AT THE END of the Summer Term we had to say goodbye to Moss, Omar, Munro, Hughes, Drew, and earlier in the year to Collins and Condon. But in spite of this, the influx from the Junior House has increased our, number, to about 65. We hope that our "new entries will enjoy their sojourn in the Senior House. To help with the handling of them, we welcome to the happy circle Dr. Lewis as assistant housemaster.

Looking back over the year, the House has made average progress. I think our most commendable effort was in the Inter-House Rugby, especially in the seven-a-sides, where we came second to Halls. Cricket and athletics, however, seemed to lack the usual House spirit, and this brought about the downfall of our teams. But perhaps the teams were still recuperating from the rugby season. In the cross-country we again carried on the old House tradition of coming last and once again having a Johnstonite placed first - and for this effort Walmsley is to be heartily congratulated. In the Sea Cadet swimming we were the only House to produce a swimmer for an individual event (100 yards free style) in the All-England meeting in Jersey, at which the swimmer - Andrew Hunton, did extremely well.

So much for games. Academically the House has not done very well. The Fifth Form "O" level G.C.E. results, with a few exceptions, were rather disappointing, although we had our share in the pleasing "A" level results. Lower down, however, Walmsley and Szepesy achieved distinction by being promoted from the Fourth Form straight to the Sixth Form.

Congratulations also go to Hunton, who was appointed a Blue, and to A. Glass, H. Clark and M. Daniel on being made House Monitors.

I hope this year will show a greater improvement all round, and this will no doubt be achieved when we go into our promised House next January. And in spite of the depressing outlook of a cold winter in this House, everybody is greatly looking forward to moving in.

D. GLASS

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.

A housemaster should keep a daily journal: then he would have no difficulty in writing his house notes. This housemaster, not having kept a journal, and having spent many days avoiding the Editor of "Janus," feels very guilty. What to say about the last year in the life of the house?

We started the year with thirty-five boys. In September, 1954 six did not return. Addiman had left, unfortunately, through illness. Shirley has gone to Plymouth College; Langer back to Frensham Heights, whence he had come in 1951; Holland to the Norwood Technical School; Harding and Martin to work in London. Our best wishes go with them all. During the year, Hunton joined us from St. Marylebone Grammar School (and now, of course, we have risen to a total of sixty-three since the influx of 2nd and 1st formers).

As usual it was a mixed year. We did not win anything - not even the cross-country race (although in Gordon-Smith and Munday we have two of the best cross-country runners in the school). But I was proud of the way in which the 1st rugby XV fought in their interhouse games. That spirit, and the talent in the present 3rd form augurs well for the future. And it is good to see four of our house playing so stalwartly in the school 1st XV. I was proud too of the performance on Sports Day even though we were not able to match Hanson's total of points. In cricket - in a poor season all round - we were not particularly inferior to any other house. But, in any case, games are not the be-all and end-all of existence. Looking back on the year I remember the busy activity of many boys in the common room, particularly at weekends; I also remember the aimless waste of time by the few who still don't know how to spend their leisure. I think of the boys coming in and out of my study to borrow books or look at stamps and catalogues; I remember a jolly good house party at Christmas, and an amusing contribution to the school Christmas party.

Of course, all the time there was the underlying wish that the house could he in a proper building. Still, now the buildings are coming.

These are the last house notes I shall write. To Mr. Richardson go my very best wishes. I hope he will enjoy the years ahead as much as I have these last three with all those peculiar, strangely likeable and irritating characters who make up this house. And I hope that I may be allowed to regard myself as an honorary member of the group.

It is not easy, writing as we are, several months after the end of the school year, to think of adequate things to say of the events of 1952-3. There seems to have been a feeling of impermanence and change. At the beginning of a new year it is strange to realize how many boys have left the House in the last year - D. R. Brown, P. Rix, F. Lyons, P. Cockerell, A. Wilson, J. Ashworth, D. Fitzhardy, A. Brown, G. Piddington - to mention those who spring first to mind. However, it is good to know that so many of them have been helped towards careers of their choice. Brown and Rix are already on the high seas as Merchant Navy apprentice officers. Cockerell is to be an engineer apprentice with the Anglo-Petroleum Co., Wilson and Ashworth are about to enter the Royal Navy. Lyons very nearly obtained a Commission in the Fleet Air Arm and is now hoping to enter Dartmouth as a special entry candidate. He, together with Wilson, Cockerell and Ashworth all obtained very satisfactory passes in the General Certificate of Education.

In games our record was by no means outstanding, except that the Junior Rugby XY showed signs that the day might come when we shall win the cup. Most boys in the House took an active part in school activities. Many aeroplanes were made which didn't fly. And so we go - with our ups and downs - towards the creation of a House. We seem to have a goodly number of eccentrics among us, but they add interest, and we wouldn't be without them for worlds.

It has been a term largely of out-door activities. It is difficult to see any especial growth of House spirit or unity, perhaps mainly because of that very fact. We have run our races, played our cricket, ridden our bicycles, experimented with the bow and the racket. Some people have done some work, others have not.

There have been some interesting chats in at least one of the dormitories, which made one think that perhaps a few members of the House were beginning to catch a glimpse of the sort of school we might make here. There have been disappointments.

In the Athletic Sports we did as well as we expected to do. In the senior section we made it possible for Corner's to be in the winning team; in the junior events we did not shine. In our first House Cricket Match (against Corner's) we scored 10 runs (including 8 extras) and were soundly beaten. Later in the season, perhaps as the result of some fairly serious practice, we were able to beat both Hanson's and Halls' (and a certain Housemaster, who shall be nameless, was heard muttering to himself: 'Lucky we played Johnston's when we did!')

Boutall left us during the term, headed for East Africa via France. Paradine, Cockerell, Lampon and Ashworth passed the written part of the R.N. Artificer Apprentice Examination. D. R. Brown, Ferrier, Lyons and Banfield all took various papers in the General Certificate of Education Examination. A number of boys will be leaving the House this term: Paradine, Ashworth, Lampon, Wilson, will all probably enter the Royal Navy; Banfield and Ferrier entering the Merchant Navy will join their ships in August.

The past three terms have at least given us the chance to get to know one another. To those who are leaving we wish good luck and God-speed. Those returning have the chance to come back to help create a healthy and active House based on honour and self-respect. By becoming such a House we can help build a fine school.

L. JOHNSTON