NEWSLETTER

A good number of OWs have requested tickets for the Dinner on 12^th April in the Queens Hall, and the response to the Sporting Reunions in the afternoon has been encouraging. Following two emails from non-members, I would wish to stress that, while we think that £30 Life Membership is excellent value, you do not have to be a member of the OW Club to come to the Dinner. If you are reading this after 29^th March it is still not too late for you to apply. It is well worth emailing or phoning me to see if there any places left for the Dinner or one of the teams in the Sporting reunion. Full details of both events are published here. (Details of the dinner and sports reunion)

Photographs of last year's dinner

The following teachers and former teachers are expecting to come:

If you are a member of the OW Club you should have received your magazine by now, unless by chance you live in a country where communication by post from Britain takes a long time. Please let me know if you didn’t, as it almost certainly means that we do not have your up-to-date address. This year, at least 50 magazines were returned with the comment "Unknown at this address." Please let me know your new address if you move.

For your interest if you like statistics, 82 magazines were posted to overseas addresses, Australia and the U.S.A. being the most popular. We have no OW member in Russia or China or South America, but some in U.A.E. and Japan, and relatively few in E.E.C. Countries. Does this tell us anything? In addition over 1400 magazines were posted to addresses in Britain, 80 of these being new members.

In the magazine there are articles from Terry Williams, the Editor of the Magazine, Danny White, the Chairman of the OW Club, the Headmaster, Mark Stewart, the Parents’ Association, extracts from the current school magazine, news of a lot of individual OWs, and photographs of the past. One extract from a prefects’ meeting held on 13 October 1930 is worth recording:

"Ross and Cubbage were brought up by Kyle. On the occasion of the visit of the Concert Party, they were seen to be sticking pins into two members of a party of High School girls, who had been invited to attend the concert. Ross received three strokes. (Presumably from the cane, and not the girls he had molested! Editor.) Cubbage was let off with a warning, on account of him being a new boy."

If you would like to join the OW Club, and thus receive a copy of the magazine this year and in future years, do send me £30 as a life membership subscription.

After several years of editing the magazine Terry Williams feels that it is right to hand over the baton to someone else. Terry has done a magnificent job and we are all very grateful to him for the considerable time and care he has put in over many years. The new Editor is Simon Molden and he writes about himself as follows:

"I left the RGS in 1995, and went up to Christ Church, Oxford to read geography. There I gained an upper second-class degree and a Blue for cross-country before going on to Loughborough University to study for a M.Sc. in Sports Management.

After Loughborough, I worked at sport England for three years and am currently working for PMP, a sports consultancy company, based in Southwark.

I live in Harrow on the Hill and still run competitively for Thames Hare and Hounds, who are based on Wimbledon Common.

I joined the Old Wycombiensians’ Committee in April 2002."

If you have any news or articles for publication in the Annual Magazine, do send them to Simon Molden, 72, Herga Court, Sudbury Hill, Harrow on the Hill, Middlesex.

We wish Simon all the best in his new role.

It is very sad to record the deaths of Nick Duncombe (1994-2000), Colin Gillard (1950-1952), Michael Gladwell (1933-1942), John King (1950-1958), George Thompson (1940-1945), Stanley Harte (1926-1931), Andrew Warren (1955-1963) and Billy Stevens (1931-1937).

So many associated with the RGS were deeply shocked when the news of Nick’s tragic death broke. Those who taught him, those who were his contemporaries at school, and those who followed his progress on the rugby field were all much, much saddened. Doug Andrew sent an email from Cairo and this is printed in full.

16^th February 2003

Dear Ian,

I am writing following news of the untimely death of Nick Duncombe. We were shocked to hear this before the internationals on Saturday, and I was saddened having had the privilege to know him and all that he accomplished.

I first met him whilst helping Colin Tattersall on a rugby trip to France. Even at that young age, he showed great promise and leadership. He displayed a lot of character at school too, as I’m sure you will remember, arriving with blue hair or skateboarding around the grounds.

I watched him win Daily Mail Cup Finals for the school before representing England at senior level in both VIIs and XVs. Occasionally I met him at internationals where he was happy to chat and pass the time. He never seemed to forget acquaintances or friends, despite his success.

I feel proud to have known Nick, and I am sorry that someone with so much promise for the future should be taken so young.

Please could you offer my deepest sympathies to Nick’s family during this hard time.

Yours sincerely,

Doug Andrew

The BBC has set up an email address for tributes to Nick.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/sports_talk/2768053.stm

Hundreds of mourners attended Nick’s funeral at Bray Church, including very many of his former teachers and his friends at the RGS. Mark Evan’s, his coach at Harlequins, said that he was the most talented scrum-half of his generation. Lucy, Nick’s sister read out some of the letters of support, before paying her own tribute. Nick’s father said "He was a warm and open person and was surprisingly modest. He would have been amazed by the reaction to his death."

If any of you have any memories of Nick that you would like published on the OW website, please send them to Ian Clark, 5 Foxhill Close, High Wycombe HP13 5BL or ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk

Peter Gillard (1950-1952) wrote this about his brother, COLIN GILLARD (1950-1952)

" He went from the RGS into the RAF, and thence to Newlands Park Training College and taught in Frome, and Dunlerton. He obtained a B.Ed. through the Open University, was a competent sailor and a good rock climber and caver. He held Mountain Rescue qualifications and was also a campanologist and amateur actor as well as being the National Secretary of the Conchological Society. He leaves a wife, two sons and two grandchildren.

Thomas Knowles (1920-1927) wrote this about MICHAEL GLADWELL:

"I met Mick during one school Summer Holiday in the 1950s as teachers in Bucks we helped to supervise children in County organised weekly camps, held in Sherringham and Swanage as examples, until Bucks County Council built a permanent site near Ryde, Isle of Wight.

All I know of his term at RGS links him with Ian Fraser, VC, the later in World War 11 in the Royal Navy, which he was fortunate to survive, before becoming a successful teacher of Mixed Juniors and later a popular Head in High Wycombe and Farnham area. He was an ideal parent and devoted to helping with work in Church."

JOHN KING studied dentistry at St. Andrews, before going to Rhodesia, as it was then, and becoming the dentist of Ian Smith, the former Prime Minister. He moved to Wokingham in 1970, where he became a partner in a Dental Practice. A partner says of him: "John King was a most enthusiastic and caring dental surgeon, who loved his work and provided his patients with a very high standard of care and attention in all aspects of dentistry." He was Vice-President of the Craven Motor Club in Reading, and was very enthusiastic in his rally-driving.

Albert Jefferies (1928-1934) wrote about his nephew, ANDREW WARREN, who died on January 27th: "When he was at the RGS, he was in the ATC and loved flying. He became a pilot and owned his own plane. He took part in the race for Tiger Moths from England to Australia. He did not win, but came about 13^th! He retired last year as the Head of the East European division of Price Waterhouse."

" In round 1, I was the Rules Official for the match that included Tiger Woods and Justin Woods. In Round 2 I was assigned to a match involving Luke. It was the first time that I had seen or spoken to Luke since he turned pro. Having had the privilege of seeing many of the world’s top professionals close at hand, I feel sure that Luke will continue to improve and he has every chance of reaching the very top. Unfortunately he was not at his best and failed to qualify for the last two days. Over the last few holes I talked to him about his plans. I refereed other matches on the last two days including two "sudden death" play-offs. As Chairman of the Rules of Golf Committee, I had the privilege of doing the final play-off that inevitably involved the eventual winner, Ernie Els. I am certain that this is the first time two old boys of the RGS have been involved in the same match at any "Major" golf championship, even if one of them was only a referee!"

Dear Ian,

I wonder if anybody can remember the name of the Matron of the Boarding House in the early 1950s. I do remember a story about her. We always used to leave our huge hunks of the crust of bread and they were reissued the next day. A boy marked one crust with a cross and it reappeared for weeks on end! Then it was once decided that boys would have to eat one crust of bread a week and they were duly put on his plate. Still we refused to eat them. Matron was angry and said, "Think of all the starving children in India." One wag shouted out, "Then send all the crusts to India." Exit Matron, crying.

Yours, Peter Draper.

Dear Ian,

I remember the times we had to sit and address envelopes to Old Boys each year for their OW magazines. For some reason this chore fell to the lot of boarders at Uplyme. Maybe our Housemaster (Mervyn Davies) was involved with the club?

Regards,

Peter King.

Editor: Yes, Mervyn Davies was the Secretary of the Old Boys for many years. Many old boys have great affection for Mervyn and many stories about him. Nowadays the magazines and other information are put into envelopes by members of the Committee. Many thanks to Terry Williams, Ian Birch, Robin Dorkings, Ron Wynands, and also David Butler.

Dear Ian,

I have just read the last newsletter and note that one Harris refers to E.R, Tucker as "The Boss." In my day (1939-1944) he was known simply as "Boss." This is more unusual, I’m sure you’ll agree, though I believe Millfield later borrowed the sobriquet.

Kind regards,

Richard Rance

Dear Ian,

I am writing to invite you and others to have a look at my website www.ayjayh.eurobell.co.uk.  The site has had a "makeover" recently with various improvements. Those who have not yet seen the RGS 1956 photograph may want to have a look at the site.

Best wishes,

Tony Hare.

Dear Ian

The January 2003 RGS Old Boys' magazine brought back memories to myself and a few other friends. The 1956-57 Colts rugby team pictured wasn't particularly distinguished - played four, lost four. But the Wycombiensian magazine of May 1957 described us as a fast but small team playing well against some heavy opposition. Perhaps another factor was that on the same Saturdays we played rugby at school we also turned out for a successful local football team. That was a fact we never divulged to Headmaster Ernest Tucker!

Most of us continued to play for the school over the next five years with much better results. Martin Priestley, Graham Dorsett and myself - plus Johnny Steward who got into the team after this first season - still meet up regularly nearly 50 years on.

The line-up shown with names was:

Wycombe RGS Colts 1956-57:

Back row (l to r): A J Tuffs, A R Hope, Martin Priestley, N S Hailstone, P J A Snowden, R G Saunders, John D Taylor.

Middle: John Davies, Tony Lawrence, Bob Casbeard, P J C Clark, D W Collins, P G Davies, R M Layton.

Front: B J H Cronin, Graham Dorsett, M P Holland, R W Harding.

Love to hear from anyone from that era - 1955-60. Hopefully may see some at the Old Boys' dinner on April 12.

Just noticed in the display from last dinner was the 1956 School 1st XI cricket team. Don't know if you have the names yet but they are:

Back Row: (l to r): R J Dawe, R C Jones, R C Todd, J Sithers, A E Edwards, J Pettifer. Front: A J C Wright, A Harvey, F E J Hawkins, E M Squires, J C Briden.

Front: D P Ketch (scorer).

Freddy Hawkins, Head Boy and captain of cricket and rugby, actually came back to teach while I was still at school. Later he went into the sports outfitting business while playing top-class rugby for Wasps. Only the great Richard Sharp kept him out of the England team at fly-half.

Ted Woodward was the first RGS boy to win an England Rugby cap - 15 all told. Brother-in-law Ron Syrett, brother of Wycombe Wanderers goalkeeper Dennis Syrett, followed him in 1958, winning 11 caps. One of my first jobs as a Bucks Free Press reporter was interviewing him. I went all the way from my office in Castle St to where he worked at the Woodward & Stalder shop immediately opposite to meet him!

Hawkins and Wasps colleague Terry Gilder both got to the verge of the England team before Gloucester lock Alan Brinn became the next ex-RGS boy to be capped. He made three international appearances for England in 1972 before Matt Dawson and Nick Duncombe followed suit. The latter's tragic death has been a dreadful shock to all.

John D Taylor (01494-562413) john@jdtsport.demon.co.uk

Editor: How many of those teams would want a reunion at a OW Dinner?

It was a far simpler, a far less complicated life from that of modern 11 year olds. We were known by our surnames, as were all boys at school, from the entry year till the day of leaving. First names were for use at home, by our families. They were very personal and you would be insulting someone to use his first name - that was, if you knew it. We shortened our friends' names - 'Humph' for 'Humphries' and 'Mitch' for 'Mitchell'. The three brothers in School House were Crowther 1, Crowther 11 and Crowther lll.. "Where's Crowther two?" Reg would cry. When Crowther 11 presented himself, Reg would then address him as 'Crowther'. We were always dressed in our school uniform, because clothes rationing was still in force. Every item of clothing needed scarce money to buy it and, more importantly, needed clothing coupons. The number of clothing coupons per year was very limited. So we lived in the one jacket and trousers, and we had our best jacket and trousers for Sundays and special occasions. We had one school grey pullover and our Scout shirts and that was that. We had no other pullovers, or blazers, or jerseys or track- suits or anything. We had our black school lace-up shoes, our football boots and our plimsolls, if we were lucky. About half of us had no plimsolls and we either borrowed old ones from the cupboard in the gym when we had PE or we did it barefoot. The boarding house matron spent much of her time darning our socks for us.

Life in School House may have been harsh and barren in some ways. The building was cold, we were radiator-huggers in cold weather and we often had chilblains. We may have been in constant fear of putting a foot wrong with the prefects; yet overall life was safe. There was virtually no bullying, and 1 say 'virtually' because 1 can remember one incident where a small boy who didn't wash and generally offended against everyone's conception of personal hygiene was thrown into a bramble and nettle patch by boys from the senior dormitory. Even then, it was one brutal incident but it was not repeated. It was a safe life because we could walk around High Wycombe at the weekend, wearing our RGS caps, without ever coming into conflict with anyone. The streets were safe. The dangers of smoking did not worry us. We did not have enough money to buy cigarettes and really never thought of it. On one occasion we found some dead Old Man's Beard creeper on Green Hill, and lit it, and pretended to smoke it, and choked ourselves, and moved on to play with something else. Drugs, of course, did not feature in anyone's life then; they were limited to

books about villains in oriental opium dens. Knives were carried by most people; pen knives were universal, and most scouts carried 4 - 5" sheath knives when in uniform. But no Englishman would consider using a knife as a weapon or to threaten someone with. Foreigners might, but not an Englishman. Sex did not feature either. It may seem amazing, but the Junior Dormitory did not know how babies were conceived. The revelation arrived round about the end of that first year or the beginning of the second. People were not bothered. This was before the 1961 "Lady Chatterley's Lover" case opened the gates to bring pornography onto every bookstall; before the Pill loosened morals; and before Aids forced sex into the consciousness of every immature child. Girls existed - some of us had sisters, so we knew this for a fact - but they were not particularly interesting. They certainly were not interested in the things that interested us, which usually involved in getting muddy, failing out of trees or being rude to seniors so as to have the thrill of being chased round the buildings. And we rarely swore. If we did, it would be 'bloody'. 'Damn' was pretty weak, though I knew my father had been caned when he was at school for being heard using it. But times had changed, 'Damn' was insignificant. We said 'bloody' when we were by ourselves and Authority could not hear us.. We were aware that the "F" word existed and was Serious Language for Rough People. So we didn't use it. It was too strong.

There was the radio in the common room, but no record player. Television had just started again after the war, but very few people had one. We certainly never saw it and few of our families had one at home. There were, at that time, four cinemas in High Wycombe, and occasionally we would have special permission to go to see a film if it was considered very well worthwhile. On one single occasion in the 1948/9 year, there was a film show for the school-house boarders in the Physics Laboratory at the weekend. It was a rainy Sunday and we sat enthralled watching two 8mm films about paramecium and hydra. Presumably someone had obtained these films for the Sixth form Biologists, but they gave us enormous pleasure.

We were boys, we were children. Our opinions were rarely asked for and we did what we were told to do by older and wiser people. As we understood it, we would remain boys until we reached the age of 18 because that was when society recognised that we were adults - and society recognised this by conscripting us into the Forces for two years. National Service was the watershed.  One day you would be a boy in school, and a few months later you were a man in uniform and possibly in one of the many parts of the world where our forces were on active service - and from where 2,500 National Servicemen were never to return. But the sun was warm when we were Juniors, and we ran about and played at break with the day bugs and with the quiet chap in 2A who was to fly his Hawker Hunter into a mountain in the Middle East nine years later. One day we would be grown-up, one day, we were told, the rationing and shortages would be over, one day there would be oranges and bananas in the shops, one day we might even have carpets and pictures in the boarding house. And we nodded and listened patiently until the sermon was over, and then we ran to the Scout Hut to burn holes in another piece of wood.

A J MacTavish (1948 - 1956)

EDITOR: If you were a boarder in the sixties, seventies, eighties, or nineties, were things any different? Do write your memories down and send the to me.

It was an article about Derek Sharp (1957-1964?) who had written a letter that was published in the last newsletter. It described how in 1983 Derek was flying over Cambridgeshire, when a large mallard

crashed through their windscreen as they reached 500mph. The bird hit Derek in the face, knocked his left eye out of its socket, broke some neck bones, and pulverised the bones and nerves in his face. A crash seemed inevitable. But by some miracle he regained consciousness and though effectively blinded, he was able to land his jet safely.

His mother always said that he had a "guardian angel", the spirit of his uncle, also called Derek, who was shot down and killed on the same day that Derek was conceived. Both Dereks had some remarkable escapes. The older one was not wearing his seat-belt on a training–flight when as the plane plunged downwards, he was catapulted out, but as he was falling to earth, amazingly he landed on the plane’s tail. He clung to it while the instructor climbed to 2000feet, so that he could parachute to safety. Unfortunately he was not wearing a parachute, so the instructor had to land with Derek still clinging to the tail. A few days later while waiting to take-off, an incoming pilot mistimed his landing and his wing-tip missed Sharp’s head by just six inches.

His nephew, the younger Derek, in addition to the earlier incident, had two other escapes. Once when he was flying 35,000 lb of explosives in the Balkans conflict of 1992, a bolt of lightning hit the plane on the nose. It sent a huge fireball along the aisle and out of the tail. Somehow it avoided detonating the explosives! And during the Gulf War, an American patriot missile accidentally locked its sights on to his plane. "At the last minute, they realised that it was aiming for a lumbering old RAF jet instead of an Iraqi Scud missile and they aborted it," says Derek. Perhaps he does have his guardian angel keeping him safe.

Since this article was published, Derek has been called up as a reservist and has flown out to the Gulf, along with two other OWs. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and any other OWs, who are out there.

The next newsletter will appear on May 10^th, with reports on the Annual Dinner and Sporting Reunions. I am sorry that we have not been able to update the section with information on individual Old Wycombiensians. We hope to include the considerable amount of new information we have received by May 1st.