CORNERS
A REPORT on the past school year, to include every event and activity, would almost be a minor repetition of those of the school. We seem to have been active everywhere. The house has grown physically as the result of the six months' labours of Messrs. Rogers, the builders. A fine new modern extension provides more bedrooms, wash-basins and baths - and a full 60 boys can now be housed under one roof.
Quite a year ago, Robert Pope distinguished himself by winning a cricket bat - a prize for being the first member of a. school cricket team to score 50 in a match.
In the winter games, we lost in the final of the Rugger XV's, but vindicated ourselves by soundly winning the Seven-a-sides. Easter saw several of our boys in Ipswich attending a cricket coaching course. It must have been a good course, since we easily retained the House cricket trophy in the summer. Hardy paid a visit to a French family in the holiday, and Croucher endured the rigours of the Suffolk coast on a geological expedition.
The summer was very busy for us all. We attacked the wilderness round the school pond-formerly called the Maze - and after many hours' toil have turned it into pleasant lawn. Every boy in the House deserves praise for this huge task so successfully accomplished. Many and interesting have been our pursuits. McCulloch, Davies, Workman and Croucher have spent several weekends at Belstead House, in earnest discussion, intellectual advancement - and even in social pleasures - with other young people. I hear that they can "shake a nifty leg".
Workman has been wandering around France since July - the fortunate winner of an L.C.C. travelling scholarship. We have read with pleasure his letters from Paris, Bordeaux, etc. Last year's Sports Day did not see us win any team cups - but we made the others run and jump all the harder. McCulloch put the shot to gain the Suffolk county record and a trip to Manchester to compete in the All-England Sports. He did well and it was a grand experience for him.
Several school colours for cricket and athletics were won by our boys. We have indeed been well represented in all the school sides. John Scarbrow was elected to play for the County side in their annual match against Norfolk.
The school Fete in July saw us in action on a variety of side-shows and stalls. A lot of hard work was done - and a lot of money collected.
Late in July we were privileged to entertain a young Frenchman - Paul Carpentier. He stayed with us, lived our normal school life, and thoroughly enjoyed it all. I as so pleased to see that most of our boys went out of their way to be kind to this young man and to make his visit enjoyable.
The end of the school year was the occasion for a number of our older boys to leave us. It is always a sad business to take leave of chaps who have grown up with the House and who have been responsible for so many spheres in our life here. We wish them all well - we hear with pride of their progress in life and will always be glad to see them call in when they can spare the time.
HALLS
LIFE IN the House, in the past year, has seen a change which is not unconnected with the maturing of the school as a whole. Individual members of the House have awakened to the fact that the tone of the House, the degree of contentment to be found within it and its well-being in general, depends entirely upon their contribution to House life. The lead was given last term by Cox, Gilbert and Day, and it is now up to the senior boys, and in particular the monitors, to carry on creating an atmosphere of comradeship and co-operation.
With the advent of a real Sixth Form, young men are appearing in the place of old boys, who though willing enough to carry out orders, found it difficult to take the initiative. Halls are fortunate in possessing Cox, who was among the first to assume the mantle of authority and responsibility which one expects from Sixth Formers, and we are proud that he has been made the first Head Boy of the school. His first major task as Head of the House is to prepare himself, mentally, for the writing of these notes in the next edition of "Janus".
We are all pleased that our Seniors did so well in the G.C.E. Examinations. Gilbert deserves special mention for getting nine good passes. Pearson, Day and Swanell were also successful in obtaining certificates.
School activities have been entered into with commendable enthusiasm, and most boys belong to at least two societies, that is with the exception of the Second Formers, who are not yet as busy as I would like them to be.
Our contribution to the success of "The Government Inspector" was a very creditable one, with Bauer and Cox giving very good performances, but I feel that perhaps Swanell's portrayal of the old lady was the highlight of the play. We cannot help feeling, in the House, that his grooming for Lady Redchester in the Christmas play was largely responsible for this. We all enjoyed learning and producing our play for the Christmas party, but there is one criticism. Being a House play, perhaps, the Housemaster should have done a little less in connection with it, and the senior boys in the House a little more. For better or for worse, it will be a boys' effort entirely this year.The Christmas party in the Common Room was marred by the fact that we were unable to eat all the food provided. As usual, our dearth of senior boys prevented us from having any serious claims to House team trophies on the games fields, but individuals have done well, and it is significant that our junior team was first in the annual cross-country championships, and second on Sports Day. Gilbert, Day, Tucker and Bauer obtained first places on Sports Day, while Gerrish and Bauer were first and second respectively in the cross-country run.
Now that Mr. Poole has gone to the Junior House, Mr. Palmer has joined us as House Tutor, a task which we hope he will find interesting and satisfying. Our senior numbers have been strengthened by the arrival of Lewis, Tilley and Harris. Lewis is to be congratulated on being appointed a "Blue" after so short a time in the school.
News of old boys is given elsewhere in "Janus", but I would like to say how delighted I am that the five boys who left us last term are doing so well. Gilbert has entered into a career with Lloyds Bank and plays rugger regularly for one of their XVs; Pearson is in the publicity department of Warner Brothers, in Wardour Street; Day is learning printing; Swannell has joined the Merchant Navy; and Crisp has started on a career in agriculture.
HANSONS
DURING THE past year we have experienced many changes. Despite the unsettling effect these might have had on the general atmosphere and tone of the House, we may well be proud of our achievements.
Much could be said of the ways in which many boys have used their leisure time. Some have made full use of the various activities, clubs and societies in the school, and many have surprised themselves with the successful results of their first attempts in new activities. These boys have set a shining example to that all minority who might well read with profit Kipling's cure for Cameelious Hump. In games and athletics many have revealed latent talents at their first tentative efforts. All credit to them and to their prompting and encouraging supporters, whose enthusiasm has been a great inspiration and who have been responsible in he main for our continued success in the inter-House championships.
In a terrific battle with Corner's, again in the last and decisive match of the season, we emerged House Rugby Champions after a very hard and close series. Ronan, Lamb, George and Sullivan played consistently well and Mantell and Markham had their first taste of Senior House Rugby. These, -together with Begg, Brown, Kuptz, Moughton, Wilson, Betts, Byrde, Cracknell, Dawson, McMaster, Moxham and Smith have represented the school at various times throughout the season.
The Junior and Senior House cross-country teams have again retained the championship by winning both events, with Sullivan second home in the senior, and Mantell first of the juniors. Begg, George, Brown, Byrde and McMaster represented the school in the County cross-country race at Holbrook.
On Sports Day, outstanding performances by George, who won both the senior hurdles and the 440 yards, Markham in the junior hurdles, and Moxham, who did exceptionally well to pull the junior relay out of the fire in the last few strides, contributed in a very large measure to our retaining the athletics championship for yet another year. George and Brown represented the school at County Sports at Bungay.
Though not so successful at cricket this season, the House maintained quite a good standard, which was apparent when Byrde scored a brilliant 42 against Johnstons. Lamb, George, Wilson, Byrde and Smith played in the school lst XI, Markham, Mantell, McGown, Treby in the Colts XI, Blake, Brobbel, Weinberg in the Under 14 XI, and Banwell and Goody in the Under 13 XI. All this is very creditable, but we must always bear in mind that physical prowess is but one part of school life. The spirit in which we set about our games is more important than the cups and trophies we may win.
We were all very proud of the successes of Brown, George, Lamb, Kuptz, Moughton and Wilson in the G.C.E. last July. Our hearty congratulations go to Brown, eorge and Lamb, who with Ronan, Kohler, Abrams, Driver and Williams A. L. received prizes on Speech Day.
Six boys left us last term. Betts went to Latymer Upper school; Lamb is an apprentice to the printing trade; Wilson went to the Merchant Navy Sea school, Sharpness, Glos.; Moughton to work in Great Yarmouth; and Johnson and Sullivan to work in London. We all wish them good luck and God-speed.
JOHNSTONS
THE SUPERSTITIOUS might assert that the electricity failure of 12th January was an omen of the gods' distress at Mr. Johnston's giving up his House. It certainly made a dismal start to the term, but at the same time showed how helpful and co-operative the Seniors could be when need arose, in spite of the depression caused by a cold tea and freezing dormitories. Full marks go to Workman, who had come to look after Corner's First Form, for his successful showering of 30 small boys by the light of one candle.From the next day things went normally, and we began to interest ourselves in House Matches. The senior Rugby team played very keen games and, although not winning any matches, held out to the end in each one. Meanwhile a very strong Junior team carried all before them. We hope from this that we shall have a good Senior team this year.
At Cricket we won two matches and lost to Corners. Again all the matches were close and keen. In the Athletic Sports we came second to Hansons, and here mention must be made of Gordon-Smith's fine wins in two cross-country and mile races. Afloat our Seniors did well and won both the Sailing and Whaler Pulling competitions.
The Head of the House, D. Glass, is still away in France. We hope that he is improving his French, but his letters do not speak much of this. The three House Monitors, Gordon-Smith, Hunton and Moss, have done well to fill the very real gap he leaves in House life.
In general the life of the House has shown that there is an increasing amount of sense and responsibility on the part of the Seniors. Tradition is something for which his successor feels very indebted to Mr. Johnston, who did so much to foster it. It is now to be hoped that our new Seniors will have put away the childish things which have marked their lives so far, and follow the example that is set them by the V and VI formers. It is only by the efforts of all of them that we an have a good House.