The Website of the Old Boys of the Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe
NEWSLETTER AUGUST 2010
An Adobe PDF version of this newsletter is available here.
Items in this newsletter:
OW Cricket | Golf | Judy De Gelas | Peter Wilkinson | Vivian A Colmer | Fixture Cards | 1954 CCF Camp | Learning Languages | Peter Bedwell | School Buildings | David Levin | Exams 2010 | Wycombiensian, 2010OW CRICKET
Old Wycombiensians' Cricket Match v. the School for the 'Duncan Moore Memorial Trophy'
In a 35-overs a side match, the School won by 7 wickets with 10.2 overs to spare.
Scores:
O.Ws. 200 for 6 wkts after 35 overs (Sajid Zaib 112, Kaushik Guha 38; Tom Hemmings 2 for 28)
R.G.S. 203 for 3 wkts after 24.4 overs (Hugo Jafari 91, Imran Nawaz 69)
The match has been played annually since 2000 in memory of O.W. Duncan Moore (1990-1996), a very talented all-rounder at school and county level, who lost his life in a car accident.
The OWs now lead in the series 5-4 with last year's match cancelled.
Ed: Do the above photographs bring back memories to OWs who played for a School Cricket Team?
Over-40s and Over-50s Team v Edgbaston Finalists
A cricket match to celebrate 25 years since the RGS U15 team reached the final of the Lord's Taverners' Colts Trophy Competition at Edgbaston in 1985 was played on Monday 19th July at the school. The idea of staging the match came from the team's captain John Skrimshire.
An U15 team selected from that year group and comprising 7 of that 'Edgbaston' team played a 20-overs match at the school against an RGS Old Boys' team of 'Over 40' and 'Over 50' players raised by David Stone, who has been running cricket teams at the school for over 30 years.
The RGS Over 40's and Over 50's team batted first and in 20-overs made 165 for 5 (Jon Atkins 59, Doug McIndoe 36, Steve Noyes 26)
The RGS 25 year celebration 1985 U15 team was 142 all out in 17.3 overs. (Gary Saunders 92; Terry Norris 3 for 2, Chris Johnson 3 for 43, Steve Gamester 2 for 18).
Result: RGS Over 40's and Over 50's won by 23 runs.
Teams:
Over 40's and 50's team with years at school in brackets:
Steve Gamester (62-69): Dave Peterson (63-70): Chris Johnson (67-71): Bob Floyd (65-72): Doug McIndoe (72-79): Jon Coles (75-81): Terry Norris (75-81): Steve Noyes (76-82): Peter Price (76-82): Jon Atkins (76-83): Mark Sullivan (77-83)
25 Year Celebration Team - All aged 15 in 1985:
John Skrimshire: Matthew Dodds: Phil Shayler: Sajid Zaib: Martin Middleton: Martin Taylor: Rob Devonport: Gary Saunders: Jago Brown: Gavin Elliott: Greg Higgins
Umpires:
Peter Hollingsworth (67-74): Paul Dolphin (69-76)
Ed: If you were at school in the 1970s or 1980s, can you recognize the players in the above photos?
GOLF
15 players assembled in glorious weather for the annual Old Boys versus staff at the Weston Turville Golf Club on Friday 25 June, 5 old boys (Martin Priestley, Mark Forrester, Paul Dolhin, Iain Wooster, Robin Dorkings), 4 retired staff (Roger File, Mike Moffatt, David Moore, Davis Chamberlain) & 6 existing staff (Trevor Woolliams, Mike Earl, Paul Hayes, Dan Bradley, David Phillips, David Guthrie).
The result was a hard fought draw at 2 matches each, with some good-natured banter about handicaps. Trevor Woolliams with the lowest of all the handicaps had to contend with David Chamberlain & Robin Dorkings in a rare purple patch, but Dan Bradley & David Guthrie swept aside their adversaries in a blaze of power hitting.
All in all a splendid event!
JUDY DE GELAS
Those OWs, who were at the RGS in the last 20 years, will almost certainly remember Judy, as she worked in the School Office, and would always have a Leeds United item on her desk.
It is with a great deal of sadness that we report that Judy had been knocked down by a car in West Wycombe and killed. She was the hub of the School, and a wonderful person. Two of her four sons, Jason and Tim, were at the RGS in the 1990s. We extend our deepest sympathy to her family and close friends.
CALLING OW DOCTORS!
Every year a growing number of students at RGS express an interest in pursuing a career in medicine and the Medical Society was set up to support them. Throughout the year external speakers come and address the boys to give them an idea of the sort of options open to them in the medical field.
If you could come in and talk to the students on any medical career, this would be much appreciated.
We would also welcome any offers of medical work experience.
Please contact Mrs Margaret Royal, Head of Biology on 01494 524955 or email me ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk
PETER WILKINSON (1967-1974)
It was great to welcome back as the Guest of Honour at Senior Prize Giving O W. (1967-74), Vice Admiral Peter Wilkinson CB CVO BA FCIPD. He commanded Trident-Class Missile submarines before taking up his current post as Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff..Vice Admiral Wilkinson awarded the prizes and then spoke amusingly of his own "fairly modest academic achievements at RGS".
VIVIAN A COLMER 1920-1924
We heartily congratulate Viv Colmer for celebrating his 100th birthday in June.
Terry Williams Vice-President of the OWs has written about him:
Viv was was born 12 June 1910 in Hampstead, London, and attended the Royal Grammar School at the age of 10, after his family had moved to High Wycombe. He was a fee-paying student, but was obliged to leave the school at age 14, since his father Francis, a well-known amateur archaeologist, painter and writer, had no fixed income. Viv and his siblings, 4 brothers and one sister, were generally educated at home or other schools in the area. He has written a short but interesting autobiography, in which he gives an insight into High Wycombe life in the period during and after the First World War.
The family house was in Hughenden Road, opposite the main gates into the Hughenden Estate, and was a desirable address in those days. The house was a substantial Victorian building, and when the writer helped to clear personal effects after Francis died in 1967, aged 93, the only form of heating and lighting being used was paraffin stove and candles!
Viv had many interesting jobs throughout his working life, mainly in bookkeeping, accountancy and office management. He retired in 1975 at age 65, and in 1986 he moved to Down Ampney in Wiltshire, where he lives to this day (close by the house where R Vaughan Williams lived).
As far as records go, it is highly probable that Viv is the oldest Old Boy of the RGS, and the best wishes of the Committee and members of the Old Boys' Club, namely The Old Wycombiensians' Club go to him in celebration of his 100th Birthday.
Ed. Does anyone know of any OW, who has lived to 100? Any information to me please.
TOM CHICK AND RUGBY
Tom Chick, who left the RGS in 2005 and is now working for the International Rugby Board, tells me that if you are interested in rugby, you can find all you need to know at www.irb.com If you are on Facebook, you can find out more about the goings-on, the Rugby World Cup 2011, the Women's Rugby World Cup and the IRB Sevens World Series by joining these groups on Facebook. You can then interact, get the latest news and features, videos, photos and audio that the IRB and he produce.
JOHN SAUNDERS (1963-1969) AND HIS WEBSITE
http://www.rgs.saund.co.uk/John's website provides lots of information and photos about OWs of the 1960s era. Amongst the new items are a photo of the cast of the 1963 'Ruddigore' production, sent in by Alex Gray, a cast member. Clicking here will take you straight to the Ruddigore page. He also provided a photo of Form 3Y from 1963/64. Alan Rainbow has sent two photos of the Cross Country squads from 1964/65 and 1965/66. If you were at the RGS in those years, and have not been on John's website, I would recommend it. Perhaps you could help him identify those in the photos.
FIXTURE CARDS
Below are the Fixture cards for Rugby and Cross-Country for 1949. For those who have played Rugby and Cross-Country for the School Team since then, it is interesting to compare the teams we played against in 1949, and ones you played against.
1954 CCF CAMP
Ed: If you were there then, do these photos bring back any memories?
WHERE ARE OWS NOW?
We sent out letters or magazines to 1439 OWs in the New Year. The numbers sent abroad were as follows:
USA 38 Australia 15 France 8 Canada 7 NZ 7 Spain 4 Hong-Kong 3 UAE 3 Channel Isles 3 Singapore 3 Japan 2 Germany 2 South Africa 2 Brazil 1 Peru 1 Cayman Is 1 Bermuda 1 China 1 Ireland 1 Belgium 1 Luxemburg 1 Switzerland 1 Russia 1 Netherlands 1 Kenya 1
Ed: Anything surprising here? If any OW were interested in statistics, he might like to do a similar exercise with those OWs, whose names appear on the "OWs Abroad" section of the OW website.
SHERATON DRIVE
I have been asked to publish the fact that the footpath between Amersham Road and Sheraton Drive has been closed. If any of you who used the footpath feel strongly that it should remain open, please contact Monika Hehner mchehner@lineone.net
CONGRATULATIONS!
Congratulations to Marcus Bull (1974-1980)! Until June 2010 he was Professor of Medieval History at the University of Bristol, and is now Andrew W Mellon Distinguished Professor of Medieval History at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
KAI SMITH
Was anybody a friend of Kai Smith, who was here in the seventies, and who died very young? If you were, please email Serena Spencer-Jones, serena@longwall-house.co.
SAD NEWS
We have to report the deaths of three OWs. John West, Mark Halliday, and Martin Turner.
John West (1950-1954) was born into a farming family, and after RGS attended the Harper Adams Agricultural College in Shropshire, where he attained one of the top grades. He returned to the family farm, Stockens Farm in Lacey Green, and eventually took over the running from his father. He was very successful and increased the land size considerably during his lifetime. His farm was also famous nationally for the 'Maize Maze', which attracted great crowds each year.
John leaves a widow Joan, and 3 children, Patricia, Caroline and son Richard, who had been taking over running of the farm during John's latter years.
Mark Halliday (1978-1982) was a Junior School Headteacher in York, and died recently after a long illness. A number of former teachers have met him in the last couple of years and have commented on his courage in facing the illness. He also wrote poetry and has had some published. His brothers were at the RGS, and he has a wife and young family, and will be much missed by so many.
Martin Turner (1954-1961). John Havard tells me that he had heard from Farah, Martin's wife, that he died on 3 June, 3 years after being diagnosed with myeloma. Martin was by profession a psychologist. Like Mark, above, he also wrote poetry - with 2 books published, and another on the way.
We extend our deepest sympathy to the families and friends of John, Mark and Martin.
LETTERS/EMAILS TO THE EDITOR
Dear Ian,
Thank you for the E Mail newsletter and link to the main newsletter for May.
The rugby team shown includes Ted Woodward in the middle of the back row. The captain is Tony Duckering, and I feel sure that I could spot other names if required.
As for the list of nicknames is the Nightingale the same one that was a senior boy in my time? If so he was then known as "Nifty", perhaps changed when he became a master later on... unless it was someone else.
One master who had a nickname when I was there was Mr James (Jim) Tucker, known officially as Mr James to avoid confusion with the head. His nickname was Boswell. He was an officer in the CCF RAF section and always wore a forage cap rather than a cap. We used to sing a song (tune - Daddy Wouldn't Buy Me a Bow Wow) on the subject. Thanks to Roger File, the words are:
Boswell wouldn't buy a flat hat
He's got a forage cap,
And he's very fond of that,
But he'd rather have a flat hat
David Wiltshire
Dear Ian,
John Haley's photos include one which is titled "a sports master". This is Mr Coldham who taught science, in my case chemistry, in the mid 60s. He was an enthusiastic master who however tended to say "um" often several times per sentence!
Regards, Colin
On my recently launched web/blogsite I have written a blog called 'Learning Languages: the School Years', and it includes the tribute to Mervyn pasted in below.
If I became a linguist, and a phonetician in particular, it is thanks to him. No teacher at RGS influenced me more. He was also my housemaster at Uplyme when I boarded there for a year and, in both roles, I remember him with great affection.
I visited him a number of years ago, when his sight and memory were both fading, together with Barry Davies (another old boy, now living in Brazil). We were sad to see him so far advanced in his decline, but both have fond memories of him in his prime.
NB The full blog contains an account of spending an hour a week for over three years doing Latin with ER Tucker as preparation for Oxbridge entrance, which you might be amused by.
Best wishes, Michael Vaughan-Rees.
EXTRACT FROM BLOG: 'Learning Languages: the School Years' on www.michaelvr.com'Do you have any hobbies, Michael?' my father-in-law asked me, somewhat tentatively one afternoon 10 years ago. 'Learning languages', I replied. 'That's not a hobby!' was his response.
And to dear Charles it wasn't. His idea of an acceptable hobby was, let's say, buying an elderly Daimler and restoring it to its former glory or, at a pinch, visiting National Trust properties or hiking through the Lake District. Not something which involved filling your head full of alien sounds and words. After all, he had lived several winters in Tenerife in his converted truck without the need for any Spanish; and his French didn't extend much beyond rolling down his window and calling out 'Oh!' when he needed some water for his radiator.
Strangely enough, we had both attended the Royal Grammar School in High Wycombe (not at the same time, of course) and he had emerged deaf to the joy of languages, while I took to learning my first language, French, with something approaching ecstasy.
This was due to the boundless enthusiasm of my first teacher: Mervyn Davies. He believed, as I have come to believe, that the sounds of language are magical. One of the characters in our first year book had the beautiful name of Hercule Ulysse Frangipani. That in itself was a course in French phonetics. The two wonderfully alien ‹r› sounds, with the uvula frantically trilling against the back of the tongue; three /i/ sounds, with the tongue-tip higher than in English and the lips wide apart; and the pursing and protruding of the lips needed for the sound represented by the ‹u› letters; ending up with a lovely nasal vowel in the first syllable of Frangipani, contrasted with the nasal consonant in the third.
Not that we analysed the sounds in this way, of course. (That came 30 years later, when I did an MA in Linguistics.) He just encouraged us to use our tongue, lips and cheek muscles in very unEnglish ways, which some of us were happy to do.
I will always remember the first piece of verse he had us learn by heart, which happened to be the opening of the French national anthem, the Marseillaise.
Allons enfants de la Patrie;
Le jour de gloire est arrivé;
Contre nous de la tyrannie;
L'étendard sanglant est levé;
Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes;
Mugir ces féroces soldats?;
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras;
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnons!
Aux armes citoyens
Formez vos bataillons;
Marchons, marchons
Qu'un sang impur;
Abreuve nos sillons!
He relished giving us a more or less literal translation of this gory song, with its throat-slitting, its bellowing of ferocious soldiers and furrows running with the enemy's impure blood. Gosh! Who wouldn't want to be French with a national anthem like that! 'God Save the King' seemed namby-pamby in comparison.
Ed: Anyone else have any memories of Mervyn?
I write to thank you for showing my father, brother and myself round the RGS in April on the occasion of my father's 90th birthday. I am sending this via my brother, who is collating our "thankyou", and the delay has, I am afraid, been my responsibility. It was wonderful to have a link from the distant past to the present. My father was at the RGS in the 1930s along with his older brother, and we all remembered "Sam" Morgan. In my time he was Deputy Head, and a most commanding figure. He always seemed to be much taller in one's imagination than in reality, such was his presence when he drew himself up to his full height in order to instil discipline! Then, of course, you taught me when I was in the Classics 6th Form, and you had just arrived before I left. You were able to explain to us all the building and developments that had taken place since I left, and the impressive new facilities.
There was plenty that was familiar, and brought many memories flooding back. There was the Headmaster's study on the top floor of the new building behind the stage, where I saw Mr Tucker on my first day in 1963, whence he efficiently dispatched me to 4Y, to join the Latin class, which was in the right wing of the old building. I had joined the RGS at 13 years, having previously attended Choir school. Below the Head's office were the music rooms, where I used to go and practice my piano playing after school, though I had somewhat limited ability at that! It was good to revisit the Hall. We passed a cupboard by the stairs, where "Kit" Haworth, Head of Classics, used to teach me, when I joined the 6th Form. I had decided to do Classics, even though I had not previously studied Greek, so I had individual lessons to catch up with my contemporaries, who had come up in the X stream. In this cupboard, while waiting for Mr Haworth one day, I discovered some old copies of Wisden Cricketers Alamanac, which belonged to Mr Haworth. I had started a collection of Wisdens from about 1960, and on hearing this, Mr Haworth allowed me to take them. They were the Wisdens of 1939, 1950 and 1955, and still have a place on my bookshelf!
It was good to visit the school hall. In 1963, I had sung in "The Mikado", which was the Gilbert and Sullivan show for that year. The tradition was to put on a Gilbert and Sullivan opera every November, with the younger boys playing the part of the women. I was told that my tall stride looked ridiculous for a woman! After that I gave up singing for several years, until "Jeb" Burnell formed a Chapel Choir. It was good to see the stained glass windows still, even if it is no longer used as a Chapel. The Chapel Choir was originally begun for the boarders to sing at the services attended on a Sunday by the members of the 3 boarding schools. I recall that Mr Burnell was very ambitious, and a couple of the staff joined the choir. We sang at productions in the Hall for the whole school, and I remember I was thrust into singing solos at a concert in the Hall conducted by a former member, Richard Hickox, who, of course, went on to become a conductor of international renown. With the success of such events, I was emboldened to try for a choral exhibition to Cambridge in 1968, but failed. I also entered the Cambridge entrance exams in 1968, but given I had only been learning Greek for a couple of years, that was exceedingly ambitious, and my results were officially described as "calamitous"! I left the RGS in the summer of 1969, and had never visited the school since. I had one last go at obtaining a choral exhibition to Cambridge in the autumn, and was fortunate to be successful on this occasion. It was reassuring to see my name up on the Honours Board in the Hall. There had always been a nagging doubt that maybe it had not been correctly entered!
It was good of you to show me Room 28, which was the Classics 6th form room, where I spent 3 years, though we had slightly different memories of where I used to sit! One of my memories relates to a debate that arose over a passage in Homer. Mr Haworth expressed surprise at Homer's "mistake" in describing a chariot race, and the advice to the charioteer to lean into the bend. He had commented to a generation of Classics scholars that Homer should have advised the charioteer to lean outwards, as in sailing. I was convinced that Homer was correct, and this caused Mr Haworth great consternation, and he was initially dismissive of my view, but the issue was widely canvassed in the staff room! It fell to "Fenners" ( Mr Cooper) to puncture the seriousness of the ensuing controversy, by suggesting that he and Mr Haworth were going to drive chariots round the quadrangle to test the evidence! I have always associated the quadrangle with this imaginary chariot race ever since!
You also pointed out the CCF parade ground, where I was examined in my ability to drill a squad. I remember giving the order to "right turn" just in time to prevent the squad marching into the examiner, myself and the brick wall! When we were encouraged to go on CCF courses, I decided to go on a PT course at Portsmouth. The main benefit of doing this was that I was considered to have demonstrated my genuine commitment to CCF, and was chosen by Lt Col Pattinson to join the CCF expedition on Hannibal's route over the Alps in 1966. One of the abiding memories of that expedition was on the way back, we camped somewhere in France, and were invited to a nearby Frenchman's garden to peer into his living room, to watch his TV, on the occasion of the 1966 World Cup Final!
Well, these are just a few of the memories.
With very best wishes, Peter Bedwell (1963- 1969)
Ian,
I hope you will not think this email is a liberty as I did not attend Wycombe Royal Grammar School but my late father, Ernest "Bo" Burnett, attended roughly between 1913 and 1918. He was a chemist in High Wycombe owning with his family "Lansdale & Co". He died in 1976, and now after my mothe'rs death I am disposing of several of his items, including - "OLD WYCOMBIENSIANS-ROYAL GRAMMAR SCHOOL-ENAMEL CUFFLINKS", which I have placed on Ebay. I believe these to be from c1950 and some of the "Old Boys" may be interested in them.
Regards, Peter Burnett
Ed: Anyone interested, please contact me.
Hello Ian,
Thanks for the newsletter.
I was interested in the bit about Vivian Colmer as in 1994 the Bucks Free Press did an article about my father Tom Samuells who was at that time thought to be the oldest "Old Boy" at the age of 92. Both he and I were taught by a Mr P L Jones, forever known as "Pilgy". He was something of a sadist when it came to punishing misdemeanours and regularly used knotted quarter inch catapult elastic on the back of one's ears. I well remember with no affection whatsoever his "20 Horsepower" hits!
Best regards, John Samuells
Dear Ian,
I recall there was a staff member nicknamed "Chunk". He was a terrifying character who taught German I think. There was a book circulating of "chunkisms ", which included such howlers as "watch the board while I go through it ". I wonder if anyone else remembers him.
As far as I remember, "Tus" Shepherd had a car which had the registration no. TVS 149, but that may be my failing memory only!
I can clearly remember "Sam" Morgan leaning out of his office window to the left of the old main entrance and yelling, "you boy, Willy, come here at once". At which everyone bolted!! He could never remember all 1350 names (who could?) so everyone became "Willy".
Kind regards, Jon Thain
Dear Ian,
I was very interested in the university application statistics and glad to see them published in the Newsletter.
In response to the question posed on the popularity of Bristol University in the post-1945 period, I was an undergraduate from 1950-53 and I found no one studying there from the school in these years. I went there almost by chance, when Mr L.J. Ashford saw an advertisement in the TES for open scholarship examinations. The Head (E.R.T.) was taken by surprise, when at a conference the pro-vice chancellor of Bristol told him that one his 'boys' was due to come.
I was very interested that History heads the statistics on courses. Its popularity does not fade.
Best wishes, Tony Barr
NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL
There are some big changes ahead, in particular to the Gym Block, or Maths block, as more recent OWs will have known it. In addition, the Fives courts are being refurbished. For full details of these developments, please click here to read the article by the Director of Development, Isabella Eastham.
Ed: Does this picture bring back memories?
DAVID LEVIN
The former Headmaster of the RGS (1993-1999)
THE SCHOOL WEBSITE
The following items have been taken from the School website.
The pupils in years 11, 12 and 13 who are currently taking their GCSEs, AS's and A2's probably don't see this period as the best days of their lives, but maybe in the fullness of time......
From the 17th May to June 30th 600 candidates will be displaying their knowledge for the examiners. Then we have the long wait for the results until mid August, relieved only be the usual press hysteria over allegedly falling standards. Year 13 candidates are mostly trying to achieve grades of AAB and higher because of the pressure for places this year.
Assuming the candidates achieve their offers, the top end of university league table for this year looks like this: Bath leads with 9 hopefuls, Southampton, Nottingham, and UCL 7, Warwick, Bristol, Leeds 6, Durham, Birmingham, Cambridge 5, Cardiff, Exeter, Sheffield, Imperial, Oxford 4, Sussex, York, Reading, Aston, Surrey, Queen Mary's, Manchester 3.
The most popular courses are Geography, History, English, Law and Maths, Accounting and Engineering.
Years 12s will be making a visit to either Nottingham or Birmingham universities at the start of July.
Finally, the exams don't come cheap. RGS has a bill of £123,000 pounds for the 173 papers that will be taken this season. Let's hope, for our candidates' sake, that it is money well spent.
Ed: Does this bring back memories? The last OW I took round said his abiding memory of the Queen' Hall was of the exams he took there, not Assemblies, nor concerts or plays.
YEAR 13 - LAST DAY IN SCHOOL
"No more Latin, nor more French, No more sitting on the old school bench"
Shakespeare's poignant words (surely some mistake Ed) were on many a lip as the fateful day arrived.
Members of Year 13 were spending their last day in school, and chose to wear a variety of fancy dress to mark the end of their seven years at RGS.
Women's garb of various styles proved a popular choice for some. No questions were asked. Others opted for fantasy or ethnic costumes.
Ed: Was there anything special about your last day? Please send in any special memories.
WYCOMBIENSIAN
A number of OWs have said that they were disappointed when for reasons of cost the School Magazine or Wycombiensian was no longer posted to OWs. If you wish to read this year's Wycombiensian, with all the news of School events trips etc, please click here.
If you want to read more of what is happening at the RGS, please click here.Editor writes:
I sent out in July a newsemail to the email addresses of the 2000+ OWs. If I do not have your email address and you would like to receive an email, with news of OW activities and the School, please send it to me ianrclarkuk@yahoo.co.uk
Many thanks to Martin Berry for his management of the OW website and for his wonderful help in preparing the newsletters and the emails.
Hopefully the next newsletter will appear in December.