OPA Newsletter July 1980
New Series No. 38
July 1980
THE OLD PHAROSIANS’
NEWS LETTER
President:
T. A. SUTTON, Esq.
Secretary:
C. J. Henry, Esq., Lachine, Byllan Road, River, Dover.
(Kearsney 3764-Code 03047)
Treasurer:
Rev. W. F. Kemp, 7 Burgate House, Burgate, Canterbury.
Editor:
K. H. Ruffell, Esq., 15 Friar’s Way, Dover.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 1980
The Annual General Meeting will be held in the school staff room on Saturday, 20th September, 1980 at 11 a.m. Coffee will be served from 10.30.
Agenda
- To read the notice convening the meeting.
- To receive apologies.
- To read the minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 1979.
- To consider matters arising.
- To consider the proposal of the committee to use the title Old Pharosian to apply to all ex-pupils but that only paid-up members together with honorary members would be entitled to receive Newsletters and other similar privileges bestowed by membership of the Old Pharosians’ Association.
- To receive the Treasurer’s report.
- To receive the Secretary’s report.
- To elect officers and committee for 1980-81.
- Any other business.
Colin Henry, Hon. Secretary.
ANNUAL REUNION DINNER20th September, 1980
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the school’s evacuation to Ebbw Vale in Wales.
The Dinner will be in the School Hall. During the evening the plaque in memory of the late Mr. J. C. Booth, the Headmaster involved with the events of forty years ago, will be unveiled by his wife, herself an Honorary member of the Association.
Ray Warner has kindly agreed to show a film of Dover in the 1940’s and his current production of 1979.
Wives/girl friends are most welcome at these annual functions.
The bar will be open at 6.45 p.m. followed by Dinner at 7.30. Wine may be purchased at the bar.
Tickets are £5 each. Please apply to me as early as possible and not later than 14th September. Cheques should be made payable to “Old Pharosians” please.
Colin Henry.
NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL
From the local press
The future of education in Kent was thrown into the melting pot in 1979 following the change of government.
Labour’s Education Minister said at the beginning of the year that comprehensive education would be working in the Dover district by September 1983.
But the change of government means that the county education authority is no longer committed to implementing the system, so secondary selection and grammar schools are to continue.
Drama
Macbethproduced at school in March.
Shakespeare wrote this play in letters of blood to tell us that violence begets more violence. In 11th century Scotland there were no Lancaster House conferences, ballot boxes, reconciliations or forgiveness. The milk of human kindness is mentioned but is not much in evidence.
This production held the attention of the audience. It was a strong production, full of ideas and enterprise. Young people must benefit from taking part in a Shakespearian production of this quality.
Music
The school is filled with the sound of music. One hundred and fifty boys are learning instruments and the organ seems to be in use from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. There were school concerts in February and May. Mervyn Cook plays the cello in the Kent Youth Orchestra which is performing a piece of his composition at a concert in the Festival Hall.
On Thursday, 1st May the school choir sang Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral in the company of many parents and friends of the school and a party of visitors from France. A senior boy played the organ and the experience for him, for the choirboys and all present was truly memorable. In July the choir sang Evensong in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The range of accomplishment extends from jazz groups to Haydn’s Creation: the richness of music is evident for all to see and almost all to share.
Sport
The 1st XI soccer reached the final of a local adult cup competition and lost 1-0 to a Divisional Police XI.
Chris Penn of the cricket 1st XI has added to his achievements by being invited to play for the Kent 2nd XI; and there is a young fellow named Pepper in the Kent Under 15 XI for the second year.
Two boys have distinguished themselves by their proficiency at fencing.
There is probably a wider range of sports and games in the school than ever before.
THE MAY BALL
Those who enjoy richly varied social lives will be aware that sherry at 7 p.m., dinner until 9 p.m. and dancing until 1 a.m., all for £4.50, is a phenomenon from another age, inviting economic disaster.
Two hundred tickets are as highly regarded as were tickets for the Prefects’ Dance in years before the war. Mrs. Parfitt’s dinner was as excellent as ever. The prefects, dressed as Arabs, were usefully employed and formed part of the oriental decor designed and displayed by Ian Bewick, the art master. Parents and old boys seem to enjoy one another’s company. There was much talking and much dancing; and a profit of at least £200, by custom split three ways between school, old boys and parents.
Write to the editor if you would like tickets for next year. The third Saturday in May in now customary.
K.H.R.
MR. R. H. PAYNE
Reg Payne is retiring this summer at the age of 57 years.
He came to this school in 1950 at much the same time as others who returned from war service.
In his early years he looked after the 1st XI soccer and he remains interested in sport, especially Kent cricket.
Most Old Pharosians will remember him for his teaching of Divinity. In this, as in his work as a local Preacher of the Methodist Church, and in all his words and deeds Reg demonstrated the strength of Christian belief and practice.
He is moving away from Dover and will take with him the goodwill of all who knew him.
NEWS OF OLD BOYS
Before 1940:
Rev. John BINKS has been a Baptist missionary and is now living at 88 Cranleigh Drive, Whitfield.
E. W. BISHOP (1927-36) was in Army Intelligence from 1940 to 1963 and then teaching as Head of Languages at Merry Oak Comprehensive School in Southampton. He once completed a 3000 mile motor cycle journey to the Middle East but now engages in less active but varied pursuits from his home at 78 Bassett Green Road, Southampton S02 3DZ.
Harold DEARLlNG (1912-18) M.E.M.E., retired Civil Engineer, died on Christmas Eve, 1979.
Sir Robin HAYDON (1929-37) has reached the normal retiring age of sixty but no successor has yet been appointed to the Dublin Embassy. Sir Robin was in London when the Irish Prime Minister came to see Mrs. Thatcher recently.
Sydney Herbert MORRIS, a life member, died 13th May, 1980, at 215 Shorncliffe Road, Folkestone.
Fred SHEPPARD (1919-22) lives at Flat 2,65 Holly Road, St. Albans, Christchurch 1, New Zealand.
The Nineteen-Thirties:
Eric F. BOWLEY (1932-37) of Temple Ewell, Secretary of the Dover and Folkestone Building Society, has been ill in Buckland Hospital.
Bernard F. GRAY (1935-42), Associate Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Hatfield Polytechnic, presented prizes and gave the address at the South Kent College of Technology in Dover on 9th May, 1980.
John JENKINS, who played soccer in the Old Pharosians XI in pre-war years is a Quantity Surveyor in N. London.
Peter J. W. McVEY died in November, 1979 at Guildford where he was a Lecturer in the Department of Engineering at the University of Surrey. He clearly earned the respect of all who knew him. He leaves a wife and daughter to whom we express our sympathy.
G. F. REAY (1938-40) teaches at the school for E.S.N. children in the Elms Vale Road. His brother Alan usually teaches in Deal but is taking a year’s leave to study for an M.A. degree in education.
D. C. SHARP (1932-37) writes “I shall always be indebted to W. E. Pearce (W.E.P.) for instilling in me the desire to invent and improvise.” Since the war when he developed Flight Simulators he has taken out a wide variety of patents for his inventions, many put into production by his own engineering company. He remembers Ferdy Allin assuring him that he had “a brain like a basinful of Scotch porridge,” and Mr. Watt likened him to “a cow gazing over a hedge.” He ends, “My love for Dover and my appreciation of the school stay with me always.”
The Nineteen-Forties:
Philip Christian CLEMENTS (1949-54) is ordained and chaplain to Denstone College. His brother Lesley is a dentist in Derby.
Bill COLLARD (1941-47) is back in England working at the central staff of Ford Europe. His address is Cantii, 3 Crescent Drive, Brentwood, Essex CM15 8DS.
Geoffrey NEWSON (1949-54) visited the school in November. He is now 6 feet 9 inches tall and plays squash if he can find shoes size 16½. He works for Anglesey Aluminium and lives near Holyhead.
The Nineteen-Fifties:
David BAYNTON has obtained a double B.A. at the Open University.
Michael BINGHAM, a member of the naval C.C.F. at school, became a master mariner in the merchant service, lived for three years in Hong Kong and is now a company director of a family business in the Peak District. He lives at Glossop.
David FLEMING (1958-65) lectures in Law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
Alistair GARDINER (1951-57) was in school at the last Guest Evening. He did a lot of rugby and swimming when at school and played in the most recent Old Boys rugby XV. He took a Civil Engineering degree at Queen Mary College, London at much the same time as Barry Crush, Ken Marsh and Peter Marjoram.
Douglas HARCOURT (1959-63) is warden for the National Trust land near Shakespeare Cliff.
Peter LYONS (1957-65) is deputy librarian at Islington. By studying at the Northern Polytechnic he has added a B.A. in librarianship to his A.L.A.
Brian MASON (1951-58) was strong in English in his sixth form days and edited the school magazine. He went into journalism and for the past eight years has edited the Telford Journal. He recently took a B.A. degree of the Open University.
The Nineteen-Sixties:
Michael COURT (1966-74) is in the world of advertising in London’s West End.
M. E. EASTON (1969-76) was awarded a 2nd class Honours degree in economics at North Staffordshire Polytechnic.
John ENGLISH (1966-73) received a degree in geography at Kingston Polytechnic and proceeded from there to King Alfred’s College, Winchester for teacher training. He is now teaching at the Duke of York’s School where David Brooshooft is a Housemaster.
N. FRIGHT (1962-69) obtained an M.Sc. degree and is now in the computer business.
Keith KING (1966-73) has gained a Ph.D. at Leeds University.
Paul KNOTT (1965-72) has obtained his Ph.D. for geographical research in North Africa. He has joined a firm of accountants and is studying to become a Chartered Accountant.
J. V. HOPKINS (1964-71), who took his geology degree at Swansea, has been engaged in the search for oil, recently in Pakistan and now in Sumatra.
Ian PASCALL (1967-74), a member of the O.P. committee, was married at St. Mary’s church in the Spring and qualified as a chartered accountant last year.
Dick POND (1960-67) is farming at Shere in Surrey but comes home to Whitfield most week-ends.
Martin PROUDFOOT (1963-68) has been killed in a road accident near Perth, Australia.
Kevin REDSULL (1966-73) is a sports reporter and sub-editor for the Evening Post-Echo at Hemel Hempstead. His address is 17 College Close, Flamstead, Herts.
Robert SNEDDON (1965-72) was married in March. He has a Cambridge degree in theology and he and his wife plan to go to India.
Kevin WOOD (1962-70) has a Craft shop in Duke Street, Deal and is actively interested in theatre.
Julian WOOLHOUSE (1968-75) teaches English at Larissa in Greece but travels in the steps of St. Paul around the Middle East. “At Christmas I went to Istanbul and crossed the Bosphorus to Asia.”
Malcolm DURRANT (1962-70) teaches in the West Indies. As University consultant to his school he travels to North American universities seeking places for his students. He married in July.
Alwyn SEEDS, son of Mr. Harry Seeds, has gained a Ph.D. in electronics and has gone to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology at Boston, U.S.A.
The Nineteen-Seventies:
P. ASHBY (1970-77) has gained a 1st class degree in chemistry and would like to proceed to a Ph.D. at Exeter.
Paul GRETTON (1965-71) has passed his final examination of the Institute of Bankers. His brother Richard teaches at Dane Court School with Derek Towe and Mr. Peter Salter.
Graham NORRIS (1970-77) is completing his second year at the University of Kent at Canterbury where he is studying economics, French and German.
John R. PHILPOTT (1964-71) teaches R.E. and history at the Longfield School, Dartford.
Martin ROBERTS is at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth. As a member of the University cross-country team he runs about sixty miles each week.
David SHEASBY (1969-76) recently married a girl he met as a fellow student at Oxford. They work and live at the Methodist Mission in East London. His friend, Tim HARRIS (1969-76) is involved with Christian teaching in schools in the Bristol area.
Andrew SIMS (1970-77) has gained a 1st class degree in geology at Oxford this summer. He has signed a contract to work for the British National Oil Corporation at Glasgow.
Keith PARFITT (1973-75) is co-director of the Dover Archaeological Group.
David WEYMOUTH (1966-73) has joined the staff of Barclay’s Bank Head Office. He gained a B.A. degree in French in 1977.
RUGBY MATCHSCHOOL v. OLD BOYS
On Wednesday afternoon, 19th March, an Old Boys’ XV (or was it XVI?) beat the school by 18-8. The game was, in the words of the Dover Express, “an entertaining clash enjoyed by one and all and played in a good spirit.” Two photos in the Express showed Maurice Sayers being “robbed” of a try and whether this unhappy incident will lead to litigation is not yet known. Those who may be called as witnesses are Philip Alcock, Les Powell, Mick Tomlinson, Keith Thomason, Alistair Gardiner, Dave Smithard, Andy Banks, Russ Bramwell, Bryan Burr and Simon Jones, Dave Stubbs, Carl Bramwell, Bill Plews, Derek Aslett, Graham Best and Maurice Sayers.
THE OLD PHAROSIAN LODGE
There has been a noticeable revival in the interests of Old Boys’ Associations of late and to no less a degree in the membership and activities of the “Old Pharosians” here in Dover. Any Old Boy can apply for membership to his Old Boys’ Lodge as well. The Pharos Lodge 6967 meets on the 3rd Saturday in October, November, January, February, March and April in Snargate Street. We welcome any enquiries to join the Lodge. The Secretary is David Gunn, “Barnwell”, The Rise, Ringwould, Deal. Tel: Deal 3633. This year’s Master is John Cooper and the Wardens are Roger Cork and David Slater.
Old Pharosians who have held Kitchener Scholarships are invited to contact Lindsay Phillips (D.C.S. 1915-23), Chairman of the Kitchener Scholarships’ Association, at 29 Hillsboro Road, Bognor Regis, W. Sussex P021 2DX. Tel. (0243) 865 765. He will be pleased to inform them of current activities and supply the magazine and handbook.
PARTICIPATION BY OLD BOYS IN THE LIFE OF DOVER
Inevitably many boys go away from Dover for higher education and career opportunities. But as I move around Dover I meet old boys of almost every age in almost all aspects of work and leisure.
The Allison brothers have a shop in Cannon Street, and A. F. Adams is busy in the printing business built by his father.
Ken Alcock, schoolmaster, is chairman of the Conservative club, helped by Roger Frayne. John Bushell has been Mayor and continues his interest in the Dover F.C. ‘Bod’ Bowles is King of Jazz in his pub, the Louis Armstrong. Frank Conley is Vicar of Capel and John Philpott Vicar of Whitfield. Len Castle and Tommy Beer are in business but Eddie Crush has just retired from his sports shop. Bryan Crush frames pictures in Castle Street and Barry Crush oversees work in the Borough Technical Department. Geoffrey Dampier is a director in the Buckland Press Group and Jeremy Garner is in the same law office as Maurice Sayers.
Alfred and David Gunn have their jewellers’ business in Worthington Street and Richard Blackman and his father and Bernard Harrison look after household water equipment in High Street. Michael Hedgecock has the Mildmay Hotel and Pharos Furnishers and Brian Howard is a. building contractor. Philip Janaway is Deputy Headmaster at Astor School and Dennis Keeler has a transport business.
Simon Marples has joined the Dover Express and is establishing a reputation for literate criticism of local theatre.
Norman Sutton was formerly editor of this paper and Terry, this year’s President, is senior reporter.
Peter Mee is prominent on the Labour side of local politics, as is George Ruck. Mike Palmer is in the Borough Treasurer’s Office and whichever bank you go into you are likely to get good service from an Old Pharosian. The latest addition to bank staffs is the boy who played Fagin in last year’s Oliver.
Sydney Wenborn keeps the postal services in motion and with Colin Henry and other committee members, sustains the Old Pharosians’ Association.
Jack Kremer is an accountant and D. W. Pilgrim is a shipping agent; T. Riley is in the Customs service as is Nick Syrett; and there are so many others in the A.A., R.A.C. and other port services. Bert Wall is a purser on the boats and there are many other Old Pharosians who will smooth your channel crossing.
Bob Taylor runs his own business as a water engineer in High Street and Denis Weaver is a J.P., President of the Operatic Society and Chairman of Buckland Press Group. Bob Winter is chairman of the Operatic Society and headmaster of Astor Primary School. There must be an Old Pharosian teaching in at least half the schools in the district. In all the sporting activities of the town one meets the names of Old Pharosians. If you are living in the town and are omitted from this rather cursory article, please accept my apologies and my assurance that no omission is intentional.
K.H.R.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
20th SeptemberOld Boys’ day. A.G.M. at 11 p.m., Dinner at 7.30. Soccer, Old Boys v. School at 2.30. Anyone wishing to play should contact M. Palmer, 12 Hazeldown Close, River.
7th NovemberGuest Evening. The Guest Speaker is Sir Robin Haydon.
16th DecemberSchool Carol Service in Charlton Church.
18th DecemberSocial for recently left Old Boys in Crabble pavilion.
THE DIAMOND JUBILEE TRUST FUND
The fund at present stands at just under £1200. Permission has been obtained from the Charity Commission for the fund to be wound up by applying assets toward the installation of a humidifier for the school organ.
The final winding up cannot take place until early next year when the existing deeds of covenant expire; but it is important that those old boys who have bankers’ orders for donations should be aware of the need to cancel their payments.
Unfortunately the humidifier will cost more than £1200 but the fund’s resources will go a long way toward meeting the need.
Ian Pascal.
TWO PLEASING ITEMS OF NEWS FROM CANTERBURY
Our Treasurer, Rev. W. F. Kemp, has been appointed a Minor Canon of the Cathedral and now can take part in Cathedral services.
From the Kent County Cricket Club Annual for 1980”Derek George Aslett. Born February 12th, 1958. Went to Dover Grammar School. B.A.(hons.) at Leicester University. Scored 163 v. Gloucester 2nd XI and 112 not out against Hampshire 2nd XI in 1978. He will be available for the whole season in 1980.”
EXTRACT FROM A LETTER FROM C. J. WILSON, AUSTRALIA
“Old Pharosians certainly appear all over the world. Last month, while on a lay-over on Singapore whilst on a flight from Sydney to London and return, I met Ray Hopper (1951-58) in a well known watering hole.”
THE VALUE OF EDUCATION
From an anonymous Old Boy:
I suffered loss of rank for breaking out after lights out from my seventh and last school cadet camp. As I later escaped from German P.O.W. camps four times, you can tell Mr. Coulson it was all part of the excellent training.
HEDGE AGAINST INFLATION
Surely the latest increase in the coast of postage is to allow for the increase in inflation between the date of posting a letter and the date the letter is delivered.
If you owe a subscription, please post it now to the Treasurer.