Extracts from "The Tower"

NEWS AND NOTES

The school extends a welcome to all members of staff who joined us during the past academic year, and is sorry to say farewell to Mrs. Hogg, who is retiring; Mrs. Austin, who is to become a mother in October; Miss Palmer, who is to be Head of Maths at Derngate High School; Miss Lazenby who is moving to Radcliffe School; Miss Hunter who is moving to Cambridge; and Messrs. Wright, Hasdell and Adams who are finally retiring, so they say, the first and last mentioned to their bean rows, and the second to Minorca. Our best wishes for the future go with them all.

Congratulations to Mr. Baker and his wife on the birth of a third daughter, Alison; to Mr. Greaves and his wife on the birth of a son, Matthew; to Mr. Price and his wife on the birth of a son, James; and to Mr. Spence and his wife on the birth of a daughter, Louisa.

Best wishes to Mr. R. J. Bennett who is to be married this summer.

The Elizabeth Howes Memorial Prize was presented to Lesley Tarry (Form 5) and Peter Stowes and (4S).

The Annual Carol Service at the end of the autumn term was conducted by the Rev. I. Hunt of St. Paul's, and lessons were read by members of the school.

Throughout the year the school has collected for a number of charities, and donations have been made to the Princess Marina Hospital, Manfield Hospital, Cancer Research, and the Save the Children Fund.

G. Harrison (6UM) won the Timken Essay Prize. Other prizes were awarded to J. Rudderham, who has since left; P. D. Walding (6US), J. M. Ramsbotham (6UG), D. C. Bruere (6US) and D. T. Pamely (6US).

The school and staff presented 'The Yeoman of the Guard' in the school hall.

The Debating Society won this year's Inter-Schools' Debate. They proposed the motion 'Convention is the refuge of the weak'.

The Old Boys retained the F. C. Wright Trophy by beating the school 13-8.

The school won this year's Staff v. School rugby match by 9-6.

A staff five-a-side soccer team twice reached the semi-finals of the Technical College Inter-Departmental Knock-Out competition.
This summer the school's first ever cricket tour will take place. Members of the first eleven and several Old Boys will be staying in Bournemouth and playing six matches against local schools and colleges. The tour organisers thank all those who supported the many fund-raising activities.

The English Department organised trips to 'Hamlet' at Stratford; 'Twelfth Night' at the National Youth Theatre; 'Hamlet' and Rozencranz and Guildenstern' on the same day at Leicester; 'Hamlet' at Nottingham; 'The Winter's Tale' at the National Theatre, 'Under Milk Wood' at the Arts Theatre, London; 'Juno and the Paycock' at Oxford Playhouse; and the 'Canterbury Tales' at the Phoenix Theatre, London and the Tate Gallery, on the same day.

Congratulations-

to Paul Blincow (4S) who was entered for this year's Junior Wimbledon. At tennis Paul has already won the Northants U18 singles, the Solihull U16 singles, and he was invited to the U16 international trials. At table-tennis he won the Northants Closed U17 Boys' Singles, reached the semi-finals of the Northants Men's Singles; won the U.17 Boys' Doubles and the Men's Doubles with D. Berridge of 6UM

John Pragnell (SK) and Paul McKernan (3E) who won the Timpson Sailing Trophy.

Michael Fryatt (4R) who is a Grade C Showjumper.

Our various representatives in county teams and events.

MRS. HOGG

At the end of this term, Mrs. Hogg, Head of Domestic Science at Trinity, retires from teaching. She has given long and valuable service to the profession in the Midlands, not the least of which has been her twelve-year period at this school, where she remembers having to boil water in saucepans long before the present Domestic Science block was fully equipped. Many of our former male pupils, too, must be eternally grateful to her for teaching them how not to be entirely dependent upon modern, liberated womanhood. Our best wishes go with her for a happy, well-earned retirement.

SPEECH DAY, 1971

Speech Day, held this year on the 18th March, was graced by a large gathering of Governors, parents and friends of the School. Councillor Fruish, the new Chairman of Governors, presided and the guest speaker was Mr. R. J. Blofeld, County Careers Officer for Hertfordshire County Council.

In opening his annual report, the Headmaster welcomed Mr. Blofeld and thanked the other guests for their attendance. He mentioned the increased size of the Sixth Form and the greater flexibility of courses of study. He talked about extra-curricular activities, and the School's contribution to charity. The annual sports reports were read out by Jackie Brown for the girls and John Sale for the boys.

Councillor Fruish introduced Mr. Blofeld, whose excellent speech firmly held the attention of even the youngest pupils. He spoke predominantly about careers and stressed the importance of choosing the right careers. He also talked about the need for a wide variety of courses at Sixth Form level. Mr. Blofeld congratulated the School on its results. It was clear to him that the School believed in hard work and the maintenance of high standards, and he advised all members of the School to use their opportunities to the full.

The applause Mr. Blofeld received showed how strongly he had engaged the interest of his audience. His distinguished contribution to the success of the afternoon was acknowledged by the Mayor, Alderman Gibson, in his vote of thanks, which was seconded by the Head Girl, Gillian Newton.

GILLIAN NEWTON

THE DAVE BOWEN INTERVIEW

T. Carmichael (6LM1) and M. Krantz (3E) interviewed Dave Bowen, manager of Northampton Town Football Club, and Wales.  That interview has already been published on the website in the "Cobblers" Section.  To read it [click here]

THE BRIDGE CLUB

The Bridge Club was formed earlier this year and meets regularly during Thursday dinner times to play fiercely competed rubbers. These are recorded on a league basis.

The ability of our players range from lucky beginners to experienced old hands, staff and pupils respectively. Our thanks to Mr. Winkworth for helping to get the club off the ground.

SCHOOL v. STAFF CRICKET MATCH 1970

Possibly the only major event of the 1970 cricket calendar which did not attract the attention of anti-apartheid demonstrators or England selectors was the annual School v. Staff cricket match.

As the staff fieldsmen gradually dispersed to their positions, sporting various pairs of off-white trousers, white shirts exhibiting a hard yet unrewarding summer term's slog, and borrowed plimsolls of approximate sizes, the two School opening batsmen were given heroes' welcomes as they arrived at the wicket, comparable only to the applause which congratulated Mr. Rooke on a career best one not-out, achieved later in the afternoon session.

The staff bowling attack comprised of the two 'fast' bowlers, Messrs. West and Newton, and although they gave the batsmen little difficulty in the opening stages, they succeeded in capturing two precious early wickets but, at 11.45 a.m. N. Haycock and H. Cooke, in an onslaught rarely seen under the auspices of an English cricket ground, added a blistering 71 runs in 41 minutes - with Haycock eventually reaching 61 not-out and Cooke 42.

After the school captain, Cooke, had considered carefully such factors as the elements rapidly failing, a gigantic six hit off the bowling of Mr. Collings, which we are asked not to mention, and lunch taken in the school canteen, he decided to close the School's innings at 152 for 4 wickets, and as a result saved the Staff's bowlers from further merciless punishment.

Seconds after the Staff side had wearingly trudged back to the pavilion, the keen, fit, alert school team emerged from the billows of smoke, which were soothing the torn nerves of the Staff.

After hurriedly clasping any protection at hand, and whitening boots at the last minute, Mr. Bishop and Mr. Price were reluctantly forced out of the dressing room, and made their way towards the centre of the square, no doubt aware of the precision, and the months of preparation that had obviously gone into the School's team. Mr. Bishop eventually settled himself at the receiving end, and after he had prepared himself psychologically (and perhaps even sociologically), he prodded the wicket a few times, and settled into his stance. Riches, who has gained widespread recognition as the School's opening fast bowler, after pacing out an especially elongated run-up, and having received the "wink" and "thumbs-up" gesture from his captain, carefully gripped the huge, red cherry in his hand, and slowly started his run-up. Mr. Bishop made a last-minute inspection of his armour and the futile weapon that he was carrying, and turned his eyes to the horizon as the huge bowler gradually accelerated his way into view. The fieldsmen surrounding the bat settled down into their catching positions, and in the deathly silence rarely heard in school, the remainder of the Staff side apprehensively huddled around the small window of the pavilion, no one daring to speak. The bowler, now at maximum speed, reached the wicket, and unleashed the fireball. Before Mr. Bishop could lift his bat, the ball had whistled past his body, been caught by the Wicket Keeper, and thrown back to the bowler, who was now walking back for his second delivery. As is customary on occasions like this, the well-worn cliché arrived - "Tell him to slow down, he'll kill somebody before he's finished".

After the stubborn resistance of Mr. Price had been removed, the greatest hopes for the Staff, Mr. Newton and Mr. Hodson, arrived together at the crease, and they contributed a fine, run-a-minute stand, scoring 55 and 21 respectively. This, together with the fact that one of the School's fielders was hit in the face by a cricket ball, created a new interest in the game for the spectators, when suddenly, at 3:50 p.m. exactly, and following an authoritative affirmative nod, the entire ground rapidly emptied of spectators like a burst balloon. However, after the Staff wickets began to fall at more regular intervals, and following some subtle defence by Mr. Winkworth and Mr. Greaves (Education Authority please note latter is seriously considering professional terms) the Staff side were dismissed for 129.

Therefore, the School side won this very enjoyable game by the narrow margin of 23 runs.

SURVEY INTO DECIMALISATION

Headmaster, ladies and gentlemen, other readers of the magazine, it has been brought to our notice that, during the past five months, a change has crept over the monetary system of this country. It is no longer fashionable to speak of £-s-d; instead, one must talk of £-p. Much perturbed at this extraordinary development, we embarked upon a survey to find out what the people really think - a point of view generally much neglected by those in authority. We spent days knocking on doors, being attacked by dogs, wearing out our shoe leather, and at last, we are able to bring you our sensational findings.

38% believe decimalisation to be worth the bother

6% think it will be ?

39% think it a waste of time and effort

 

 

24% think in old money

24% are clearly duo monetarydextrous

5% do not think at all

 

2% had never seen a new halfpenny

the 45% remaining agreed with the builder who said it was "a... hunk ... of ... old ...... metal"

 

53% think that money has lost value because of decimalisation

14% think decimalisation has no connection with the drop

17% would not answer at all

1% tried to sign the question paper

We flatter ourselves that we now understand this new coinage, but we still find the reason for its introduction an utter mystery. Our great British public seems to be coping with decimalisation; the majority have accepted that it is here to stay. We hope, therefore, that our findings will not be filed away by some well-meaning administrator and allowed to collect dust like so many valuable and learned reports of this nature, but put to some real practical use.

We are grateful to those who gave their time so willingly and their opinions so frankly, for we believe that we, and by this time you, have learned a great deal from these findings.

We hope to be able to find the opportunity to emerge again briefly from our studies on future occasions, in order to bring you into line with the views and opinions of your fellow citizens.

KATHLEEN DUNMORE, PAULINE REYNOLDS,

CHESS CLUB REPORT 1971

The Chess Club met this year on Tuesday each week. Attendances wore very good. With the completion of the league fixtures for this year, first place in Division One goes to R. Watts (6LM2) with P. Denton (6US) and D. Savage (6LM2) in second and third places respectively. In Division Two, Brichta of 2J took first place by a margin of three points over Pancoust (2K) and Billingham (2J) who shared second position.

The Chess Club Comp is still to be played, but the School v. Staff Match will be played on Thursday, 27th May; the School won overwhelmingly last year by 7-1.

Thanks to Mr. Rooke for supervising the club for the past year.

GIRLS' BASKETBALL

Despite the lack of local opposition, Trinity girls' team hold a good position in the Maid Marian League which stages games at R.A.F. Spitalgate, Lincoln.

Three local meetings with Abington Vale have resulted in three convincing wins: 50-6, 38-0 and 86-6. A match against N.S.G. also resulted in a win: 70-12.

In the league matches at Spitalgate we played Clifton Nottingham twice, losing 10-3 in the first match, but overwhelming the opposition by 32-4 in the second. Two matches against Scunthorpe resulted in one win each, 24-16 to Trinity and 14-13 to Scunthorpe. A friendly against first division side, Pola Decca ended with Pola Decca winning by the margin of one point: 14-13. This was an excellent result considering that Trinity are in the second division.

However, the best result of the season was a magnificent win over first division side Kirk Hallan. Trinity played their best basketball of the season and truly disrupted Kirk Hallan's "fast break" style of play. The score was 26-17.
As a result of lack of local girls' teams Trinity played a Cherry Orchard Boys' team and won 22-18, an excellent result over a taller side who had come to beat us not too harshly.
The leading scorers so far this season are:-

Sue White - 64 points.
Eudene Taylor - 62 points.

Not only do Trinity play in the Maid Marian League, but we are also to represent the county in a Women's County Championship on July 11th at Nottingham.

Played 1 1, Won 8, Lost 3.
Points: For 384, Against 120.