Extracts from "The Tower"

DEBATING SOCIETY

THE Society was re-formed on September 21st and, at the request of the members present at the meeting, Mr. Howard agreed to continue as President. The following committee was elected: Mr. Hartwell (Chairman); H. J. Linsley (Secretary); Audrey Chamberlain; Susan Ward; D. C. Inwood; and M. J. Lacey.

The season started with an 'Any Questions' forum, when many interesting questions were asked. This was followed by our first debate, “This house proposes that a scientific education does not provide a sufficient education for future life”.  Two masters, Mr. Syer and Mr. Timms, kindly supported the Society by proposing and opposing the motion, which was carried by three votes. “This house proposes that the vote should be given to all people at the age of eighteen”, and “This house regrets the passing of the age of chivalry”, were the next two debates.  Both were defeated. On November 24th we joined the Northampton Grammar School Society in a debate entitled “This house proposes that dictatorship is more efficient than democracy”.  The Society was represented by H. J. Linsley and P. D. Drinkwater, respectively for and against the motion, and was narrowly defeated.

A discussion was held in the Music Room on February 1st, when, although there was not a large attendance, the meeting proved very successful, the only drawback being lack of time.

After other interesting debates, a fitting end to the session was brought about by the Inter-Schools Debate Competition held on March 16th. The Debate was held in our own school in front of an audience of over 300 from the four schools involved. We were asked to propose the motion “A rolling stone gathers no moss”, the Notre Dame High School providing the opposition. The four speakers who represented the School were R. M. Lacey, Audrey Chamberlain, P. J. York, and P. D. Drinkwater. They debated extremely well against strong opposition and the motion was easily carried. In the other debate “That the British are a practical people”. the School for Girls was opposed by the Grammar School. The shield for the school judged to have debated most efficiently was awarded to the Grammar School, to whom it was presented by Lady Hesketh.  Trinity High School was, however, very close behind.

As Secretary, it is my pleasure to thank on behalf of the Society, Mr. Hartwell (our chairman), Mr. Meldrum. Mr.Clements, Mr. Syer, and Mr. Timms for their support and guidance during the year.

COURTAULDS

ON Thursday, March 22nd, a party from our sixth form went on a visit to the Courtaulds Works at Coventry. It proved a most interesting, if slightly mystifying, visit for the 'economists.'

Having arrived at the big works, we were directed to seemingly endless flights of stairs and into a plush boardroom. There, the scientists were given a talk by one of the managers, encouraging them to become recruited into the business. We were then divided into three parties and taken round the laboratories and various departments of the research plant. This was only one branch of many, and we were almost overawed by the size and advanced techniques of the place. It made some of us wonder how I.C.I. had dared to try to buy it. In spite of its chemical bent, however, the visit was of quite considerable value to those Economics students who went, as we were given a very good idea of the benefits and the problems of practical, large-scale production.   

R.M.L.

LIBRARY NOTES

AS we stated in the corresponding notes last year, the School Library is not yet used as frequently or by as many boys and girls as it should be. It should be remembered that all boys and girls of the School are members of the School Library and are issued with a Borrower's Ticket by their English teacher. This ticket can be replaced if lost, on payment of a small charge: Supplementary Tickets, up to a maximum of four, can be issued to members of the Sixth Forms who are permitted to use the library during private study periods.

Every boy and girl is issued with a list of recommended books suitable to his or her age group and all these books are to be found on our shelves, frequently in duplication.     Suggestions for new books to be acquired by the Library are always welcomed by those responsible for its running.

Sixty-eight new books have been added during the past year and the Library Prefects have given useful service in evening sessions preparing the acquisitions for the shelves. We gratefully acknowledge their efforts. In return for this service and the regular duties they perform after school and in the lunch-break, Library Prefects, whatever their Form, are entitled to the privilege of using the Library for private study in school time.

We hope that all boys and girls will avail themselves much more of the facilities provided in the Library and will make a regular practice of borrowing some of the most interesting and valuable books we have to offer, as the Headmaster urged on Speech Day.

CHESS CLUB

THE latest season of the Chess Club has been an interesting and a successful one for its members. The customary three com-petitions were held, and D. Rooke (5A) emerged as the winner of two of them.     He won the knock-out by beating R. Wilmer (6U School) in the final and the league by two points from R. Barnes (6.L.S.). The problem-solving competition was won by R. Barnes who just managed to gain one point more than his nearest rival.

Despite these exciting contests, the highlights of the year was a visit to Kettering Grammar School where our team, consisting of D. Ashby, R. Barnes, P. Dawes, H. Linsley, I. Skears and R. Wilmer, played the home team in a six-board match. Unfortunately, we lost by five games to one but, as it was an enjoyable contest, we were not too disappointed.

We wish to thank Mr. Clements for all the time and effort he devotes to organising club meetings and for all the helpful hints he gives to the players.

HOCKEY, 1961-62

THE past season has been exciting for the members of the Ist XI.  In September, Valerie Rhoades, Sandra Eyre and Valerie Humber were chosen to represent the County in Junior Teams, and Valerie Rhoades was then sent for a Midlands trial.

The team began badly, not winning any of their early matches, but just before Christmas they began to play well together, and improved rapidly. They finished the season by winning the Inter-Schools' Hockey Tournament, which they well deserved to do.

The strength of the Under 15 XI has lain in the forward line, which used some quick passing moves to outwit the opposing defence. Our defence, however, began the season slowly and did not tackle in the circle.  Nevertheless, the team won the majority of their matches and in the Inter-Schools' Hockey Tournament did not lose a match.

Christine Harding and Jill Lucas are to be congratulated for their quick thinking and passing and Rita Humber for her endless effort.

  P. S.

1st XI

J. George; V. Clarke; S. Westley; D. Guest; A Pickering; A. Chamberlain; V. Humber (Captain); P. Dickens; J. Haycock; S. Eyre; V. Rhoades.

Under 15 XI

M. Davies; S. Perrin; S. Withington; S. Glover; M. Tarlton; C.Harding (Captain); J. Lucas; P. Sherlock; S. Cotter; B. Landon.

Reserves :

THE CASTLE

 The Castle stands upon the hill,

    Against a sky of grey;

It's taller than the old wind-mill,

And a Ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

The shutters bang on the window frame,

    Against a sky of grey,

And the door bangs just the same,

And a Ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

The moon come out; it's dull and round,

    Against a sky of grey.

It casts weird shadows on the ground,

And a ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

The shadows fall into the hall,

    Against a sky of grey.

A figure appears against the wall,

And a Ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

The figure's clad in robes of brown,

    Against a sky of grey;

It drops an object, and stoops down,

And a Ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

The figure's gone, now all is dark,

    Against a sky of grey,

The castle's left alone in the park,

And a Ghost haunts there,

Beware! a Ghost haunts there.

THE SCHOOL PLAY

"THE TOWN THAT WOULD HAVE A PAGEANT"

THIS year's production of the Amateur Dramatic Society, L. Du Garde Peach's farce, "The Town that would have a Pageant," was probably the most difficult play attempted by the Society.

The play opened in the Committee room of Mangle-Wurzleton Town Hall, where the Town Council soon arrived to discuss arrangements for the quincentenary celebrations of the borough. They finally decided to hold a pageant representing the history of the borough. The next scene took place at the local theatre, where the rehearsals were in progress. The last scene showed the pageant as finally presented to the people of Mangle-Wurzleton.

Once more the play was a success, with excellent acting from all the cast. Mr. Bamber again produced the play in skilled fashion and Mr. Clarke, Mr. Adams and Mr. Rayton, with their assistants, produced some fine scenery. Special praise is also due to Mr.Guffogg for excellent lighting and effects. This, however, was an all-round effort and thanks are due to everyone, who helped in any way.

 M.J.A., H.J.L.

THE CAST

MRS. MAUD HIGGINS            Valerie Rhoades

MR. SMALL (Town Clerk)       Gordon Bromage

MRS. WHIRILOW                Christine Slater

JOE POOL                     Robert Bierton

DR. HOLDEN                   Philip Thomas

MR. PILSEY (a schoolmaster)  George Brutnall

MR. JACK SHELDON             Trevor England

MAYOR's ATTENDANT            Rodney Jones

THE MAYOR                    Michael Adhemar

ELEANOR, COUNTESS OF BLISS   Linda Rixon

MR. PETHICK (a reporter)     Martin Verity

MR. WILYIN                   John Church

SAM (an electrician)         Ian White

MR. DROGUE                   Robin Douglas

MR. HEPPLE                   David Cornelius

EARL OF BLISS                Nicholas Davis

LADY MARY                    Valerie Humber

AMY FRITH                    Susan Wiggett

MR. JUBB                     Paul Shaw

MAYORESS                     Diane Headland

MOLLY BRIGHT                 Elizabeth Merry

BOY                          Alan March

CYNTHIA BAMFORD              Rita Humber

ALICE POOL                   Valerie Clarke

THE MATCH

(With apologies to W. S.)

Scene: An unmentionable rugby pitch on the east side of town.

Enter fifteen sacrifices,

Striped and studded for the crisis.

Enter ' Ref.,' ball in hand,

Wading through the marshy land.

Amid the mud there stands a team,

Clean and faithful, dressed in green.

Waiting for the nearing game,

Fifteen men for them to tame.

 

Opposing team in yellow stand,

A savage-looking, brigand band.

Each of them is six foot plus;

Cool and calm, they make no fuss.

The coin's tossed; our captain's won,

A brilliant start, a good deed done.

Alas, our team stand biting thumbs,

Something evil this way comes.

 

Twice the hooker's foot has lifted,

Twice our scrumhalf has been shifted.

Make sure that offences swarm,

Lots of scrums'll keep 'em warm.

The other team can do no wrong,

We should've brought 'Our Ref.' along.

Now they use the Ref's. chief tool.

Curse, the mighty 'Off-side' rule.

 

Where can we meet this 'Ref.' again?

In hailstorm, thunder, lightning, rain?

When this losing battle's won,

When the victors have had their fun?

Flesh of Dave, shirt of Pete,

Scattered round the swirling feet.

Clod of oozing Borough mud,

Drenched in gallant full-back's blood.

 

Ear of scrumhalf, hair of prop,

I fear our team has 'had its lot.'

The opposing team victorious stand,

Tyrants of this sewer land,

With click of stud and thud of ball,

To us in mocking voices call.

Alas, great team, you did your best,

But have a year in which to rest.

R. D. BIERTON (4A)