RGS High Wycombe Old Boys
NEWSLETTER MAR 2009
An Adobe PDF version of this newsletter is available here.
Items in this newsletter:
149 1920 School Magazine 1950 School Magazine 1981 photograph Boxing at RGS Headmaster's Letter Nazi Germany New book by Garth Ratcliffe Obituaries OW Ties Prefects' Meetings RGS in the snow School Uniform Science LabsThe Editor writes:
Greetings to all OWs!
As was indicated in the letter and magazine that was sent out to all paid-up members and also in the last newsletter on this website, there are changes afoot in the way we seek to communicate with OWs.
We always publish in the newsletters articles and items that are published in the magazine in January, and in this newsletter we reproduce items of news and articles that have not appeared earlier.
We shall continue to produce the newsletters as part of the OW site, designed really to encourage OWs, who all of a sudden have after 20 years since leaving the RGS thought about their Old School, want to find out what it is like today and use Google. It is interesting how many OWs email me during their lunch-times on weekdays, and very few at the week-end.
The main way we will seek to keep in contact with OWs in the future will be through email about once a quarter. This will be to let you know the main items of news from the OWs, dates of Reunions etc and the School itself. If then you would like to be on our emailing-list and you have not already sent me in your email address, could you please do so. ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk . It is is great that so many have responded to the first appeal and I am very sorry that I am very late in sending a reply to some of you. We would hope to have 1,500 email addresses by the end of the year.
It is our centenary year, and we are holding the Centenary Dinner on Sat May 9th. Do contact your OW friends and come. Also if you are a shooter or hockey player, there are some matches on that afternoon, and some cricket and golf matches in the summer. Please CLICK here for details of these events.
With my very best wishes,
Ian Clark
EXTRACTS FROM THE MAGAZINE
Letter from the Headmaster's Study
January 2009
Dear Old Wycombiensian
It is difficult to comprehend that it was a year ago that I was writing to you to inform you of the activities undertaken by the boys at RGS as well as proposed developments. Once again, it has been a busy year, with much achieved and enjoyed by the boys and details can be found on our website (www.rgshw.com). I would encourage any OW to regularly log on to the site to keep up to date with RGS news.
This has been a sad year with the loss of two eminent OWs. Ian Fraser VC, died in early September (a memorial service will be held later this year in London to celebrate Ian's life). Richard Hickox, conductor of the LSO died in November. We remember these OWs with affection and thank them for their contribution to their country.
The core business of the School is to provide an outstanding educational opportunity for the boys and I am delighted to inform you that Ofsted visited the school in November and concluded that RGS remains an 'outstandingly effective school'. A copy of the report can be found on the school website.
Last year's examination results were excellent with over 75% of grades at A level being either A or B and at GCSE over 72% of grades were either A or A*. This reflects the hard work of the boys and the staff who continue to ensure that the boys are 'excited and enthused by the challenge of learning' (Ofsted 2008).
Activities on the sports field continue with many opportunities for boys to represent the school in a wide range of sports. The U15 XV and the 1st XV are still competing in their respective groups in the Daily Mail competition. The annual fixture against the MCC will be on 24 June and all OWs are welcome to this event.
This year's production will be the much acclaimed musical 'Guys and Dolls' and will take place in the Queen's Hall between Wednesday 25 March and Saturday 28 March inclusive. Tickets can be obtained from the RGS Resources Centre or using the RGS online booking system. The OW's annual dinner will be on Saturday 9 May 2009, when Peter Gibson will be the guest speaker. I am sure that many of you will remember Peter who taught English and Philosophy at RGS from 1970 until 2006.
Last year, I brought you up to date on the situation with the Campaign 'Shaping our Destiny'. We have now submitted plans to the local planning office for new facilities which will incorporate changing rooms, fitness suite, sixth form centre and maths classrooms. Many of you will remember the gym block, probably with mixed emotions, and I hope that next time I write, I will be able to confirm that the building has been considerably improved. As soon as the plans are confirmed, we will place them on the website.
This year we were due to produce a new prospectus. I am delighted that OW, Simon Noakes, has led an innovative and original initiative in producing an interactive prospectus. We introduced this at the Open Evenings in September and it was a delight to watch prospective RGS students leaving the Queen's Hall encouraging their parents to be more prompt in their departure so that they could explore the enclosed CD. I am very grateful to the commitment and loyalty shown by Simon and his team. It has been a proud Headmaster who has produced examples of the prospectus at every Heads' Meeting he has attended and the response has been very positive. You can view the prospectus on the School's website. Please make sure you have the sound turned on!
I do hope to see many of you at the school functions and do be assured of a warm welcome should you call into the School. We are always pleased to see Old Wycombiensians.
Roy Page
Headmaster
A SECOND ADAM
This is the name of a book newly published by Garth Ratcliffe who was until recently Chaplain at the School. As Garth says in his introduction, 'the main purpose of the book is to explore the idea of Christ, the Second Adam, who came to rescue and remake us'.
John Samways who taught at the School in the seventies writes the foreword:
'If the Church is to reconnect effectively with our culture, it needs to embrace a confidence in the gospel, a renewed love for the world it serves and a thirst for the renewing work of the Spirit. Rooted in the first chapter of 2 Peter, this timely book addresses each of these issues. It will serve well all those seeking to go deeper in their faith - both Christian leaders seeking to disciple others, and those whose journey of faith has perhaps become rather tired. Throughout the book, a helpful variety of illustrations, quotations and lines from hymnody serve to refuel the readers' passion for the gospel.
'Like all good teachers, Garth Ratcliffe seeks to share those truths which have served to awaken a living passion in his own heart. I warmly commend this book; it will refresh and renew the faith of all who read it.'
The book is available from Amazon
FILE PAST
From the Wycombiensian of 1920:
The Tank, presented to High Wycombe, in consideration of the town's very handsome efforts in connection with the War Savings Associations, has at last arrived, and at present occupies a proud position on a concrete emplacement prepared for it in front of the School. Its imperturbable progress up Amersham Hill took place amid scenes of "the wildest enthusiasm;" the Law cleared a path before it, the Army guided it along that path, and members of the R.G.S. - and other - regarded all the proceedings with the liveliest possible interest and curiosity.
From the Wycombiensian of 1937:
AND OLD BOY WRITES FROM NAZI GERMANY
It is still possible to find intelligent young people among the older students of about twenty-two to twenty-five years of age, more especially those who have been out of Germany. There is a striking difference, however, between these and the freshmen of to-day lately "educated" in the army and the labour camps. One shudders to think of the mentality of the students in three or four years' time when the present school education bears fruit. Their history books appear to be sadly different from ours, and they have a most unholy tendency to regard war as being the natural training for strength and heroism. Of course most of the good professors have found it impossible to carry on with the present-day doctrine, even though they have no Jewish blood in their veins.
From the Wycombiensian of 1950:
THE NEW SCHOOL TERM
From an Old Fag to a New Inmate
When you enter the august portals of the School, remember it has existed since 1562, and that is a very long time ago. Therefore respect its traditions and it will respect you. It is advisable at this stage in your career to abandon all "nannies," "governesses," "night nurses," and "divers encumbrances," and realise that you are a Boy from now on. Don't despair over this. Instead, play the game hard and don't call you form-master "Dad."
From the Wycombiensian of 1972:
SCHOOL UNIFORM AND INDIVIDUALITY
All individuality is wiped out at one monstrous stroke. On entering Grammar or High school, children are issued with a formidable list of what to wear. The budding 11-year-old individualist is press-ganged into clothing tailored to blot out his personality, turning him into a nobody with embroidered badge; even the colours of scarves or socks are specified by some authority.
It is indeed a pathetic site to see England's budding individualists and future leaders tumble out of classrooms all dressed the same way (an omen perhaps - Marylebone station, 8.30 a.m.?). Someone once compared this to a bed of flowers being dug up and turnips planted in their stead.
THE BEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE??
From the Minutes of RGS Prefects' Meetings, 1931-33:
Meeting held on Monday October 27th 1930
All prefects were present.
Jones (ii) was brought up by Irwin for persistent cheek and insolence when spoken to. It had been found that lines were useless.
Three strokes were administered.
Burrows (ii) was brought up by Kyle who had several times been caught ragging small boys in and around the Junior cloakroom. He had been warned several times.
Three strokes were administered.
R.B.Webber Senior Prefect
Meeting held on Monday February 23rd 1931
Most of the prefects were present.
Pogson was brought up by L.W.Cradwick for failing to do lines set for wearing shoes in school. No excuse was offered.
Pogson and Blackford were brought up by Harris for bad behaviour while watching a school match, and for lack of respect to a prefect. No excuses were offered.
Four strokes were administered in each case.
E.S.Paice Senior Prefect
Meeting held on Tuesday October 10th 1931
All of the prefects were present with the exception of Hutton.
Barnard (ii) was brought up by L.W.Cradwick for failure to do lines. These lines were set some three weeks before for cheek, and no attempt had been made to do any of them. The only reason was laziness, so three strokes were administered.
Harris (ii) was also brought up by L.W.Cradwick for a similar offence. In this case some attempt had been made to do lines set for sheer disobedience over three weeks previously but owing to slackness they had never been completed. It was decided to administer two strokes.
H.G.Tidy Senior Prefect
Meeting held on December 11th 1933
In the presence of F.W.Essex, F.R.Kay, S.M.Carr, S.A.Goulborn, A.N.Johnson, P.G.Stevens.
Cole, Jutsum, Bates (A.G.), Seymour, Austin, Roberts were summoned by F.R.Kay for hooliganism in the corridor during the lunch period. The accused were allowed the option of attending a full meeting on the prefects, but unanimously decided to be summarily dealt with. Accordingly, three strokes were given in each case.
F.W.Essex
Letters to the Editor
From D.A.E.Cox (1939-1945)
I was intrigued by Andrew MacTavish's dissertation on 149 in the January 2008 of the RGS Old Boys' Magazine and just wonder whether I have the knowledge of the event that covers this mystery. I fail to see where the humour that might be associated with this is however. It was not funny at the time and memory can play tricks.
I need to take you back to World War II and June 1944. At that time Hitler was keen on burning our towns and cities and night after night we suffered air raids of incendiary bombs and to counter this, the RGS set up a "night watch" system. Members of the sixth form were given the opportunity to "fire watch," which meant spending the night in the building. We received suitable training on the method to be employed to deal with any incendiary device. The training also included how to use the bucket, the sand and the long-reach tongs. We were paid the princely sum of half-a-crown (I think) which in terms of cash in hand was quite an incentive for impoverished sixth-formers. A member of the teaching staff was also employed to accompany us.
One summer's day, Goldsmith (I cannot recall his Christian name) and I were on fire watch and at around 20.00 hrs were in the holy of holies, the Staff Common Room, searching for matches to make ourselves a cup of tea, when there was an almighty explosion and the place was filled with blue smoke. I had been standing by the door and found myself in a heap against the wall on the far side, soon to be joined by Goldsmith who was likewise blown out of the room and landed on top of me. We ran to get our tin hats and returned to the front door of the school to be meet by "Brandy" - Mr Brand, the maths master who was on duty with us - and the spectacle of a column of black smoke rising from the field in front of the school; now a development of houses called Windsor Drive.
During the next little while, my father, on leave from the RAF, arrived; my mother had convinced him that the smoke she saw was coming from the RGS where she knew I was staying the night. We lived at the top of Marlow Hill and the view was clear. Minutes later two fire engines arrived plus an ambulance answering an urgent call that the RGS had received a direct hit.
It was then that Mr Brand took charge, assuring the emergency services that they were not needed and getting rid of us by asking us to assess the damage to the school. Some time later we reported that 149 windows had been blown in, but apart from that the school was still standing. The next day we learnt from someone who knew about these things that had the doodle bug's engine cut out a few seconds later, the school would have received the full power of the flying bomb and this tale would not have been penned by me!
These flying bombs were fuelled to reach London and the south-east, but some travelled further according to the prevailing wind. I witnessed three around Wycombe: the RGS one; Hughenden-cum-Downley area one afternoon when I was walking home after school; and another that over flew Lane End, its fiery tail streaming behind it late at night, to explode in a field on the edge of a wood.
With the intervening years, memory plays tricks as I have said. All this took place some sixty-five years back and I wonder if Goldsmith is somewhere out there and can confirm or add any details to my recollection. There are three numbers that I associate with that event 52, 149 and 152, but I cannot place their significance. I am sure one recounts the number of windows blown in. I am in my 81st year and my brain is not as nimble as it once was!
Old Boys' Notes
ASHCROFT. MA (1962-64) Michael generously paid a £75,000 reward which secured the return of 96 medals, including 9 VCs, which had been stolen from the Army Museum at Waioura, New Zealand, in December 2007.
CAMDEN. L (1999-2006) Luke, currently at Keble College, Oxford, is next year's Master of the Oxford University Society of Change Ringers.
CANN. GJ (1979-85) Gareth was promoted to the rank of Assistant Chief Constable of the West Midlands Police Force on his 40th birthday.
COHEN. A (1997-2003) Alistair graduated from the University of Manchester in 2007 with a First as Master of Engineering.
GAY. SM (1967-74) Simon appeared on Mastermind recently, performing creditably on 'Coronations since 1066.'
HILL. C (1998-2001) Charlie is now an employee of the BMW Sytner High Wycombe dealership. On completing his technician's apprenticeship he was name BMW Group Academy UK's Best Improver 2007, and has been nominated for a Learning and Skills Council 'Learning First' Award.
JOHNSON. D (1998-2004) David graduated from Queens' College, Cambridge, in 2007 with a starred First in Part II of the Music Tripos, having scored top marks of his year.
KHERA. J (1997-2003) Jas graduated from King's College, Cambridge, in 2007 with a First in Part II of the Oriental Tripos.
KINGSNORTH. P (1985-91) Paul is a writer, environmentalist and poet - and an honorary member of the Lani tribe in New Guinea. He was arrested during the 1993 Twyford Downs road protests, and was named one of Britain's 'top 10 troublemakers' by the New Statesman in 2000. He was deputy editor of the Ecologist and is a frequent media contributor. His first book, One No, Many Yeses, was published in 2003; his most recent book, Real England, was published in April 2008.
SMITH. CW (1993-99) Christopher captained the Worcester College, Oxford, team in the 2007-08 season of University Challenge.
WALKER. A (1985-91) Alexander made his debut in 2007 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, conducting the Nutcracker Suite.
WARREN. S (1998-2004) Sean graduated from Queens' College, Cambridge, in 2007 with a First in Part II of the Natural Sciences Tripos.
OBITUARIES
TEACHERS:
PATTINSON. J Jean was the widow of the Deputy Headmaster, Reginald Pattinson, who served on the staff between 1936 and 1977. She was responsible for many years for running the domestic side of Tyler's Wood boarding house, which she and her husband founded in 1948. After her husband's death she served as matron in School House under Rev. John Skipp. She died in March 2008, aged 94.
PICKRUHL. JE (2004-05) Jean, who taught English, died in early 2008.
OLD BOYS:
BROOK. AJ (1994-95) Alastair died in 2007.
GRANT. R (1932-40) Roger died recently, aged 85.
MAHER. RJ (1966-73) Jimmy died recently.
STEVENS. GW (1936-41) Geoffrey, who died on 23rd December 2007, aged 81, was boxing finalist at the RGS for three years in succession. He served in the Royal Navy and saw action in the Mediterranean. After the war, he held a variety of managerial positions and rose to be International Director of Reeves Brothers. He was a Church of England church warden and reader, and also chairman of governors at Longwick C. of E. Combined School.
WICKENS. FC (1931-38) Frederick died on 1st March 2007, aged 87. He was the first RGS boy to win an Open Scholarship to Oxbridge when he went up to Jesus College, Cambridge, in 1938. After the war, he pursued a career as an English teacher. He is survived by his four children and by his brother DONALD (1935-43).
OLD WYCOMBIENSIANS' TIES
These are available from the Treasurer - Danny White - and cost £25, including p&p.
If you would like one, please send a cheque for £25 - made payable to "The Old Wycombiensians' Club" - to Danny at 18 Coppice Way, Hedgerley, Buckinghamshire, SL2 3YL.
If you live abroad, please e-mail Danny (dannywhite@hedgerley.fsnet.co.uk) and he will provide a cost including overseas postage.
The tie is 100% silk and an image of the design can be found at www.rgsow.com/newsletters/08_03/08_03.htm#tie
A range of other RGS merchandise is available from the School. Details can be found at http://www.rgshw.com/files/GiftsOrderForm.pdf.
Science Labs benefit from Old Boy's Generosity
Last Thursday we were delighted to welcome Old Wycombiensian, Dr Keith Sansom and his family to RGS. Dr Sansom had given a generous gift to the school to enable the long overdue refurbishment of the Junior Science Laboratories. This was the second phase in the modernisation of our science facilities originally built and equipped in 1959.
Science Block - 1959
The first phase had been to double glaze the windows, a huge improvement, providing a much quieter and effective teaching and learning environment.
Dr Sansom's gift is part of the ongoing 'Shaping our Destiny' campaign to raise funds to provide better teaching and learning facilities for the staff and boys at RGS.
Dr Sansom's generosity is very much valued by all at the school and the standing applause, spontaneously given by Year 8 pupils, during his last visit typifies the gratitude of all at the school.
ED. Do you remember the Science Block being built?
Do you remember the Biology Block being built more recently?
There are more building plans being developed. More details in future newsletters.
Boxing Blue for RGS PupilBoxing used to be a regular inter-school fixture and there was no shortage of RGS boys, to judge from reports in the Wycombiensian of the day, who were ready to face an opponent in the ring.
Chris Webb, former pupil and current student at Queens', Cambridge gained himself a Blue this week when he competed for his university against an opponent from Oxford.
Mr Stephen Armstrong was ringside for the gruelling bout and took these all-action shots. Chris was the winner of his bout and emerged fairly unscathed.
CONGRATULATIONS CHRIS!
ED: Do you know if there have been any other Boxing Blues? If you did boxing at school, what are your memories of it?
SCHOOL CLOSED
One week in Feb, the School was closed for three and a half days, because of snow. Is that a record at the RGS?
Michael George (1946 - 1950) writes
Ref your picture and article about the school closure last February..
This is not the first time nor is it the longest the school has been closed through cold weather.
I was a boarder at School House in 1947 and during Jan Feb of that year the school ran out of coal and all the boarders were sent home for at least a week and may be longer, my memory is not as good as it was.
Any OB of that time will no doubt verify this and perhaps will give you more accurate timings.
Here are some photographs of what it was like. Do they bring back memories?
A wintry scene across the Quad
View of the Quad in front of the Queen's Hall
Doves take shelter
View through the entrance to the main building
A wintry view of School House
White is the new black - where's the tarmac gone?
An atmospheric shot of the boarding house in the snow.
Can you remember the school being closed, when you were at school? If so, for what reason? For how long? Do let us know!
GUYS & DOLLS!
This year's stage musical, presented jointly with Wycombe High School in the Queen's Hall, RGS, on four nights, 25th - 28th March, is the all-singing, all-dancing "Guys and Dolls", full of the wonderful music and witty lyrics of Frank Loesser.
Enormously successful from its first production in 1948, "Guys and Dolls" quickly became established as one of the classics of its kind and regularly continues to be revived sixty years later.
Tickets are available from the Resources Centre, £8.00 and £6.00 concessions.
There are two ways of purchasing tickets:
1. Directly with the RGS Box Office (direct telephone number: 01494 551433)
2. Via RGS online box office www.rgshw.com/boxoffice
If you are applying for tickets via email, please ensure you include in your message the number of tickets (both adult prices and concessions), the performance you want to see, and relevant contact details. We look forward to seeing you there.
Yours sincerely,
Timothy Venvell (Director of Music) GUYS AND DOLLS.
ED: Tim Venvell and Jeff Walker are in charge of this production. Jeff, as recent Old Boys will remember, was Head of Physics for about 30 years, and directed a good number of plays and musicals over the years. He has returned to direct this production. The standard of the productions is always very high indeed and I would most warmly recommend that, if you are in the Wycombe area, you come to this production.
FOR MORE NEWS OF THE RGS NOW, PLEASE CLICK HERE.TOUR ROUND THE SCHOOL
John Saunders and David Stevenson who both left in 1970 had a tour round the RGS buildings recently. John presented a book he had written to the School Library.
It was great to meet them again after 38 years and reminisce. Another two Old Boys are having a tour round the School. If you would like a Tour, please contact ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk
CONGRATULATIONS!
Jody Davies, who was at the RGS 1986-1992, has been awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List. Major Jody has been serving a 6-month tour of duty in the Helman province of Afghanistan with the Royal Gurkha Rifles. Well done, Jody!
LETTERS/EMAILS TO THE EDITOR
Ian,
I don't know if you remember me, I was at RGS from '77 to '83 and you taught me Latin through to 'O' level.
I have included a scanned photo taken when I was in the 4th (or maybe 5th) form. I am 4th from right in the back row. I could name most of those in the photo if that is of any interest.
Rgds, Richard
Ed: Please send in the names, and anyone else who recognizes anybody
Phil Rugg offers:
Back Row
- 3rd from left – This chap looks like Martin Howgate whose mother was Swiss and who rowed number 3 in the ‘four’ I coxed.
Middle Row
- 1st from left – Iain Bell was a good friend of mine then and this looks like the top of his head! Last time I spoke to him was in the late 80s and he had been working for the inland revenue and was thinking of leaving.
- 3rd from left – There were two boys in our year with the surname ‘Heather’, one was David and I think this was the other one.
- 5th from left - Leggett?
Front Row
- 1st from left – Richard Morris?
- 2nd from left – Phipps?
- 7th from left – Naseer Ahmed who had attended the same primary/middle school as me, Tinkers Wood (now known as Disraeli).
Andrew Bell offers:
- Back row: Irons, Bell A, Howgate, Dunlop, Fenwick, Trott, Morris, Tully, Walsh, Foden
- Middle row: Bell I, Garratt, Heather, Heyes, Leggatt, Whalen, Steggles, Dickins, Keohane, Fuller
- Front row: Morris, Phipps, Jones, Lewis, Harrison, Jarman, Ahmad, Wilson, Neish, Free, Warmer
John Draper offers:
I'm in the middle row, the last on the left wearing the CCF uniform - behind me on the back row is Mike Irons. I can name a few others... but I have no idea what occasion prompted the picture.
Dear Ian,
You're right about snowfall and closure. I remember being SO disappointed when David Keysell arrived in school at the last minute for a double history lesson and I had really built my mind up for having a double free in the new canteen! The medal, however, has to go to Dr Puritz, who made it in no matter what the weather on a bike!!
Mark Halliday BA (Hons) MBA
Hello Ian,
I attended RGS from 1947 to 1952.
I've been in touch with Tony Hare over a number of months and contributed the 1949 Grey Book to his website.
I and other OBs have recently identified several faces in the 1952 School photograph. Brian Ransley, who has previously contributed to Tony's website, hopes to add to the site with a segmented version of the 1952 photograph with the names added.
Kind regards.
Rennie Vickers
Ed: If you were at the RGS in the fifties, do have a look at Tony Hare's website
FINAL REMINDERS!
CENTENARY DINNER SATURDAY MAY 9th.
CONTACT YOUR OW FRIENDS AND BOOK NOW!
HOCKEY AND SHOOTING SATURDAY MAY 9TH PM
BOOK YOUR PLACES NOW!
IF YOU WANT TO RECEIVE EMAILS ABOUT THE RGS + OLD BOYS, SEND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESSS NOW TO IAN CLARK
NEXT NEWSLETTER
This will be published on May 22nd. It will hopefully contain photographs of the Dinner and Sporting Reunions. Please send in your contribution, your memories, and your photographs to me, Ian Clark ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk?subject=RGS memories or post it to 5, Foxhill Close, High Wycombe. HP13 5BL
Ian edits the Newsletter: Martin Berry ensures that it appears on the website.