Charles "Tooms" Thomas

Charles "Tooms" Thomas

• By an excellent junior effort, especially on the part of Russell and Mott, and with good backing up from the seniors, notable performances being made by Pinney (3rd) and Banham, we retained the Cross-Country Cup.
  
• In Rugby this year we did not have such an outstanding team but, with some hard efforts from the non-regular players and under Marriott's excellent and spirited leadership, we gained a third share in the trophy with Halls' and Johnston's. Our juniors did not do so well in Rugby although many of them, including Titshall (Captain U.14's), played in School matches.
  
• Our victory in athletics this year did not depend on our winning the tug-of-war, which we did for the third year in succession. Both junior and seniors did well in their events, and Marriott, Clutterbuck and Russell deserve congratulations for their individual efforts. Congratulations also go to House on his being selected to represent Suffolk in the 100 yards at the All-England championships.
  
• The cricket championship this year was left undecided as we did not play Halls'. It was lucky for them, I think, as they would not have lasted long against our star-studded team (Pinney and Pope, J.) We drew both the games that we did play.
  
• We came second in the House sailing competition this year thanks to my successful attempts at buoy-bumping. Williams made a very commendable effort in the last race by finishing a good half-hour ahead of the rest of the field.
  
• In two minor inter-school activities the House provided prominent members; Pinney (Captain) and Stevens in the School badminton team and Aczel and Durrant in the chess team.
  
• We have also been very much to the fore in the School's musical activities. During the year Nawrot arranged a number of concerts and Durrant, R. Stone and M. O'Loughlin have had considerable publicity in connection with Benjamin Britten's performance at the Aldeburgh Festival of his new opera for young people, "Noyes Fludde".
  
• Our academic results this year were not outstanding and we did not have as many prize-winners as usual. However, Floodgate and J. Stone did well in their Ordinary level examinations and our Advanced level candidates were equally successful.
  
• The House project this year was once more to tackle the Maze. With Marriott's help in organising work parties, the House had it in good shape in time for the Open Day and Fête at which, with our simple but effective stalls, we took a very large collection.

 G. BROWN

AS FAR AS inter-house competitions were concerned the House enjoyed its best-ever year. No less than four trophies were won - Senior Rugby, Cricket, Athletics and Cross-Country. The latter was perhaps the most gratifying success of all as it was far and away the most concerted team effort. Our first eight runners in the junior event all finished in the first seventeen.

The Rugby and Cricket Cups were won with unexpected ease. The House First XV never had its line crossed while it itself amassed just under a hundred points in three matches. The three House cricket matches were won with the total loss of four wickets.

The athletics match offered the keenest competition, the result being in doubt until the final event, the tug-o'-war, in which for the second year in succession we were successful.

Academically, too, the House had another successful year. I. McCulloch was awarded a place at St. Peter's Hall, Oxford, so becoming the first Woolverstone boy to gain admission to that University, and T. J. Davies was awarded a place at Edinburgh University. Seven boys from the Fifth Form entered the Sixth Form as did six more from the Fourth Form, who took their G.C.E. examinations a year early with extremely good results.

Our boys were well forward in all School activities, not least in the Dramatic Society, where they helped in both production and performance. McCulloch, Davies, Brown, House, Bennett and Durrant all sang solo parts in the Choral Society's production of "The Mikado." About Bennett's admirable performance one can do no better than quote Mr. Woolford's comment in his review of the production in the last edition of "Janus' - "Bennett not only looked well but sounded well as Yum-Yum, a performance at times of considerable verve."

R. Simmonds, who has now left us, showed considerable initiative in forming his own Jazz Group, which not only gave a spirited Concert to the School, but also played the music at the first School Dance, a highly creditable performance which earned both the admiration and thanks of hosts and guests.

We have had the inevitable farewells to make to those boys who left at the end of the last School year. T. J. Davies is now studying medicine at Edinburgh University. I. McCulloch and R. Croucher appear to be having a comparatively enjoyable time in the Army, in the completion of their National Service. V. Shreeve won a Scholarship to study Art at Corsham Court in Wiltshire, and has already started his course, whilst K. Howes is now in the service of the Furness Withy line, as an engineer apprentice. We also said goodbye to a number of Fifth-Formers, to whom we wish good luck and all success as they enter their careers. We hope to see them all back here as Old Boys on open occasions.

Once again, we had a new Assistant House Master. Mr. Pillai, who was with us for two terms, has left us, and in his stead we welcome Mr. Gordon-Cummings. We hope his stay with us will be a happy one, and that it will be longer than those of his predecessors.

B. WORKMAN

IT IS ALMOST a year since our last house report was written, and during this period many changes have been seen at Corners House.

Our sleeping accommodation has been boosted by the building of an annexe which houses 15 boys, and the whole House has been redecorated in controversial colours. Changes have also been seen in our staff. Mr. Scratton looked after us for a term and everyone, both in Corners House and in the rest of the School, was sorry to see him leave . However, he frequently visits the School, and he will always be welcome. His successor, Mr. Munro-Cape, only remained with us for a term before going off to complete his training.

Many of our old boys have visited the School - Brian Bass, Raymond Boyce, Nigel Gould, Ronald Gould, Michael Hardy and John Scarbrow have all visited the School at least once in the last year. Our latest old boy is George Bicknell, who left us in July to join the ranks of the Civil Service. No one could help liking him, and we all wish him every success in his career.

We won the rugby cup back again at Easter, winning most of our matches by a considerable margin. In the cross-country we were less fortunate, but perhaps less determined to win.

Several of our boys appeared in "The Devil's Disciple" and Durrant began what may well be a long and successful association with the Dramatic Society. Durrant is also a keen member of the Choral Society and with Davies, Brown and Bennett will be appearing in "The Mikado" at the end of term. Nawrot, Simmons and N. O'Loughlin both gave sterling performances on their instruments at the concert in the Summer Term.

During the Easter holidays several of us returned to School to attend a cricket coaching course. Workman's form showed the best results, and it was fitting that he should be awarded the cricket bat for the first century scored in a school match. Before he had finished the season he had represented the Young Amateurs of Suffolk, captained a Suffolk Grammar Schools XI, and had a final tally of four centuries and four half-centuries. Despite his runs and some good bowling from Townson and Davies we still lost the cricket cup to Hansons but it ought to be back with us at the end of next season.

On Sports Day we surprised ourselves and everyone else by winning the tug-of-war for the first time. We never looked like winning the Athletics Cup, but Clutterbuck, Marriott, House, Stone, Titshall, Pope J. and Alden all gained valuable points. We were well represented in other sports. Tyrell and Stringer represented Eastern England in the Sea Cadet Swimming Championships, which were held in Jersey. Brown, Ravenscroft, Croucher and Williams, P. sailed for the House, but were unable to retain the sailing cup for a second year. Robert Croucher brought a private motor-cycle back to school in the Summer Term and chugged to the Hall on it nearly every morning in as stately a manner as possible. Croucher and Workman were also the first to gain places at colleges in Cambridge University, and their advanced level results justified their selection. Most of our Fifth Formers have returned to join the Sixth Form, and Brown, Clutterbuck, Nawrot. Shreeve and Whittaker all did well in their examinations.

When we returned to School this term we learned that Mr. Davies, our assistant housemaster, had married Miss Birrell, one of our former sisters. We would all like to wish Mr. and Mrs. Davies a long and happy life together.

I. McCULLOCH

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.

We now have Miss Joyce as House Matron, and her fine work is much appreciated by all our boys, and their parents.

Mr. Shuttleworth has left the school, and we welcome Mr. B. Davies as our resident assistant master. We hope he will be happy with us. Brian Jenkins has left the house - he has emigrated to Australia - we shall miss him.

Fifteen new boys came to us in September, and are living down at the school with Mr. Goetzee as their tutor. When we have some more bedrooms built on to the house we shall be able to accommodate them properly with us.

New innovations inside the house have been much appreciated. At Easter, about half the rooms were tastefully decorated and in the summer we introduced a new type of double bunk bed which gives a lot more floor space for chairs and tables. Every boy above the fourth form can now have a study bedroom.

I am sure that we were all very pleased with the successes of McCulloch, Workman and Croucher in the G.C.E. this year. They are now studying for their advanced courses.

In the school games, the house has again won the rugger and sailing cups. The teams deserve our heartiest congratulations. I dare not mention how the cricket cup slipped from our grasp in the last match of the season. We congratulate Mr. Hanson's boys on winning it from us.

During the year we have had the pleasure of visits from many parents of our boys. A few call in on most Sundays during the term. As housemaster I am always glad to see parents visit us and stay for a chat. There are one or two parents who have not yet been to visit - we would be delighted to see them whenever they could call.

I look forward to another good school year - with plenty of good hard work and plenty of fun and am sure that the house will, as ever, be foremost in our school's activities.

S.R.C.

On the river, Harrington and his team have won every sailing race - so that we now hold the Yachting Cup. Add to these successes the pleasure of moving into the converted Woolverstone House in September, we shall indeed have good reason for a celebration party.

A word of farewell to Russell Reed who leaves us this term. He has been a jolly good Head Boy, carried out his duties conscientiously and efficiently. We wish him well in his career.

HM:

A report on the activities of any House in the summer term to an outsider usually reads like an excerpt from the 'Crazy Gang'. So many things have taken place in a short time that it is to be wondered if there was ever time to eat, sleep, or do serious school work.

Much has been undertaken by this House; with few exceptions our activities have been communal. That most pleasing side of school life, of really living together, is certainly much in evidence now.

We have added to our successes on the field that of Champion House at Cricket. All praise to McCulloch for turning out a team immaculate in dress, and unbeaten at the game. Well done everybody!

School Sports day added to the reputation of Workman, Boyce, Davies and McCulloch in the Juniors and Benavente in the Seniors. They pulled their weight like heroes and earned valuable points.

In the multifarious activities of the school this House appears in most spheres. The tennis courts, archery butts, photography dark room and open-air stage are where most people gather. McCulloch and Workman are to be complimented on their interest in the drama, and N. Gould on his administrative assistance to school plays. Morgan deserves mention for his ingenious hobby - he is an expert at repairing cycles. Harrington is a keen yachtsman and has been so bold as to sleep on board during one weekend. In the more quiet cultural sphere Nawrot and Harrington have done well at music - even to passing external examinations.

All these instructive pastimes are most pleasing to see. I only hope that more little boys will follow suit and learn better ways of filling in time than 'Funfsteinen' or 'Follow my leader through the ferns'.

S.R.C.

HM: