| 1977 "Janus" - INTRODUCTION | ||
| (This site is not optimised for tablets and mobiles but is optimally viewed on a PC. I will do a tablet version if there is sufficient demand.) |
This is a very special edition of "Janus", being the LAST EVER. It became extinct in 1977 - sadly and undeservedly like WHS itself. It is always sad when something magnificent becomes extinct."Death is the price we pay for Life", though in the case of WHS and "Janus" it was too short - and the price very high.
I have never found out exactly WHY "Janus" was discontinued but assume it was on cost grounds. Dick Woollett did tell some of us at a dinner in the early 2000s that the school upkeep was very expensive with all the different heritage and other organizations' demands - and we all know that it was cost which eventually killed the school. I am nevertheless surprised that not even a simple newsletter was published, so that events post 1977 will forever remain something of a mystery for those of us not there.
But immense thanks are due to all those who for nearly three decades worked to produce an entertaining and often daring, funny and creative record of the school's activities. A list of editors is viewable here: https://www.whs-archives.net/janus/editors.htm
| A FEW OBSERVATIONS .... | |
| 1 | I have never seen the original but received the text from somewhere, probably from Ian Thompson or from the old Eric Coates site. This is a stylized version aiming for maximum ease of readability. |
| 2 | The rugby "Colts" seems to have metamorphosed into "4th XV"! |
| 3 | It would be nice to know more of the background of the "MIXED RUGBY". What went on in those long scrums? |
| 4 | There are some graphics, but I can't do much to improve them. |
| 5 | It is a pity that the full names of the authors were never recorded, and I have not enough time in this life to add them all in! |
| 6 | We met Keith Farley-Pettman on the 2024 barge cruise. He was very present in the outward-bound events! These grew considerably in the later years of the school and largely thanks to the commitment of the staff. |
| 7 | Dear old Shakey accompanied the Paris trip, having started the tradition in the 50s. |
| 8 | Derek T. did all the MUSIC reports. Interesting that Barry Salmon was having a rest, but it shows Derek's massive commitment everywhere. |
