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8/14/2019 Aymestrey Magazine 1984
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T H E
AYMESTREY
MAGAZINE
SPRING 1984
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MINUTES OF THE 41st ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF THE OLD AYMESTRY ASSOCIATION
HELD AT AYMESTR EY SCHO OL ON
SATURDAY 18th JUNE 1983
Present: The President, John Hughes who took the Chair; The Honorary Secretary, Bill Stallard;and Messrs. Christopher Blake, Andrew Collyer, Timothy Duncan, George Edmonds, Richard
Evans, Jim Fink, Hugh Griffith, George Johnson, J. P. Kimpton, Edward Lane, William Lane,
Francis Peate, Julian Packman, Robin Paske, Andrew Perryman, Timothy Prince, Andrew
Powell, David Richmond, Andrew Simpson, John Taylor, Jerry Thomason and Hugo Tuthill.
Apologies were received from the Chairman, Air Vice Marshall D.N.K. Blair-Oliphant; the Vice-
Chairman, John Phipps; Anthony Claydon, the Venerable Christopher Mayfield and
Messrs. Keith Aitken, Rupert Bader, David Banks, M. Bates, Tom Bates, Stephen Beard,
Nigel, Richard and David Blair-Oliphant, Jack Coates, John Eyton Coates, Jonathan Coates,
W.N. Coates, Bill Dewing, Philip Dorrel, Jonathan, James and Thomas Edwards, Malcolm
Hughes, Nigel Helsby, Richard Johnson, Andrew and Robert Lane, D. R. McLeod, Brian
Massey, Charles Massey, Robert Massey, Stephen Nelson, J. D. P. O'Leary, Julian and Mark
Packman, David Powell, T. R. Powell, Jim Page, J. E. Page, Christopher Rawlings, Bill Robbins,John Shew, J.C. Smith, Lester Steynor, A.H. Slade, Richard Stallard, Roger Thomas, Oliver
Mayfield and Francis Tuthill.
The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on the 19th June 1982 having been circulated, were taken as read
and approved. The Secretary reported on the following matter arising out of the previous Minutes:-
a) Appeal fund: The funds had been fully distributed except for a reserve for Corporation Tax.
b) Membership subscriptions: The response to the invitation to members who left school more
than 12 years previous to the 1982 A.G.M. had been quite good though further contributions would
be welcomed. The contributions received would be invaluable in rebuilding the Association's funds
following the substantial donation to the Appeal fund and would enable a more economiccontribution to be made in future years to the heavy costs of production of the School Magazine.
The Accounts for the year ended 31st March 1983 were presented by the Honorary Treasurer and were
adopted.
Thefollowing Officers were elected for the ensuing year:-
CHAIRMAN: John Phipps
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Francis Tuthill
HONORARY SECRETARY/TREASURER: Bill Stallard
SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT: Dan Asterley
COMMITTEE: Messrs. Norman Green-Price, and Michael Rosoman having retired by rotation, Messrs.
Christopher Blake and George Johnson were elected to serve with Messrs. BrianMassey, John Shew, Nicholas Coley and David Richmond.
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OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION
Income and Expenditure Account for the Year ended 31st March, 1983
1982 INCOME 1982 EXPENDITURE
29.20 Membership subscriptions .................... 172.50 50.00 Contribution to School Magazine
expenses ............................................ 50.00
2.05 Magazine Appeal subscriptions . ... .. .. .. .. . 2.05 400.00 Contribution to the Asterley
Appeal Fund ................................ .... . -
Interest on Abbey National Building Inland Revenue - Corporation
39.21 Society Share Account 20.06 9.43 Tax..................................................... 6.80
Interest on Lloyds Bank Deposit Lloyds Bank - bank
2.30 account .............................................. 1.48 0.55 charges ............................................ 0.99
387.22 Excess of expenditure over income ... Excess of income over expenditure. . . 138.30
459.98 196.09 459.98 196.09
Balance Sheet for the Year ended 31st March, 1983
1982 1982
Balance brought forward 31st March Balances at Lloyds Bank:-
659.31 1982 .................................................... 273.09
25.90 Current account .................................... 140.61
15.83 Deposit account .................................... 19.36Excess of income (expenditure) Balance on Abbey National
387.22) over expenditure (income) .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 138.30 230.36 Building Society Share account . .. .. .. .. .. 250.42
273.09 410.39 272.09 410.39
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It was proposed by Hugh Griffith and seconded by Bill Stallard that Mrs. Beard's services to the School and
the support she had given as Secretary to successive Headmasters over many years should be marked by the
conferment upon her of Honorary membership of the Association. This was unanimously agreed. The
Chairman of the meeting, John Hughes, proposed a warm vote of thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh
Griffith and their staff for their hospitality and, there being no further business, the meeting then
closed.
The Association's Annual Dinner was held once again at The Union and County Club, Worcester,
under the Chairmanship of the President, John Hughes, the attendance numbering 29. The president
proposed the health of the school and Hugh Griffith responded.
Copy letter to the President O.A.A.
Dear President,
I should like to thank you all very much for the honour you bestowed on me at the O.A.A. dinner. It
is a title I shall guard and treasure for the rest of my life. I have always been happy to serve Aymestrey -
it's not so much a job as a way of life - and I feel very privileged to be numbered among your company.
Sincerely yours,Margot Beard.
LEAVERS
March 1983
D. L. Ridley - Came September 1981. Choir. Rugger XV. Chess.
J.D.B. Woods - Came September 1980.
July 1983
A. Baker (Worcs. Royal Grammar School) - Came January 1981. Choir.
Rugger XV. Soccer XI. Cricket XI. Colours for Soccer and Cricket.
M.D. Bews (Rendcomb College) - Came September 1978. Prefect. Choir.
E.A. Gleed (Bristol) - Came January 1980. Choir.
T. Henshaw (Bowbrook) - Came September 1981.
C.W. Hil l (Worcs. Royal Grammar School) - Came April 1981. Soccer XI. Snooker (Capt.) Chess.
Colours for soccer.
C. Parry (Lucton) - Came January 1980. Rugger XV. Soccer XI Cricket XI. Colours for rugger. Silver
survival.
S.D. Perriton (Ellesmere College) - Came April 1981. Rugger XV.
D. Ridley (Droitwich High School) - Came September 1981.
A. Trove (King's Worcs.) - Came September 1977. Prefect. Rugger XV. Soccer XI.
Cricket XI. Colours for cricket and rugger. Choir. Chess (Capt.) Bronze survival.
G. Young (Bowbrook) - Came September 1979. Choir. Bronze survival.
G.M. Yule (Ellesmere College) - Came September 1978. Prefect. Rugger XV.Colours for rugger.
December 1983
K. Bartlett (Belgium) - Came January 1982. Bronze survival.
J.J.S. Hanley (Aldenham School) - Came April 1981. Rugger XV. Cricket XI. Colours for rugger. Choir.
Chess.
M.B.H. Smith (Blackheath School) - Came September 1981.
J.N.D. Terry (Sacred Heart) - Came April 1978. Rugger XV. Colours for rugger. Choir. Silver survival.
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NEW BOYS
Spring 1983 B.J. Brining
Summer 1983 D. Stocker, M.T. Richardson.
Autumn 1983 C. Calladine, P. McGorman, R.S. Gorman, C.J. Gurney, J.G. Harvey,
R.J. Jaeger, D.R. Jaeger, D.S.H. Maher, D. Montandon, P.M. Reynolds, C.E. Taylor.
C.W. MASSEY
With the death in December of Charles Massey the Old Aymestrey Association lost one of its staunchest
supporters. Leaving Aymestrey in 1927, he went on to Bromsgrove, and from there joined the family firm
of Chartered Accountants in 1931, remaining in the business for the rest of his life, except for his war
service in the R.A.F.
He was present at the inaugural meeting of the O.A.A. in 1936 and served the Association actively tortwenty five years. With his brothers he was Hon. Auditor until 1954, when he became Chairman, and then
he was Joint Hon. Secretary and Treasurer until 1961. When he resigned from that post it was to busy
himself instead with the affairs of the Bromsgrovian Club, of which he was President when he died.
In these activities, as in all else, those around him could feel certain that Charles would serve selflessly,
would always do the right thing, and would moreover do it with extra touches of thoughtfulness and
kindness.
OLD BOY NEWS
C.J. Barnes runs a flourishing restaurant and wine business at Pokolbin in New South Wales. He has
two sons at boarding school, is still interested in music and wild life, and finds time for a good deal of
travel.
A.N.K. Brown is working for the Glasgow Child Guidance Clinic. He is married and is very keen on hill
walking - munro-bashing, if you know what that is.
J. A. Chandler, head of the junior department of a Yorkshire school, had a daughter, who was born
on the bathroom table with John acting as midwife.
S.J. Dorrell held Lounghborough for the Conservatives in the General Election, with a majority of over
16,000.
E. Edmonds has done nine 'O' levels and is now studying for 'A' levels in Maths, Physics and Geology. He
is going to Lapland in the summer on the same expedition as Stephen Nelson.
G. Edmonds is in the Monmouth School Archery team and also in their General Knowledge team. He was
awarded prizes for Art and Poetry.
J.N.K. Edwards is working in London as a graphic designer.J.W.K. Edwards is in his final year at Warwick University.
T.M.F. Edwards, after leaving Malvern College, is at Hereford Vlth Form College, studying for 'A'
levels in Geography, Chemistry and Biology.
J. Hanley writes from Aldenham that he is enjoying his first term, is coping well with the work, shooting
for the Under 14s and is hoping to get into the Under 14s hockey.
M. Harris has a full time scholarship at the Royal College of Music and is studying operatic singing.
N. Harris is going to America or Canada in May for three years to study for a PhD in the gases of the
upper atmosphere.
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D. Ilsley was awarded a scholarship at Wycliffe College, on entering the VIth Form, having passed
eleven 'O' levels - five at A grade.
B. Ilsley writes that boys from Wycliffe still run Radio Standish.
G. Johnson is in his final year at Walford Agricultural College. He is still very keen on music.
R. Johnson has been top student at Walford. He has won several cups for ploughing and took partin the national finals.
E. Johnson is hoping to join his father in Australia soon.
S.J. Kingston, having become deeply interested in Conservation, has qualified as a Countryside
Warden/Ranger, and is at present teaching school leavers in Surrey under the Youth Training Scheme.
A. MacLaren is in Perth, Australia, teaching sport and music at Christchurch Grammar School.
N.A. McCulloch is at Guy's Hospital and hopes to qualify next year.
I.M.W. McCulloch is working for Hill 's Fuels in Ledbury and plans to go into the police later. He plays
rugby for Bromyard, as also does Alan Masters.
R.J. McLeod, after working for several months on a Kibbutz in Israel, went up to Oriel College, Oxford.
He took a Second in Hon. Mods inspired by text books passed on from D.A.N.A., and takes Greats this
summer. He rows and skis for the College and sings Gilbert and Sullivan, including a solo part in the
Mikado.
S. Nelson has passed all his 'O'levels, and was awarded a Lloyd prize at Malvern. He is now working for
'A' levels in Chemistry, Biology and Geography. He has been chosen to go on a geographical expedition
to Lapland.
C. Parry is enjoying his time at Lucton and is playing for the U 15s rugby team.
S.D. Perriton is enjoying his first year at Ellesmere College.
D. Richmond plays for the 1st XV rugger, 1st XI soccer and 1st XI cricket at the W.R.G.S. He also holds
the record for the highest score - 122. He was awarded the Sportsman of The Year trophy for 1983 which
was presented by Peter Walker. He plays rugger for the Worcester County U16s, soccer for the Lent
Term Soccer Schools (Central Region Team) and cricket for the Worcester Cricket Association U 16s.
When he has time he is studying for 'A' level Maths, Physics and Industrial Studies, having passed six 'O'
levels.R.W. Stallard is taking 'A' levels at Malvern in the summer, where he is a Library prefect. He is hoping
to go to Sandhurst to take a three year regular a rmy commission.
G. Yule writes from Ellesmere that he has started German and has joined the R.A.F. section of the
C.C.F.
CONGRATULATIONS
(Staff) Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Wales on the birth of a daughter, Holly, at the end of the Autumn
Term. Congratulations also to Mr. & Mrs. Cleary, and Mr. & Mrs. Chandler who have all had daughers,
this year.
GIFTS
We are very grateful to the following for their presents to the school:-
Mr. & Mrs. Baker Rugger and soccer balls.
Mr. & Mrs. Ridley Rope for assault course.
Mr. & Mrs. Trove Bookshelf for hymm books.
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Truck trolley.
Mr. & Mrs. Douglas Osborne (Yule) Compasses for orienteering.
Mr. & Mrs. Godsall Potatoes for 5th November.
We should also like to thank the many parents who have helped with transport to matches etc.
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MUSIC
During the year the following Associated Board Piano Exams were passed:-
T. Henshaw Grade IJ. Essex Grade I (Merit)
Oliver Saunders Grade I (Merit)
C. Knappett Grade 1 (Merit)
D. Morton Grade 1
N. Richardson Grade 4
P. Gorman Grade 2
T. Wise Grade 5
SNOOKER AND TABLE TENNIS
We entertained St. Richards and Bromsgrove Junior School on two different evenings to matches in
snooker, chess and table tennis.
Against St. Richard's we won the chess 5-0, lost the table tennis 0-2 and won the snooker 3-2.
The Bromsgrove team was brought by the headmaster, J.C. Page, who is an old boy of Aymestrey. We
won all three - chess 6-0, table tennis 5-1 and snooker 2-0.
The table tennis team was Bews, Perriton S., Baker and Rose-Cooper, and MacLaren and Shafto
played snooker.
UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE A LA MONMOUTH (1983)
We took part again in this extremely well run quiz and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The team was
Bews, Rankin, Adams and Knappett. In round one we were defeated by Monmouth Day Boys but as we
were the best losers we went on for another round and were beaten this time by The Downs, Wraxall.
CHESS 1983
Chess has taken off in a big way this year. In January Mr. Knee, master in charge of chess at Malvern
College, kindly came and gave a simultaneous display. We mustered 27 boards, including one intrepid
father. Mr. Knee is a formidable player and it was no surprise that he won all the games but we kept him
at if for three hours!
In the Spring ho lidays Trow, Rankin, Knappett, Hard iman and Goadby attended the I.A.P.S. Chess
Congress at Oxford. There were some 140 prep. school players taking part and our boys gained a great deal
from the course. Five minutes after the whole thing had started Hardiman was reporting his first win!
Matches played 8. Won 6, Drawn 1, Lost 1.
Games played 56. Won 41. Drawn 2. Lost 13.
The one match we lost was in the Times Chess Competition when we were knocked out in the
second round. Trow was captain until he left at the end of the summer when Rankin took over. Other boys
who played in the team on a regular basis were Hardiman, Knappett, Goadby, Hill and Bartlett M.
while Cummins, Hanley, Ridley D.L. Richardson N. and Wise T. played in some matches.
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OXFORD CHESS CONGRESS 1983
On the Sunday after breaking up for the Easter holidays we came back to school. There were five of us:-
Trow, captain of the chess team, Rankin, Goadby, Knappett and me (Hardiman).
Trow, Rankin and I went with Mr. Griffith and Goadby and Knappett with Mrs. Griffith. We arrived at the
Dragon School just in time for lunch on Sunday.
Shortly afterwards we played our first game. I was the first to finish so I had to report to the results
room. My game was so quick that the person in the results room hadn't arrived but he soon came.
Trow arrived about 15 minutes later to report that he had won. Trow and I then popped across the road
to our dormitory. We had to pass the kitchen and then go down a long corridor on the right. Our
dormitory was right outside the Matron's office so we had to be very quiet at night or we would have been
punished. We had comics to read, games to play and a nice cosy room. We sat down and played a game of
scrabble for half an hour and then Rankin and Knappett came in to tell us that one had drawn and one had
lost.
The first night's tea was great. We had hot dogs and chocolate spread on bread. The dining room was
very big and we grouped together to plan the rest of the day.
Usually after lunch we would go with Mr. & Mrs. Rankin who had brought their caravan to Oxford, into
the town. We looked at the colleges and then went to the caravan by the River Evenlode and played a game
like cricket, football or a quiz game in the caravan when it rained. We went to the river and launched
twigs and tried to sink them with stones. We had tea in the caravan and then went back to the Dragon School
to play more games. We left Oxford on Thursday.
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FOOTBALL 1983
This season we continued the style of football that has given the team and the rest of the senior game a
good deal of enjoyment over the past few years. Pushing most of the team into attack inevitably results in
goals for one side or the other and as a result provides some entertaining games. The team only
turned in one bad performance, unfortunately that was our only home match, and on one occasion
played well above themselves to produce a remarkable game of football.
It is worth describing this match, away at the Elms, in detail as it conveniently contains all the
important and interesting features of the season. We were fresh from our first win of the season, away
at the Abbey School in Tewkesbury, and having endured the biting cold and lost horizons of their full
size pitch felt a little more confident than we had done at the hands of Winterfold a week before. That
particular fixture consisted mainly of Brodie, our gallant understudy in goal, picking the ball out of
the net.
Two integral parts of this year's pattern of play were using both wings in attack and operating an
offside trap. In the first half against the Elms both these worked fairly well. Baker moved to the right
wing after his success on the left last year and Knappett took the vacant place. Both grew more and more
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confident as the season progressed and against the Elms ran the ball deep and past the defenders. Despite
these frequent attacks they were unable to penetrate until Parry C. at left half suddenly awoke and
powered a long ball diagonally out to Baker on the right. He crossed it towards the far post and after Trow
and Rose-Cooper, the two inside forwards, had both scrambled for it Knappett pushed it in with his left
foot.
Before the second half began the Elms were back in the game when Richardson, who along with Essex
provided their usual solid defence throughout the season, had a minor misunderstanding with MacLarenin goal. Trow had started the season in goal but MacLaren quickly made the position his when Trow was
absent through illness. He proved extremely useful in this game with some brave saves as well as plucking a
back pass, that hit the bar, off the line.
The second half began with ten minutes of torpor, a trait that appeared in several of our games. The
Elms went one goal up. Fortunately under Shafto's silent but effective captaincy the midfield of Hill,
Rankin and Parry C. began to operate again and the tide turned. Hill showed his composure at centre half
in most of the games and was often in the right place to put a carefully weighted pass to the forwards.
Rankin has the makings of being a very useful player and quickly mastered the simpler skills of
his demanding position. When, as against the Elms, Parry C. managed to find his touch and get in his
tackles he too proved to be an effective half-back.
All this renewed pressure, especially down the left wing, at last resulted in a direct free kick on the edge
of the penalty area. Shafto elected to take it himself. He had two remarkable kicks in the 1983 season
among the many skills that he displayed. One of these was the ball he placed so accurately into the back
row of the audience during the play, this free kick was the other. He knocked it up over the defensive
wall, slid it through the goalkeeper's fingers, and watched it drop gently into the back of the goal. The
final score was 2-2.
The game against the Elms combined all the elements that occasionally raise schoolboy football
into something more than fifty minutes of ragged play. The combination of slowly learnt skills and solid
practice is sometimes given another dimension when the players add the enthusiasm that comes from a
true enjoyment of the game.
9
The next few years are going to be difficult as the XI will have to rely on younger players without much
experience. Fortunately the middle game have shown plenty of enthusiasm and a couple of them, Williams
and Harper, played well enough to be included in the Open Day match. This game, played in surprising
sunshine, also provided an opportunity for those members of the senior game who had been unable to
hold down a place in Ist. XI to display their skills. Among those who tried very hard to provide a goodstandard of football in our practice games were Bews, Hanley, Brodie, Cummins, Young, Hardiman, Ridley
D. L., and Perriton S.
The colour matches, decided on goal difference, were won by the Blues.
The following were awarded their colours: Knappet t, Hill, Baker, and Richardson. Shafto and
Essex were awarded theirs last season.
RU'A FIOLA SPRING 1983
We travelled by train as usual, but spent a night at a Youth Hostel at Adgarten. Oban was fine,
unusually for spring and the crossing to Ru'a was smooth. Various activities continued on Ru's as usual,
including climbing, abseiling, canoeing etc.
It was the expedition that proved especially interesting this year. Initially all was well on our walk to
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Russian Bay on Scarba, but half way round we observed a storm heading our way. It was decided that
Richardson, Parry and I would rush to the summit, while the others, with Richard, the chief instructor,
would press on. We arrived on top in time to see the storm raging below us while we stood alone on top in
calm clear weather.
We eventually reached the caves, where we were to stay the night, before the other group. By this
time a mighty blizzard was blowing. We spent an interesting, but warm and dry night with the storm raging
all round.
Ru'a was enjoyed by all and our thanks are due to Torquil and Margaret for allowing us to see a
part of the world quite unlike any other.
CRICKET 1983
At the beginning of term it rained and then rained some more. But while the cricket square grew
lush and green we put behind us the miserable conditions of the first two games of the season and wore out
innumerable composition balls on the hard play area; and then we went to Malvern.
We had entered the six-a-side competitions during the winter and discovered that we could field a
soccer, rugby and cricket team. We set off with hopes of an enjoyable afternoon and an early return. Asthe cricket games progressed, however, it became clear that our games on the confines of the hard play
area had equipped us for the peculiarities of the indoor game. We scratched and scrambled our singles,
fielded fearlessly, and bowled with what might be termed imagination. Mysterious schools from distant parts
crumbled before the combined onslaught of MacLaren, Shafto, Rose-Cooper, Baker, Rankin and Hanley
until we found ourselves in the final against the Downs. We lost but came back to school at some late
hour filled with a new confidence. Every game we played in the competition had its moments of tension
and excitement but certain incidents still remain fresh. Due to the regulation that five bowlers had to
be used we decided the best way to conceal Hanley's complete lack of talent as a slow right arm spinner
was to open with him. Not only did he bewilder his opponents as they waited in vain for his good ball,
playing
10
all the bad ones with an exaggerated respect, but he also kept taking wickets, including a remarkable
caught and bowled off the ceiling. MacLaren too was responsible for a fine catch flinging himself full
length to take one off the side wall and Rose-Cooper made sure of the semi-final by knocking up a fierce
straight drive off his own bowling and then catching the gentle rebound.
After these excitements the weather began to improve too and gradually, after we had beaten Winterfold in
conditions almost as bad as those in which we had drawn with St. Richard's, we returned to grass. The final
tally of results for the term was played nine, lost one, drawn three, won five.
The most pleasing thing about the season was that it was a genuine team success. If a certain bowler or
batsman failed one of the others was always at hand to revive the side's fortunes or amaze even himself
with a fine piece of fielding. Because this spirit of co-operation and support was so evident it is
possible to discuss the different contributions made by the individuals that made up this excellent side
without detracting from the fact that it was an eleven and not a few players who gave us such an
enjoyable season.
MacLaren, as befitted a captain, was top of the batting averages, top of the bowling averages, andfielded magnificently. At the beginning of the season his bowling action was still producing too little
accuracy but with the dedication and enthusiasm he brought to every aspect of school cricket, from cutting
the pitch to opening the batting, he turned himself into a fast bowler who took his thirty-odd wickets at
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around four runs apiece. Perhaps more remarkable than this is that almost half his overs were
maidens. Equal ly impressive was the fact that he continued to bowl fast and for very long spells even on
the placid batting wickets at The Elms and Abberley. It was in the final match of the season at Abberley
that he also scored an unbeaten fifty-eight. To confound his critics who thought that he tended to hit too
many balls past square on the leg side on this occasion he gained most of his runs on the off. Throughout
his batting in the second half of the season he almost always looked completely at ease and in control of the
situation. To open the bowling and the batting as well as have to think about the captaincy is a great deal
of responsibility for any player at any level of cricket. MacLaren managed to combine all three duringmatches and also devote a great deal of his free time to practising just as hard and so giving the rest of the
team a high standard to live up to.
Hardiman was one of the players in the senior game who benefited from this exposure to good
bowling and batting. Through hard work, and a great deal of cheerful enthusiasm, he made himself into
a very useful opening batsman. By the end of the season he was playing very straight and was much more
confident on the front foot. He was awarded his colours for his dedication in the opening spot and also
the great improvement he made in his fielding: his returns from square leg were almost always fast and
accurate.
The number three batting place was eventually taken by Baker. He quickly made the position his own
and had some very fluent innings particularly when his off drive was flowing. In school matches his
best innings was probably against the Abbey at Tewkesbury when he just missed making a fifty on a pitch
with huge boundaries, but most people will remember his cavalier century in the colour matches
when he smote most of Grey's bowlers all over the South Lawn. He too won his colours for his batting
and was another agile fielder.
Rose-Cooper made a determined effort to discipline his batting and as a result had some attractive
knocks. When he played himself in and sorted out which were the balls to be hit he batted with a great deal
of spirit and usually spread the fielders out to the boundaries. He also was a useful bowler. The occasional
delivery was as fast as MacLaren but it was usually preceeded by a couple of indifferent balls.
11
However if he continues to try as hard next season as he has this year he has the potential to be a very
useful player. He was awarded his colours.
Rankin was the stock bowler and proved to be very hard to get away when his left-arm medium pace
from around the wicket found its length. He was another tireless performer who was prepared to bowl
over after over regardless of the heat, or rain. His enthusiasm for bowling, whether in matches or practice,
was matched by his dedication to improve as a batsman. Unfortunately as the top of the batting order
flourished he could only set some sort of record as being the batsman most of ten padded up who didn' t
go in. However his abilities should find him up the order next year and the ever-increasing weight of
the bats he uses in practice should find an opportunity to score some runs. He was awarded his colours.
Shafto had another excellent season as wicket-keeper. He coped very well with the varieties of pace that
he had to face and in most matches let very few byes past. He will probably be very pleased to see the
emergence of Knappett as a potential left-arm spinner as this will enable him to get back into a regular
stumping routine. After an initial tendency at the start of the season to believe that every ball bowled at
him was destined to be swung over mid-wicket's head he settled down to become a very correct batsman.
Along with the rest of the side he was a good runner between the wickets and contributed some very useful
stands. Once again he was a constant presence at practice in the evenings and finished the season with some
of the more subtle arguments for being asked to pad up and bat.
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Trow was a fairly dependable middle order batsman who suffered like the rest of the lower order from not
having enough match practice due to the success of their fellows. His colours were awarded rather like a long
service medal. As in so many other school sporting activities Trow has been in the team for a long time and
has always tried his hardest in whatever position he has found himself.
Hanley, who always looked surprised when not asked to bowl again after Malvern, batted with a
great deal of zest in practice and proved himself capable of hitting the ball great distances. He remained a
cheerful member of the side even though he had very few opportunities to bat.
Richardson was another lower order batsman who worked hard on his technique in practice and should
have an opportunity to prove himself next year. He was a valuable fielder this year taking some excellent
catches at point.
Cummins too proved a useful fielder taking two stunning catches in the last two matches a skier in the
Father's and a very firmly hit drive at mid-off to dismiss Abberley's number three. His batting too improved.
Parry at number eleven also had little chance to demonstrate his improved batting but always fielded
with enthusiasm and his long throws from the long leg boundary usually found their target.
As always a successful team needs a good deal of practice and it is always a great help if the rest of the
senior game can provide some opposition outside the eleven. This year McGorman, Young, Knappett
and Essex helped to provide some stubborn batting and useful bowling. The middle game also producedParry A. and Dowthwaite as potential players for the coming seasons.
To summarise such a successful season as this year's is very difficult as everybody will hold different
memories but the overwhelming impression is one of a team that grew in confidence so that they were able
to pace their game precisely. The run chases against the Ferrets and Moffats that achieved wins with a few
minutes to spare particularly stand out as examples of this maturity and the steady batting against the
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unfamiliarity of Abberley's spin attack to achieve a good draw showed how far the team had come from
the wet days of May.
The real success of the season, however, with all its marvellous moments was to have a school team
enjoying itself by playing cricket to the best of their combined abilities. Whatever the results, if the players
manage to achieve that, then they have been a good team.
SWIMMING
For the first time for many years we had some good weather at the end of term and as a result everyone
in the school was able to swim a minimum of half a length by the end. In the distance awards Shafto,
Terry, Saunders, Foster, Trow and McGorman swam 1000m., C. Parry and Young 1500 and N.
Richardson 2000m. These are no mean achievements in our cold water. We find that boys who have
passed Bronze, or even Silver survival in a heated pool can hardly swim when they come here. Foster,
Young, Adams, J. Taylor, Trow and K. Bartlett gained Bronze survival, and Terry, Essex, T. Wise, N.
Richardson and McGorman Silver survival.
ATHLETICS
The enthusiasm for cricket throughout the school was so great this year that Athletics became the
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poor relation and very few good results were achieved. However, in the Under 10 Bartlett M. gained
4 star Pentathlon and N. Richardson in the Under 13 5 star in both three events and Pentathlon.
FETE FOR CHURCH
The Church Fete was held here this year while our campers were away and naturally this involved
the school. The boys ran various competitions on the east lawn, the local cubs did a war dance on the
south lawn and Mr. Richardson ran the clay pigeon shoot. The most popular stall with out boys, after theice cream one, was Mrs. Edward's portraits. The church made over 500 towards the roof repairs.
CAMP 1983
This year camp turned out to be one of the hottest so far. We sweated our way from breakfast to lunch
and on to tea. As a result we tended to avoid the middle of the day for our activities.
Due to our new timing our ascent of Radnor Firest started at 7 a.m. on Sunday. We reached the summit,
without being attacked in fly alley or buzzed by trail bikes, by 9.20 a.m. and were back in camp and asleep
by 11.45 a.m. Every year we appear to outdo the last on our expedition, but this year proved to be the most
remarkable.
However, it is the people who count and it is they who provide the best memories. Who can forget Gleed's
up to the minute commentary on every passing train or Trove's evening camp fire antics, complete with
his own special brand of humour. Shafto will be remembered for his look of fear before the second line of
the ghost story had been told and MacLaren for his aggressive batting in our non-stop cricket match. Some,
such as Hanley, discovered that they really could herd sheep, although for Brodie it turned out to be a
busman's holiday. Fine sunsets gave Bews the chance to use his camera al though we have not
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se en th e re su lt s ye t, wh il e Hi ll enjoyed smashing his eggs everywhere but in the frying pan,
at breakfast. Parry made great use of the f irst aid t in while Yule went one bet ter by
be in g at tac ked by a Yeti which flung him into a nettlebed. The mystery guest provided us with
the ul t imate mystery by not turning up!
Finally we are most greteful to Mr. & Mrs. Green Price for their help and kindness.
CAROLS
When you go down the blanketed stairs for the first time in your life and turn the corner to see 160 parentsstaring at you, a cold feeling goes through your body as the last note of Adeste is sung you sense everyone
looking at you.
When I first went to Carols I was red in the face all the way through. When you forget the words in 'Il est
ne' you expect to be blown up but when Carols is over nobody says anything! It is probably because the
others made mistakes as well.
A ten year old member of the choir.
RUGBY 1983
After a glorious summer of cricket and sun the grass suddenly grew in September and with some timely
rain the rugby pitch was in fine shape for the start of the season. It seemed that the omens were
favourable. When the team trooped off the pitch in the mud at the end of the last remarkable match ending
the season with 235 points for and 58 against the early promise had been fulfilled beyond most of our
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dreams.
The games we played were divided sharply into two groups: those against the schools we usually play
at rugby on relatively even terms - St. Richards's, The Elms and St. Michael's and those larger ones -
such as Abberley, Hawford and Winterfold who appear to have more pitches than we have players. It
is a mark of the team's success that we beat the first group convincingly, conceeding only 6 points
when we played our 'A' team against St. Richard's for the second game, and against the other group beat
Hawford 33-4, lost by 6 points to Abberley, and only missed revenging Winterfold's 14-0 victory by losing16-14 in the replay. Their last and crucial points being scored well into a curious period of extra time.
The roots of this success may be traced in several different directions. Much of the team's resolute
stubborness and determination goes back to the days when we have had weaker teams who, despite their
failure to run up large scores - or any scores at all, have played as hard as they were able determined to
enjoy defeat as well as victory. For players like Shafto who have endured those lean years good humouredly
this season's success was all the more deserving. This year in particular a great deal was also due to the
constant use of the hard play area. Rugby began after breakfast for most of the senior game and the
seemingly endless number of passes, sprints and more sprints to be toiled through or logs to be carried built
up an enviable fitness that was always superior to our opponents. But most of all, perhaps, it was
the same enthusiasm and hard work that had transformed the cricket team that pulled the rugby
players to higher levels as a team and not individuals.
With the early morning training sessions break and games were both usually used to play practice matches
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so the senior game had plenty of opportunities to try out various combinations and match themselves
against different opponents. With few injuries the side was usually the same for most games. The
front row had Rankin hooking supported by Foster and Brodie. The latter two were notable for not
only being strong and solidly built but also remarkably fast for their size. Brodie was the secondhighest try scorer with 8 and Foster also scored with a piece of quick thinking in the 'A' team match
against St. Richard's. These facts are ample testimony to their speed and fitness. Brodie had been
reluctant to move from the second row. By the end of the season most of his opponents in the
scrummage would probably have preferred him to stay there. The penalty that he developed at the
end of the season and practised gleefully on the rest of the game also inculcated a newrespect intoother forwards and made them seek urgent business elsewhere on the pitch. Foster rapidly gained his
promotion to the team, kept his place and won his colours. By the last game of the season the whole XV
had been awarded colours. Rankin's hooking was only really ever matched by the Winterfold
team and his all round ability was demonstrated by kicking 16 points in conversions, scoring a try as
hooker, playing centre for the 'A' team and dropping a goal against St. Michael's. At the lineout his
throwing was usually accurate and he led the forwards in the loose play with positive determination.
The second row of McGorman and Perriton underwent an interesting transformation as
McGorman rapidly lost all his surplus weight and assumed the speed of his partner while Perriton
seemed to match him in strength. They too deserved their colours for their consistent driving play.
The flankers were Harper and Dowthwaite. The latter was usually the smallest player on the
pitch but his speed from the scrummage and his commitment made him as valuable a member of
the side as Harper who was also sharp at the set pieces and fast to the ball. Hanley's play at no. 8 was a
good example of how an intelligent appraisal of the game can easily compensate for a slight physique.
In the lineout he dominated with his well-timed jumps and safe handling and by knowing when to break
early from the scrummage he was able to add another dimension to the half backs' play. He scored three
tries - one of which was a well planned pushoever from a five yard scrum.
As a pack, which is how any successful team will always hope to see its forwards, they kept solidlytogether, had intelligent variations at kick-offs and penalties and were particularly devastating
in the ruck. Their ability to convert loose ball and scrappy handling into well protected possession for
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their half backs was a vital part in the team's progress to being a very good side.
MacLaren at scrum half seemed to improve in every game. As his confidence increased with the fast hook
of Rankin and intelligent feed of McGorman, Perriton and Hanley his distribution became more and more
impressive. His long pass often surprised the opposition as it went straight to the centres and his dummy
helped him collect three tries for the side. As one of the trio of successful place kickers he added another ten
points with conversions and was unlucky at St. Michael's to see his drop kick hit the post.
Shafto's drop kicking, which he used to collect six conversions, also entertained as he entered into a
slight confectionary wager with the coach that he couldn't score a drop goal - not a conversion - with
both his left foot and his right. He duly managed the feat and finished the season with four drop goals to
his credit to match his four tries. Apart from this stylish ability to collect three points - often under the close
attention of the other side - his running was even stronger than in past years and his passing and handling
was often almost flawless. His captaincy also matured and he showed that he could ensure that the team
played attractive rugby whatever the situation.
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Rose-Cooper a t ins ide cent re bui l t on las t year ' s exper ience and developed in to a
formidable tackler and intelligent back. His running, selfless supply of ball both ou tsi de an d to
Richardson on the burst were a lways valuable and h is presence in the midf ie ld was
a reassuring e lement in the back l ine. He scored twice but would have amassed a far
larger personal total if he had not been so concerned with ensuring the te am , an d not hi ms el f ,
bene fite d. William s o utsi de him, who also scor ed twic e, benefited from his partner's
skill and dedication and earned his colours through hard work. Knappett and Essex on the wingsreceived a good deal of the ball and ma de go od us e o f i t. Es se x w as pa rt ic ul ar ly us ef ul as
he co ul d be sw it ch ed to an y position when injuries prevented players filling their places. He
scored four tries and was a very rel iable member of the team. Knappett once again
showed his speed and also a formidable tackle that toppled many a giant in his stride. Richardson
made the transition from prop to full-back with ease. For a big player he was not only strong but also
well co-ordinated and fast. To his credit, and that of the side, he ne ve r do mi nat ed th e tea m bu t
wa s a n i nt eg ra l p ar t o f i t. Hi s s pe ed fr om de fe nc e, where he caught, gathered and tackled
well, to attack was particularly impressive and he sco re d se ver al of his ten tri es fro m
strong runs coming through the back l ine between or outs ide the cent res .
Terry and Hardiman also played for the school and tried their hardest on all occasions. Hardiman
played on the wing in the 'A' team and scored twice . Cummins also scored on this occasion and all
the players drafted into the side took the opportunity of playing for the school with greatenthusiasm. Saunders, Goadby, Parry, Everitt, Adams and Wise all played in the forwards and deserved
to be part of a winning team.
Such a successful season brings back many memories - there will be some very boring reminiscences in
future Old Boys' days. But it is satisfying to think that such high points as Richardson's run in the first
Winterfold match, Shafto, Maclaren and Rankin swapping positions to do their party pieces at St.
Michael's, Brodie's penalties and Hanley's jumping at Hawford and Rose-Cooper's team doing
impossible feats on the hard play area, and most of all the magnificent effort in the last game at home
against Winterfold when we scored 14 points and hung on grimly against all their counter attackes until it
seemed that the game should be ours; all these were the products of endless enthusiasm and
determination on the players' part however hard things became. Because of this it was a marvellous team
to coach and one that gained the respect of all the schools we played.
Once again we were also fortunate in our supporters who provided so much transport and
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intelligent appreciation. The treat they provided for the team at the end of term was a generous addition
to all they had already contributed.
The middle game underwent a hard apprenticeship this term and it took some of its members a long
time to discover that nothing comes without a great deal of hard work. But although they may not reach
the heights of this year's team Reynolds, Brining, Gurney, Jaeger D., Bartlett M., Maher and Taylor S. -
who was substitute for the 'A' team - should be able to supply some of the same spirit if not the same
ski l l s .
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Winners - 1984 Worcestershire Prep School 6-a-side Soccer Tournament.