HM:

ALL THINGS considered, it has been a good year for Halls House. Academically, results have been very gratifying, but, inevitably, House prestige is not affected by these results to any degree. By and large, the successful House is judged by its prowess on the games field. But here I can safely claim that the House has attained a higher standard, as far as rugby and cricket are concerned, than it has possessed for a considerable time.

The Rugby team shared first place in the Inter-House Competition, a result that went very much against current form at that time. The cricket competition was never completely finished, but Halls House stood to win the cup, needing only a drawn game to attain the first position. In these spheres of sporting activity, it is a pleasing feature that many of our players are young, which means that they should be able to 'represent the House again on more than one future occasion. We hope they do so with the same enthusiasm.

The Sailing Cup again fell to Hall's House, but not without a struggle. I therefore wish to congratulate the team on their achievement. Cross-country running and athletics results did not prove to be as successful as they had seemed to promise, but this will, I am sure, be improved upon during the coming seasons.

Being the end of a School year, there are, of course, many changes. All the former monitors, without exception, having left for Universities or jobs, the House is now under entirely new management. This new management wishes to record its thanks and appreciation to Anthony Jones and Co. for blazing such a clear-cut trail for their successors. It is to be hoped that they deal as efficiently with all House problems as did their predecessors. Finally we wish to welcome back Mr. Smith to the House after his term's sojourn and to express our thanks and farewell to Mr. Palmer, who proved a popular stand-in. He returns home to his native Wales.

B. SANDLAND

SINCE THE LAST report was written, a year ago, the House has experienced a number of changes, the greatest of which has been our move into our new house. The occasion was perhaps slightly spoiled by the unfinished state of the building, but the House as a whole settled down well, and after a few weeks, by which time the workmen had left us, the new routine was running smoothly. Our move into the new building brought with it one change in the House Staff, and we welcome Mr. Smith, who replaces Mr. Cobb as Assistant House Master. I should like, on behalf of the House, to thank Mr. Cobb for all he has done for us in the last five years, and we cannot but feel that he is still one of us.

On the games field last season we did not achieve any spectacular results, but we certainly did not disgrace ourselves. Unfortunately two of our best players, Bauer, the captain, and Thorne, were both injured and unable to play. Hansell captained the team well, however, and all those who played are to be congratulated on the spirit they showed in the face of odds that were, on paper, overwhelming. Once again we must congratulate Corner's on their well deserved victory. In the junior championship, however, victory was ours, and the team, captained by Blair- Hickman, won all their matches, having only five points scored against them in the whole series.

In the other big event of the winter season. the inter-house cross-country, we came second, thus losing the cup to Corner's. Both junior and senior teams ran well, however, and perhaps we shall be able to redeem ourselves next year.

With the coming of the slightly warmer weather, interest turned, for the many, to cricket, and, for the few, to sailing. In the former the House did quite well and came second, once again to Corner's. Of the three matches, we lost only the one to Corner's, although there was a period of anxiety at one stage of the match against Johnston's, when a number of our best batsmen were dismissed for surprisingly few runs. Congratulations go to Poyntz, who, as usual, bowled well, and to Blair-Hickman, a Third-Former playing with the seniors, whose batting and bowling distinguished him in both the House XI and the School First XI. The Sailing Cup, which we have been promising ourselves for some years, was sailed for amid keen competition, and our team acquitted itself well with two firsts and two seconds, thus winning this elusive trophy. On Sports Day, although not doing as well as last year, we were not disgraced, coming third in the final placings.

Last Christmas we said goodbye to our House Captain and the School Head Boy, R. Cox. We congratulate him on his Exhibition to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, and wish him every success. This summer we said goodbye to Collyer and Maynard, and we hope that by now they will have settled down in their new jobs. On March the ninth we were very pleased to welcome seven of the House's Old Boys, down for the Old Boys' match.

As is probably the case in other Houses, our Sixth Form has changed considerably, the normal intake of Fifth Formers being swelled by the addition of six Fourth Formers. Both Forms are to be congratulated on their extremely good G.C.E. results. Four former Third Formers are also to be congratulated on their jump into the Fifth Form. The overall picture appears to he one of good academic progress. Cox's departure left the House without any Blues or Prefects, but since then three Blues and one Prefect have been appointed, which makes us equal with the other Houses.

All in all, the year has been a very successful one, and perhaps of greatest importance has been the development of a far stronger feeling of comradeship within the House, largely, I think, the result of our new surroundings.

A. M. JONES

In my mind there are two things which stand out as examples of how communal spirit has developed within the House during the past year; first. the house effort at Christmas in producing a series of sketches for the school's entertainment, and second the rugby championship. Our sketches were a success, to my mind. in that they proved the readiness of the enthusiastic section of the House, happily the majority, to get together and produce something despite adverse conditions. In Rugby, the past season was no doubt our best yet. It was particularly gratifying to watch the performance of certain members of the Third Form who, although theoretically outclassed in such games, brought nothing but credit to the side. We would like to congratulate Corners on a well deserved victory throughout the whole series.

But the highlight of the year was our long-awaited first cup, the cross-country championship, the result, not of individual brilliance, but of consistent team effort. The junior members of the House deserve especial credit, for they above all helped us to victory. Let us hope that this is merely the beginning of a whole succession of House trophies.

At Christmas, if all goes well, we shall be the first House to move into one of the new buildings. I feel that at this point we shall really become a House in the full meaning of the word, with each member under the same roof and brought in even closer contact with his fellows. But please let us remember that we will be in nissen huts no longer and that the care which these new buildings deserve is equal to that which we should bestow on our own homes; we are privileged to be the first House to enter the new buildings.

Congratulations are due to Bauer, who was chosen to play for the Eastern Counties Colts' Rugby XV, where he acquitted himself very well. Again, we hope he is the first of many. At the end of the Summer Term we said good-bye to our assistant house captain, Colin Lewis, who has been with us for a year, and is now going to Bristol University to study electrical engineering. We would all like to congratulate him on getting to university, the first member of the School to do so, and wish him every success and happiness in his future career.

R. R. COX

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.

Trying to capture the family atmosphere in a school "house" which is accommodated in several separate and temporary buildings, spread around the school grounds, has not been an easy matter; thus it is all the more credit to us that, during the past year, despite the physical difficulties, the sense of fellowship and house loyalty has grown and prospered.

We were the smallest house and the youngest house, we were but thirty-five in number, with only eight boys in the senior school. Our shortage of seniors has not made for sporting records in terms of trophies and honours won, but we have never lost dishonourably, and I believe most people enjoyed competing with us.

Individuals in the house have deserved well of the school for their services to school teams. Day, Haynes, Thorn and Hansell have played particularly well for their respective rugger teams. Cuffley did well to gain first place in the Javelin throw at the Inter-Schools Athletic Meeting at Northgate School, while Gilbert was the first boy from the school to play for the Suffolk Schools' Cricket XI.

1 was particularly pleased that we came so close to winning the inter-house sailing trophy. The final race with Corner's was very exciting, and while we congratulate them on their success, we applaud Cook, who did so well on our behalf.

Academic progress is dealt with more fully and confidentially in other documents, but I would like to congratulate, in these notes, the three members of the house who received prizes on Speech Day. I hope to see Gilbert, Day and Gerrish on the stage again next Speech Day, with more boys from the house to keep them company.

Most members of the house have been spending their leisure time usefully, but I would be happier if the few boys who have still not made full use of the wide variety of clubs in existence in the school, would broaden their interests and take a more active part in school activities.

Looking back on the past year, there are many happy times to remember. The very popular Sunday night social gatherings in the common room produced some surprising talent, vocal and instrumental. There will be more such meetings during the coming winter, when it will be interesting to find out what new talent the house has acquired. The junior boys in the house, in particular, will remember, with pleasure, those visits to the beach at Dovercourt, during the Summer term, and they are, I feel sure, grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Cobb for arranging the visits.

We face this new school year, fortified in numbers by the second year boys who have come to us from the junior house, and the new boys, who are high spirited if nothing else. On the other hand, three boys have left us. John Cook has made his new home in America, where, no doubt, he will find life in a "Co-Ed" school somewhat different from that at Woolverstone. David Woods has set out on a printer's career in Fleet Street and Colin Nicholson is employed by W. H. Smith and Son, Ltd. We wish them well, and hope that they will always feel that they still belong to the house.

Finally, we welcome our new matron, Miss Gregory and our house tutor, Mr. Watson. I hope they will be happy among us for many years to come.

The second year of existence of Halls' House is over, and in more than one way it marks the end of the beginning. This last term, for instance, we said farewell to Robjohns, our one remaining senior. The House is justly proud that he ended his career here as Head Boy of the School. We wish him every success in life and hope that Woolverstone will still see him often.

On the games field our performance has again been only moderate. Nevertheless, there are many signs of improvement and many boys have tried hard. Academically, however, as the Speech Day prize list suggests, our record bears comparison with any of our rivals.

Another heartening feature has been the willingness shown by boys to help the House. During the past term, periodicals and newspapers have been bought for the Common Room on a communal basis. Much hard work has been put in on preparing a plot of ground for planting a shrubbery this term. The second form have maintained very creditably the small garden they planted round their dormitory at Easter, and even embellished it by starting to turf a small plot round it. The House Matron and myself have been extremely gratified by the great improvement in the state of dormitories during the past term. In this connection I am pleased to see that one or two of the third formers have shown increasing willingness - and ability - to accept responsibility.

Lastly, Mrs Halls and myself wish to thank you for the many kindnesses and not inconsiderable friendship that you have given us during my two years as Housemaster. We carry many happy memories to Oxford with us - not least, the final tea party at the end of term. We hope to see you all again. Meanwhile, 'God give you good adventure'.

HM:

This term has been notable in many respects, but particularly in the growth of the spirit of co-operation within the House. This spirit has been especially shown in cricket and athletics, and augurs well for the future. As a House we are, I feel, beginning to work together.

Our hopes for a complete recovery go to Michael Leigh, still in a London hospital after a whole term's absence. He was very grateful for our gift of sweets and chocolates.

As always at this time of the year, we have to say goodbye to a few of our number. To those returning to London schools we give our best wishes. To Robjohns, our sole House monitor, and who has been acting Head of the House for two terms, we say a special farewell and wish him bon voyage as he enters the Royal Navy. A similar wish goes to Churchouse, who has been a pillar of strength in school cricket this summer.

The stress this term has been on open-air activities. In inter-house cricket success has not come our way, but on Sports Day our juniors acquitted themselves nobly, finishing second in the House Championship. Of the seniors, Robjohns was among those selected to represent the School at the area sports. Three of our five Seniors have played cricket for the school first eleven. A special word of praise goes to M. Haynes, who played a difficult role in the scenes from 'The Tempest'.

And so our first year ends on a note of achievement. Much has been accomplished, much remains to be done. This autumn term should see us progress at a quickened pace.

HM: