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A M D G

 

 

MONGREL JOTTINGS SPRING 1957

 

From the Beaumont Review

 

 

 

 CURRENT EVENTS

 

Archbishop Chichester had been to stay. During his Rectorate in the Twenties, he built the Science Block, founded the Squash Club, coached a Four of Junior Boats that was never beaten in a race and saw The Lords Match against The Oratory instituted.

 

Added to the Oxford Exhibition to John Howe is that awarded in Mathematics at Herford to Ian Sinclair. In the Latin and Greek Reading Competition at The Classical Association, First prize in Latin went to T Page and S O’Sullivan shared the Virgil & Horace Prize with another candidate.

 

Rhetoric entertained Sir Desmond Morton, ADC to Haig in the Great War and Personal Advisor to Churchill in WW2, Godfrey Agnew “hot from Swearing in the new Privy Council”,  John Hollingswoth the Orchestral conductor and Sir George Bellew the Garter King of Arms.

 

 

 

It was written in one of the boy’s RD paper “that St Augustine stated the unbeliever not only missed heaven, but went to hell because he had sinned. But it seems unreasonable that a person should be able to reach hell through the normal channels, yet have no hope of attaining heaven.

 

The Music society outing to the ballet at Covent Garden was to see “The Prince of the Pagodas”.

 

Six of Higher Line attended the St Bernard’s Convent Jubilee Dance at the Adelphi, Slough. There was a “return Match” when some of the girls came to watch the BU play.

 

The First Guest Room has been redecorated once dry rot and Death Watch Beetle infestation had been dealt with. Gone is the Victorian / Edwardian décor but the harp remains.

 

The VIII trained at Henley in the vacation under the watchful eye of D H Callender of Eton College and Leander provided the facilities.

 

On the last night of term, not only was the Carmen sung as customarily but by a surprising feat of by- heart, all its numerous verses were gone through.

 

 

 

ENTERTAINMENT

 

The BU PLAY; His Excellency.

 

It must be recorded that for the first time Ladies were included in the cast; a great success. The subject of the play concerns a Governor appointed to an overseas territory by a Labour Government and the problems he has with the services and local inhabitants. Peter Churchill played the role of the working man’s Governor displaying a man with the limitations that could be expected from his background but with the brains to do his job well. His complete opposite was the Lt –Governor played by Maurice Coleman the archetypal old school civil servant. He was well backed up by Gerald Russell as the Major General and an obstructive Admiral in the form of Hal Dickens. Of the younger members of the cast, Kevin Shilleto played the regular officer and Military Secretary more open to new ideas than given credit for and was at his best in a scene with the Governor’s daughter played by Dulce Walker. With her natural unselfconscious charm and common sense it was no wonder the Secretary fell.   Noel Greenaway’s native ADC  gave a brilliant translation of speech that kept one mesmerised. The comic relief was provided by Harry Hewett as the police chief so brave and yet so anxious for his own safety and naturally Freddie Wolff provided a gloriously funny Butler. Freda Farr in the difficult role as the Governor’s wife more than justified “the arrival of the Ladies on the BU stage”. Overall an excellent production from the capable hands of Gus Wolff.

 

 

 

SHROVETIDE CONCERT: The Yeoman of The Guard

 

In an overcrowded and sickness-scarred term it would have been easy for Fr Ezechiel and Mr Clayton to take the modern way out and say let the boys watch television. No, they took on the challenge. Naturally with lack of time and inexperienced singers at their disposal it would have been absurd to demand professional polish on this the most difficult of the Savoy operas. Some words were hard to catch and some notes hard to hit and some characters hard to define. But there were memorable moments with strong comic turns from Fr Ezechiel and Philip Rousseau; excellent singing and acting from Timothy Page; enticing rhythm from Jeremy Cuddigan; lovely tone from Roger Fiennes and clear diction from Ian Agnew and all combined with a powerful attack by the choir. The whole performance was strengthened and inspired, as always, by Mr Clayton at the piano.

 

 

 

The CCF

 

This term has seen the welcome appearance of a new programme which, it is hoped will not be discontinued. Parade now only takes place on a Thursday afternoon with Monday left free for games and other activities. Although the two hour period is not as long as the former total, the fact that the work is consolidated and better prepared does mean there is less waste of time,  Field Day was almost rained off  but the skies cleared and there was time for the Demonstration platoon to display movements of a section in attack before lunch . In the afternoon there was opportunity for both companies to show off their prowess. A disturbing report received during operations that one of the NCOs had been lost in the bracken was considered to be improbable but not impossible.

 

Failures have not yet completely disappeared from Certificate A Examination. There may be some truth in the report on the results that most cadets gave the impression that they knew something about everything and just sufficient to pass.

 

The most notable progress has been made by the Signals Platoon under Sgt Mackinlay; four others A Hinds, Shepard, D Stevens and R Walker  have passed the assistant instructors examination  and twelve were successful at classification.

 

CHOIR

 

Apart from the Shrovetide Concert (already reported) the only major activity was High Mass on the 2nd February at which Kitson in D was sung. An innovation of a male-voice-trio arrangement of the processional antiphons was sung to general approval. The choir has developed splendidly and shows an unusual control of volume and tempo. Prosit! The congregation is also in fine fettle – just how much this is due to Mr Clayton only The Almighty can tell us.

 

 

 

SCOUTS

 

Minds have been concentrated on preparation for the summer camps. Six Individuals have been selected for the Berkshire Troops going to the Jamboree – Peter Down, Gregory Hinds, Timothy Page, Patrick Mackinlay, Ronald de la Grange and David Henry. Our own camp will be spent helping at the International Girl Guides gathering in Windsor Great Park. In this Jubilee year of Scouting we will also send a small deputation to the Catholic Scout Camp at Aylesford. Overall our numbers are rather smaller than in years past; let the decrease in quantity lead to a stronger and more vigorous quality of scouting.

 

 

 

SOCIETIES

 

            Higher Line Debating

 

It was decided that there would only be three members on the board, who were elected as follows:- Right Hon Prime Minister Mr I F Sinclair (Thurso), The Right Hon Leader of the Opposition Mr C R Johnson (Pistyll Rhaiadr) and the Hon Sec/ Sergeant at Arms Mr Fr R Walsh  (Llanbedr Dyffryn Clywd). The debates included;

 

 “Jazz is not only a musical debasement but immoral was carried by 2 votes.

 

“Emigration is preferable to staying in this country was defeated 12 votes to 8.

 

“These days are not the happiest in our lives” carried by 2 votes.

 

 The Bu Debate was that in the opinion of the House “The Public School is a public nuisance.

 

Mr Johnson opened the debate by flattering the BU before drawing lurid pictures of the average Beaumont Boy  proclaiming him a confounded nuisance who owned and made the world; he was a drunkard and an inveterate smoker. He was constantly heckled by the Brothers Wolff that he lost any idea of the motion.

 

Mr Gregory Hinds in an extremely rapid speech spent much time on the irrelevant advantages of woad and describing what the well- dressed gentleman should wear He “waffled on about the school being earthy, the relevance of which to the motion was hard to find.

 

Mr Hewins for the Ministry proclaimed that what were required were technicians  before proclaiming that the Athenians were whole men and had the finest minds whereas the Macedonians were only half men but still defeated their rivals as did the Barbarians for the Romans . He advocated a return to Barbarism.

 

Mr Davies gave a long and interesting discourse about the prune  and the fact that the Public schools took 99.7% of those sold; his verbal diarrhoea was proof of this.

 

Mr Hales proclaimed that the schools produced dubious leaders of government, gentlemen farmers and Barbarians (again). He then mentioned an upheaval at Mr Wolff’s home at 2am proclaiming him a public irritant.

 

For the BU; Mr Pritchett told all what they could do with Mr Johnson’s speech, proclaimed the virtues of Tom Arnold as a “Christian Man”  and by definition could not be a nuisance: the institution was DAMN good.

 

Mr Rigby sounded utterly bored and despite saying that he was going to return to the motion ended up by saying that the country was too heavily taxed and run by the TUC.

 

Mr Freddie Wolff announced that the Government was much ado about nothing and went on to make criminal accusations against the integrity of the Hon Secretary. He saw the school fees producing initiative, leadership, morality and courage as displayed in the members of the Opposition Messrs Wolff, Hewett and Churchill. The reference to Mr Hewett was not explained as the aforementioned person was absent.

 

Mr Churchill quoted latin at the house “Res Ipsa Loquitur”. His speech was mercifully short and made but one point; the public school system of man against starvation never let one down. Whatever that was supposed to mean.

 

Mr Gus Wolff made a completely irrelevant speech which is hardly worth recording in the annals of this long established society. His topic ranged from American women, alcohol to the inevitable prunes.

 

Finally from the Cross benches Mr Kevin O’Sullivan talked of a subject dear to every Beaumont Boy; the incompetence of the CCF in the ambulacrum. This mediocrity must be fought against and that we should take pride in the public school in its stand against tottering civilisation.

 

The Motion was defeated by 60 votes to 24.

 

            Poetry & Quodlibetarian

 

If quantity is the criterion of success, then the society has indeed had a successful term. Coupled with this quantity has been outstanding quality and variety of talks. Last Year’s Hon Sec Kevin O’Sullivan started the sessions with a paper on Vienna. He painted a vivid picture of this gay, sad city with its diverse background of Hapsburg splendour and entertainment from Strauss to the grimness of the armies of occupation and the sordid underworld of the”Third Man”. A paradoxal capital with its great traditions, and its hard working, friendly, pleasure-seeking population.

 

Richard Hewins gave us “Nordic Mythology” An interesting subject about which no-one beforehand could boast of the slightest knowledge. He covered beliefs and superstitions from their alleged sources before turning to the gods with their perceived powers and actions.

 

David Peppercorn returned, a founder member of the society,  to talk on Champagne;  a fair judgement of the evening must be that it was of the same quality as the excellent wines he so generously dispensed.

 

Stimulated by discrepancies in the Royal command Performance of “The Battle of The River Plate” Claude Johnson gave a corrected and detailed talk on the battle  displaying a wealth of knowledge of naval history in a discourse delivered without notes.

 

Drawing on staff resources Mr O’Malley discussed existentialism under the topical title of “Be man, Be; or Dig that Existentialism” it says much that he kept us intrigued on this difficult subject which most of the audience had believed incomprehensible.

 

The poet John Harding delivered an able and informative paper on “The unconscious Sources of Poetry” which provoked a lively and intelligent debate.

 

Finally, Hugh Roddy came from the Music Society to give a talk on Opera with the emphasis on Verdi’s contribution well illustrated by a selection of recordings.

 

 

 

 

 

            Scientific

 

Suffice to say that films proved popular as did practical sessions. The outing to EMI proved disappointing; the proposed visit to Guinness will more than likely make up for it.

 

 

 

CORRESPONDENCE.

 

 OXFORD.

 

Sir,

 

It was perhaps a natural reaction to the distractions and restless activities of the previous term, but Oxford this Hilary Term has worn a somewhat quieter countenance. The mild winter may have contributed its share to the change of mood, but for nearly half our number, at any rate, the deepening shadows cast by impending examinations probably provided a more pressing motive for “digging in” among the books.

 

John Walker (Brasenose) has even effected a change in his dress to suit his new life. No longer do we see him arrayed in the most exclusive duffle-coat in Oxford but remains the same John even when attired in a sober raincoat.

 

The prospect of schools, however, has failed to part John Okell (Queen’s) from the musical world where he has found new work in the field of concert management. The social circles of Christ church see less of Robert Schulte nowadays, but this at least enabled your correspondent and a visitor from Cambridge, Patrick Egan (Caius), to find him in his digs one evening, whereupon he deserted his books to entertain us in the old style.

 

With petrol rationing the dashing figure of Michael McAvoy (Lincoln) on his lambretta has already become a rarer sight in the Turl    but we shall be very sorry to see his final departure in June. So too, shall we miss Shaun MacLoughlin (St Edmund Hall) and Lou Chmelar (University), both great assets on all social occasions.

 

On his return from his adventures the hands of the A.V.H. Chris Lord (Magdalene) had but for weeks to prepare for the ordeal of Honour Mods: the result of his concentrated efforts are known as yet only to the moderators. Also awaiting their decisions are Anthony Leggett (Balliol) and your correspondent, the latter with considerable trepidation. But examinations have not been the chief concern of us all stop Brian O’Gorman (Christ Church) and Vincent D’Alton (New College) have their eyes set on Rome, even if their minds have been preoccupied rather with footwear. We were very glad to see Peter Levi (Campion Hall) back in our midst in the third week of term, he had not been expected until the Trinity term, but his love of Oxford evidently proved too strong for the doctors, the ancient has been forsaken for the Byzantine and the modern!

 

Stephen Corcoran (Trinity) has been frequently “at home” for tea this term, but tea is by no means the only liquid refreshment provided by his establishment. We are confidently expecting that he and Kevin Donovan (Campion Hall) will be founding and an amateur Distillers Society in the University in the near future.             

 

 Simon Burrough (St Catherine’s) continues to go from strength to strength in the ring some successes for the University this year have put him well in the running for a Blue the next encounter with Cambridge. Sport for Terence O’Brien (University) and Ted Winfield (Lincoln) means the rugger field: for the latter meant the casualty department as well this term, though it would take more than a broken arm to depress his spirits .On the river we are still represented by that great stalwart Howard Lyle (Lincoln) and Peter Bailey (St Edmund Hall), who has also been indulging in some slightly irregular electioneering practices!

 

Your correspondent was caught only passing glimpses of Ian Unsworth (St Edmund Hall) this term as he flashes by on a bicycle. He is perhaps getting a taste already of the busy life of the medical profession. Quentin MacLeod (Merton) on the other hand, has been much more in evidence recently. Indeed, he has nearly gained notoriety in the popular press, but, as this would hardly have been welcome in the circumstances, we wish him a quieter future! If he is to make any more dawn appearances he will no doubt be hoping for a fine warm summer, as we all are.

 

 

 

 CAMBRIDGE.

 

Sir,

 

After all, who did win the Boat Race! Among other critics, the rowing correspondent of The Times, who has now been wrong on 11 occasions since the war, gave his wholehearted support to the other place and the other style. the revolution of British rowing had been based on the inevitable success of the new style - in spite of the result, this may well still be the right move, but it is pleasing to have made the pundits think twice.

 

While on the subject of rowing, Timothy Ruane did not manage to appear on the Tideway, although he has rowed consistently well for Caius. The Mays and then Henley may prove the peak of his career. Our other rowing hope, Michael Shields, has as yet declined to offer his services to the First and Third Trinity Club.

 

Desmond Tolhurst goes down from Pembroke this year: he, too, has found that the avant-garde society, so readily available at Cambridge, can be pleasant and at the same time profitable.  He continues to hold the record of being the most difficult man to find in Cambridge.  Your correspondent is often hailed by an OB who informs him that he has managed to catch a glimpse of Desmond in the distance. Probably leaving is also a Cecil Kernot. He has been handicapped in his sporting activities, but by coaching the Trinity Rugger Boat succeeded in combining both his talents, without actually taking part in either sport.

 

Apparently the rugby cuppers have occupied the time Patrick Walsh and Paul Bedford.  The former will admit to a place in the Queens team when there are multitude of Blues are away. If his ability on the field continues to match his capacity for ale, the future is indeed bright. Paul plays in the Christ’s first XV, little is seen of him and one is given to believe that he spends most of his time working. Again one hopes that this is not merely a malicious rumour. Christopher Tyler (Trinity) is found for himself a more leisurely form of exercise, guiding the destinies of every game of rugby played this year.

 

Now that Tertius Metcalfe has gone down, there is no longer a person to keep the Union enthralled. Patrick Egan (Caius) has, however, achieved a certain notoriety as a speaker in the Liberal Club. It is possibly a sign of the times that our most promising debater has attached himself to this political party. William Rigby at Fitzwilliam reads natural sciences. So far he has worked hard is seen little - your correspondent regrets that little information can be gleaned about him. The ever increasing entourage of which Jacopo Patrizi (Trinity) is Lord and Master, continues to bathe Cambridge in an aura of continental coffee and Gordons gin.

 

Patrick Stow, at Jesus, owns a favourite chair in the Coffee Pot from which he conducts, each morning, a post-mortem of the previous night. One hopes that, at the start of his third year, he will not have the similar difficulty in remembering what has happened to the previous years. Patrick Lochrie and Anthony Bulfield, both Trinity, read Natural Sciences. The former has been seen carrying a much thumbed copy of The Outsider which has caused a considerable comment. He denies that he is an angry young man, but acknowledges that there is something rotten in the state of society. Anthony is all too rarely seen. One gathers that he is still energetically playing squash: there have been rumours that he has bought a flea circus, and gives shows twice nightly, but your correspondent lacks the itch to verify this for himself.

 

As a closing note, may be as well to apologise for the brevity of this letter, but commitments abroad have precluded your correspondent from attempting to much.

 

 

 

 LONDON

 

Sir,

 

Some of your readers will recall that on Egham Hill there is a splendid woman’s College of London University. Others will know that there is a woman’s training college in eastern Kent which is part of the same university. It is not the intention of your correspondent to record the doings of OBs at either institution, since he does not think there are any. But between these geographical extremes lies a large number of university buildings, and some of which OBs are to be found there. The art and science of medicine is, of course, the chief attraction, and a predilection is noticed for the hospital founded in 1725 by Thomas Guy Esquire. We were sad to see no new arrivals last October and we are moved to urge medically minded Beaumontani either to come straight to Guys, or to do so after a sojourn in a provincial university.

 

Simon Nurick came to Guys in March 1956, and his urbane figure is now familiar in the boroughs of Bermondsey and Southwark. Needless to say, he yearns for Oxford. An American Oxonian has described Simon as an anaesthesiologist. In fact with Julian Maher and John Wall, at the same stage, he is clerk to the in the anaesthetist, clerk to the physician for diseases of the skin, and dresser in the eye department. 6 months ahead of this trio is James Outred, now an accoucheur of some experience, and we dare say, sangfroid. Lawrence Razavi, a year behind, has just passed second M.B., bought a stethoscope and started clinical life. He read a first-class paper to the Physiological Society on Scientific Method. John Wall’s paper on longevity was printed in the Guy’s Gazette, but the expectation of life in the hospital has not been materially affected. The latter also took the chair at a course of medical ethics lectures at the Chaplaincy in the Lent term, to which he occasionally managed to entice one or two colleagues named above.

 

In the dental School, Peter Lavelle sports a BU tie in the more advanced departments, while Jimmy McAleer is in his second year, fitting in rowing and some rugger. Julian Maher plays rugger, and Simon Nurick cricket.

 

At St Mary’s Brian Dillon has played in the Hospitals Cup, often appearing in newspaper reports. We think he is now qualified, and congratulate him on his engagement. Also congratulate Roger Unwin, who was at St Mary’s on his marriage.

 

Philip Brown, of the School of Pharmacy, has been seen at social events at the chaplaincy. Your correspondent hopes to catch him there one day. Nicholas Sturridge is at the Royal Dental Hospital, he too, has so far proved elusive.

 

Catholic society circles are still agog over the impact of Michael Campbell- Johnston SJ on the London School of Economics, we believe the standard of apologetics rose steeply, which is of course a good thing, especially at the L.S.E.

 

 

 

The BEAUMONT UNION.

 

On Saturday, 4th May, the Right Rev Msgr Alfred Gilbey’s 25 years as chaplain to the catholic undergraduates at Cambridge was celebrated at Fisher house.

 

Among the appointments in March to the Royal Victorian Order was that of Reginald Seconde.

 

Peter Horsfield has been awarded one of the Blackstone Entrance Scholarships to the Middle Temple.

 

Fr Michael Hollings has brought out a second book - Purple Times.

 

The golfing Society played a match against Repton at Wentworth on 30 March and were successful by 5 matches to 3. The society had been previously successful when on 9 February they played against Old Shirburnians at Woking.

 

The following announced their Engagements; Erik van Damme, John Cousins and Michael Woakes.

 

Married: Jeremy Frere, Richard Bird and Darragh Waterkeyn.

 

Births; boys for Dr Max Borthwick and William Holt.

 

Died; Hilary Gardner, one time stockbroker and the brother of Professor John Gardner.

 

           James Meldon served in the RAMC,  “lost to Irish Cricket” through injury in WW1.

 

           William Ryan a son of General Thady Ryan  of the Scarteen Hunt.

 

           John Poels, wartime RNVR, Oxford, read for the Bar, author. Lost at sea.

 

 

 

HALFORD HEWITT ‘57

 

Halford Hewitt time again and all old boys who love golf and good company thronged the hallowed turf of Deal. At the last moment we were deprived of the services of two regulars and our secretary, out of practice and very recently out of hospital, gallantly stepped into one of the breaches and was instrumental in winning a critical match .Unlike last year the weather was very kind to us and this contributed much to our enjoyment of the tournament.

 

In our first match against Gresham’s at St George’s our top pair, Taylor and Pound, gained a comfortable victory, whilst Flaherty and Blackwell won by the proverbial dog licence. Our second and fourth pairs lost narrowly, so all depended on the last match where Cyril Russell and James Outred and their opponents were going neck and neck. Bush telegraph transmitted “Beaumont one down one to play” - an unhappy situation, but a stout-hearted putt by Outred on the 18th green saved Beaumont’s neck and so on to the 19th! After two shots each Beaumont lay in a bunker near the green and Gresham’s in the rough further away. The Gresham approach stopped 8 foot from the hole. All eyes were on Cyril Russell, who under this anxious gaze proceeded to play an immaculate bunker shot well inside Gresham’s ball. Gresham is failed to hole and again the burden fell on Outred - our trust was not displaced, with care and deliberation James putted- in it went and Beaumont lived to fight another day.

 

In our next match against Whitgift our top pair, Taylor and Pound, again won convincingly and for the second time Flaherty and Blackwell saw no valid reason to play the last third of the course. However, although our bottom pair were beaten, Peppercorn and Tolhurst just got home on the 17th green. The issue was no longer in doubt, Gerald Russell and Ambrose won their match at the 18th to make our victory 4 – 1.

 

We then had to play ball brother, and strong side, at Deal .Flaherty and Blackwell again won their match, a really good effort, and though we succumbed in the other matches, only one was lost by a wide margin and the other three could easily have swung our way. Beaumont had no reason to be displeased with our performance. Indeed anyone’s before we reached the last 16 from an entry of over 60 schools.

 

We were represented by ; T P Taylor and J R Pound, J K Peppercorn and H D Tolhurst, J H Blackwell and P Flaherty, Gerald Russell and J Ambrose, Cyril Russell and J Outred.

 

 

 

SCHOOL SPORT

 

BOXING

 

Captain; H M Hales, Vice: HC Stevens, Hon Sec; H Roddy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This season, with five matches and only one lost, undoubtedly may be numbered amongst the most successful the club has had, and has shown how justifiably boxing deserves its place at Beaumont. We no longer have the “four- cornered”, which is perhaps a pity, stimulating as it did so great an interest in the club’s activities. On the other hand, the present arrangement gives a better chance every member to display his ability. This season we have had no supreme Star: each member of the team has done well, and Mr Johnson’s opinion is that as a team no other in his memory surpasses it. It is fitting that we should pay tribute here to our trainer, Mr Johnson who for over 35 years, has been invaluable to the club, we hope he continues to stay on for a good time yet. The same must be said for our coach, Major Roddy, in his nine years at the helm, Beaumont boxing has achieved its most glorious moments. This season for example, one or two fighters in the team have been turned into a hard hitting boxers under his guidance: he is a perfectionist over matters of style. Mr Lawn was ill most of this term, he again, is an ardent supporter of the club, and showed in the Christmas term how good a coach he would make.

 

Dulwich won 8 – 3, Wellington won 5 – 4, Merchant Taylors won 6-3, Army Apprentices won 8 -2,

 

Salesian College lost 3 – 7.

 

Colours were awarded to M G Guinness and A de Kerdral.

 

 SEVENS

 

As is usual at was difficult to practice as a team, and consequently the Beaumont Seven never realised its obvious potential. In attack the team was very spirited but, though it improved, the defence was sometimes suspect. The 1957 team must have been one of the smallest on record with four of the side under 5ft 8 inches. At Richmond we won two matches in the initial rounds but were later beaten by Taunton.

 

The Seven; H Stevens, B L Baker, J Roberts, D L McCurry, R D Pennington, R P Mulcahy (Capt), F M Walsh

 

SQUASH

 

All in all, the Squash Team and the Squash Club can congratulate themselves on a successful season, with a satisfactory record of 7 wins to 5 losses: figures which, with a little more luck at the crucial time, could easily have read 9 wins and only 3 losses. Even if they cannot compliment themselves on an outstanding record, they can take great consolation from the immense improvement in the standard of squash in the team and indeed throughout the school. An innovation this year, junior matches, showed that there is an excellent squash material lower down, and it was difficult to pick the three best for the team.

 

Matches won included Cambridge, Bradfield, Whitgift, Wimbledon, Leighton Park.

 

Humiliating defeat ; Merchant Taylors.

 

Colours were awarded to B L Baker.

 

BOATING

 

This year we are fortunate in having what must be the heaviest crew in the long history of the Boat Club with an average weight of 11 stone 12 pounds at the end of the Easter term; we look forward to meeting our rivals at Henley on a more equal basis. In some ways this year’s training can be called a continuation of last years because with five old colours we are virtually the same crew as last year. As a result the crew has made the most of its experience and taken the hard training in its stride. The spirit which was so good last year is even better this year but in the right proportion. The crew have neither betrayed any fanaticism nor allowed themselves to worry unduly - not that there has been much need to worry.

 

The crew has not covered as much mileage as was at first hoped this year owing to illness and the floods: but the work has been more concentrated and as a result the crew are fitter and faster than they were this time a year ago. The rowing on the river is based on a repetitive form of training used by middle-distance winners. Leaving aside the technicalities, its main advantage is that much hard work can be got in a comparatively short space of time, meanwhile building up both speed and stamina.

 

In addition to the actual rowing in the eight, the crew have done much tubbing and pair rowing on the River. The result of this should be seen during the course of the summer, and already an improvement in the” digging in” of the blades was apparent in the last few outings of the Easter term. This is probably due in the main to the pairs, and if the crew can learn from this difficult form of rowing how to get their blades really dug in firmly when working in the Eight than they have mastered what is one of the worst faults of Beaumont rowing.

 

The crew invited to Leander to train after Easter; E Hutchins, R Rutherford, G Becvar, P Down, D S Corner, J M Patterson, G T Hinds, C G Lake, cox G O’ Connor.

 

  

 

 

L D S