School Magazine Autumn Term 1935-36 No. 35

School Notes and News
School reassembled on September 18th to be greeted by the smell of fresh paint and newly coloured rooms. Our numbers remain about the same as last year, a few short of 450, and the Staff is unchanged also. The examination results at the end of last year gave us nine full and four part Higher School Certificates; forty-seven School Certificates and fifteen Matriculations.We would congratulate H.S. Perry and R.H. Thorpe on gaining County Major Scholarships. Thorpe was thus enabled to take up his Parker-Rhodes Scholarship at Sheffield, which he won last year. In Commercial Subjects, four gained Intermediate R.S.A. Certificates, and thirteen Elementary Certificates. Twelve of our past Students are in residence at Universities and Training Colleges.

 

As usual the last day of the Summer Term brought with it the excitement of lists and House Points. Details of the House Cups will be found on a later page, but we offer our congratulations to Price House upon winning both the House Challenge Cup and the Sports Cup, and to Talbot upon gaining the Arts Cup. Half term was arranged for the first week-end in November, the King's grant of a day's holiday to celebrate the Royal Wedding made the break a long one; though we are sure that no one thought it was too long.

 

Speech Day took place on November 8th in the Hippodrome and we were honoured by the presence of Lord Halifax, Minister of War, and ex-President of the Board of Education, and his wife. A full account of the proceedings will be found on a later page. Armistice Day was observed by the whole School, when the Head spoke of the significance which the day has for those who know nothing of what the War meant. The hymns "O Valiant Hearts," and "For all thy Saints", were sung; the Two Minutes were observed most reverently, and after prayers, the singing of the National Anthem brought the Remembrance Service of the School to aclose. The sale of Poppies produced the sum of £2 - 17 -10½

 

On Thursday, November 14th, The Osiris Players once more visited the School, and gave a most enjoyable rendering of "Twelfth Night". May it inspire our School Certificates aspirants next July! For the second time Mr. Hamilton with the help of Clarkson, has produced a film of life in School to which has been appended the name of "Scholasticantics". In spite of its name, however, it represents a day in the life of the School. We look forward to seeing the School Play on December 18th. and 19th, which this year is .A. Milne's "The Ivory Door", produced by Miss Nicholson.

 

To Mr. and Mrs. Hyde we offer our congratulations on the birth of their son on July 17th, and to Mr. and Mrs. Collette on the birth of their son on August 14th.

 

Our readers will notice the absence of the pages usually devoted to Old Students' Notes. We much regret that this connection with present students should have been broken, but the Annual Meeting of the Old Hilmiens' Society decided to discontinue the subscription to the Magazine. We feel very strongly that this is a step in the wrong direction, and urge the Society to reconsider their decision, and to make use of the space offered than in the Magazine, until such time as they can afford a Magazine of their own.

 

School breaks up for the Christmas holidays on Dec. 20th, and returns to work on Wednesday, January 8th. We wish the Headmaster and Mrs. Jenkinson, the Staff, and all our readers a very Merry Christmas.

 

 

Holgate House Notes
This term finds us at the beginning of another School year with new members and new opportunities. We welcome those members, and hope they will use the opportunities always to do their best in schoolwork, games and behaviour so as to maintain and advance the House spirit and interests of Holgate. The Christmas term is purely academic and is specifically the time to try and gain a leading position in Quarterly Orders and number of stars. Holgate boys and girls (and especially the boys) must compete towards this goal and not to gaining most stripes, as unfortunately our Third Form boys do. Eight stripes before half-term is not in the Holgate tradition. It is not daring, It Is disgraceful. If Holgate Is to progress, such records must cease immediately. If you cannot get stars, beware of stripes; if you must get stripes, earn stars as well; if you work hard and get a good balance of stars, you are one of those Holgate members who have gained the cups for their House in the past and will help to do so this year. In conclusion may we thank Miss Clifford and Mr. Collette for their unceasing Interest and help throughout the term.
E. Cullingworth
Whittle S.

 

Talbot House Notes
At the beginning of a new School year, opportunities of serving the House are plentiful and we would like to encourage members of Talbot House to see to it that this year is a successful one. A year ago we were able to boast ourselves the proud winners of all three cups, this year we have but one to our credit. We are confident that the success which has previously accompanied us can be repeated if each member of the House makes a determined effort. We welcome our new members and desire them (and the older members) to remember their responsibility. Our success depends largely on the accumulation of stars and stripes. Unfortunately we must as usual give expression to the eternal grumble, stars few, stripes many. We request those who are responsible for this condition to remember that they are members of a worthy house and appeal to them to render it worthy service. In conclusion we wish to thank our House Mistress Miss Shortridge, and our House Master, Mr. Storer, for their keen interest and valuable assistance in House affairs.
O. Buttree
Skelding A.

 

Price House Notes
Last year for the first time in the history of the School, Price were successful in winning the House Cup. It was the result of honest, hard work and if we, as a House are willing to continue our efforts, there is no reason why we should not be successful again next year. Team spirit is the deciding factor in this as in all things, and if we cultivate it, we shall at least put up a good fight. Remember then that everything depends on you, new and old members alike, and do your utmost to bring about our success once more. This term, although uneventful, offers us the opportunity of consolidating our position, and success this term would give us a tremendous advantage over our rivals. Terminal Orders, magazine contributions, and stars and stripes are only a few of the chances offered. So work with a spirit and receive your reward in your House's success. To Miss Wright, Mr. Austin and Mr. Manning we offer our sincere thanks for their unfailing co-operation and assistance.
B. Mulheir
Bradley H.

 

Guest House Notes
Once more we have arrived at the beginning of another School year, with all its possibilities of success or failure, and once again we wish to extend a hearty  welcome to all new boys and girls, and to encourage them in their efforts to help Guest House to win the Challenge Cup. Last year Guest House faded away into oblivion as far as the Cup was concerned, the fourth place being held at the end of the year. With the beginning of a new year, there comes a chance to each individual member of the House, to turn over a new leaf and to do something which will make them worthy of its name. To those who do not excel in games comes the opportunity of showing their abilities as a scholar, since the first term is purely academic. Guestites we appeal to you to put your shoulders to the wheel so that once more we may see the Challenge Cup adorned with a red ribbon. Finally we wish to thank Miss Prince and Mr. Shiells for their unfailing support and interest.
M. Poole
Thorpe V.K.

 

Hockey Notes
The 1st. XI have played only four matches at the time of writing. The results, however, have been very satisfactory. Of the matches played, three have been won and one has been drawn.

 

The first match of the season, School visited the Thome's House, on September 28th. School began rather feebly, but recovered after allowing their opponents to lead them by one goal.
Result: Schoool 5 : Thorn's House 1.

 

On Oct. 25th the School entertained Haley's Rangers. The game started after members of the 1st. XI had made valiant efforts to remove the remains of the previous night's deluge. The School were victorious, defeating Haley's by 7 goals to two; the game was much harder than the score suggests.

 

The School eleven was entertained by Castleford on Oct. 12th. The match was very fast considering the bad condition of the ground. Castleford scored first, but the School retaliated by two successive goals. Another goal was added by the School in the second half and the game ended in a victory for the 1st XI.
Result : School 3 : Castleford 1.

 

On Oct. 26th the 1st XI visited Pontefract, with a much weakened team, and after a hard game managed to force a draw.
Result : School 3 : Pontefract 3.

 

The 2nd. XI have played only one match this season. On Oct. 26th. they visited Pontefract, when they were defeated by 8 goals to nil.

 

On behalf of the 1st. and 2nd. Xl's I wish to thank Miss Harrison for her unfailing enthusiasm and energy in coaching the teams.
B. Mulheir. (Sec.) 

 

Rugby Notes
We opened this season with only three regular members of last year' s 1st XV available. As last season, both teams are on the small side as compared with other Schools; but what we lack in inches, we make up for in speed and enthusiasm. Up to the present date of writing, the 1st. XV have won four matches and lost two, while the 2nd. XV have won four and lost three. The newcomers are skilful, but must realise all the time that Rugger is a team game; if this is done there seems no reason, why last season's excellent record should not be improved upon. A pleasing feature of this year has been the use of the reverse pass, and positional interchanging amongst the threequarter backs. Also it has been noted that certain of the forwards are developing the forward rush, and the three-in-line dribble, a most difficult form of attack to subdue. One member of the team is becoming noted for his individual runs, but his combined moves with the rest of the team, have not yet reached the same high standard. The touch finding and goal kicking is poor; a short touch found, is better than a punt into the hands of opponents; many matches have been lost and won on the result of kicks at goal.

House  Cups

 

House Challenge Cup:
1st Price 930½
2nd.Talbot 746
3rd. Holgate 724½
4th. Guest 701½

Digging with the Unemployed
We have had many evidences lately of the growing interest in the welfare of the unemployed, and many practical schemes of help have been the result. One of these schemes, started by John Hoyland a Quaker, arranges for volunteers to live with unemployed families, paying a reasonable sum for board, and to help with local schemes in any way they can.

 

Rhymney is a town in one of the most depressed areas of S. Wales, with 90% of its potential workers unemployed, and that was why we chose it for our first venture of this kind. Formerly Rhymney had been a flourishing town centring round a railway plant works, some collieries, and a brewery. Owing to trade depression the plant works was reduced until it had only 100 employees, and consequently the collieries were closed down. The local council had provided a piece of land suitable for allotments at nominal rent of 1/- per plot per year. The ground was very hard and stony and was sparsely covered with a very tough grass and digging it alone must have been a Herculanean task. We had been preceded by several groups of boys from Public Schools all over the country and many of the allotments were already producing good vegetable crops. Our job was to break up the remaining ground which was sufficient for 3 or 4 allotments of 200 square yards each. We started manfully at 9 a.m. and proceeded steadily until our mid-morning Interval at 11a.m.

 

Our interval was theoretically of 15 minutes duration, but usually well exceeded that limit. We were all glad of the opportunties those intervals gave for discussion and fellowship and we helpers were certainly glad of the relaxation from our 'arduous' digging, carrying and wheeling of barrows.

 

The wealth of information we gathered from our Welsh unemployed friends, from the fellow diggers who came from different types of Schools, and the value of the first-hand experience was sufficient to fill a book and a very interesting and vital one too. To be brief our mornings and some afternoons were given up to work on the allotments, the remaining afternoons to visiting similar schemes in the district, and in the evenings we had sing-songs in the allotment hut, joined in the discussions or otherwise entertained ourselves. It was the custom at the sing-songs to call on newcomers to render solos duets or trios. We were duly called upon our first evening there, and being a trio of loyal Yorkshire folk replied with a rendering of "On Ilkla Moor Baht' At".

 

Making several starts due to hitting the wrong note (there was no piano) and breaking down in the middle of verses - provided them, it appeared, with as much enjoyment as our actual singing. Fortunately we gave our little performance before we heard any of the Welsh sing, or I don't think we should have had the courage, for they all sang so well. The sing-song closed with them singing their National Anthem in Welsh, which they sang in a way which I shall never forget.

 

One of the neighbouring schemes we visited was Bryn-Mawr where 98% were unemployed, the only workers being teachers, postmen, policemen and other public servants. They had a 'community house' which provides fellowship and activities for all possible types of women and men. As one of their major tasks they decided to build a public swimming bath, and for their site they had one of the ugliest pit-tips; they showed us a photograph of it as it was when they began.

 

Bryn Mawr Baths

 

 

Now the swimming bath is so successful and attractive that it would do credit to any flourishing town. One can imagine how immense the task would seem at the beginning, and it had all been achieved by teams of voluntary helpers, mostly teams of schoolboys, teachers and university students - The Bryn Mawr deserves an article to itself, and that was just one of their many activities which were all vital necessities and which included also a nursery school. Incidentally the swimming bath when completed was managed and all the work was done by the unempioyed themselves. They received their usual 'dole' and for a shift's work at the bath would be given a free meal, a far sounder scheme, for many and obvious reasons, than actual payment in cash.

 

The third settlement, known as "Maes-yr-Haf" at Trealaw in the Rhondda valley, another depressed area, but not so depressed as either Rhymney or Bryn Mawr, the centre of 30 clubs for unemployed. Each had about 200 members, elected their own officers and ran the club on lines to suit the various members. The activities were many and varied, including allotment cuitivation, woodwork, drama, literature and crafts of all kinds.

 

We expected these depressed areas of S. Wales to be somewhat unruly and definitely revolutionary, but we found them very friendly and helpful, full of good feeling to those at home and abroad. The latter was due very largely to the fact that they had some foreign volunteers helping them.

 

From a volunteer's point of view these clubs are valuable in giving us the other side of the picture, not only from the unemployed point of view, but that of schoolboys, teachers from all types of schools, and miscellaneous volunteers from all walks of life and of all creeds. Such schemes are one of the most valuable assets towards the reduction of class-barriers in all spheres and. particularly in education.

 

From the point of view of the workless, these schemes, by bringing about contact between them and the workers, do much to restore the self-respect which is lost when they are thrown on to the 'scrap-heap', and help to wipe out the resentment caused by these injustices. Schemes of this kind can, I am certain, do much towards fostering international understanding, and peaceful relations at home and abroad.

 

There are many more schemes, approximately 70 in Britain and many more abroad, but these in Wales and a very successful one In the Potteries are the only ones I have known at first hand. Many English people have been to those over here, surely a very inspiring feature in these days of international unrest. Schemes for helping the unemployed are often criticised on the grounds of being merely palliatives for boredom, but surely they give valuable assistance towards that better balancing of life which is so sorely needed In our modern state.

 

As I am a mere scientist and no literary aspirant this effort Is a very inadequate descriptIon, but I can assure all who feel interested that the venture will be well worth while, and will give a helpful, enjoyable and inspiring holiday. Voluntary acts of friendship can accomplish much, and point the way to a realisation of true fellowship.

Olive Tooth.

Calendar
Jan. 8th. (Wed.)  Term begins
Feb. 3rd.   Marks and orders
Feb. 13th.   Inter-House Dramatic Competition
Feb. 21st.   General Knowledge Examination
Feb. 24th.   Mid-Term Holiday
Feb. 25th.   Marks and Orders
Feb. 25th - March 4th. Forms VI and V Test Examination.
March 12th.  Pontefract Choir Competitions
March 16 - 17th.  Inter-House Music Competitions
March 23rd.  Marks and Orders
March 25th, 26th.  Staff Play
April 7th. (Tuesday)  Term Ends.
April 29th. (Wed.)  Summer Term begins.