meteorology.
STUART BRAY is in the Lincolnshire Constabulary.
RAY HOLMES a public health inspector, has recently taken up an appointment
with Stalham RDC.
DAVID SUMMERS is working in the office of Boulton and Paul.
PETER KNIAZ at Laurence, Scott and Electromotors.
KEVIN DOUGLAS has left the Norwich Union to train in GPO Telephones, where
CHRISTOPHER PEART already is.
ANDREW BAILEY working at St Andrew’s Hospital, starts his full professional
training in October.
Just before going to press we received an interesting letter from JOHN GILBURT, an officer cadet with the British and Commonwealth Shipping Company, who described in grisly detail the initiation ceremony on his ship for himself and ten other greenhorns when they first ‘crossed the Line’.
… And so we could go on, but time and space preclude more. If you have news of any former student from Thorpe, please let us hear of it for the 1973 edition of the magazine.
NON-TEACHING STAFF
SECRETARY : Mrs F. Leech
CLERICAL ASSISTANTS : Miss P.A. Smith, Mrs E. P. Painter
LIBRARY ASSISTANT : Mrs L.T. Parker
LABORATORY TECHNICIANS : Mr E.G. Camm, Mr D. Hipperson
LABORATORY ASSISTANTS : Miss S. Adams, Miss J. Carrey
CARETAKERS : Mr R.D. Douglas, Mr A. Lonsdale
CLEANERS : Mrs B. Armstrong, Mrs C. Bassett, Mrs P. Douglas, Mrs F. Gould,
Mrs E. Howard, Mrs J. Metcalf, Mrs E. Nobbs, Mrs L. Smith, Mrs W. Steward
Mrs G. Willimott, Mr R. Taylor
KITCHEN STAFF :
Supervisor – Mrs E. Mitchell
Mrs K. Whitehouse, Mrs B. Peart, Mrs E. Bloxham, Mrs M. Burgess, Mrs L. Cullen, Mrs S. Dady, Mrs H. Day,
Mrs M. Dixon, Mrs D. Forder, Mrs M. Larkins, Mrs J. Rigby, Mrs E. Tubby, Mrs E. Whurr,
Mrs V. Watchorn
GROUNDSMEN : Mr G. Youngs
Mr D. Boast, Mr R. Hagger, Mr R. Woods
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