The Ay m e s t r e y M a g a z i n e AUTUMN, 1962

THE AYMESTREY MAGAZINE AUTUMN - 1962 OLD BOY NEWS Sir Laurence Helsby has been appointed Joint Permanent Secretary to the Treasury, and Head of the Home Civil Service. J. F. Bowles has been appointed Counsellor in the office of the Minister for Rhodesia and Nyasaland affairs in Washington, with special responsibility for United Nations Affairs. N. J. G. Billingham was married in July to Miss Mary Hiam. C. Morcom will be taking his Bar Finals at the Middle Temple next Spring. M. Helsby has passed his Engineering Preliminary at Keble College, Oxford. P. B. H. Birks was married in September to Miss Sarah Hanson. C. J. H. Gallimore is now working in Hereford for Russell, Baldwin and Bright. G. M. K. Evans is Head of the School and Captain of Rugger at Oundle. C. N. Todd is Captain of Shooting at Blundell's. D. H. Snell is Vice-Captain of Rugger at Wycliffe, where also C. J. Hoddell broke the school record for the half-mile, and R. H. B. Davies was in the 2nd Tennis VI. C. P. R. MacRae was in the Colts Cricket XI and Colts Tennis VI at H.M.S. Worcester. Among others from whom we have had letters or visits are : F. K. Aitken, J. K. Holgate, R. M. Spreckley, P. D. L. Thomson, M. A. H. Duncan, A. G. Duncan, A. M. Gosling, A. Lloyd, P. A. Baddeley. SCHOOL NOTES The following have left: P. M. A. Ashwell. Came May 1957. Prefect : Leader of Greens. Rugger XV 1961-2. Cricket XI 1960-2. Swimming Colours. Choir. Reading Prize. W. A. Banks. Came January 1958. Prefect. Rugger XV. Colours for Gym and Swimming : Swimming Cup 1961-2. Choir. Orchestra. A. R. Barber. Came September 1957. Prefect. Rugger XV 1960-2. Soccer XI 1961. Colours for Gym, Athletics and Shooting. Choir. J. H. Blundell. Came September 1959. Choir. Art Prize. W. J. E. Jay. Came September 1956. Prefect. Rugger XV 1960-2, Captain 1962. Cricket XI 1959-62 : Fielding Cup 1961. Soccer XI 1960-1. Colours for Athletics, Gym, Shooting. Allrounder Shield 1961-2. Choir. Patrol Leader. I. K. Johnson. Came September 1960. Rugger XV 1961-2. Cricket XI Fielding Cup. Soccer XI. Colours for Gym, Athletics and Shooting. R. H. N. Mayson. Came September 1957. Rugger XV 1961-2. Cricket XI 1960-2. Soccer XI 1961-2. Athletics Colours. R. S. Mills. Came September 1957. Prefect. Shooting Colours. P. R. Powell. Came September 1959. Orchestra. A. J. Powell. Came September 1956. Head Prefect : Leader of Blues; Ogden Cup. Top of VI Form. Rugger XV 1959-62. Cricket XI 1959-62 : Captain 1961-2 : Fielding Cup 1961. Soccer XI 1959-61. Colours for Boxing, Athletics, Gym, and Shooting. All-rounder Shield. Choir. Patrol Leader. New Boys : W. H. Collins, T. R. Harrington, M. Hickman, S. Hickman, P. Lewin, A. D. Paton, R. H. G. Seaman. We do not usually mention here the many generous gifts which the school receives from leaving boys and others, but we feel we should depart from our custom on this occasion and speak of three presents which are having, or will have, a considerable effect on the employment of our leisure. The boys who left in July 1961 gave a 4-inch Astronomical Telescope with which we 3

spent a great deal of interesting time last winter. Secondly, Mr. J. R. Hood. grandfather of two boys at Aymestrey, expressed a wish before his death in the Spring to give the school a present; and owing to his generosity and that of Mrs. Hood we are the richer by a very fine collapsible canoe, which has already given a great deal of pleasure. Finally, last term's leavers have presented a 16 mm. film projector, a most handsome gift which is clearly destined to provide us with an enormous amount of entertainment and educational interest. On the Sunday after Sports a cast of boys, coached by Mrs. Mac, put on an informal play; it was their own more or less respectful version of Treasure Island, and carried through as it was with enormous gusto, it caused vast amusement and was a thoroughly good show. MISS WORTON Mention of Miss Worton's retirement was made in our last issue in the the Old Boys News, but this notice was omitted by an oversight. For eighteen years Miss Worton was the presiding genius of the all-important department of our food. She brought to her task boundless energy and enthusiasm, and her loyal devotion to and unceasing interest in the school and all its activities made her position unique in Aymestrey's history. Her large number of grateful friends will wish her every happiness. PRIZES VI Form Prize : A. J. Powell. Greek : A. J. Powell. Prizes for All-round Progress : J. H. Blundell, N. A. K. Brown, H. Tuthill. V Form Prize : P. R. Powell. III Form Prize : N. P. Keeble. All-round Progress : S. R. D. Coates. II Form Prize : I. G. Urquhart. Piano : C. J. Dowson. Music Appreciation : P. M. A. Ashwell. Art : J. H. Blundell. Writing : T. S. Woodcock. Reading : P. M. A. Ashwell. Ogden Cup, for Service to the School : A. J. Powell. Shield, for best all-round games player : W. J. E. Jay, A. J. Powell. Fielding Cup : I. K. Johnson. INTER-COLOUR COMPETITION WORK : 1 Blues, 43; 2 Greens, 29; 3 Greys, 28. Mentions. Blues: Powell A. 32-0, Powell M. 37-3, Urquhart 36-1. Greens: Ashwell 39-2, Perry 39-2. Greys: Blundell 30-4, Brown 29-5, Keeble 44-1. DISCIPLINE : 1 Blues, 59; 2 Greys, 30; 3 Greens, 11. Mentions. Blues: Powell A. 30-1, Barber 15-4, Banks 14-1, Mills 11-1, Powell P. 12-1, Mayson 12-1. Greens: Jay 21-0, Ashwell 21-2, Dowson 11-1, Wright 12-2. Greys: Tuthill 27-0, Blundell 16-5, Johnson 14-1. GAMES : 1 Greens, 39; 2 Blues, 38; 3 Greys, 23. Cricket Cup : Greens; Athletics Cup, Blues; Swimming Cup, Blues. TOTAL : I Blues, 140; 2 Greys, 81; 3 Greens, 79. CRICKET Though their record was a little less impressive, since they lost one match our first loss since the Autumn of 1960 , the XI were a good side. One thing alone prevented their being perhaps our best ever and that, sad to say, was the fielding; it was often good, sometimes better, but never reliable and always somehow lacking the tremendous zest which made such a difference last year. Johnson was an outstanding exception. The bowling had too little variety, and individuals were unreliable, but we could generally find two who were on form. But the batting was the side's main strength, and this was particularly welcome because for many years it had been an almost traditional weakness. Jay scored 291 in 7 innings, with 87 not out against the Elms as

his best effort, and he was probably our best batsman for 20 years or more. He made a century in a boys' match on the Malvern College ground in the holidays. Powell, though slower, was almost as good, and his 53 not out against Abberley's excellent bowling was a memorable innings; Tuthill and Ashwell were responsible for a record opening partnership of 81; and Mayson and Johnson also played good innings at important moments. The side was only bowled out twice in school matches, we have never scored so many runs, and they were scored fast. In the Colour Matches : Blues beat Greys by 62 runs. Blues 99 for 4 declared : Powell 39, Barber 37 not out. Greys 37 : Tuthill 17, Maughan R. 6 for 10. Greens beat Greys by 70 runs. Greens 87 for 7 declared : Dowson 30, Fisher 30, Brown 4 for 43. Greys 17 : Fisher 6 for 5. Blues drew with Greens. Blues 74: Powell 29, Fisher 5 for 21, Ashwell 4 for 19. Greens 71 for 9 : Jay 30, Maughan C. 2 for 2. Greens beat Blues by 6 wickets. Blues 95 : Powell 27, Mayson 23, Fisher 5 for 35, Ashwell 4 for 26. Greens 96 for 4 : Jay 66 not out, Ashwell 24. CRICKET MATCHES May 19th. AYMESTREY v. THE O.A.A. (Won by 5 runs). The weather made a determined effort to drive everybody to table-tennis or other less heroic activity, and the game started in an icy wind and steady drizzle; but when it saw how tough we were it gave up, and the rest of the afternoon, though sunless, was not unbearable. In spite of the fact that they missed too many loose balls and did not run any too well, the School contrived to score at a fair pace. Ashwell played a long and careful innings and Jay hit hard. The Old Boys, by dint of using two wicket keepers (both of whom looked too large for anything but a wide to get past), managed to give every man in their side a bowl, before the School were all out for 109. When the Old Boys batted, the spectators were treated to the usual display of towering shots into the Central Midlands, but only one ball was lost. The bowling was moderate, Maughan R. being the best, though Mayson had one very good over; most of the wickets falling to good fielding and wicket keeping. The Evesham Rugger Club, batting in a solid mass at the bottom of the order, contributed half the total. AYMESTREY Mayson, c Coley, b Routh ......................... 3 Ashwell, c Gallimore, b Powell D............ 29 Fisher, lbw, b Routh.................................... 0 Tuthill, b Gallimore.................................... 10 Jay, c Dorrell, b Phipps J........................... 32 Powell, run out ........................................... 14 Johnson, c Bates, b Coates ....................... 4 Hartnell, c Coates, b Powell D. ................ 4 Maughan R., run out................................... 2 Barber, not out ............................................ 1 Maughan C., c Gallimore, b Phipps J....... 0 Green, c Coates, b Phipps J....................... 0 Extras...................................................... 10 Total ............................................... 109 BOWLING : Powell D. 2-15, Bates 0-4, Dorrell 0-2, Routh 2-8, Coley G. 0-7, Phipps J. 2-11, Gallimore 1-5, Coates 1-16, Phipps G. 0-14, Robbins 0-4, Powell C. 0-9, Coley J. 1-2.

O.A.A. D. G. Powell, c Tuthill, b Fisher............... 6 C. J. Powell, lbw, b Maughan R................ 3 J. R. E. Coates, run out............................... 12 T. Bates, b Maughan R. ............................. 11 I. W. Routh, st Jay, b Mayson 0 C. J. A. Gallimore, run out ........................ 8 P. G. Dorrell, c Johnson, b Mayson........... 0 G. L. Phipps, st Jay, b Maughan R............ 13 R. W. Robbins, b Maughan R..................... 5 L. G. Coley, st Jay, b Maughan R.............. 4 J. H. Phipps, b Maughan R 18 J. S. Coley, not out ..................................... 13 Extras......................................................9 Total ................................................ 104 BOWLING : Maughan R. 5-45, Fisher 1-24, Mayson 3-18, Maughan C. 0-7. May 23rd. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, away. (Lost by 44 runs). After a spell of four terms without losing a match, the first defeat, considered as such, brings first perhaps a small pang, then a feeling of relief; but there is no need for it to be a defeat with dishonour, as this was. Last year we beat Abberley twice; they had eight of the same team, so had we; yet this time we were quite outclassed. Last year an Abberley supporter said ours was the best fielding he had seen : this year their fielding was a joy to watch, and ours appalling. There was perhaps some excuse for the fact that our bowling was untidy, since there was a very strong wind which dropped considerably when Abberley's turn came. But our batting was totally lacking in determination, concentration, and the will to put into practice what had been taught. All in all it was a thoroughly bad afternoon for us. ABBERLEY Samuda, run out ............................................. 21 Gladstone, lbw, b Maughan R. ..................... 17 Bailey T, b Fisher............................................. 0 Hudson, c Tuthill, b Maughan C.................. 8 Bailey W, b Maughan R................................. 13 Kenyon, run out ............................................. 29 Stephens, st Jay, b Fisher.............................. 3 Thompson, st Jay, b Maughan R. ................ 1 Norman-Butler, lbw, b Maughan R............. 2 Farquhar, not out............................................. 0 Leach, b Maughan R. .................................... 0 Extras......................................................... 5 Total ...................................................... 99 BOWLING : Mayson 0-15, Maughan R. 5-48, Fisher 3-19, Maughan C. 1-12.
AYMESTREY Ma y son, b Hudson .......................................... 1 Ashwell, c Bailey, b Hudson........................ 4 Tuthill, run out................................................ 3 Jay, c Stephens, b Bailey .............................. 8 Powell, not out ............................................... 8 Johnson, c Hudson, b Samuda...................... 0 Hartnell, c Kenyon, b Farquhar.................... 4 Fisher, b Hudson............................................. 0 Maughan R, b Hudson.................................... 0 Maughan C, st Bailey, b Samuda................. 2 Blake, b Samuda ............................................ 0 Extras......................................................... 4 Total ...................................................... 35 6

May 26th. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, at home. (Won by 7 wickets). This was a very different style of performance. Seaford's batting, though stylish, was less aggressive than Abberley's, but their bowling was at least as good. We on the other hand bowled accurately, gave away little in the field, and batted with determination. Off the second ball of the match Maughan C. took a catch in the slips off his brother's bowling, and in the next over there was a rash call and Powell and Jay made no mistake. From this good start we never looked back. Catches were held, there were no misfields, and Jay got two good stumpings, one a very important one. Maughan R. and Mayson bowled very steadily. Our innings started uncertainly but with some determination, and the only crisis came when two wickets went down at 11 off successive balls. Later the batsmen were on top, though scoring was never easy. Jay and Mayson put on 30 for the fourth wicket, both making some good strokes on the off, and Mayson and Johnson added 42 for the fifth wicket. SEAFORD Williams, c Maughan C, b Maughan R... 0 Miller, c Tuthill, b Maughan.....................5 Osborne, run out ....................................... 0 Cooper, c Ashwell, b Mayson.................. 4 Sildi, st Jay, b Maughan ............................1 Goff, c Johnson, b Mayson....................... 5 Bewley, b Maughan................................... 1 Gillman, c Hartnell, b Mayson..................1 Evans, st Jay, b Maughan C. ................... 6 Webber, b Mayson .................................... 8 Sussang-Karn, not out............................... 0 Extras...................................................... 2 Total .............................................. 33 BOWLING: Maughan R, 4-11, Mayson 4-10, Fisher 0-9, Maughan C, 1-0. AYMESTREY Ashwell, b Goff......................................... 0 Jay, b Webber .......................................... 40 Tuthill, b Goff............................................ 0 Powell, c Williams, b Cooper.................. 4 Mayson, not out....................................... 42 Johnson, run out ..................................... 13 Hartnell, c Gillman, b Webber................. 0 Fisher, not out ............................................ 2 Extras.................................................. 13 Total (for 6 wickets).................. 110 May 30th. AYMESTREY v. THE LINK, at home. (Won by 6 wickets). For this game we relapsed, though not all the way. The fielding was very mixed; and once again little attempt was made to study the batsmen's favourite shots, so that there were too many boundaries. Mayson bowled better than his figures suggest, Maughan less well; Fisher had a good spell late in the innings, and the last 5 wickets fell for 1 run, Hartnell fielding extremely well close to the bat.

Our early batting was shaky, though Dowson showed some unstylish determination; but after 4 wickets had fallen for 33, Mayson and Johnson batted sensibly and ran well between the wickets. They took us past the Link's total and at the close were unbeaten with 47 runs to the credit of the partnership. TH E LI N K Gittins, c Hartnell, b Maughan ............... 13 Watson, b Mayson...................................... 0 Jacomb, c Mills, b Maughan ................... 1 Howarth, b Maughan ................................ 12 Barnard, c Hartnell, b Fisher .................. 22 Gardner, st Jay, b Maughan...................... 0 Fyfe, b Fisher ............................................5 Barrington, b Fisher..................................0 Wynn, run out............................................. 0 Worrall, lbw, b Maughan C...................... 0 Turner, not out............................................ 0 Extras....................................................2 Total ................................................ 56 BOWLING : Maughan 4-26, Mayson 1-21, Fisher 3-6, Maughan C. 1-1. AYMESTREY Mills, b Howarth .......................................2 Dowson, run out ........................................ 9 Ashwell, b Howarth................................... 2 Jay, c Howarth, b Barnard ....................... 15 Mayson, not out......................................... 13 Johnson, not out ........................................ 22 Extras....................................................6 Total (for 4 wickets)...................... 70 June 13th. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, at hone. (Won by 7 wickets). There was some very good play, some not so good, and plenty of excitement. The Elms started well, helped by untidy and unintelligent bowling; they hit the ball hard and had 50 on the board in not much over half-an-hour. Then two new change bowlers, playing in their first match, set their seniors a good example by bowling with considerably more accuracy and the rate of scoring fell sharply. Then the break-through came and from 80 for 3 the Elms fell to 98 all out. Powell handled his field well, and Johnson in particular fielded splendidly. We were left, however, with only 80 minutes in which to score the runs, and few of us thought we had much chance. Ashwell and Tuthill however set methodically about the task of laying a good foundation. They played sensibly, pushing out a straight bat along the line of the ball; they did not hit the ball hard, but they played some nice shots, and above all they ran well between the wickets, so that, almost without our realising how well they were doing, the y had 50 on the board at the rate of a run a minute. Eventually they were both out in quick succession in trying to force the pace, but their partnership of 81 was a record opening stand for the school. We now needed 18 runs with about 12 minutes to go. Jay ran Powell out, but began to lay about him, aided by a certain amount of luck. With two overs to go, we needed 9 to win : 8 came off the first five balls, and we were level. And the last ball Jay smote high into the trees at mid wicket for a six, and a grandstand finish. 8

THE ELMS Singleton, run out........................................ 3 Bowlby, st Jay, b Maughan........................ 4 Priest, c Johnson, b Maughan.................... 32 Thorneycroft, c Powell, b Woodcock....... 25 Friel, not out................................................ 17 Nigel, b Brown............................................ 1 Evans, b Brown........................................... 0 Jones, c Johnson, b Woodcock.................. 0 Ormsby, b Brown........................................ 2 Booth, lbs, b Brown.................................... 2 Barnaby, c Woodcock, b Fisher ................ 7 Extras.......................................................5 Total ................................................. 98 BOWLING : Maughan 2-28, Mayson 0-19, Fisher 1-21, Brown 4-15, Woodcock 2-15. AYMESTREY Ashwell, c Thorneycroft, b Priest ............ 34 Tuthill, c and b Booth................................. 36 Jay, not out................................................... 21 Powell, run out............................................ 0 Hartnell, not out ......................................... 1 Extras...................................................... 12 Total (for 3 wickets)..................... 104 June 16th. AYMESTREY v. THE FATHERS. (Won by 58 runs). It was, as usual, difficult to assemble a full posse of parents on any one of the available days, but eventually 12 stalwarts took the field, aged from 9 to 90 (nearly) : there were 8 fathers, 1 old boy and 2 sons-of-fathers. The school batted first; and, after Ashwell had decided that another record opening partnership would really not be fair on the others, the score mounted briskly and reached the formidable total of 161 for 5 scored at almost exactly 2 runs a minute. The innings was built around an impressive 84 by Jay, which included 16 boundaries, and also a piece of insubordination in the shape of 13 in one over off his own father. Not content with this, the boys then had the nerve to tell their elders to do without the usual handicap in the way of reduction in the value of boundaries ; and then to bowl so straight that 8 wickets were down for 39. Things went better after that and the last three wickets nearly trebled the score, but all the same the school was comfortably victorious. AYMESTREY Ashwell, c Mr. Marber, b Mr. Maughan... 1 Tuthill, c Mr. Maughan, b Mr. Thompson 21 Hartnell, st Mr. Barber, b Mr. Green........ 9 Jay, c T. Fisher, b Mr. Maughan................ 84 Powell, c Mr. Thompson, b T. Fisher....... 15 Mayson, not out........................................... 5 Johnson, not out ......................................... 9 Extras...................................................... 17 Total (for 5 wickets declared). .161 BOWLING : Mr. Maughan 2-17, Mr. Chatfield 0-16, Dr. Fisher 0-17, Mr. Green 1-9, Mr. Thompson 1-26, Mr. Hickman 0-21, Mr. Jay 0-26, T. Fisher 1-12. 9

THE FATHERS C. Maughan, c Fisher, b Mayson............. 0 R. Barber, c Powell, b Maughan........... 12 T. Fisher, b Maughan.............................. 10 Mr. Thompson, b Fisher........................... 1 Mr. Chatfield, b Fisher............................. 0 Mr. Hickman, run out................................ 0 Mr. Barber, not out ................................. 32 Mr. Hart, b Fisher...................................... 0 Mr. Jay, b Maughan................................... 9 Mr. Green, b Brown................................ 12 Dr. Fisher, lbw, b Fisher......................... 14 Mr. Maughan, st Jay, b Maughan ......... 13 Extras..................................................... 0 Total ........................................... 103 BOWLING : Mayson 1-22, Maughan 4-30, Fisher 4-30, Woodcock 0-9, Brown 1-12. June 23rd. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, away. (Drawn). Both sides batted very well, bowled better than they had done in the first game, but fielded less well and showed lack of tactical understanding in setting the field. This, with the ground very fast, produced big scores and no result. We made a bad start against some good bowling and lost 3 wickets for 9 runs. Then, however, Jay and Powell came together for an absolutely first- rate partnership. The bowling at this stage was giving little away, but they defended well and ran splendidly between the wickets, seizing every chance but doing nothing foolish and showing perfect understanding. Gradually they got on top and began to play real strokes, hitting the ball hard and making some lovely shots. It was a partnership in the best sense of the word, and when Powell was at last out they had added 90. Powell's 46 included a huge hook for 6, four 4's and a 3. Jay continued on his way, and when Powell declared at 147 for 5 he had made 87, including a 6 and eight 4's. It was a pity he had not time for his century, but our declaration was really too late as it was. Now, however, we lapsed badly. Our bowling was moderate at first, though it improved later, but the fielding was atrocious. The Elms batted very well, and it is doubtful if we would have got them out in the 80 minutes available; but far too many fielding mistakes were made; and when it became clear that our opponents could not possibly make the runs we showed no spirit of attack at all costs, and Jay most unfortunately had a completely off day behind the stumps. We could certainly have taken more wickets than we did. Fisher bowled best, and Johnson close fielded thoroughly well, with a brilliant catch and an equally good run-out. AYMESTREY Ashwell, b Priest ......................................... 3 Tuthill, c Jones, b Priest.............................. 2 Hartnell, b Priest .......................................... 0 Jay, not out............................................... 87 Powell, lbw, b Priest............................... 46 Mayson, lbw, b Booth .............................. 1 Johnson, not out ....................................... 6 Extras.................................................... 4 Total (for 5 wickets, declared)...... 147

I0

THE ELM S Singleton, run out.................................... 15 Bowlby, c Powell, b Mayson.................... 2 Priest, c Tuthill, b Fisher........................ 28 Thornycroft, c Johnson, b Fisher ......... 31 Friel, b Fisher .............................................4 Booth, not out .............................................5 Ormsby, not out ........................................ 0 Extras.....................................................8 Total (for 5 wickets)......................... 93 BOWLING: Mayson 1-16, Fisher 3-28, Maughan R. 0-16, Maughan C. 0-16, Woodcock 0-9.

June 24th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, at home. (Drawn). Another drawn game, with batsmen on top but with plenty of interest. The Abberley bowling was the best we had met, Hudson in particular being perhaps the best fast bowler seen on our ground for a dozen years; he pitched the ball well up, had good control, and was a pleasure to watch with a really beautiful action. He clean bowled Ashwell with the first ball of the match, but then Tuthill and Fisher defended stubbornly for twenty minutes. Jay this time soon left to a rather careless stroke, but Tuthill and Powell added 35, playing sensibly and running very well between the wickets; and Powell and Johnson put on 47 in an unbroken partnership before Powell declared at 132 for 5, scored in 100 minutes. Powell's 53 not out included many nice shots, and he hit a 6 and five 4's, a first class innings. Left with 90 minutes in which to get the runs, Abberley made a good start and were ahead of the clock for a time. Presently however, Fisher and Mayson found a length and bowled really accurately, only 7 runs coming from a spell of 8 overs, the fielding tightening up at the same time. But the change bowlers were not nearly so good, the fielding slacked off, the batting became really good, and almost before one realised it the hundred was up with only three wickets down. Abberley soon needed only 24 runs in about 20 minutes and all seemed lost. But Mayson and Fisher were brought on again, and each struck at once; the score suddenly slumped to 108 for 7, and with one over to go a victory just seemed possible. But the batsmen survived a tense maiden, and a draw it was. Taken all round it was a creditable effort against a very strong side. AYMESTREY Ashwell, b Hudson ................................... 0 Tuthill, run out......................................... 30 Fisher, b Hudson ....................................... 7 Jay, b Hudson ............................................ 4 Powell, not out ........................................ 53 Mayson, c Samuda, b Hunter-Jones ....... 3 Johnson, not out ...................................... 15 Extras.................................................. 20 Total (for 5 wickets, declared) 132 11

ABBERLEY Samuda, b Mayson ................................. 60 Gladstone, c Ashwell, b Fisher.............. 11 Bailey T, st Jay, b Fisher............................5 Bailey W, b Maughan C.......................... 12 Hudson, b Fisher...................................... 14 Kenyon, b Mayson .................................... 0 Stephens, b Fisher.......................................0 Farquhar, not out.........................................1 Thompson, not out .................................... 1 Extras......................................................7 Total (for 7 wickets).................. 111 BOWLING : Mayson 2-34, Fisher 4-22, Maughan R, 0-23, Maughan C, 1-12' Brown 0-13.

June 30th. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, away. (Won by 11 runs). Inconsistent to the last, we batted badly on this occasion but bowled and fielded well enough to enable us to scrape home. Ashwell and Tuthill gave us a fair start before the latter ran himself out, and Ashwell continued to bat steadily for some time. But Jay was out to a full toss first ball, and Powell, unsettled by hitting 8 runs off 2 balls, played forward too early to a short ball and spooned up a simple catch. We were all out for 53 and on a fast wicket this seemed far too little. Mayson and Fisher however bowled really well and the fielding was good. Jay stumped one opening batsman first ball and had another important victim later on; Fisher produced two excellent balls to account for other good batsmen; Maughan R. and Woodcock each held a really first-rate catch; and Johnson was responsible for a very smart run-out. Mayson bowled his first 6 overs without conceding a run, and his final figures were 13.3 overs, 8 maidens, 11 runs, 7 wickets.

AYMESTREY Ashwell, lbw, b Cooper........................... 13 Tuthill, run out.............................................6 Fisher, c Williams, b Cooper ....................2 Jay, b Cooper.............................................. 0 Powell, c Bewley, b Cooper................... 12 Mayson, c Osborne, b Cooper.................. 5 Johnson, b Goff........................................... I Hartnell, c Miller, b Cooper......................4 Maughan C, b Cooper................................ 3 Woodcock, b Goff...................................... 0 Maughan R, not out................................... 3 Extras.................................................... 4 Total .............................................. 53

12 SEAFORD Miller, st Jay, b Mayson............................. 0

Goff, hit wkt., b Mayson............................10 Cooper, b Fisher ......................................... 0 Evans, b Fisher............................................7 Bewley, st Jay, b Mayson...........................8 Osborne, b Mayson .................................... 5 Williams, run out.........................................2 Gillman, b Fisher.........................................1 Charles, c Woodcock, b Mayson............... 1 Sussangham, not out................................... 3 Webber, c Maughan R, b Mayson.............. 0 Extras......................................................5 Total ................................................ 42 BOWLING : Mayson 7-11, Fisher 3-22, Maughan R, 0-3. SWIMMING The weather made us start late, but the general standard was good. There were no really brilliant performers, the diving being rather weak, but we have seldom had so many boys reaching the life-saving stage. The individual cup was won by Banks, and colours were awarded also to Bate, Ashwell, Dowson and Tuthill. There were two outstanding juniors in Harrington and Hall. Greens came first in the tests with Blues a close second, but Blues won the sports by a sufficiently large margin to give them the cup. The results of the swimming sports were :SENIOR: 100 yards 1 length Life Saving1. Banks Underwater Diving JUNIOR : 50 yards 1 length Diving RELAY : 1. Blues. 2. Greens 1. 1. 2. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Bate 2. Banks 3. Ashwell Bate 2. Banks 3. Dowson Bate 3. Tuthill Steadman 2. Jay 3. Bate Banks 2. Dowson 3. Ashwell, Tuthill Harrington 2. Green 3. Hall Urquhart 2. Harrington 3. Hickman M. Hall 2. Harrington 3. Hickman M.

ATHLETICS In Standards there was nothing remarkable, Blues winning by a large margin. Colours were awarded to Powell A, Barber, Mayson, Jay and Johnson. Others who gained all their standards were Powell M., Urquhart, Maughan C., Harrington, Fisher and Leahey; and those who got more standards than last year were Hart, Snell, Chandler, Pearce, and Andrews. On Sports Day itself we were lucky in that on a thoroughly unpromising day the rain just held off and the programme was uninterrupted. The course for the longer races was altered, giving a straighter start; and this was taken full advantage of by Jay who ran a splendid 440 in 635 seconds to equal the school record, and by Fisher who beat the Division 11 record for the 220, the previous holder being present for the occasion. The other outstanding performance in Division I was Powell's hurdling.

13

440 yards 1. 100 yards 1. Hurdles 1. High Jump 1. Long Jump 1. Cricket Ball 1. 220 yards 1. 100 yards 1. Hurdles 1. High Jump 1. Long Jump 1. Cricket Ball 1.

Jay Jay Powell Barber Powell Powell Fisher Fisher Fisher Fisher Fisher Fisher

2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2. 2.

Johnson Powell Johnson Johnson Johnson Jay

DIVISION I. 3. Wright 3. Barber 3. Jay 3. Tuthill 3. Mayson 3. Wright

63i sec. 123 sec. 10i sec. 4 ft. 3 in. 13ft. 4Jin. 571 yds.

DIVISION 11. Blake 3. Steadman 291 sec. Steadman 3. Aldersey 12 sec. 5 Woodcock 3. Blake Steadman 3. Hartnell 4ft. 3 in. Chandler 3. Steadman 13ft. 41in. Hart 3. Snell 50 yds.

DIVISION III. 100 Yards 1. Hickman M. 2. Green 3. White 13 1/2 sec. Hurdles 1. Leahey 2. White 3. Powell M. High Jump 1. Leahey 2. Grimshaw 3. Brown 3 ft. 8 in. Long Jump 1. Powell M. 2. Hickman M. 3. White 10ft. 11in. Cricket Ball 1. Green 2. Powell 3. Brown 45 yds. DIVISION IV. Maughan 2. Dorrell 3. Bond 11 sec. Dorrell 2. Maughan 3. Pearce Maughan 2. Dorrell 3. Bond 3ft. 7in. Maughan 2. Dorrell 3. Bond 10ft. 11in. 1. Maughan 2. Bond 3. Hickman S. 43 1/2 yds.

80 yards 1. Hurdles 1. High Jump 1. Long Jump 1. Cricket Ball

MEDLEY RELAY 1. Greens 2. Greys SPRING RELAY 1. Greens 2. Blues Hurdles Relay 1. Blues 2. Greens, Greys. CAMP It is just getting light and your watch says 3.30 : suddenly it is very light indeed for a moment, the tent-door glares, and the humble of thunder tells you that what woke you up must have been the previous clap. Well, you can't switch it off, so you decide to go to sleep again; but at the last moment something plops on your forehead. Tent leaking' No, o nly an earwig, who has spent twenty laborious minutes climbing the roof, just for the fun of jumping off on you. He scuttles off, giggling, and you snuggle down again. It starts to rain. The guys were tightened last night against the wind, so there's nothing for it : they must be loosened or the pegs will draw. Mackintosh; now where's my hat? Someone else's will do; roll up pyjama trousers; torch. Round we go; there, that's done. Find the right hole in the blankets at last and settle in. It stops raining. Wide awake ... don't suppose I'll ever get to sl ... Now what? The S.M. has gently placed a pair of shoes and a tent-mallet on your head and is ever so kindly booting you in the ribs; says it's 7 o'clock. It's raining. You retaliate by waking everyone else as violently as possible, and dress. You roll up your bedding, disclosing battalions of beetles underneath; they are cheerful creatures, less malicious than earwigs, and they only bite if imprisoned inside your shirt. One there now; undress : can't find him; dress again; he finds you; undress; remove him; dress. Down 60 steps, cut in the steep slope, to the kitchen; forgotten your hat; up 60 steps (good for the memory) and down again. Expect the wood will be wet, the milk sour, and a stray dog will have raided the food tent. 14

But no; it must be admitted that everyone by this time is so well into the swing of things that soon the fires are blazing, billies on, frying-pans sizzling, supper washed up, and plenty of wood coming in; and by ten past eight breakfast is ready. The rain retires defeated, so we are able to eat at the table instead of in the shelter. Porridge, the usual argument, too much salt, too little, just right, anyway I like camp possidge best. Bacon, eggs, and tomatoes : more argument, who bust my egg, well your patrol bust them all, no we did not. Bread and marmalade, and hot black tea. Feel better, in fact feel remarkably good. Washing up : feel not so good. Oh, my turn to make the beds; feel better again. The weather switches its point of attack and, overhearing that we are to have a long expedition, the sun blazes out as hard as it can go. We trudge through miles of head-high bracken beset by all the flies in Wales. We climb the highest peak in Britain, apparently not noticed by the maps. We sit down to eat; the sun goes in and a cold wind gets up. We are dying of thirst; there is water in the valley below, and we descend a million feet to drink. It's good. We notice a dead sheep in the brook just above. Not so thirsty now. We climb a million feet again; the wind drops and the sun comes out. We conquer another Everest. We are told this is not the summit; that's the highest over there (about ten miles). We make a detour, because I.C.I. are flying red flags and are presumably about to detonate an atom bomb. The heather grows higher, the holes between deeper and more invisible. We reach the real summit; surely that bit's higher over there? We refuse to go and see. We are dying of thirst again. We are told there is a brook a mile away. In ten miles we reach it; it is dry. We go down the valley twenty miles or so; it is still dry. That brook's evidently away on holiday. We go up again, aiming for the next valley, which has a really good brook. We reach it; it is dry. We go down its parched and rocky bed. The temperature would be 100 in the shade, but there isn't any shade. Suddenly, what is that? WATER; running, blessed, icy water, appearing from nowhere, chuckling at the joke it has played on us. We refuse to look for dead sheep. And in 20 minutes more we are home; a wallow in the brook, and then tea, and sardines, and tea, and bread and jam, and tea ... and tea. It starts to rain. And yet, as you snuggle into the blankets and listen to the rain pattering on the roof of the tent, you feel at peace with all the world, even the earwigs. You may not be a Hillary yet, but you have played against one of nature's junior teams at least, and your camp knowledge and your muscles have carried you through, and everybody has helped to carry everybody else through. You know you have done something worth doing. Did you remember to slacken the guys: Did you re . . . . Come on out of it; 7 o'clock. It is raining. In point of fact we had three fine days out of eight. Most fortunately the first was one and we got the camp pitched in the dry. Then the Monday was lovely, and with the assistance of Mrs. A. and the car we spent some time at Llyn Hilyn, about three miles away, and everybody had two voyages in the new canoe, paddling about in one foot of water and leeches, over two feet of mud, weeds and leeches. No one got bitten : probably the leeches tried Tut first, failed to penetrate the armour of dirt, and gave it up. Afterwards a fcw tough specimens chall e nged themselves to walk back over the hills, and did it in exactly an hour which was good going. Wednesday was roasting hot and we made a journey of about 13 miles over the Forest, rather pessimistically described above; we climbed the Whimble and the Black Mixen and the highest point of the Forest, and everyone travelled very well in quite difficult conditions. The other days were all more or less wet. The unkindest was Sunday, because once again we were unable to entertain the 40 or 50 visitors as well as we should have liked; but it was only showery, and we were able to go to Church at Llanfihangel-nant-melan, having in place of a sermon a most 15

interesting talk on the meaning of the name and some of the place's early history. But we learnt a lot from the weather, knowledge which we were largely unable to gain last year, and all members of the troop should now be able to look after themselves in camp under difficult conditions. As usual there were hundreds of small things which went to make up the whole picture. A bilberry is a small thing, and there were hundreds of thousands of them, though not as many at the end of our stay as at the beginning; if a rock had fallen on Banks anytime during the week, the result would have been a large purple splodge. The wild strawberries too were magnificent. Then There was the dam, providing about three strokes of swimming and a great deal of splash and wallow : it was icy cold, but of course anything was better than a mere wash. In fact the expression of an Aymestrey scout with a piece of soap is only rivalled by Jay's face when cooking tomatoes. Random skirmishes in the bracken developed into an organised game of flag-raiding with violence, a sort of free-for-all rugger at an angle of 45 degrees in which a tackle usually carried both parties about 20 yards. Bullheads (quite easy) and trout (very difficult) were hunted in the brook. The Pigeons' tent was on such a slope that in the morning they were to be found all sleeping in a lump in one corner like a nest of puppies, until a different angle was tried; whereupon Banks wriggled his way out under the tent wall and slept with his legs half way down the hill probably looking for bilberries in his dreams. Once Heatley stopped talking; and once Fisher said " No, thank you." For the information of past members of the Troop, it should be mentioned that this was again a new site, 800 feet up on the south side of Radnor Forest, close to Water-break-its-neck. It was rather a long carry from the Fron, where the van had to stop, but Taylor fitted us out with a home-made hand-cart which was a tremendous help. Wood supplies were good, though not quite as easy as last year, water supplies much easier. A new idea was the siting of the diningtable above a narrow, dry arm of the brook, so that you sat on a bank with plenty of room for your feet underneath, even for no, I won't say it. It was the best of all sites we have tried as regards immediate access to open mountain on both sides, Fron Hill behind and the Mynd in front; and we could not have been more kindly and generously treated than we were by Mrs. Matthews at the Fron. We had visits from the New Radnor Scout master, from the District Commissioner, and from a black dog, probably either a spy from Imperial Headquarters or a witch, who snooped at us through the bracken but didn't steal anything. A good camp, with the Eagles the best patrol, even if they did think of a new way of serving the food hot; but the other patrols were not far behind, and there was, when one thinks it over, a remarkable degree of quiet efficiency, taken for granted most of the time because there was so little in the way of failure to contrast it with, and highly creditable to the Patrol Leaders.

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