OPA Newsletter July 1984
New Series No. 46
July 1984
THE OLD PHAROSIANS’
NEWS LETTER
President:
Tom Beer, Esq.
Secretary:
Philip Harding, Esq., 6 Monins Road, Dover
Treasurer:
Ian Pascall,46a Bawsbury Cross Lane, Whitfield CT16 3EZ
Editor: K. H. Ruffell, Esq., 193 The Gateway, Dover CT16 1LL
The editor is grateful for all news sent to him.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING, 1984
The Annual General Meeting will be held at the School Staff Room on Saturday, 22nd September, 1984, at 11 a.m. Coffee will be served from 10A5 am.
Agenda
- To read the notice convening the meeting.
- Apologies.
- Minutes of the Annual General Meeting, 1983.
- Matters arising.
- Treasurer’s Report.
- Secretary’s Report.
- Election of Officers and Committee for 1984-85. There are several retiring Committee members.
- Any other business.
Philip Harding, Hon. Secretary.
At 2.30 p.in. on the same Saturday, 22nd September, there will be the usual soccer match. Any Old Pharosian wishing to play should write to M. Palmer, 12 Hazeldown Close, River, Dover CT17 ONJ.
ANNUAL REUNION DINNER, 22nd SEPTEMBER, 1984
This year’s Reunion Dinner will be held in the School Hall. The bar will be open at 6.45 pm. for sherry and dinner is at 7.30 pm. Price is £6.50. A choice of wines will be available at the bar. Wives/girl-friends are always very welcome and early application is advised. Please send the return slip and your cheque (made payable to Old Pharosians), to Colin Henry, Lachine, Byllan Road, River, Dover (tel. Dover 823764) not later than 15th September.
The only speakers will be Dr. K. A. K. Lott as the incoming President and the Headmaster.
This will leave more time for people to circulate and meet friends.
Old Pharosians who are not members of the Association are very welcome at the dinner.
Representatives of the Prefects’ Room and the Parents’ Association are being invited to attend.
You would be helping enormously by retulrning the slip as soon as you can decide to come. Caterer sets limits to the number he can serve and preference will be given to Old Boys and their ladies. Tickets will be sent in response to your replies. The President and other committee members would specially welcome old boys of the years in Ebbw Vale and the immediate post-war years.
NEWS OF THE ASSOCIATION
A recent review of the Association’s Membership List has shown the following:
23 members currently paying by standing orders which are out of date (i.e. for less than the current amount);
39 members whose subscriptions have lapsed.
All of these members will have received a letter from the Secretary prior to receiving this Newsletter. If you are one of these members, please ensure that you renew your subscription, either by completing a new standing order for £2 per year, or by paying £15 for Life Membership, otherwise we regret that rising costs will prevent us from sending you further copies of the Newsletter.
Life Membership at £15 is excellent value, and since your Committee’ has already discussed the possibility of having to increase this in 1985, we invite you to save yourself money and help the Association by taking out Life Membership now!
Philip Harding. Hon. Secretary.
Two Life Members, Sqn. Ldr. A Norman and W. Dane have moved. If anyone can give the editor their present addresses we should be very grateful.
SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR SUMMER TERM 1984
A copy is enclosed as a matter of interest to Old Pharosians who can see what a variety of activities is encompassed within modern education in our grammar school.
LONDON REUNION
Denis Gibb has every intention of arranging a London gathering for Old Pharosians in the spring or summer of 1985. If anyone has suggestions or requests they should write to Denis at 76 Cheshire Gardens, Chessington, Surrey KTB 2PS: otherwise the evening will follow the pattern of previous gatherings in the “Dover Castle”.
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Saturday, 7th July – 2 p.m. School v. Old Boys Cricket Match.
Wednesday, 18th July – 7 p.m. School’s Summer Miscellany.
Saturday, 21st July – 3.15 p.m. School choir sings Evensong in Rochester Cathedral.
Monday to Wednesday, 23rd to 25th July – Choir sings in Gloucester Cathedral.
Saturday, 22nd September – Old Boys’ Day, A.G.M:. Soccer and Dinner.
Monday, 5th November – 5.30 p.m. Choir sings Evensong in Canterbury Cathedral.
Thursday, 22nd November – O.P. Committee meets.
Friday, 23rd November – School Guest Evening.
Tuesday, 18th December – School Carol Service in Charlton Church at 7.30 p.m.
FORTY YEARS BACKMEMORIES OF WALES 1940 TO 1945
Mrs. J. C. Booth very kindly made available copies of Pharos and Old Pharosians Newsletters from the period in Ebbw Vale.
In 1942 many boys had midday dinners in the British Restaurant. A tribute to Mr. Thomas Watt, who died in November, was written by Miss Rookwood. Many Old Boys died on war service and some ware reported as “missing believed killed”. F. A. Cockfield was P.P.S. to the President of the Board of Inland Revenue. A Squadron Leader was awarded the D.S.C. and “has since been reported missing”. The whole school, together with the Ebbw Vale School, attended a cinema show of Free French films in the Workmen’s Hall.
The 1943 Pharos was reduced in size by paper restrictions. The editor wrote to old boys of “just pride in your achievements, your service and your sacrificesplus a determination to live up to the standards you are setting. Be quick and finish the job.” An officer was awarded the Military Cross for bringing in a wounded soldier. Another officer “Keeps cropping up in my notes… escaping from a prison camp, being recaptured, escaping again and finally winning the M.C.”
In June 1944 Mr. W. H. Darby wrote that “victory seems assured and not too far off.” Jo Slater wrote In Memoriam of F. F. Allin, M.A. The editor notes that “most of the present generation have never been inside the school on the hill.” There is a sad list of war dead and another list of distinctions awarded on active service. Some were prisoners of war in Malaya. One man escaped after Dunkirk, served in the Middle East, was left to hold Tobruk, escaped to El Alamein, was taken prisoner and drowned with other British prisoners when the ship taking them to Sicily was torpedoed. Several Old Pharosians met in Shepheard’s in Cairo.
During the autumn of 1944 Mr. Booth visits Dover to prepare for a return which was made at the end of that term. Terry Sutton very kindly has photographed a full account of the farewell ceremony at Ebbw Vale in December 1944. This document will be pieced in the school archives. In the first half of 1945 the school operated in three buildings in the town before the school on the hill was de-requisitioned and became again a place of education and learning on 11th June 1945.
Mr. Booth wrote in June 1945: “For many of you, talk of peace is premature. I should like, therefore, to send a special greeting to the ever increasing contingent of Old Pharosians in the Far East.” The names of the fallen, with the manner of their death, were still printed on pages heavily outlined in black. News from the living arrived from every corner of the earth. The school watched planes flying overhead as they carried prisoners of war back home. On the first morning at Astor Avenue the Cadet Band played the General Salute. The Union Jack was flown at the top of the tower.
NEWS OF THE SCHOOL
FROM THE STAFF ROOM
Mr. BERNARD DENHAM came to the school in 1949and has been a member of the Old Pharoslan committee for longer than he or we care to remember.
He will soon be sixty years of age and he plans to retire in December.
Mr. ARTHUR ELLIOTT trained at Goldsmiths and Carnegie Collages and came to Dover in 1954 to take charge of the P.E. Department. He later became responsible for school games and made basketball tremendously popular.
In the middle of his career he made himself that most useful member of any school staff, a man able to teach a selection of subjects in the lower part of the school. As master in charge of the Lower School he has shown the utmost devotion in care for the young, spending his lunch-hours in a quiet room where juniors could study or do their homework. Having served in the school for more than thirty years Arthur becomes a Life Member of the Old Pharosians’ Association. The President will visit the school at the and of term to present a tie in recognition of, and gratitude for, services rendered; end as an expression of goodwill for a long, happy and well deserved retirement.
Mr. FRANK KENDALL has decided to move to Comwallis Court, Hospital Road, Bury St. Edmunds, IP33 3NH. After taking an M.A. degree in Natural Sciences at Cambridge ha at first taught in Thirsk and came to Dover in 1931. He went with the school to Wales end taught until 1965, when he transferred to part-time teaching at the Girls’ Grammar School for five years. Many old boys, including our current President, have valued Mr, Kendall’s kindly and devoted teaching of chemistry. As a young man he played a lot of tennis and he has continued to swim in the sea in his eightieth year. He is clearly in good health and the old boys will wish him continued health and happiness in his new home.
Mr. KENNETH BEST is moving to 136 Cheriton Road, Folkestone.
RUGBYSCHOOL v. OLD BOYS
On Wednesday, 21 st March, on a bright but cold spring afternoon, two matches were played on the Crabble ground, where the Dover Rugby Club very hospitably entertained two school fifteens.
The 1st XV match was closely contested and played in good spirit. The school team were well trained, lively and quick. On the Old Boys side were some experienced players, notably Simon Jones showing his Welsh ancestry in his understanding of the way the game can be a delight to watch or play. The game was well refereed by a recent school-leaver, John Shepherd, who explained his decisions and stood his ground when he made the occasional mistake. The result was a draw at twenty points to each side. In the 2nd XV match the boys were out-weighted and outplayed.
CONCERT
On Saturday, 7th April, a concert was given by recent old boys of varied musical talents. The evening was greatly enjoyed by the audience and by the performers who were rather late In leaving the building.
PHOTOGRAPHS OF SCHOOL TEAMS
Your committee has noticed that since 1974 the previous custom of storing photographs of school teams has lapsed.
Mr. M. H. Smith has carefully listed team photos that we have; and committee is investigating methods of storing photos in albums that visiting old boys may be glad to see.
A list of missing photographs from years to 1974 is appended. If any old boy has a copy of a missing photo we should be grateful if he would write to the editor so that arrangements could be made for copying.
1st XI SOCCER: 1907-8, 1912-13, 1920-21, 1925-26, 1927-28, 1937-38, 1954-55, 1955-56, 1956-57.
1st XV RUGBY: 1935-36, 1948-49, 1952-53, 1965-66.
1st XI CRICKET: 1939, 1947.
Steps are being taken to produce team photos from 1975 to the present time.
For sound practical reasons team photos from past years had to be removed from dining hall walls.
Headmaster would like to hang photos of recent and current teams in the school’s Great Hall.
SPONSORED TREK
A party of sixth form leavers propose to trek from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, expecting to take ten weeks for the journey, They are being sponsored by several hundred pounds from the National Giro Bank, which will publicize their progress. The O.P. Association is giving £25 and by many other means the travellers wish to raise money for a School for Handicapped Children in Thanet.
THE ANDY KREMER MEMORIAL
Your committee received a letter from some of Andy’s friends about the form that a memorial should take.
Their suggestion of a trophy for the annual soccer match between school and old boys has been forwarded to Andy’s parents for their opinion.
Andy was captain of school soccer. The trophy would remain permanently in the school.
THE ERNIE LARGE MEMORIAL
There will be a lecture on 5th October at 8 p.m. in the chapel of Kent College given by John Driscoll, one of our national sailing coaches, entitled “A life on the ocean wave”.
A retiring collection will be taken in aid of the E.C.L. memorial fund.
It is hoped that the fund will allow young people to expand their sailing abilities in areas that they would not normally have contacted.
“DIGGER” STANLEY MEMORIAL FUND
Through the generous nature of Old Boys, colleagues and friends, the “Digger” Stanley Memorial Fund stands at £676.50. There is not a closing date at the moment and any monies coming in at a later date will go into the Fund.
The money has been designated by Margaret to purchase specialist equipment in the Maternity Unit at Buckland Hospital.
All contributions have been gratefully received and faithfully applied.
R.W.W.
PRESIDENT’S GOOD WISHES
Our President, Tom Beer, spoke to boys being briefed on 8th may for their ‘O’ and ‘A’ level exams. He wished them well in their exams and as President brought them the good wishes of those who had passed that way before them.
Sixth form school-leavers have a farewell supper when exams are over; and on that occasion they are given a letter setting out the aims of the Association with an invitation to membership.
YOUTH OF TODAY
In the S.E. Kent Schools cross-country trials on the school course at the end of January, the school won the senior and intermediate team events and had the junior and senior Individual winners.
David Healey, Annj Bedi and Scott Farrell all won prizes and performed at a Trinity School of Music prize-giving.
Following his success in the Kent schoolboys’ judo championships recently, in which he represented Dover Grammar School, 13-year-old Greg Seath of Elms Vale Road has been chosen for the Kent team in the National championships at Cardiff.
The school’s 1st year, 2nd year and 5th year soccer teams were winners of their age group competitions for schools in the Dover district.
DOVER C.C. v. DOVER GRAMMAR
Dover Grammar
Dover C.C.
|
Dover Grammar |
Dover C.C. |
|||||
| Lievers lbw b Barnes | 51 | R. M. Pepper b Abbott | 0 | |||
| Corless c K. Hudson b R. L. Pepper | 18 | Scoble c Monger b Abbott | 3 | |||
| Sadler c K. Hudson b R. M. Pepper | 54 | K. Hudson c Sub b Field | 3 | |||
| Monger b K. Hudson | 6 | Henworth b Abbott | 2 | |||
| Podmore b K. Hudson | 9 | West not out | 53 | |||
| Couzens b Duckhouse | 7 | D. Hudson b Abbott | 6 | |||
| Abbott c K. Hudson b R. M. Pepper | 2 | Barnes c Abbott b Couzens | 25 | |||
| San Emeterio lbw b Duckhouse | 0 | R. L. Pepper b Hall | 4 | |||
| Hall run out | 2 | Davy not out | 11 | |||
| Field not out | 1 |
Extras |
16 | |||
| Shepherd not out | 0 |
Total (for 7 wkts) |
123 | |||
|
Extras |
5 | Duckhouse and Stone did not bat | ||||
|
Total (for |
155 | |||||
SCHOOL MUSIC
The School Music Department has been as active as ever.
In January, Denis Weaver described his travels in India on behalf of Rotarians supporting work for the blind in that country. Proceeds of the evening went to that cause. The school choir sang the Indian National Anthem and there was great variety of music, mostly Indian.
In February some senior students of the Trinity College of Music came to give a recital of the highest class and a school concert included some of the youngest initiates as well as those who are now experienced and talented performers.
During half-term holiday the choir sang Evensong In Chichester Cathedral.
VERDI REQUIEM, 31st March
The occasion was astonishing and memorable. When did you last see a church as large as Charlton’s church needing to bring extra seats from the church hall to accommodate those who had paid to come in but could find no place to sit?
In recent years the school’s music department has performed a public recital of a work appropriate to Lent and Passiontide. Their reputation is known in the town and district.
The soloists are local friends of the school. The orchestra are strengthened by professional musicians from the Royal Marines. The choir, mainly of boys, includes old boys, parents and-masters.
The whole effect was staggering. The Dies Irea sections assaulted the ear: Agnus Del moved the heart.
Everything was arranged, rehearsed and conducted by Adrian Boynton.
Next morning, Sunday morning, he took the school jazz group and chamber choir to France to play in a music festival.
CANTERBURY CATHEDRAL
On Wednesday, 11th April, the choir again sang Evensong in Canterbury. They began with Locus Iste which they had sung as an Introit at St. Paul’s Cathedral: and their anthem was Te Lucis Ante Terminum, the Evening Hymn that dies away into the silence of the night. I came home and listened to their recording of this piece and thought how well their rendering had matured with time and the inspiration of the cathedral. Two Old Pharosians shared the opportunity to play the cathedral organ and our Reverend William Kemp spoke the prayers, including one remembered over the years since he was at school. The demeanour of the boys was all that one could ask: one felt proud to belong.
In May there was a Musical Quiz which, with a glass or two of wine, makes an amusing and interesting evening. I treasure the comment on a piece of music said “Since it is more mechanical then musical I assume the piece to be 20th century.” There was a concert in mid-May, a recital early in June, a Barbecue at the end of the month to raise funds in pleasurable fashion, instrumentalists played in one of the large country houses nearby and trebles have sang at a wedding.
FUTURE EVENTS IN THE MUSICAL CALENDAR
Friday, 6th JulyAn evening Fete on Upper field with a greet many attractions arranged by the Friends of Music at the school. Suppon by Old Pharosians in Dover would be appreciated.
Tuesday, 18th July – 7 p.m. Summer Miscellany.
Saturday, 21st July – At 3.15 p.m. Choir sings Evensong in Rochester Cathedral.
Monday, 23rd July – Residential visit to Gloucester Cathedral.
Sunday, 2nd December – An evening concert with a Christmas flavour.
Tuesday, 18th December – 7.30 p.m. School Carol Service.
CHRISTIAN AID RECITAL
On Sunday afternoon, 27th May, in the Norman architecture of the church of St. Margaret at Cliffe, the chamber choir end instrumentalists gave e recital to an appreciative audience who left a plateful of notes and silver for Christian Aid.
The Vicar of St. Margaret’s said ha was being musically educated. So are all of us who have ears the hear.
NEWS OF OLD PHAROSIANS OBITUARIES
Kevin Grilli (1974 to 80) want to Australia on a trip given by his parents as a 21st birthday present but died in an accident. A service in St. Mary’s Church on 22nd September was attended by his friends and other representatives of the school.
Arthur Charles Quinlan (1919 to 27) passed away peacefully on 9th March. In his time at school ha was captain of Maxton House and a school footballer. He became a Captain in the Royal Marines.
H. S. W. Terry died in March 1983. He was for many years a member of the Association end of the Friends of Canterbury Cathedral. He lived In Maidstone.
OUR COUNTY CRICKETERS
Derek Aslett his cored two centuries end is well placed in the Kent and English betting averages.
Chris Penn has bean playing regularly and scored a century which was his first In any level of cricket.
The Editor had the enormous pleasure of speaking to both these players in the Long Room at Lord’s when Kent played Middlesex.
Richard Pepper will appear on the Kent scene when term ends at Leicester University. Last season he headed the 2nd XI. batting averages.
Eddie Crush does a lot for Kent cricket, serving on the committee and keeping an experienced eye on the 2nd XI.
Bryan Anderson (1960 to 68) was associate producer for e BBC TV programme about the drift of men to the Kent coalfield after the 1926 General Strike.
Jonathan Aylen (1962 to 69) is now Campus Senior Lecturer in Economics et the University of Salford. He has been doing research on the economics of innovation in the world steel industry and has had published a number of articles on this subject in economic and technical journals. Recently he took part In a radio programme connected with the British steel industry.
Tom Berwick (1924 to 27) adds to the list of Old Pharosians who have enriched their lives as organists. Ha has played in several Dover churches, mainly at Whitfield and St. Mary in the Castle.
Dr. J. C. G. Binfleld (1951 to 57) met Christopher Turner when he was lecturing in Brixton. Clyde Binfleld is Chairman of Governors of Silcoates School and Vice-Chairmen of the National Council of the Y.M.C.A. As a professional historian he has written a biography of a Coventry church, proceeds going to the church.
Lester Borley (1942 to 49) now Director of the National Trust for Scotland, has moved to 4 Belford Place, Edinburgh, three doors awey from Bill Dewer who entertained a party of Old Pharosians during the Edinburgh Festival.
Councillor Phillip Buss (1933 to 42) was on 5th June chosen to be Chairman of Dover District Council. Thirty-three years ago he became famous for his part in the battle of the Injim River in Korea. He recently retired from teaching at Archer’s Court School.
Lord Cockfield (1924 to 33) had an audience of the Queen at Buckingham Palace in March.
A. J. (Jim) Fagg (1940 to 46) has just retired from British Rail and now lives at Stoke on Trent.
Augustus Gooding (1905 to 09), aged 93 and our oldest Old Pharosian, had a spell in hospital and “commiserated with the nursing staff on their loss at my departure and was invited to return should need arise.” He will enjoy the letter at the and of this Newsletter.
Andrew Griggs has graduated from RAF College, Cranwell, and begun training on Jet Provost aircraft.
Christopher Groombridge (1968 to 75) has been awarded a Ph.D. degree by the University of East Anglia. He works in the Ministry of Defence at Salisbury.
John Jackson has finished his Ph.D. at East Anglia and is now working at the British Petroleum Research Centre in Sunbury, Middlesex. He and Paul Flood would like to play in this year’s Old Boys’ cricket team.
Fred Kember (1940 to 43) left school to work as a boy at Adisham station but successive promotions have brought his recent appointment as manager of railways in the Ashford area.
David King (1961 to 66) is a chief technician with RAF. He saw active service in the Falklands and gained a commendation for his work with Hercules transport planes. He has recently been posted to an RAF base in Fife.
Stephen Lawrenson (1974 to 78) has transferred from 3M to Canon. His address is delightfully styled from mediaeval times as Lavender Grove, London Fields, E.8. He brought his wife along to the gathering after the school choir sang in St. Paul’s.
Marcus Longley (1971 to 78) is an administrative officer in the National Health Service.
Freddie Meacock (1924 to 33) recalls days in the Junior School in Ladywell where his form mistress was the “much loved Miss Rookwood”. He went into the Senior School at Frith Road and then to the new buildings in Astor Avenue. He has retired from life as an Aeronautical Engineer, has published a couple of books and is a Freeman of the City of London. Among his special interests he includes genealogy.
Sis James and Lady Menter were among distinguished guest of The Queen at Windsor Castle on 3rd April.
Dr. J. N. Mount (1961 to 63). Ph.D.. M.Sc.. is Principal Biochemist at St. Thomas’s Hospital. London and lives at 50 Homewood Avenue, Sittingboume. He is the present Master of Pharos Lodge.
S. P. Overy (1971 to 78) took a degree in English at University College, London and is now working in the City on the accounting side of a business house.
Brian Rees is leaving the staff of the Dover Express to join an evening paper at Barrow in Furness.
Lt. Col. A. W. Salmon (1925 to 30) has returned from living in Ibiza and now lives at 12 Firgrove Court, Farnham. Surrey. He reminds me that Mike White appeared in the Guinness Book of Cricket Facts and Feats, 1983 for having scored two separate centuries on the same day, 23.7.49. at Aldershot.
Keith Shinfield (1955 to 61) is now in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (P.O. Box 49451, employed by Esso at the International Airport. He spent Christmas in Mauritius and experienced a cyclone, which has not deterred him from further travel plans.
H. W. Sneller (1925 to 34) is Mayor of Sandwich so Old Pharosians are now Chairman of the District Council and one of the Town Mayors.
H. E. Stokes (1937 to 40) has farmed at Poulton Farm since he left school and he says he means to continue working there until the end of life when his son and grandson can take over. His views on the Common Agricultural Policy show that at school he gained fluency of spoken English.
David Thomas (1970 to 77) has torn himself from the delights of Oxford and is going to Sheffield as a lecturer in geography.
Christopher Turner (1951 to 59) is organist at Christ Church, Brixton. So many old boys of the school are organists.
Graham Tutthill (1960 to 65) has been appointed organist to the Church of St. Mary in the Castle.
Stuart Warren (1967 to 70) took a geology degree at Luton Polytechnic and is now a geologist in the Kent Coalfield.
Denis Weaver (1939 to 50) Chairman of the school governors, has raised £6,000 for eye hospital work in India.
A VERY SPECIAL LETTER
The Editor receives many interesting letters. The letter below from one of our oldest old boys is printed with his kind permission.
Dear Mr. Ruffell.
Very kind of you to send me Newsletter number 44: and as I note your AGM is on my 89th birthday I shall hope to be able to think of all you young OP’s and especially shall I do so if any member of my family present hands me, say, my third glass of “bubbly”!! Please give my best wishes to your committee and my thoughts go beck to 1908 and Mr. Whitehouse.
Miss Ellis (French). Mr. Darby, Mr. Stanfield. Mr. Thomas; et al.; and with sadness in thinking of those schoolmates lying in French grounds and then wondering why George Took escaped and still survives to enjoy happiness on earth.
Kindest regards.
George Took (1908 to 11)
If I am able at any time to do something for the old school you only need to ask me.