The Esperanto Club
| 1946-47 Pariza hotelo tuj antau la foriro. | ||
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| Photo from Doris Richardson. Thank you, Doris. The group in Paris on the way home from Barbezieux (near Bordeaux) to Hemsworth. Back Row L-R: Mr. Hamilton, Bob Lumb, Mr. Leonard, Graham Hamilton, 5, Anouk Aymie Third Row L-R: Miss. Davies, Elaine Whiston, Muriel Hirst, Joan Herbert, Janet Thorley, Pat Atkinson, Doreen Worsfold, 8 Second Row L-R: Mary Charnock, Kathleen Woodward, Mary Boot, Doris Richardson, Barbara Hamilton, June Roberts, Marion Roberts Front Row L-R: Baddersley, Allbrook, Geoff Manning, Florence Crossley A-Z of the pupil group 1. R. Allbrook 2. P. Atkinson 3. Baddersley 4. M. Boot 5. M. Charnock 6. R. Clatworthy 7. F. Crossley 8. B. Dracup 9. B. Hamilton 10. G. Hamilton 11. J. Herbert 12. G. Hickling 13. M. Hirst 14. B. Johnson 15. R. Lumb 16. G. Manning 17. D. Richardson 18. J. Roberts 19. M. Roberts 20. J. Thorley 21. E. Whiston 22. K. Woodward 23. D. Worsfold This year has been a very busy one for the Esperanto Club. We have held very enjoyable weekly meetings at which we have had sing-songs, played games and told stories. We have 60-70 members who all show great interest in our work, the lower part of the school being especially enthusiastic and helpful. We have had two very interesting and amusing talks given to us by Mr. Hamilton and Mr. Lock, who spoke on the International Congress. The club has supported the Correspondence Movement in School. We correspond with seventeen countries in Esperanto. Most of our members have pen-friends abroad and we have received some very interesting and amusing letters. One of the outstanding events of this year is the Esperanto trip to France in August. Many wished to take part in this trip but numbers were limited. The chosen twenty four are waiting patiently for August to come when they will spend three weeks in Barbezieux (near Bordeaux). During the morning we shall take lessons from French teachers. The rest of the day will be filled with rambles, sight seeing, visits to places of interest, and concerts. On behalf of the Esperanto Club I should like to thank the members of Staff who have helped us so much. We appreciate their work very much and hope they will continue it. Elaine Whiston. 4A. Talbot. | ||
| 1947-48 | ||
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| Photo from Janet Thorley. Thank you, Janet. Back Row L-R: 1, 2, 3 Fourth Row L-R: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Third Row L-R: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 Second Row L-R: 1, 2, Janet Thorley, 4, Mr. Lock, Mr. Hamilton, Dr. Sass, 8, 9, 10, 11 Front Row L-R: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 This year has been a very pleasant and interesting one for our club. After last Summer Term twenty-three of our members took part in an excursion to France where we spent three weeks among the French people. We visited many famous places in Paris such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. We were all given a diary which contained a record of all our activities. We made many good friends in France, which shows how useful Esperanto is in helping to make friends all over the world. We are now preparing for a party of French Children to come to stay in Hemsworth this summer. During the year we have had weekly meetings at which we had talks and sang songs, and showed stamp collections and postcards. We all appreciate the work of the Headmaster, Messrs. Lock, Sass and Leonard, Miss Smith and Miss Davies, all of whom have given us unfailing support throughout the year. Elaine Whiston. 5A. | ||
| 1948-49 | ||
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At the end of the Christmas Term the Esperanto Club suffered a great loss when Dr. Sass left us to take up a post in the U.S.A. However we should like to thank all the members of the Staff who have helped us so much. At the beginning of the year a series of talks was given by Mr. Lock on all the things an Esperantist should know. I am sure that all those who attended these talks were very much interested.
The above photo shows the Esperanto Club in 1949. | ||
| 1960 | ||
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| For many years Hemsworth Grammar School was clearly marked on the Esperanto map. Every pupil followed a two-year course of instruction in the school timetable, and several hundreds of them, throughout the years, made and maintained contact with correspondents all over the world. Unfortunately the International Language has been removed from the curriculum; but, when it was proposed to form an Esperanto Club in Forms 1 and 2, the response was enthusiastic. The inaugural meeting of the Club was held on the 21st January, 1960. The main feature of the meeting was an inspiring talk by that veteran Esperantist, the Headmaster. (The position of esteem and importance which Mr. Hamilton holds in the Esperanto world may not be appreciated locally. (Non est propheta sine honore nisi in patria sua.) Mr. Collette also spoke of his sympathy with the Esperanto movement, and of the fascinating possibilities offered by Esperanto for promoting international friendships and facilitating foreign travel. A large number of members were enrolled, too many, it was feared, for a single instruction group. However, the problem solved itself by the early resignation of many members, and the comparative few who have maintained their interest are making very good progress with the language, and will, it is hoped, make good Esperantists in the full sense of the word. Arrangements have been made for some private study during the "close season" - when clubs do not meet - and the initial course of twenty lessons will be completed as soon as possible. Later, Proficiency Tests will be taken, an Esperanto Prize will be awarded, and members will be introduced to correspondents in various foreign countries. We are grateful to Mr. Davies for his consistent support throughout the session, and praise is due to the Secretary, Heyes, J. (Celts) for his faithful and efficient services. (E.G.L.) LA ESPERANTA KLUBO 1960 Dum multe da jaroj Hemsworth Grammar School estis klare markita sur la mapo de Esperanujo. Cui lernato sekvadis duajaran kurson de instruo kaj, tra la jaroj, pluraj centoj faris kaj daurigis kontakton kun korespondantoj en la tuta mondo. Malfelice, la Lingvo Internacia estas forigita de la instrutemaro; sed kiam farigis propono estigi Esperantan Klubon en la Klasoj 1 kaj 2, la reakcio estis entuziasma. La inaugural kunveno de la Klubo okazis las 21-an de Januaro, 1960. La ,ero elstara de la kunveno estis parolado inspira de tui Esperantisto veterana, la Direktoro, (Eble ne konceptas la citieuloj la lokon gravan kaj estimindan de S-ro Hamilton en la mondo Esperanta.(Non est propheta sine honore nisi in patria sua.) Ankau S-ro Collette parolis pri su simpatico kun la Esperanta movado kaj pri la ,eblecoj adm'irigaj kiujn prezentas Esperanto por antauenigi amikecojn internaciajn kaj faciligi la vojagadon eksterlandan.Enskribigis nombrego da membroj - tro multaj, timeble, por fari unusolan instrugrupon. Tamen, la problemo solvigis de si mem per la frua malenskribo de multaj membroj. La kompare nemultaj kiuj malperdis intereson faras bonan progreson en la lingvolerno kaj farigos, espereble, bonaj Esperantistoj lau la plena senco de la termino. Jam organizigis arango por ioma studo ekstergrupa dum la "malpoermesa sezono" - kiam ne konvenadas la Kluboj _kaj la komenca dudeka lecionaro estos kompletigita kiel eble plej baldau. Poste okazos Ekzamenoj pri Kompetenteco, la Premio Esperanta ,estos aljugata, kaj la klubanoj faros ekrilaton kun korespondantoj alilandaj.Ni tre dankas S-ron Davies pro lia sencesa apogo tra la kunvenaro, kaj plue, laudinda estas Sekretario, Heyes, J. (Celts) pro lia servo fidela kaj competita. EGOLO | ||
| 1961 | ||
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| Although we can not boast that Esperanto is flourishing in the School at the moment, it is certainly true that the torch lit by Zamenhof (Ludwig Lazarus Zamenhof, the originator of Esperanto) has not completely gone out, thanks to the revival of the Esperanto Club during the past two years. The "close season" for clubs is with us once more, and that is a matter of regret for the few faithful members who have never missed a meeting. During the terms when the Clubs meet again, we are hoping that many of the younger folk will take up this fascinating and extremely useful hobby, and that the Club will prosper greatly, as it did in those happy days when the International Language occupied an honourable place in the timetable. Lastly, here is a piece of good news for future members. Mr. Jakes has agreed to be Club Leader for the coming season. As I say farewell, may I express my sincere good wishes for the future of the Club, and of Esperanto generally, in the School. EGOLO LA ESPERANTA KLUBO 1961 Kvankam oni ne povas fanfaroni ke Esperanto floras aktuale en nia lieco, ja estas vere ke la Zamenhofa torch one tute mallumighis, dank' al la revivigo tra la du pasintaj jaroj de la Esperanta Klubo. La nekluba sezono jam revenis, kaj tion bedauras la kelkaj fidelulinoj kiuj neniam forestis de la klubaj kunvenoj. Dum la reklubaj trimestroj, ni esperas ke tiun allogan kaj utilegan kromlaboron entreprenos multaj junaj geliceanoj, kaj ke la Klubo floregos tiel kiel dum la felicha tempo kiam la lingvo internacia okupis honoran lokon en la hortabelo. Fine, jen bona novajho por la estontaj klubanoj. S-ro Jajes konsentis roli kiel klubestro dum la venonta sezono. Adiauante, mi esprimu miajn sincerajn bondezirojn por la estonteco de la Klubo. EGOLO | ||
| 1962 | ||
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| Only a few students enrolled this season, but they have attended faithfully and have made much progress with the language. I hope that they will continue the lessons during the close season and that they will enrol again next year. This is most important, for if the Club is to flourish with activities other than lessons in the language, it will have to rely on a continuity of membership. It is a pity to leave the club just when one is achieving some proficiency in the language. Each year, the opportunities for the use of Esperanto are becoming greater, and the need for an international language becomes more apparent with the increasing importance of the European Common Market, J.W. Jakes LA ESPERANTO KLUBO 1962 Nur malmultaj lernantoj aligis ci tiun jaron sed ceestis fidele kaj multe progresis en la lingvo. Mi esperas ke ili daurigos la lecionojn dum la nekluba sezono kaj ke ili realigos la venontan jaron. Tio estas tre grava car, se la klubo devas progresi per aferoj krom la lingvastudado, necesos dauriga membreco. Estas domage cesi la studadon jus kiam oni faras definitivan progreson. Ciu-jare la okazoj por la uzado de Esperanto plimultigas kaj la bezono de ia internacia lingvo estas pli videbla pro la kreskanta graveco de la Europa Komuna Merkato. J.W. Jakes | ||
| 1964 | ||
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| Attendances were good for the first term, but in the second we were inclined to lose members to other school activities such as the Junior Choir and House Dramatics. This year Mr. Murray took charge of the Club and has rendered valuable service. The course covered a wide variety of topics the Headmaster gave an enjoyable talk about Dr. Zamenhof the creator of Esperanto. This year has been a good one and the new members have gained a fair knowledge of the language in a remarkably short time. R.P. Foster. 3A | ||
| 1965 | ||
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| The club has been well supported throughout the year by a group of faithful members. They have corresponded with schools in Poland, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Italy, and this is but a small part of the aim of international understanding for which Esperantists throughout the world are striving. Some members of the club have been particularly interested in the U.N. International Cooperation Year which seeks to highlight the ways in which countries actually do co-operate. We hear much of international disputes but relatively little of the activities of the World Health Organisation and U.N.E.S.C.O. on whose council Esperantists are represented. Foster R.P. 4S (Photo above) Esperanto - Klubo Alia sukcesplena jaro! 1 Ni koresponda kun multaj landoj kaj de aliaj gelernejanoj ricevas postkartojn. Ni estas la ambasadoroj de la lernejo. La tasko estas malfacila, car estas tiom da landoj en la mondo, sed ni estas parto de kreskanta monda kulturo. Er la klubo ni praktikis la lingvon kaj diskutis pri la problemo de tutmonda paco kaj interkomprenigo. Ni studis iom de la Esperanta literaturo. Ni atendas baldauan viziton de alilandaj Esperantistoj. Tiam ciuj kriedos, ke Esperanto ja estas internacia lingvo. Retterath P. 2A | ||
| 1966 | ||
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| This session has been a disappointing one. The club had hoped that the introduction of the language for the C.S.E. examination would bring in new members, who were fortunate enough to know the elements of the language already. However the club has continued to depend on the faithfulness of those who are courageous enough to learn the language outside school time. In the past few months much publicity in the press and television has been given to the advance of English as a leading international language. If English were accepted as the official world auxiliary language, the Esperanto Club would gladly disband itself, for, as discussion amongst members has shown clearly, Esperantists are promoters of an official world language first and only users of Esperanto as an already successfully working neutral candidate second. With this in mind members are planning a renewed effort next session to attract those C.S.E. Esperantists. J. Murray | ||
| 1960s Mr. Murray (RK), you may remember, was a fluent Esperantist. Three Esperantists on the Grammar School Staff at one time! Mr. Hamilton, President of the British Esperantist Association, and Mr. Coates (Chemistry) being the other two. Mr. Hamilton fought for years to get Esperanto recognised nationally as a school (an 'O Level') subject and as a University subsidiary subject. He defied authority by making Esperanto a CSE subject at HGS. Authority won in the end. R.G. Hodson, HGS Staff. | |
| Comment | |
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| There is a request for more information about the Esperanto Club accompanying Leighton's photo on the Gallery. Presumably if there existed a "Club" in 1949, then the re-formation of that Club in 1960 suggests a different format at some point in between those dates. Was this perhaps when Mr. Hamilton succeeded in placing Esperanto on the official curriculum? In typing out this unfamiliar (to me) language, I noted origins of Latin, and some Italian, French and Scandinavian influences. In speaking it out loud, images of Vic Reeves and his comedy Oovavoo item came to the fore. On the other hand, there are 857,000 entries under "Esperanto" in the Search Engine I consulted, and so this language could hardly be described as a dead one. I looked in vain for it, however, on my computer's language options. We do not know (at the moment) for how long the Esperanto Club survived after 1962. After an enthusiastic re-launch two years earlier, it had become a minority interest which looked to have a dwindling membership of diehards. The mention of the Common Market indicates that the expectation that Esperanto would become a common language was high. Too bad that English has usurped this! I wonder could anyone please send us a message (and a translation!) in Esperanto? Then Zamenhof would really shine! Sheila | |
| A comment from Malcolm Thomas | |
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| Hi Dave, I am submitting a little anecdote for the web-site, I suppose it should be to the Esperanto types? You will have noted from a previous Ms. (Music) Carter comment that I am accredited with "some would say", but some would no doubt deny it, a reasonable singing ability. Being from "singer of songs" stock, but by no means an Elvis or a Pavarotti, I originate in South Kirkby, in "God's own county", but am pretty well versed in popular Welsh, Irish, Scottish, as well as REALLY OLD TIME English songs e.g "Come and have a cuddle on the common on a bright Summer's day". In the festive season, after having indulged in a little brown "nectar" and in the party spirit, should we be in the company of other British but non-English nationals, and I detect a vocal representation of his birthplace, I just love to incite a contest. You sing a: [Scottish] one then I'll sing one. See who runs out of [Scottish] songs first e.g I'm nae awa tae bide awa / Land o'the kilt an heather; [Irish] "Barry McGuigan's" Oh Danny Boy / I'll take you home again Kathleen; [Welsh] Land of our fathers - Bread of Heaven / We'll keep a welcome in the hillsides etc. If I appear to be "losing", the memory of Mr Lock comes in handy. No not Josef Locke:- [Macushla, White horse Inn]. Though they are also in my repertoire! My guaranteed win is to move the goal posts with "What song is this then?" For the Irish:- Se la maron vi transiros gis Irlando .............. or for the Scots:- Per altvoyo vin kaj per malalta min ................ For Anyone:- [apologies for the lack of superscript characters] Sub la lampa lum attendis ciam vi, ce la soldatejo mi ne forgesas vin ................ Or:- Early one morning, just as the sun was rising:- mi audis en vale la vocon de fraulin. Cu vi karesas........... That usually settles the match. "Where the hell do you actually come from Malc?" Yes, they were Mr Lock's historic contributions to the repertoire. Malc Thomas | |