Autumn 1990

MountHouseSchool

m. FanfareSeptember 1989 - July 1990

Edited by David Cowgill

Photographs by Brian Jones (of Brian Jones Photography), Charles Price, Dominic Price, Peter R Hamilton-Leggett, Geoffrey Allen, Jan Evetts, John Symons and David Cowgill.

Photographic Work by Michael Viney

25 th January 1990

View from the StudyI wonder if future generations will look into backnumbers of Fanfare to compare their storms with the great storm of 1990. Thursday 25th January was a day, firstly of much ex­citement for the boys as the winds rose dramatically and la­ter of fear as we all watched helplessly the awesome strength of the gusts.

Despite the damage to the conservatory, the Georgian win­dows, the roofs and the lovely trees, we can count ourselves very fortunate that it was not a day of tragedy. Heavy ridge tiles crashed through the velux roof lights of the changing room whilst the school was in breakfast, whole slates were found embedded by the back gates and the conservatory was evacuated some time before part of it exploded into a thousand fragments down the hillside towards the River Tavy. Lindsay Young and Mike Viney, the gardener, had the narrowest of escapes as the huge Turkey oak by the Common Room just missed them.

It now seems hardly real that it was too dangerous to set out for the pantomime, that Hawkins dormitory had to sleep in the library, that the school had to eat in shifts for fear of the

large dining room windows giving way and that miracu­lously the Victorian painted glass of the front hall skylight blew upwards to remain unbroken on the roof. The storm also served as a reminder of how fortunate we are to have so many loyal friends in the town. Within minutes of request­ing their assistance, Peter Tugwell and his builders, Ber­nard Chamings and his plumbers, Mike Wooley, the tree specialist and others were on hand to help wherever they were needed.

The view from the study was remarkable. Lovely old trees, particularly beech, cedar and oak were brought down and yet amongst the devastation was the unforgettable sight and coincidence that at that very moment the tree replanting scheme was underway! Thanks to the many willing hands, much further damage was prevented. The insurance asses­sors took this into consideration when agreeing to meet the costs of all repairs and replacements. It will be for another generation to witness the full grandeur of those little trees which were planted on the day of the great storm.

Charles Price

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le Governing Body and StaffGoverning Body

J H Trafford Esq b a (Chairman)G D Adam Esq f r i c s

C H Christie Esq m a

T D Denner Esq m a

A B E Hudson Esq m a

Dr C Leather m b chB

Mrs W G Mumford j p

J R M May Somerville Esq Surg Capt (D) R L Travis r n

M R G Williams Esq m a

R P Vi7right Esq Dip Inst. Du Pantheon Paris

Academic StaffC D Price b a ia p s Dip Headmaster J D Cowgill r d m a p g c e Second Master, Head o f English G R Allen Cen Ed English Mrs M Allerton n d d (sculpture) Art Mrs V Asater b Ed Cert Ed l r a m Director o f Music J H Banyard b a C m Ed French M J Bassett b Ed Head o f Maths & Computing Maj J D Bengough b p m Cert Ed Head o f Scripture G Bush Cen Ed Maths G P W Cashell i a p s Dip Head ofFretich K C Cload a m i e t Dip Carpentry

School List, July 1990Rhys Abbott Robert Cross Stuart Jackson Alexander Moth Austin SmithSimon Allenby Oliver D ’Adda Laurence Jarrett-Kerr Matthew Muldowney Peter SpongChristopher Anthony Giles Darch Nigel Jarvis Duncan Murray Geoffrey SteadRobert Babbage Jason Darch Thomas Jefferson Tom Newey William StirlingJames Babbington Paul Da Rocha John Jeffreys Benjamin Nicholls Andrew StoneThomas Babbington Benjamin Davies Timothy Jellicoe Jonathan Nicholls Duncan StoneGuy Bailey Thomas Davies Nicholas Jenkins Charles O’Connor Robert TaitTimothy Ball Jan Evetts Timothy Jenkins Nicholas Owen Ross TalbotChristian Barford Richard Ferguson Clive Jennings Simon Painter Russell TalbotJohn Barneby Michael Follett John Jennings Jaimin Patel Alexis TannerThomas Beard Peter Friend Alexander Jones Richard Pearn Ivan TannerPaul Bennett James Fulton Edward Jones Nicholas Pepper David TimmsRupert Bettison Mark Fulton Toby Keane Roger Perowne Matthew TimmsCharles Borradaile William Gabb William Keeler Timothy Perowne Christoper TimpsonJames Bowles Robert Gaffney Christopher King James Petrie Henry TonksSebastian Britten Mark Gent Simon King Michael Philpott James TurnerLee Broderick Simon Gent John Kitson Richard Philpott Daniel UdyTom Browne Justin Gibbs Charles Kivell Sam Plagerson Humphrey VoelckerAnthony Burnell-Nugent Kinder Goodall Martin Kongialis Oliver Pool Alexander WalterRupert Burnell-Nugent Warwick Goodall Robin Kongialis Crispin Procter Charles WalterJake Burnett-Hitchcock Peter Goodfellow Simon Kongialis Julian Radcliffe Jonathan WardMark Burton Patrick Grant-Sturgis John Lawrence Michael Radcliffe James WarrenMarcus Butler James Grey Christopher Longden Nicholas Radford Gerens WeaverPhilip Cass Nicholas Grey Jeremy Lott Max Rangeley Alexander WestThomas Charlesworth Simon Griffin William Luke Charles Reeves Nicholas WhatmoughRobert Choa Edward Hampshire Andrew Lytle Andrew Ridland Christopher WhealSimon Church Timothy Hanson Robert Lytle Robert Ridland Hugo WilkinsonHayden Clark Charlie Harris James McCoy Andrew Robertson Edmund WilliamsJonathan Clarke William Hatchard Matthew McCoy Justin Rosenfeld George WilliamsThomas Clarke Harry Hensman Duncan McDowall William Russell Stephen WilliamsAlexander Clayton Jeremy Hill David Mackenzie Alexander Samborne Thomas WilliamsBenjamin Clayton Thomas Hudson Alastair Mackie Timothy Samborne Michael WilloughbyJohn Clayton Edmund Hulme Archie Mackie Conrad Scofield Simon WilseyOliver Collier James Humphry James Macleod John Seldon James WoolfordJames Collin Adam Hurst Matthew Martin Rupert Seldon William WorthyOliver Coryton Christopher Hutton Charles Matheson William Seldon Mark WyerHugo Cox Thomas Inman Edward Merrill Thomas Sellick Callum ZaloumisEdward Craddock James Irvine Christopher Moore Julian Shakerley Kyle ZaloumisRichard Cross Ross Jackson Edward Moore Peter Sharp Sydney Zaloumis

F Davey m a Dip Ed Head o f ClassicsP R Hamilton-Leggett b S c i a p s Dip Head o f ScienceMiss J Lee Cert Ed Junior FormsMrs E Saxon Cert Ed Junior FormsP Stephens b Ed Head o f P E , MathematicsM B L Stock m a Cert Ed Head o f GeographyJ Symons b Ed Head o f HistoryMrs Y P Symons b Ed English, Extra English, MathsG Whaley cert Ed Dip Ed Head o f Design & TechnologyMiss L M G Young b Ed Latin, Science

Administrative StaffLt Col A J Craigie o b e m b i m Bursar and Clerk to the Boardo f GovernorsMrs W Wroe SecretaryDr R A Gude m b BSc(Lond) m r c p m r c g p d c h School Doctorand Medical AdviserMrs A Wellman Head MatronMiss S H Roberts Assistant MatronMiss W P Howell Assistant MatronMiss K Buder Junior Assistant MatronMiss N Furse Junior Assistant MatronL Mitchell CatererE G Willcock Head Groundsman

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le The Honours Board 1990M R Gent E C G Hampshire J A Gibbs C H Wheal M C Willoughby J R Woolford A Ridland

King’s College, Taunton Canford School King’s College, Taunton Blundell’s School Blundell’s School Blundell’s School Blundell’s School

Major Scholarship & Classics AwardScholarship & Jubilee Art ScholarshipBarrow ScholarshipMusic ExhibitionArt ScholarshipMilitary BursaryMilitary Bursary

Congratulations also to Dane Salter at Repton School, on being elected to a Foundation Scholarship, the highest accolade the school bestows.

Twice Forty Years OnMr Geoffrey Stevens, who was a boy at Mount House in 1910, with our two youngest new boys, Edward and Christopher Moore.

Salvete et ValeteSeptember, 1989G C S Bailey C M V Barford P A Bennett J A Bowles R M Burnell-Nugent J N Burnett-Hitchcock P T Cass A S Clayton J R T Collin O D ’Adda B J Davies M V J Follett W H Gabb A J Harris W J Hatchard S J Jackson L P Jarrett-Kerr N A C Jarvis T L M Jefferson J E Jeffreys T A Jellicoe T D Jenkins C E F Jennings C D Longden M J Martin C R K O’Connor R N Pearn N R Pepper M S J Rangeley J C Rosenfeld W H A Russell P R F Spong R M Talbot

I G Tanner H C Tonks E S W Williams W J Worthy

January, 1990O F G Pool

April, 1990C G Moore E D Moore

December, 1989G D Price St Budeaux Primary

March, 1990A J Barnicoat France P A McClarty Stoke Mandeville County

July, 1990S J Allenby Blundell’s SchoolM J Burton Shrewsbury SchoolM W Butler King’s College, TauntonP W Da Rocha Kelly CollegeJ E Evetts Blundell’s SchoolA S G Griffin King’s College, TauntonJW H ill King’s College, TauntonA M Hurst Kelly CollegeE M P Hulme Blundell’s SchoolN J Jenkins Charterhouse SchoolT R H Keane Plymouth CollegeJ P A McCoy Plymouth CollegeM D W McCoy Plymouth CollegeD J M McDowall King’s College, TauntonD N Mackenzie Allhallows SchoolJ L D Macleod Wellington CollegeC V Matheson Milton Abbey SchoolM C Muldowney Kelly CollegeC B Reeves Sherborne SchoolC J Scofield Kelly CollegeR M Talbot Kelly CollegeM J K Timms Kelly CollegeC R J Walter Blundell’s SchoolG M Weaver Kelly CollegeA P G West Waterford College, SwazilandT E Williams Eton College

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le Malcolm M arathalinghamSadly we have to record the death in March of this year of our Head Groundsman. Malcolm Marathalingham was an exceptional person. After retiring from a successful career in the Royal Navy, during which he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer, he joined the Staff at Mount House in the summer holidays of 1986.

Always a keen cricketer (he had captained the Royal Navy in his time), he decided to keep that interest alive and his work at the school gave him considerable fulfilment, especially when improving the various wickets and pitches for the boys to play on. He was a hard worker with high standards. If a job was to be done, it was to be done properly, no half-measures; for this his naval service takes due credit. Work was tackled head on, and if sometimes his approach was too direct for some, it was because he could not put up with second best. He came to care deeply for the grounds in his care, and the attention which he lavished on them become plainly visible in the relatively short time he was with us. These grounds remain as a tribute to him and

to the organisation, dedication and professionalism which he brought to bear on the job. Had he been spared to us longer, it is certain that Mount House would have become the first choice of venue for many inter-county school sporting competitions. The standards which he inspired will be upheld by his successors and his ambition will surely be realised.

Malcolm was a devoted family man and a dedicated church-goer, with many friends from the Navy, his parish and Mount House School. At his funeral service the church was filled to capacity with those who came to pay their last respects. We were privileged to send the school choir to take part.

We mourn him and miss his presence, but still feel that he is with us when we look round the estate and view his achievements. Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife and family.

A JC

Welcome to:Geoff WhaleyGeoff Whaley arrived at Mount House in September 1989 from Bishop’s Stortford College to be Head of the new Craft, Design and Technology centre. Besides his academic qualifications he brought with him a host of sporting interests. He was captain of the British Athletics team in 1977-78, he played county rugby and was an England U23 trialist, he was a member of the British Colleges judo team and weight lifting champion of East England, Anglia, All Midlands and the Scottish open champion. Besides sport, he has numerous other hobbies and is a keen fisherman. Geoff s wife, Jayne is also a keen games player. They have a young son, Tom.

Farewell to:Andrew CraigieAndrew Craigie arrived at Mount House in September 1987 as Bursar and Clerk to the Governors after a distinguished career with the Royal Artillery. He quickly became fully involved in the life of the school, not only in the role to which he was appointed, but also helping out with adventure activities and sport.

He took great interest in the grounds of the school overseeing the tree replanting scheme and ensuring that there was improvement where it was required. The beautiful state of the grounds today bear testimony to his interest. He kept a watchful eye on the buildings ever seeking to restore or renovate when time and funds permitted.

Together with his wife, Margaret, he helped to launch and run the development appeal which was so successful. That we have such a fine sportshall and craft, design and technology centre is largely due to his drive and enthusiasm. His fondness for Mount House was evident in many ways but none more than during the storms in January and February of this year when he was often to be seen in the building late at night checking that all was well.

He leaves us to become Bursar at the Cathedral School, Salisbury. We wish him, Margaret and their family every happiness in their new home, and Andrew great success in his new appointment.

Miss Sally Roberts & Miss Wendy HowellSally Roberts and Wendy Howell have been at Mount House for two years as Assistant Matrons. Always efficient and dependable, we will miss them very much and wish them every success and much happiness in their future

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le Mrs EvendenIn December a farewell party was held in the Study to mark the retirement of Mrs Evenden from the Mount House Domestic Staff after 26 years’ service.

‘Mrs E’ came to Mount House in the spring of 1963 for one month’s temporary work. When the month had elapsed Mr Wortham asked her if she would stay on - which she did, until 1989, and over all those years she was only off work three times!

Her daughter, Esme Hannaford, started work here in May 1989, again on a temporary basis for six weeks, and is still with us, and Mrs Evenden’s grand daughter, Diane Dingle, worked here full time from February 1979 until December 1982, when she left to have her first baby. She is now back working part time.

We shall all miss Mrs Evenden’s calm and cheerful presence and wish her every happiness in her well earned retirement.

Visiting Preachers 1989-1990Dr Sheila Cassidy Medical Director, St Luke’s Hospice Revd Canon L R Skipper Old Boy of Mount House F E Maidment Esq m a Headmaster, Shrewsbury School Revd Preb R T Gilpin Vicar of Tavistock Parish Church C H Hirst Esq ma Headmaster, Kelly College Emma Nicholson m p

A J D Rees Esq m a Head Master, Blundell’s School R S Funnell Esq m a Headmaster, King’s College, TauntonP S Larkham Esq l v o m a Headmaster, Allhallows School N R Bomford Esq m a Headmaster, Uppingham School C A Stuart-Clark Esq m a Eton College A H Beadles Esq m a Headmaster, King’s School, Bruton The Rt Revd Richard Llewellin Bishop of St Germans

Donations to Charity£

MENCAP 84.90Cornwall Historic Churches 140.98St Luke’s Hospice, Plymouth 226.40Action Research 83.85National Children’s Home 114.15The Royal British Legion 147.54Tavistock Parish Church 90.95Medecins Sans Frontieres 127.16Royal Marines Disaster Fund (Deal) 109.02Children in Need 427.00Helen House Hospice 173.97Wantage Overseas 160.03St Margaret’s Somerset Hospice 108.46Abbeyfield Tavistock Society 127.81Riding for the Disabled 75.31AMREF 108.26Plymouth Romanian ReliefAid 102.96Save the Children Fund 148.20British Red Cross Society 49.28RUKBA 135.52Victims of Torture 100.00Church of England Children’s Society 273.60MacMillan Nurses Fund 216.31Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital Children’s Ward 98.33

Gifts Received 1989-1990R L Bowley Esq (Old Boy) His own book on chess B J Lott Video tape on rugby football R T Anthony Hymn board and numbers Mrs Moore Books signed by Mr Patrick Moore P Matthews Esq (Old Boy) Donation to Beckly Bursary FundM C Willoughby Most Improved Artist CupThe Earl of Morley Two bookcasesMajor R P W Wilsey RM Squadron photographMr and Mrs R A Gregory Donation to Beckly BursaryFundMr and Mrs N Broderick Reversing voice on school minibusesJ L D Macleod Basketball Challenge TrophyJ W Hill Cross Country ShieldMCMuldowney Yucca plantD Plagerson Esq Hand-carved wooden animalsE C G Hampshire Shields for dormitory doorsE M P Hulme Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack annually forsome years to comeMr and Mrs M Hurst Six treesMr and Mrs T Beard Donation to Beckly Bursary FundC R J Walter Leather bound Head Boys’ Journal

We would like to express our most sincere thanks for these most generous gifts.

The Beckly BursaryThe fund which was set up last year and was the brainchild of Dr and Mrs Beckly is to assist with the education of boys whose parents fall on particularly hard times. Thanks to the generosity of present parents and Old Boys the fund now stands at just under £10,000. We are extremely grateful to those who have given to this most worthwhile fund.

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ic Christmas Term 1989The term opened with the usual recital of excuses for stiff fingers and slack embouchures, and the problem of trying to find teachers and practice rooms for the 97 instrumentalists. Why, despite orienteering training in Adventure Activities, do so many boys experience such extreme difficulty in finding their practice rooms?

A vital part of education through music is attendance at live performances. A group of boys was taken to Kelly College to hear Barbershop singing (and other more physically painful forms of mouth music) by the Demon Barbers. The third forms visited the Theatre Royal in Plymouth to see the London Contemporary Dance Company, and in school we welcomed the group Ozone - who were occasionally seen through billowing smoke and pulsating lights, but certainly heard!

The string players spent an enjoyable day at Blundell’s School where they joined players from other preparatory schools for a day of rehearsals and a short concert. In November the Wind Band (conducted by Mr J. Boorer) and the Junior Choir competed in the St Austell Music Festival. We had a successful day. The Band returned with a rose bowl and certificate of Merit, the choir with a certificate of Distinction. The Festival items, together with, other ensembles and solo items, made a very pleasant programme for the End of Term Concert.

Auditions for places on 1990 IAPS Music Courses were held in November. Four of our choristers - Thomas Beard, Richard Ferguson, Alexander Jones, and Simon King - attended the auditions, and all were successful. They spent a very full, enjoyable, and rewarding week in Giggleswick during the Easter break.

The choir joined with other RSCM choirs in Devon to sing a Festival Evensong in Exeter Cathedral, led a candle-lit carol evening in aid of St Luke’s Hospice, sang carols with the residents of Crelake House in Tavistock, and was in fine form at the school Carol Service.

The following were successful in the examinations of The Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music:

Grade III T Beard Oboe 127 (M)S Britten Clarinet 120 (M)W Stirling Flute 120 (M)S Britten Piano 117R Ferguson Piano 115T Beard Piano 104M Burton Trombone 103

Grade II A Jones Piano 127 (M)N Radford Piano 106

Grade I P McClarty Trumpet 140 (D)E Merrill Trombone 139 (D)D Stone Clarinet 134 (D)J Kitson Clarinet 124 (M)B Clayton Clarinet 116C Kivell Clarinet 104R Lytle Clarinet 100

TheoryGrade V C Wheal 88Grade I E Merrill 90

Easter Term 1990A term in which mighty storms raged without, and frantic activity was noticeable within. The imminence of the Annual Set Music Competition provided the motivation for boys to find and use their practice rooms! This is first and foremost a Set competition, therefore a large entry is encouraged. This year we decided to hold preliminary rounds in each Set, and these were adjudicated by Mr Ben Morland. The four highest scoring entries in each class (together with the Set songs) went through to the Final which was adjudicated by M r Anthony Kerr-Dineen, the Director of Music at Kelly College. These were the results: The David Key Cup for The Most Promising Singer

Hawks (S Britten) The Beard Cup for the Most Promising Woodwind Player

Kangs (J Lott, flute) The Peter Evelyn Cup for the Most Promising Brass Player

Owls (C Wheal, trumpet) The James Trophy for the Most Promising String Player

Otters (A Moth, ’cello) The Bawtree Trophy for the Most Promising Pianist

Otters (A Jones)The Channel 4 Cup for Ensembles Owls (T Beard,

R. Ferguson, C Wheal)

Junior Musician of the Year Otters (R Ridland)Senior Musician of the Year Owls (C Wheal)

The Channel 4 Trophy for the Winning Set 1. Owls 274.52. Kangs 259.53. Otters 234.5 4. Hawks 219

We had an enjoyable and informative insight into how the work of the percussion department is being extended through the introduction of MIDI and drum pads when Tony Parkinson demonstrated his ‘World of Percussion’.

The Choir represented the school at the Tavistock schools Songs of Praise in the Parish Church, and attended an excellent performance of ‘Godspell’ given by the Plymouth Amateur Operatic Society. We were all saddened to hear of the death of our Head Groundsman, Mr Marathalingham, and the choir was honoured by the invitation to sing at his funeral service, and pay last respects to a friend.

Throughout what seemed a very short term we were rehearsing ‘Smike’, a musical loosely based on ‘Nicholas Nickleby’ by Charles Dickens, words and music by Roger Holman and Simon May. All worked with commendable drive and enthusiasm and, although pressure of other commitments was such that the first performance was only the third time the whole cast had worked together, they were justifiably pleased with the finished product.

Continued over

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icThe results of music examinations taken this term were:

Grade V T Inman Trumpet 105

Grade IV J Lott Flute 123 (M)A Moth Piano 122 (M)T Beard Oboe 121 (M)

Grade II P Friend Alto Sax 128 (M)C Procter Violin 117E Merrill Piano 111A Ridland Piano 110C Scofield Alto Sax 102

Grade I 0 Collier Trumpet 131 (D)J Petrie Clarinet 123 (M)C Timpson Piano 121 (M)T Davies Flute 121 (M)A Moth ’Cello 116G Weaver Trumpet 105

TheoryGrade II A Moth 74Grade I E Craddock 72

The Choir

Summer Term 1990We started this term without the Broadwood grand piano in the music room. This fine instrument, made in 1893, had been noticeably feeling its age and so was returned to Broadwoods for a major overhaul. At half-term we welcomed back a much more responsive mellow-toned instrument. (NB Pianists taking examinations will henceforth need to look elsewhere for excuses re poor marks!)

We were delighted to hear that Christopher Wheal was awarded an Exhibition for Music to Blundell’s School, and that the trumpet playing of Justin Gibbs had counted towards his Barrow Scholarship to King’s College, Taunton.

A group of instrumentalists attended an orchestral day at Blundell’s School, a varied concert programme was given at half term, and Justin Gibbs and Christopher Wheal (trumpets) played incidental music at the Grannies’ Tea Party. The instrumentalists among the leavers played their ‘swan-songs’ in the Leavers’ Concert, and we thank them for the support they have given to the various musical activities.

The choir (which this year has been particularly good) again had a busy term. In addition to leading our Sunday Services they provided the Ragazzi choir in the Kelly College Choral Society’s performance of ‘Carmina Burana’ by Carl Orff, and gave an exciting performance of ‘O Clap Your Hands1 by John Rutter at the End of Year Service. Before this service the organist (Mr David Crocker) played a movement from Sonata No 1 by Michael Bawtree (1984-88). Mrs Saxon and I were most grateful for the co-operation of choristers and their parents in delaying the start of their summer holiday so that the choir could sing at the marriage ceremony of Mr and Mrs Saxon’s second daughter in the Chapel of Kelly College.

Choir members currently holding RSCM awards are:Red Ribbon T Beard, S Britten, R Ferguson,

C WhealDark Blue Ribbon P Friend, A Jones, S King, T Inman,

J WoolfordLight Blue Ribbon T Clarke, E Craddock, N Jenkins,

C King, W Luke, E Merrill, W Stirling, D Udy, A Walter, J Warren

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The following were successful in music examinations this term:

Grade IV Thomas Beard Piano 115

Grade III Alexander Jones Piano 131 (D)Jonathan Clarke Violin 120 (M)

Grade II Thomas Davies Piano 121 (M)Robert Ridland Piano 109Jonathan Clarke Piano 107

Grade I Crispin Procter Piano 127 (M)Jeremy Lott Violin 126 (M)David Timms Flute 117Kinder Goodall Clarinet 116Timothy Ball Piano 114Mark Fulton Trumpet 106

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■g ArtIt has been something of a vintage year for Mount House artists. Edward Hampshire won a Jubilee Art Scholarship to Canford and Michael Willoughby gained a major Art Scholarship to Blundell’s. These awards certainly reflected the innate individual talents of both boys who each had to complete drawing and painting exercises under exam conditions. Yet of no less importance were the high quality portfolios which they presented at the time of their examinations. Their collections of work were the product of sustained effort in the Art Department over several years. The scholars apart, artwork by James Woolford, who obtained a Military Bursary to Blundell’s, and Simon Allenby, also made particularly impressive viewing at the Summer Exhibition on show over the Family Camp weekend. All four of these leavers have set high standards for the younger boys to emulate. In fact there are already clear indications that their example has increased the artistic aspirations of others.

Art as a subject has always been attractive to those with open minds who love to experiment with new techniques, styles and media. But it requires determination and tenacity to see ideas reach fruition; indeed, probably the most important single characteristic an artist can possess is the will ‘to have another go’. Artists have to be bom optimists! Luckily for Mount House, there are plenty of these around!

In January 1990 a party of fifty boys enjoyed a visit to the Bristol City Gallery which staged the 42nd Cadbury’s National Exhibition of Children’s Art. This trip was hugely beneficial for the boys who were able to see the high standard of work by other peer groups and to absorb new

Three P m and Ink Drawings by Edward Hampshire

The Art Club

ideas and practices. The party was greatly indebted to Major Bengough and Mrs Cashell who helped escort the group.

What of the future? A new Art department, based on the present arrangement but with an enlarged first floor studio facility, has been mooted for late 1991. Bigger, purpose- designed premises are desperately needed if we are to capitalise more successfully on youthful enthusiasm, determination and skill.

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Still Life by James Woolford By Michael Willoughby

Railway Yards by James Woolford

By Nicholas Radford

Prize Winners 1990‘Joint Artists of the Year’ Michael Willoughby,Edward Hampshire

Runners Up to this prestigious award James Woolford, Simon Allenby

Pottery “Sculpture” Andrew Ridland

3 Dimensional Design Jeremy Hill

‘Most Improved Artist of the Year’. (A new cup presented to the school by M. Willoughby) Nicholas GreyMariebel Allerton

J imow M u w a v

By Simon Allenby

Car

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ry CarpentryDuring the year many carpentry projects were completed; a short list is given below:

Stilts in beech and keruing;Book racks and computer stand in parana pine;Bird nesting boxes in deal;Lamp stand in mahogany;Trays in mahogany and utile;Boxes of various sizes in deal;Seagrass stools in mahogany;Spice rack and key rack;Tree cup-stand in utile and mahogany.

The major items were:A part open glazed cabinet in parana pine by Gerens Weaver;A matchboarding trunk in deal by Mark Burton;A rabbit hutch in deal by Daniel Udy;A tall large open shelved tool cupboard in parana pine by Alastair Mackie;Two open bedside lockers in parana pine by Jeremy Hill and Andrew Ridland;A doored locker by Richard Philpott.

Many items were started which we hope will be finished by Christmas:Seagrass stools Browne, Radford and Anthony;Twisted lamp Friend;Cutlery boxes Bennett, Clark and Ward;Step ladders Jackson and Samborne;Small work bench Borradaile;Dovetailed boxes Cross and Gent;Open book shelves Sharp;Book rack Broderick;Candlesticks Philpott;Tray Cox.

Three prizes for work done during the year were awarded to:Jeremy Hill for all round ability and endeavour;Gerens Weaver for excellent work in lap dovetailing and ploughing;Marcus Butler for the dovetail work in his small cupboard.

It has been a good year, and there are a few vacancies for boys in 4A and above.Ken Cload

Telephone: (0822) 612293

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The Squeers Family

SmikeHow, I wondered, could anyone derive any pleasure from a pop musical based on Charles Dickens’ ‘Nicholas Nickleby’? Two hours later, thanks to Valerie Asater’s superb direction, not only was it clear that the packed audience had appreciated ‘Smike’ but that the cast, through much hard work in a very busy term, had given their all with clear enjoyment.

The 20th century setting for the opening of the story was a class of restless school-children and at once our sympathies went out to Smeeton (Sebastian Britten) an orphan, shunned by his classmates. Tubby (Jake Burnett- Hitchcock) derived much sadistic pleasure out of making Smeeton’s life a misery.

The arrival of a new English master, Mr. Nicholls (Thomas Inman), introduced to the class by the Headmaster (Peter Friend), brings a new approach to the study of Nicholas Nickleby for Mr. Nicholls suggests turning it into a musical much to the chagrin of Miss Grant (James Warren), the Drama teacher.

At this point, there was a swift transition to the 19th century and we found ourselves in the Saracen’s Head. Here Mr. Squeers of Dotheboy’s Hall is gathering new pupils and Mr. Ralph Nickleby (Benjamin Nicholls) introduces Nicholas Nickleby, his nephew, as a new teacher.

The scene moved swiftly on to Yorkshire and we met the Squeers family, Mrs Squeers (Tom Newey) fussing over her family, Fanny Squeers (James Warren) enjoying the arrival of Nicholas and Wackford Squeers junior (Jake Burnett-Hitchcock) - an unpleasant boy. They all enjoyed the distribution of Brimstone and Treacle! Nicholas quickly sizes up the situation and leads the boys in revolt against the Squeers.

Back finally to the 20th century where as a result of experience, modern advantages are realised by the boys. Smeeton is now accepted by the Headmaster and Miss Grant.

Playing in front of a strong orchestra was a challenge to the soloists whose voices did not always manage to compete, but the chorus came across strongly particularly in the rousing Dotheboys Rock!

Minor roles were played by Alex Jones, (lively rock and roll artist) Simon King, Tim Perowne, Nicholas Radford, Andrew Ridland and Jeremy Lott.

For his bubbling performance and enthusiasm throughout the production, Tom Newey was adjudged ‘Actor of the Year’.

Patrick Cashell

CastSmeeton/'Smike Nicholls/Nicholas Nickleby Headmaster/Mr. Squeers Mrs SqueersMiss Grant/Miss Fanny Squeers Tubby (a bully!)/Wackford Squeers J nr.Brown/Bolder CoateslCobbey MarshlGreymarsh Plank (a slow boy!)/Master BellingMr. Ralph Nickleby Mr. Snawley

Continued over

Sebastian Britten Thomas Inman Peter Friend Tom Newey James Warren

Jake Burnett-Hitchcock Alexander Jones Simon King Thomas Beard Timothy Perowne

Benjamin Nicholls Nicholas Radford

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ma Continued

Richard, Landlord o f the Saracen’s Head Tilda -friend o f Fanny New boys

Boys

Andrew Ridland

Jeremy Lott Richard Cross Christopher King Nigel Jarvis Duncan Stone Tom Browne John Clayton Edward Craddock Robert Cross Nicholas Grey Andrew Robertson

Flute William StirlingClarinet Simon AllenbySaxophone and Bass Clarinet Mr J Boorer Guitar Mr R King

Trumpets

Trombones

PercussionDirected from the piano by

Justin Gibbs Christopher Wheal Mark Burton Edward Merrill Mr G Price Mrs V Asater

AcknowledgementsVery sincere thanks and congratulations to:- The members of the cast who, in a short and very busy term, have given freely of their time to prepare this production.

Mrs. SaxonMr. Viney & Mr. Symons Mrs Radford Nicholas Jenkins

BackstageLighting

CostumesPrompt

and to the many others who by their support and encouragement have made this production possible.

Form PlaysForm 1Anyone for Rugby ?

Form2S

by Form 1 CastMiss JeffersonMargaretJuliePenelopeCharlotteRebeccaKatherineJaneJessicaAbigailZoeSuzieRosemaryClarissaTamsinIsobel

Thomas Jefferson Guy BaileyRupert Burnell-Nugent Alexander Clayton Benjamin Davies Alexander Harris William Hatchard Stuart Jackson Timothy Jenkins Clive Jennings Matthew Martin Charles O ’Connor Max Rangeley Peter Spong Ross Talbot Ivan Tanner

Form 2YCharlie and the Great Glass Elevatoradapted from a story by Roald Dahl

CastMr Wonka Charlie Bucket Grandpa Jo Grandma Josephine Grandpa George Grandma Georgina Shickworth Shanks Showier Houston Control President Gilligrass Miss Tibbs Chief Spy Chief of the Army Chief o f the Air Force

John Seldon Thomas Babbington Oliver D ’Adda Benjamin Clayton Julian Radcliffe James Bowles William Luke Laurence Jarrett-Kerr Giles Darch Philip Cass Justin Rosenfeld Henry Tonks Crispin Procter Edmund Williams Timothy Ball

School on a Raftadapted from a story by Sara Smith Beattie CastKing Nicholas PepperWise Man Robert ChoaH a lf’n H alf James CollinTeacher Christopher TimpsonFather 1 Michael RadcliffeFather 2 Nicholas WhatmoughFather 3 Richard PearnFather 4 Timothy JellicoeFather o f H a lf’n H alf Timothy SamborneMother of H a lf ’n H alf William RussellKoo Koo William GabbToom Too Robin KongialisKwai William SeldonKang So James GreyLing Lee Kinder Goodall

Form 3SUnhand me Squireby Richard TydemanCastNarrator 1 Humphrey VoelckerNarrator 2 John JeffreysFanny Adams -

sweet seventeen James PetrieGrandmother -

sweet seventy one Lee BroderickPercival -

young and handsome Peter GoodfellowSir Jasper-

dark and villainous Jonathan WardM a Adams -

Fanny’s Mother Robert RidlandPa Adams -

Fanny’s Father William KeelerA Princess Simon WilseyFirst Village Girl Thomas CharlesworthSecond Village Girl Archie MackieThird Village Girl John KitsonFourth Village Girl Andrew StoneFifth Village Girl Duncan MurraySixth Village Girl Kyle ZaloumisSeventh Village Girl Thomas ClarkeFront end o f Cow Tom SellickBack end o f Cow Charlie Borradaile

14

Dra

ma Form 3 Y

Red Hot Cindersby Richard Tydeman

CastCompere Hugo CoxCinderella James IrvineHer Mother Tom DaviesLily - Ugly Sister John BarnebyGrace - Ugly Sister Mark FultonFairy Godmother Hayden ClarkPrince Charming Alexis TannerHerald Paul McClartyMouse!Horse 1 Anthony Burnell-!Mouse!Horse 2 James TurnerRat/Postilion Jaimin PatelCoachman Charles KivellPumpkin/Courtier 3 Oliver CollierLady Courtier 1 Andrew LytleLady Courtier 2 Michael PhilpottLady Courtier 3 David TimmsGentleman Courtier 1 Simon ChurchGentleman Courtier 2 John Jennings

So what do you think?I thought the form plays were very good and I enjoyed watching them.

The first play was called ‘Any One for Rugby?’. Everyone in that play was acting as a girl, except for two people - Justin Gibbs and Callum Zaloumis. They were acting as rugby players.

The next play was called ‘Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator’. I liked the Chief of the Army and the Astronauts best. But all of it was good in its own way.

The next play I did not think was so good as the rest. It was called ‘School on a Raft’ and was performed by 2S. This story was about going to a school which was in the middle of a river. Half ’n Half makes a big danger and he rescues the raft from a big waterfall. That is why he is called Half ’n Half, because he is half good and half bad.

The next play was my play, which was 3S’s play. It was called ‘Unhand Me Squire’. Before the play started I was really trembling, but it was not too bad after all. The next play was performed by form 3Y and it was called ‘Red Hot Cinders’. It was just like the straight forward story of Cinderella. All the plays took much practising, so I think we all did very well.

James Petrie

The Spoken English CompetitionWe were most fortunate to have as our Adjudicators in the final round of the competition Mr Jim Spalding, Head of English at King’s College, Taunton, and his colleague,Mr Giles Ramsay.

There was again a huge entry, which meant a lengthy whittling down process to produce our seventeen finalists. My thanks to all those who entered, many of whom were unfortunate not to go through to the finals. Their interest and involvement ensures a high standard of competition.

The adjudicators were full of praise when remarking on the high ability shown throughout and the great variety of material. They took the trouble to comment in detail on each competitor’s performance, which was a great encouragement to them all. Their positive criticism has given us much to learn from and I hope that this will be reflected in an even higher standard next year.

Picked out for special praise, and winning him the Rory Benham Cup for Spoken English, was Michael Follett’s excellent reading of Wilfred Owen’s ‘Dulce et Decorum est’ which conveyed with real sincerity Owen’s anger and disgust at the loss of young life in World War I.

The Programme

Group A - Under 9 year oldsNicholas Pepper The Itch by Michael RosenIvan Tanner Swops by Allan AhlbergNicholas Whatmough Empty House by John

Redwood-Anderson

Group B - 9 to 11 year olds ProseRichard Ferguson

Timothy Perowne

James Warren

from Ecclesiasticus, Chapter 44

from I Was There, by Hans Peter Richter

from Sharpe’s Sword by Bernard Cornwell

PoetryJames Irvine

Thomas Inman Harry Hensman

Michael Follett

Tom’s Bomb by David Hornsby

The Crocodile by Roald Dahl The Roman Centurion’s

Song by Rudyard Kipling Dulce et Decorum Est by

Wilfred Owen

Group C - 12 and 13 year olds ProseAdam Hurst Christopher Wheal

Thomas Williams

PoetryEdmund Hulme Warwick Goodall

Mark Gent

Simon Griffin

from Whale by Jeremy Lucas from Moby Dick by Herman

Melville from A Rabbit in the Air by

David Garnett

Dunce by Robert Service At the Theatre by

A P Herbert The Listeners by Walter de

la Mare The Highwayman Part One

by Alfred Noyes

The Winners in each group were:Group A Group B

Group CThe Rory Benham Cup

David Cowgill

Nicholas Pepper Richard Ferguson and

Michael Follett Adam Hurst and Mark Gent

Michael Follett

15

CD

T What is CDT?It is quite possible that some people may think that C.D.T. is short for “Can’t Do A Thing” ! But, contrary to popular belief, Craft, Design and Technology is the most rapidly developing and targeted subject of the school’s curriculum. It is a mixture of Woodwork, Metalwork, Technical Drawing, basic Physics, Mathematics, Geography and Graphics/Artwork. Indeed, it is a total technological education.

The Conversion of HomelandsThe conversion of Homelands began in September 1989. For the next three months the builders set about completely gutting the building, leaving only the bare essentials and tidying the place up. By Christmas 1989, the builders and decorators had finished. Homelands was now a purpose designed, empty CDT centre.

With plaster and paint barely dry, I set to the task of equipping the Design Studio. The room is organised to cater for 20 boys, using the latest British Thornton work stations. These consist of Powertracking for Electronics, and drafting units for Design and Graphics. This is one of the 3 main working areas, where the boys are able to carry out the design aspects of CDT. The emphasis here is the promotion of learning through problem solving, in a clean working environment. A later addition to the room was a BBC A3000 computer for use in Computer Aided Design (CAD) and Graphics work.

After much decision making and ordering, the Easter holidays saw the bulk arrival of the machinery, tools and equipment needed to kit out the Plastics area and main workshop.

The Plastics area consists of: two 4 manned stationed woodwork tables and hand tools; a Radiant Strip Heater (for folding plastics); a hot wire polystyrene cutter (for 3 Dimensional model making); and a vacuum former (a multi-purpose mould maker). A small oven (for softening plastics) will also soon be added.

The main workshop is designed to cater for the 3 basic materials - wood, metal and plastics. Equipment-wise, there are: five 4 manned stations (multi-purpose work benches with peripheral hand tools); two 36inch wood turning lathes; two Hobbymat 65 metalwork lathes; two pillar drills; one bandsaw; one scroll/fret saw; one heavy duty metal cutting saw; one buffing machine (for polishing); grinding wheels; and heavy duty bench shears (metal guillotine).

The School is fortunate to have such a totally equipped and modern CDT Centre, giving the boys a thorough and complete grounding in pre-GCSE skills and more. Each boy is timetabled for one double period once a week, and the Centre is also open Wednesday afternoons for boys to use as they wish.

The Centre is currently 80% operational, with only the storage and resources spaces to be sorted. Although it has been a very hectic year, it has also been challenging and rewarding.

Geoff Whaley

Homelands gutted

British Thornton work stations in the Design Studio

16

In the main workshop Tom turning on a Hobbymat 65 engineering lathe

Getting down to work

One drilling, a?iother setting up the pillar drills

Stepping up to work

■Getting it up to scratch

17

H

QO

Watch how I use the hot glue gun. . . .. .Now go and do it yourself

The Fish Factory (these started as plastic lemonade bottles)The Plastics Area, the radiant strip heater

TPD hooked on CDTFulton’s finishing touches

18

New

Roo

ts The Mount Tavy Tree Planting SchemeMost of the trees requested by parents and members of the Mount House Old Boys’ Association were planted on the estate earlier this year. A few, notably the Lucombe oaks, cannot at present be obtained and a number of labels showing species and donor have yet to be completed.

The trees have been planted on the south side of the school, below the conservatory, around the cricket field and on both sides of the stream that runs from the bridge to the River Tavy.

H P Wortham

Eleven Beeches Green (Fagus Sylvatica) or Southern (Notho fagus)Tim Emerson John Emerson Alastair Heslop Alexander Heslop Gordon Heslop Stuart HeslopNicholas, Tim and Alexander LewisNicholas HughesIn memory of Patrick McCreadyMarrack GouldingDennis de B Welchman

Nine Copper Beeches (Rivers purpea)S H Rivers P Knowling Boyd Campbell Peter Gent Robert Beard David DaviesCommander and Mrs R Bawtree M M J McClartyRev and Mrs D Ferguson (for Matthew)

Two Whitebeams (Sorbus aria)Mrs K Buckland Colonel and Mrs J Hensman

Wellingtonia (Sequoiadendron giganteum)Peter Gent

Three Handkerchief Trees (Davidia involucrata)Patrick Savage Robert Beard Dennis de B Welchman

Four Red Oaks (Quercus borealis)Stephen McCormick Robert BeardRev and Mrs D Ferguson (for Richard)Colonel and Mrs J Kendall

Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum)Michael Wooley

Three Turkey Oaks (Quercus cerris)Peter GentRev and Mrs D Ferguson (for Austen)Wendy Wroe

Three White Horse Chesnuts (Aesculus hippocastanum)Mrs R C Bonnalie Peter Mannering Timothy Hodgson (2)

Five Red Horse Chestnuts (Aesculus x camea)Simon Cameron Mrs Friend Mr and Mrs Anthony Jonathan Trafford Colonel and Mrs J Hensman Dr and Mrs D Mackenzie

Two Norway Maples (Acer platanoides)Robert BeardCommander and Mrs R Bawtree

Two Rowans (Sorbus aucuparia)David and Valerie Wright Paul Gay

Plane (Platanus x hispanica)Richard and Patrick Holmes

Cider Gum (Eucalyptus gunnii)Lois Spencer

Swamp Cypress (Taxodium distichum)Robert Beard

Cedar (Atlantica Glauca)Captain D E Mannering

Persian Ironwood (Parrotia persica)Charles Witherington

Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) B D H James

Eight Common Limes (Tilia x europaea)S H Rivers Leslie Perowne George Glossop Christopher Odling-Smee Michael Odling-Smee In memory of Mrs Wimbers Dr and Mrs M Inman (2)Mrs R Woodard

Four Tulip Trees (Liviodendron tulipifera)Patrick Savage Major and Mrs McDowall Hugh and Tim Pratt Mr and Mrs D Anthony

19

New

Roo

ts Tree Planting Programme 1989-1990Complementary to Mr Wortham’s Mount Tavy Tree Planting Scheme the School has undertaken an extensive programme to replace trees felled because they constituted a potential hazard and those brought down in recent storms, and also to ensure that other aged trees still standing will have replacements when they are felled in future years. In addition, large numbers have been planted to cover the ground recently left exposed when the Sports Hall was built. Hedges have been planted along new pathways and a lovely avenue of limes is now growing along the back drive, in memory of Marja Ball, the trees having been donated by Denis Ball.

In all about 1,050 trees have been planted, mainly in these six separate locations:1 On the steep bank to the north of the Centenary Hall:75 silver birch 75 alder 75 rowan 75 whitebeam 50 English oak 50 red oak 50 hornbeam 50 beech.These 500 trees will have to be thinned out in about ten years time.

2 Around Rowden playing fields and in Rowden wood: 25 willow 25 wild cherry 50 rowan

100 beech25 oak

225

3 Around the eastern edge of Homelands playing field to extend the Marja Ball Avenue:25 limes.

4 150 hedging beeches on the new path from Homelands to the Sports Hall.

5 100 various beeches around the lake, in Rowden Woods and to the west of the school.

6 In the area of the lake:20 Norway maple30 various beech.

In addition these trees have been planted in other locations:10 silver birch 1 elm 1 spindle1 chestnut2 handkerchief trees 1 tulip tree1 cedar Atlantica glauca

on the Sports Hall bank on the riverside walk in the Sports Hall garden by the Lodge gate south west of the school south west of the school position yet to be decided

Andrew Craigie

o7mil End h o t e l

Sandy Park, Chagford, Devon TQ13 8TNPhone 0647 432282

This old flour mill, with its wheel still turning in the peaceful courtyard, nestles in the Teign Valley on the edge of Dartmoor about one and a half hours drive

from Bristol and three and a half hours from London.

The whole atmosphere is one of a rather comfortable private house, with lots of nooks and comers. Tea by the fire in Winter, drinks on the lawn in Summer — it is a

most relaxing place.

The restaurant is open every day for all meals; prior booking strongly recommended.

20

Form One’s Christmas CrackersMy Christmas AlphabetC is for churches we pray in;H is for holy, God is holy;R is for reindeer that pull Santa’s sledge;I is for ice that is on the road;S is for Santa who brings us our toys;T is for the Christmas tree we put our toys under;M is for mistletoe we have fun with;A is for the antlers that reindeer have;S is for the Christmas story.

Ross Talbot

C is for Christ who was bom on Christmas Day;H is for holly that we hang in our homes;R is for Rudolph, he pulls Santa’s sleigh;I is for the ivy that hangs from the trees;S is for the snow that falls from the sky;T is for the Christmas tree;M is for the myrrh that one of the kings brought;A is for the Angel Gabriel who brought the Good News;S is for the shepherds who were frightened of the angels.

Peter Spong

C is for candles on the tree;H is for holly upon the door;R is for robin sitting in some misdetoe;I is for icing on your Christmas cake;S is for snow resting on your grass;T is for toys under your Christmas tree;M is for misdetoe that you hang up round your house;A is for anders that belong to Rudolph who pulls

Santa’s sleigh;S is for stockings at the bottom of your bed.

Timjenkins

C is for Christ, Christ is another name for Jesus;H is for holly we use for decorations;R is for robin, a bird we see in winter;I is for ivy, it is sung about in a carol;S is for sleigh that Santa comes in;T is for toys Santa gives us;M is for merry, everyone is merry at Christmas;A is for antiers, reindeer have antiers;S is for the snowman that you make out of snow.

Guy Bailey

C is for crackers that we pull at the table;H is for holly that we have in the house;R is for reindeer that pull Santa’s sledge;I is for icicles that hang from the window ledge;S is for singing when we sing carols;T is for the tree that we decorate beautifully;M is for the mistletoe that we hang in our homes;A is for the animals in the stable at Jesus’ birth;S is for the sledge that Santa comes on.

Charles O’Connor

The Story o f a Christmas TreeI am a Christmas tree in London. I come from Norway. When I was cut down I fell and hurt my head. In London I had decorations put on me. I have lots of decorations on me. There are round decorations on me. There are thin ones on me. I have red ones on me. People sing carols round me.

William Hatchard

I am a Christmas tree. Christmas trees get taken around in cars and vans. We are put in gardens and they make us stand still. People have hung decorations like tinsel on me. I need to itch but I can’t because the tinsel ties me up. If you want to know, I am Norwegian.

Rupert Burnell-Nugent

I am a Christmas tree. I grow in a big forest and then I am put in a pot. I am decorated and I sparkle and shine. The littie children all come and admire me.

Max Rangeley

I am a Christmas tree. I came all the way from Norway in a big ship. I stand in Trafalgar Square. I am decorated with lights and tinsel and coloured balls. I love being a Christmas tree. People come from all over Britain to see me standing in the square.

Charles O’Connor

Supplier o f Bread and Rolls to M ount House School

PROPRIETOR W. F. FOSTER TELEPHONE:(0822) 613109

85 WEST STREET TAVISTOCK

DEVON PL19 8AQ

O -j

G

21

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easu

reAlone

The beach was silent. I was the only soldier left.

The place was Dunkirk, a long stretch of beach on the coast of France. As I sat dazed I heard the gentle lapping of the waves on the seashore and in the distance the odd crack of gunfire. The beach, in some parts, had craters from German guns Lorries, tanks and small tents were smoking and one or two of them burning.

I got up bruised, but all right. The sky was not visible in some places because of the mist and the smoke coining from the burning wreckage. Bodies were in every direction; the Germans had not been merciful in their onslaught.

I walked around a bit looking for something to eat. I saw a tent still standing, the flaps blowing around in the cold wind racing down the beach like a cold hand getting as much as possible in its palm. The tent was riddled with machine-gun holes. I looked in; two dead bodies were lying face down in their beds. I found a half-eaten bar of chocolate; I took it and started to eat it.

I walked out of the tent and looked out to sea. I saw lots of tiny craft sinking or sunk. I wondered if any of the boats had life-rafts. I waded out - the water was cold and black from the oil of sinking boats. One boat, a sailing dinghy, had a white goose on the side and as I went out to the boat it started hissing and flapping its wings. I quickly went to another boat.I had a job getting in, but I managed, and rowed for home. Later, a patrolling frigate picked me up.

Russell Talbot

A Virginia StoryI had had a very nasty argument with my parents. Many times I had thought of running away from home, but if I did, where would I go? I would have had to pack refreshments, things to entertain me, money and loads of other things you need to survive in this world. But, this time I was sure about it. I had had an argument about why I should not have the same privileges as my sister who was one year older than me. At the end of the argument my parents screamed at me. The anger was boiling up in me, but I walked up the stairs very calmly knowing that if I stamped I would get into more trouble. I had all my valuables in my ruck sack and my clothes and books in two plastic bags. I walked down the stairs hoping my mother and father were not there, but, unfortunately, they were.

“Hey, Sam! Where are you taking all those bags and a ruck sack?”

“E r... I am going to draw some buildings and I might have a look around town to see if they have any new computer games.”

“You can’t fool me. You would not take all those bags just to have a look at computer games. Come on tell me the truth.”

“That’s the truth, dad. Honest.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“O.K. I am going to paint some of the buildings. I have packed my paints in tissue paper and the other bag is full of drawing equipment and a board to stick my painting or drawing to. The ruck sack is full of food. Is that good enough for you?”

“All right you can go.”

I ran out of the door and jumped onto my bike. I was free at last. I cycled up to the town and bought a packet of crisps, a Mars bar and a can of Sunkist from a newsagent. There was a wood five miles away from the town. I had been there once or twice with my parents, but I had never really explored it.There was a steep hill leading up to my school. I clicked into third gear and rode up the hill with great enthusiasm.

When I reached the top of the hill I got off my bike and had a drink of my Sunkist. The sun was shining and there was a gentle breeze. I took a sip of my Sunkist again and started my journey to the wood. It was a nice ride there. There were people walking about and trees flopping and swaying, but, when I came to the woods, nobody was there except the animal life.

I got off my bike and had a look around at the beautiful surroundings. There was a river next to a bunch of trees where an obvious footpath had been made. I followed the footpath and found a hut made of twigs and stones. I very cautiously opened the door slightly and a boy about twice my size pounced on me. I tried to push him off, but he was a lot stronger than me. He got off me and gave me two large, painful kicks. I got up very slowly aching with pain and tried to talk to him.

“Sorry I did not know this was your house. I was just curious to see if anybody lived here. You see I have run away from home and I thought I might find a friend.”

“You are no friend of mine. You come into my house without knocking. Go before I do more damage to you.”

He spoke in a slow, gruff voice. I was tempted to go but I kept on talking to him.

“I am really very sorry I did not know anybody lived here.I can’t blame you for being angry at me, but it was all a terrible mistake.”

At this his face softened. I put out my hand for him to shake, but he did not take this as a kind gesture. He had obviously been living here for a long time and he had become more like an animal than a human.

“Come into my house. I will show you around.”

I walked into his house and I was surprised to see how neat and tidy it was.

It did not really fit his nature. He had all the human-like things that most people have in their home. There were two chairs with a table and he sat down on one and asked me to sit down on the other one.

“So you have run away from home and you are sure about it.”

“Yes, la m .”

“It’s tough living here and you have to learn to make camps and your food. Everything your parents used to do you have to do or you will not survive.”

“I understand.”

“Come, I might as well show you around. I will help you survive, but you must learn to do it yourself or you are no friend of mine.”

He then grabbed a bow and arrow and ran off into the woods. I followed him and took a bite of my Mars bar. He lead me to a place where there was a little stream. He shot up a hazelnut tree and came down with millions of nuts stuffed into his pocket.

“Collect all you can. This will be part of tonight’s meal.”

Continued over

22

I picked up all the nuts I could and stuffed them in my pockets. As we were walking home I came across a little nest in a tree. We both inspected it and found an injured baby falcon. We were both very touched by this miniscule creature and each of us wanted it as our own. I picked it up and held it in my arms. It was an adorable creature with a golden brown mark on his head and bright blue eyes. I ran to the river and washed the falcon. He had broken his wing. My friend dashed after me and every bit of attention was spent on the falcon. We were both getting very hungry and we rushed back to the camp. We had roasted hazelnuts with deer, specially coated in rich herbs. It was absolutely delicious. It was at least as good as home, if not better.

The next morning the sun was shining and the birds were singing. I got up about nine thirty with a great big yawn. I wondered what I was going to have for breakfast, but I did not ask my friend Yowel because he was deeply asleep. I opened the door very quietly and walked into the sunshine. Squirrels scuttled around my feet as I walked to the river where Yowel collected his hazelnuts, and filled up my flask. Yowel had said that it was pure water and he was right. Well it tasted better than the water at home anyway. As I washed my face in the water I caught a glimpse of eight people. They must be poachers I thought, or they were a search party looking for me. Yes, they were a search party. I could see my dad behind the whole of the party. They all had rifles. I thought what do they need rifles for and then I suddently remembered Yowel’s warning about the black panthers and the rattle snakes. They moved forward and I ran back to Yowel’s house. They must have noticed me because their pace became quicker. I ran through the door of Yowel’s and frantically looked for a hiding place.

“Hey, Sam, what is the matter.”

“A search party is after me, I have to find a hiding place.”

“You won’t find a hiding place in my house.”

“Well, where can I find a hiding place.”

“Right here!” and Yowel opened the door and shot up a tree. I followed him and saw a flat wooden board attached to two thick branches, It was covered in leaves and there was an opening, Yowel dashed in and I followed him. We could hear them approaching.

“He must be here some where. Ah, a little house,” my father said.

They all ran into the house and started poking around Yowel’s belongings. One of them shot at his windows.

“Hey, kido, we are going to find you. You know that don’t you. Come out of your hiding place,” one of them said.

“I think he has been killed by a black panther or a rattle snake,” another said teasing my father.

“Shut up, Tom, that’s not funny,” my dad said in an angry voice.

After an hour of shouting and looking for me, they went back to their homes. Yowel crept down the tree very quiedy and entered his house. When we came in, pictures of his, and all his belongings had literally been destroyed. Yowel cried out in anger.

“Your father’s friends are like this. Then you will become like them. You will become horrible.”

“I am really sorry about this. It was not my father who did this, but the search party.”

After an hour Yowel’s anger cooled down. At dinner time I explained to Yowel that I had to go back home because I would not survive out here and I missed my family.

“You liar, you said you’d cope, but you can’t can you?No you’re just a littie weed.”

“I am sorry, Yowel, but I have to go home, that is where I belong.”

“But you promised.”

“I did and I am very sorry.”

“My life is ruined. My house is wrecked all because of you.”

I tried to explain I had to go home to him for a second time, but he did not accept my reason.

The next morning I left a sad and angry Yowel. I jumped onto my bike, threw my penknife and a note, with my telephone number on it, outside Yowel’s house and cycled back home.

The next day I came to see how Yowel was, but there was nothing left of his house or his belongings.

Sam Plagerson

The Grannies came to tea this yearJohn Kitson, Tournament Champion

23

BetrayalIt was late in October of 1854 and our mounts jostled uneasily at the side of the road as we waited and listened.

We had been planning the hold-up for several weeks in advance, for we knew that it was about ten times riskier than any exploit we had attempted before. There had been four of us, but one was apparently absent, sick. At around 8 o’clock a stage coach, laden with tax money, would be passing along the road, and, amazingly, it would be unguarded.

It was now 7.55 and we knew we could expect the stage coach at any time. The autumn wind howled through the trees so they groaned and croaked in protest, and it sent flurries of dried leaves jumping and dancing through the air. Then we heard the coach. The tell-tale plod of weary hooves against the dry, rutted track came steadily closer and closer, and then it was upon us.

The coach, slightly smaller than we had expected, was drawn by a pair of obviously tired black stallions whose breath condensed into small white clouds as they exhaled into the cold air. The driver, a stout, burly man of about forty, had his hat pulled down over his eyes to protect them from the biting wind, and he did not see us until it was too late.

I drew my pistol, rode round to the front and covered the driver. Meanwhile, the other two rode round to the side of the coach and I heard one of them call:

“Your money or your life!”

However, there was no reply from within the coach so one of them tried the door, pistol at the ready.

Then things happened so quickly that I hardly knew what was happening. The door swung open, knocking one of our party from his horse, and several policemen jumped out. I

heard a scuffle involving a few shots and I started to ride away, but I had barely gone ten yards when I felt a searing pain in my right thigh and I collapsed into a heap on the ground.

It was then that we realised that our friend, whom we had believed to be sick, had betrayed us, and I felt so angry that I cursed him there where I lay.

‘Click!’, the key turned in the lock and I knew that I would be behind bars for the best part of seven years.

Mark Gent

A Day in my Life’(Narrated by a lOp coin)It was the 23rd of September and it was about half past nine when I was stirred by a huge hand plunging into my room. In my room was an awful hanky which I and the other coins - Brassy and Six-sides - used as a duvet. Even though it was small and smelly we enjoyed the pocket, because it was cosy, so we could sleep.

Bill, my owner, was going to the bank in the main street.As he pulled the money out of the machine and put it in his pocket I noticed the crumpling noises which the notes made.

“Is that you in the wallet, Fiver and Tenner?” I said.

“Yes, it is. Is that Ten-Pence?”

The next shop Bill went to was the stationery shop, where sadly Fiver was spent and imprisoned in the till! Bill spent Tenner at the grocer’s and I was hoping that it would not be my turn next, because I liked my friends and the pocket I lived in. But it was my fate to be spent in a sweet shop.

Luckily I was saved from a long imprisonment by a small girl who bought some sweets and was given me back in

Continued over

3 from 2Y =?

24

change. Just as she was leaving the shop she dropped her change. She found all the rest, except for me, because I had rolled out of sight under a bench.

About half an hour later a young man dropped his wallet on the ground. As he picked it up he noticed me and carried me out of the shop with him. He then went to the pub. After buying himself a beer he moved over to the slot machine. Now, a slot machine is the worst possible doom for a helpless, feeble ten pence coin and soon I found myself in the well of money inside the machine. The next thing I knew was that I was shooting down a long, dark and smelly tube which led to the money outlet. The machine was being used illegally by a young boy, but I did not mind.

The boy took me behind the school bike shed where he had a tree house; every Saturday night the boy and some of his friends had a gambling game there. At first he did well, but as the evening went on he lost all his money.

So, I changed hands again. My new owner went home to sleep, and I made some new friends in my new pocket.

Jeremy Hill

A Stormy NightI woke with a start. As my eyes grew accustomed to the dark I saw that everyone else was asleep, no one was stirring. A peal of thunder rang out across the sky, rattling the windows loudly.

The rain came; it hurled itself against the window panes, as if trying to force a way in. Then lightning joined the ever- increasing crowd of hostile elements; it illuminated the room for only a millisecond, but I saw the shadows of my slumbering companions. The wind was growing stronger, whistling through the cracks in the window frames.

Eventually my curiousity won its battle with my warm bed. I slipped out from beneath my covers and tiptoed across to the window. I drew back the curtain, and at that moment the lightning struck. It lit up the sky, silhouetting the trees.

The trees were rocking madly as if dancing to a wild kind of music. Then there was more thunder, reverberating across the sky, shaking the window frames in their sockets. At this fresh attack I thought it better to scramble back into bed and stay hidden under the covers.

There was a huge crack, and then a thump, as something heavy fell to earth. Again I ventured out of my warm and cosy bed, my desire to see what was going on drawing me towards the window like a magnet. I drew back the curtain

Tuck Box Wallahs

slightly. Lightning flickered again. I could make out the dormant form of a tree lying, sleeping, on the hard ground.

I was amazed that still no one had stirred; everyone was snoring peacefully. ‘Lucky them,’ I thought. ‘I wish I could do that.’

The door opened, bathing the dormitory in light. Matron stepped in, flashing her torch from bed to bed. She went out, closing the door softly behind her. I heard her talking to Mr Cowgill, almost echoing my thoughts.

“I’m amazed; only one or two boys are awake!”

“I wouldn’t mind being able to do that, Matron,” he replied.

There were light footsteps and the voices faded away.I noticed then that there had not been any thunder or lightning for a while; the wind had died down, and the rain had almost stopped. There was just a gentle pitter-patter against the windows, instead of the clash and clatter of before. Soon that stopped and there was a peaceful tranquillity.

The calm after the storm.

Thomas Williams

‘Indiana Cat’“Up you get, you lazy fellow, Indiana; time to go out,” said Mrs Jinks as she bundled the playful, bouncy cat out of the cat-flap. Indiana roamed around the garden, looking for something to play with. Indiana had acquired his un-cat like name because there was a dark patch on his head, which made him look as if he was wearing a hat, and because of his adventurous spirit. And who else is adventurous and wears a hat? None other than Indiana Jones; hence ‘Indiana’, the cat.

After his early morning walk, Indiana lay down. He started to plan his day and reached as far as what he was going to do after he had finished planning his day. This morning he had been attacked by boredom. After lying prostrate for five minutes, he had a brainwave. He was going to live up to his name; he was going to explore what was outside the garden gate.

He squeezed under the gate, brimming with thoughts of adventure. As he set forth, a huge red monster on four round legs whizzed past, leaving a trail of black, choking smoke in its wake. After staring at a few more monsters, Indiana set off up the pavement. As he turned the corner he came face to face with a smelly, fanged, blundering beast. When this beast emitted a growl, Indiana turned and ran. As he was running he looked back and the beast was nowhere in sight.

“SMACK!” went Indiana’s head as it came into brutal contact with a gate which had carelessly been left open. When Indiana came to he was in an unfamiliar kitchen, and, not liking the environment, bolted out of the door.As he sprinted into the garden, a lawnmower flattened him. What a messy cat! After cleaning himself up he thought, “I’ve only seven more lives to go, so I’d better be careful.”

Indiana walked through several gardens and came to a stream bridged by a small log. He decided to cross and he started walking along the log when a dog’s bark made him turn around and, as he turned round, he fell in.

“Six more”, he thought as he dragged his soaking form out of the stream.

Continued over

25

He had left the suburbs now and was walking through some fields when he saw an electric cable hanging from a wooden telegraph pole. Seeing something to play with, he jumped at the cable, grabbing hold with his paws. The shock threw him up into the air, and then he crashed onto the ground. He had only five more lives left!

Indiana was becoming very fed-up with losing his lives.He was thinking about how to keep his other lives when a pellet thumped into the telegraph pole next to him. He turned and saw two boys with air rifles. The second boy fired his rifle and the pellet embedded itself in Indiana’s side.

With only four more lives left, he had left for home, when he smelt the wonderful smell of fish. He was approaching the source of the smell warily, when a huge dog came up behind him.

“Oi, you,” it said. “What are you doing here? I hope you’re not planning to eat that fish.” He gestured to a dish of fish, surrounded by kittens.

“Well,” said Indiana, “if there is some to spare, may I have some?” The big dog hit Indiana so hard he nearly turned inside out!

He continued his trek home and came upon a railway track. “Hmm,” he said, “this track looks interest. . . ”

SPLAT! “One more life,” thought Indiana. “Help!”

As it was growing dark he decided to go somewhere light. He trotted off to the motor way. He set out across the motor way when he saw two beady eyes coming towards him. He was very curious. THUD, went Indiana as he came down to earth fifteen feet from where he had been standing.

His last thought was, “Stupid cat!”

James McCoy

The Doll’s HouseI was driving down the Okehampton by-pass in torrential rain; it was beating against my wind-screen. Every time a large gust of wind blew, the rain crashed onto my window in great sheets. During one such squall my vision was impaired and I skidded off the road and into a hedge. I was forced to seek shelter in a bed and breakfast. I was warmly greeted by an old woman, who looked at me as if I was a demi-god! I glanced around. The hall was very cosy looking and prim - far more so than I had expected it to be, from the rather ramshackle appearance of the exterior - and plants festooned the banisters. The lady ushered me into her small farmhouse-type kitchen, bustling around me like an excited bee.

After I had quenched my thirst with a cup of steaming hot tea, the old lady, Mrs Glick was her name, told me to sign my name in the visitors’ book. While I was writing my address, I glanced up at the last name; it said:

10.7.79 Ben Mears, 7 Grasner Avenue, Hartlepool. 0724 831920There was a blank space under the ‘Comments’ section.

I said good night to Mrs Glick, walked upstairs and entered the room I had been given. Funnily enough I noticed there were only two rooms, the old lady’s and mine.

In the corner of the room was a large Victorian doll’s house. Its architectural style was very Gothic and it was painted brilliant white. I was immediately drawn towards it, in awe. I studied the house for quite a while, marvelling at the26

excellent craftsmanship. Then I undressed and hopped into the large and saggy bed and closed my eyes. . .

I was awoken by a terribly loud thunderclap that reverberated around inside my head for some time. I sat up in bed and looked out of the window; there was a dense covering of cloud, occasionally streaked with flashes of lightning.

I was snuggling down into my bed when I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was the doll’s house, and, straining my eyes, I could see a small glow being emitted from it, casting an eerie shadow upon the wall.

I was startled into reality, and sat bolt upright in bed, holding the covers tightly around me. After thinking it over, I came to the conclusion that I would have to investigate. As I was stealing across the room, a lightning flash illuminated the shadow that the doll’s house cast, and I could just hear quiet, high-pitched chanting, repeatedly saying:

“Don’t go down to breakfast, don’t go down to breakfast, don’t go . . . ”

I ran back to my bed and leapt under the cool sheets. I pinched myself to see if this was all a bad dream; it was not.

At about three o’clock, sleep overwhelmed me and I sank mercifully onto my pillow.

When I next awoke I was greeted by the delicious aroma of fried bacon; the smell was so tantalizing that I just had to change and go downstairs to satisfy my hunger. I did not care that something out of the ordinary had happened during the night. I was famished.

When I entered the kitchen the old lady was standing there, smiling. I sat down at my place and began to munch my succulent slices of bacon. I finished my meal and downed the tea I had in front of me. When I looked up the old woman was still smiling in her sickly way. Then the world begun to swim and everything went black. . .

Mrs. Glick is very good to us; she even feeds us luxurious meals. I have many new friends: Ben is one of them, and we enjoy each other’s company. Life is strange without a television, but not nearly as strange as being two inches tall and living in a doll’s house.

William Stirling

Safety in numbers

A Moor ViewIt was on a sunny day with a tepid breeze blowing through the bracken and the gorse bushes that I set out on a particularly memorable ride. I was mounted upon a stout Welsh horse, Vulture by name, and he was revelling in the change of weather, as was I. We crossed Shorts Down, followed a lane for a hundred yards, and turned onto the open expanses of Plaster Down.

Trotting to the road, we crossed, and walked to the small stream that rippled gendy. Reaching a small rise below Pew Tor, we could see far into Cornwall. My horse seemed happy at the suggestion of a rest and nibbled the yellow grass on a tussock. Kit Hill stood tall and solemn above the lower hills, and, shrouded in the pale, mid-morning mist, it looked almost ghostly.

To the left of Kit Hill lay gendy undulating fields leading down to a very far distant seashore. To the right of Kit Hill lay some humped and squashed hills, becoming steadily smaller as the eye could see less. Tavistock looked less colourful from the moor than it did from within. The white of the houses seemed to have become mixed up with the grey roofs and trees, roads and bare stone walls. The sun sparkled on windows, cars and other shiny, reflective objects. Even from Pew Tor the huge gas tank was visible, rising out of the grey and white mass to peek up through its surrounding trees.

Fireworks and BonfireIt was a blowy, rainy evening and conditions were awful for fireworks. Cars were streaming up the drive, bringing spectators to watch the display. Parents all piled out of their cars while the boys had to put on their Wellington boots and anoraks. After that they collected a packet of sparklers each from one of the masters.

When the boys had found their parents, everyone went onto the slopes in front of the display, waiting for the fireworks to begin, but at half past six, the time for the display to start, the rain poured down and all the umbrellas went up! At last, at a quarter to seven, the fireworks were ready and a couple of men walked slowly over to light the first of them. This was a Catherine wheel which spun violendy round. The next gave out a series of very loud screeching noises. Then there were ones which soared into the sky and exploded, making lovely patterns.

When the display had finished, we shuffled down towards the bonfire. The boys were huddling as close to it as they could, to keep themselves warm. Just as the bonfire was blazing, the person in charge of the fireworks found one that had not gone up. In fact, there was a number of these,

My granny’s house was visible, just, its pink paint standing out between the grey trees and the long green grass. Below, and to the right of us, lay the cottage that belongs to Mrs Nicholas, her dog barking as a car drove by, shivering the leaves. Cold, grey and alone stood Moortown, through the long line of poplars. To our left lay the fields of Mike Thomas, the sheep and cattle basking in the unusually warm sun. Behind us, or at the end of our journey out, rose the tor that looks like an obtrusive lump of clay on the potter’s wheel, Pew Tor. Surrounded by orange-brown bracken and jagged boulders, intermingled with the odd gnarled and twisted tree, Pew Tor stood dominant above Sampford Spiney and Plaster Down. Hill walkers climbed the rocky outcrops and another rider was exercising his horse.

The frothy white clouds rode the swirling wind like the white-caps of the Eddystone rocks. They swirled about the tip of the radio mast at Hessary and made wonderful patterns. A rogue storm cloud brought rain to the Abel’s farm at Coxtor and I decided to move off. From Pew Tor the view was almost the same, except that you could see the far side of the hill, and into the valley beyond.

The storm cloud was determind to ruin our day and we were sent off down the hill and home with the driving rain at our backs. Despite this, it was a most enjoyable ride.

James Warren

so they were set off and seemed to soar higher than any before.

The Guy at the top of the bonfire was stuck on two sticks; his head looked like a skeleton’s head. He was clothed in dark blue garments from head to foot.

The flames of the bonfire rose violently and the ashes flew about in the wind. Then there was lots of black smoke, just like rubber when it is being burnt.

It seemed some while until the flames started to die down. Just as everybody was turning to go back up to school there was an enormous firework which had been let off somewhere in the distance.

Then we all walked wearily up the slope to the parked cars. The parents said their goodbyes and the boys went off to bed.

James Fulton

Government Health Warning

27

Lydford Gorge ShootingHaving been to Lydford Gorge I realise why it attracts visitors by the dozen. It is extremely pretty and uncultivated.

The day that my family and I arrived was warm and sunny, a glorious summer day. We set off along the route marked in our National Trust brochures, rambling through the tall and shapely trees as we chatted together. We were going to the White Lady waterfall and then up to the Devil’s Cauldron, a deep, round ravine.

My brother ran on ahead. As we trudged round a corner in our Wellington boots we could see down a steep slope to a river gushing and bouncing through and off stones. We walked down to a log bridge crossing a small tributary cascading down to the main river. As we were half way across a little head popped up and squealed ‘boo!’ It was my brother!

We tramped past a patch of bluebell buds sprouting out of the ground like grass and I imagined how it would look in the spring, a mass of bluebells swaying like the sea. We passed a tree that had been blown over in the gales about four months earlier (I presumed). Its broken roots would have made a glorious painting, all twisted and smashed. We went on, gently zig-zagging down the slope, weaving in and out of many wind beaten trees. We were quite near the bottom of the gorge, or V shaped valley, when we walked through a patch of rhododendron bushes; they were all different shades of pink.

When we eventually reached the bottom we were faced with the most beautiful waterfall. It is called the White Lady, is one hundred and twenty feet high and it crashes down onto the rocks and then into the main river.

We then walked up to the Devil’s Cauldron along planks of wood suspended on iron railings. It is a round pool, extremely deep, with rocks surrounding it. It has a sort of turbulence because of the river crashing into it and then out again.

We walked up to the National Trust shop and then returned to the car; what a marvellous day out.

Andrew Ridland

So that’s how long a piece o f string is!

I picked up my gun from its resting place in the larder and wiped the excess oil from the barrel. I reached up and fetched my ammunition from the shelf above my gun.

I stepped out into the garden and surveyed the land for a good place to shoot from. My eyes rested upon a branch which looked like an extremely good position from which to shoot.

I went back inside to collect the target. I set the target up in the garden, making sure that any stray shots would go into the bank, I climbed up the tree with my gun and my pellets. I made myself comfortable and raised my gun, aligning the foresight and the rearsight.

I squeezed the trigger and the pellet shot from the gun and slammed into the wooden target, making a satisfying ‘crack’ on impact. I reloaded my gun and took aim again. When the sights had rested on the centre of the target I delicately pulled the trigger. The rifle cracked dully, trailing wisps of oily smoke which hung in the air until they were borne away by the breeze.

I reloaded, and I was raising the gun to take aim, when two pigeons landed in the tree next to the one I was sitting in, not thirty feet away. As I looked at them they started singing to each other in their mellow voices. They seemed to know that I could not and would not try to shoot at them. They turned towards me and met my gaze, and written in their eyes seemed to be the words, “Why do you not try to kill us with the death-bringer you hold, like many other humans do?” One of the pigeons looked sharply to its left and flew off. The second pigeon stayed on the rocking branch for a moment and then was gone.

The trance broken, I took aim and fired carefully, applying pressure slowly to the trigger until the pellet, backed by a powerful surge of air, rocketed away into the target, pulverising itself on impact with the wood.

I sat in the tree for half an hour, shooting, making sure that I followed the same firing procedure each time.

When my stock of pellets was completely depleted, I descended from the high branches of the tree with my gun, and ran to the target. Shards of splintered wood lay scattered around. Standing my gun against the tree, I started the tedious job of picking up the scattered wood splinters which, if left about, would foul the lawnmower, maddening my father beyond belief.

James McCoy

OldOld can be taggy

New can be shiny

Old can be wise New can be a prize

Old can be tattered New can be shattered

Old can be clever New - never

New can laugh at oldBut then stories will be told

Eddie Williams

28

Ghost TrainIt was the last day of the summer holidays and Edward Merrill had invited me to go to Bicton Park in Exeter with him. I accepted the invitation without hesitation.

As soon as we had passed the turnstile we sprinted off seeking fun like hungry carrion crows searching for meat. After our little visit to the games arcade we walked towards the “Wild West” building, thinking only of the ghost train. We stepped inside the building and to our delight we saw the ghost train! Quickly we paid our fares, and, stumbling with excitement, made our way to one of the little black carriages.

“Hop on, boys,” said the man who had collected our fares. Two ‘Hairy Hands’ protruded at each side of the forbidding double doors. The man gave us a little push and the magnetised rails started pulling us towards the doors, which creaked open, and we were in. Darkness surrounded us as we trundled through the pressing black wall.

Suddenly a barred cage lit up in front of us, revealing a growling, wire-haired werewolf. The car was heading straight towards this six foot beastie. A sharp turn settled my thumping heart. On the left of this huge cage a grave of pigment-drained hands rose like featherdown in an updraught.

My attention turned when a witch appeared in the darkness by the rails. She was brandishing a wicked carving knife in her left hand and a bloodless head in the other. My stomach turned at this ghastly model and I turned around, waiting for the next horror to pounce upon us.

In front a sickly yellow glow could be seen.

The little carriage was suddenly confronted by a wicked- jawed spider. On the right was a glowing lattice work. There seemed to be no way out, and we still plunged relentlessly on. The lattice parted and the glow was swallowed in the darkness.

The cart turned, revealing a crack of light. We were at the end! The cart gradually slowed. As we neared the doors a huge crash and a blinding flash marked the end of our journey. The doors opened and we were out. Edward and I stumbled away, this time in fright, not excitement.

James McCoy

Sounds in the middle of the nightIn the middle of the night,When my prayers have been said,I rest all alone,In the warmth of my bed.The light is at rest,The day has gone far And the stars and the moon Light up from afar.Click, clack, click, clack,What’s that?!Is it a ghost? Is it a ghoul?Or is it a monster from the swimming pool?I don’t know,I don’t care,I’ve got my teddy bear.I snuggle up,Warm as can be,But the noises are still heard.

Click, clock, splatter, donk, Is it me?Is it my imagination?No it can’t be.It’s certainly not me.I hide under the sheets, Where there is no ghoul,I think to myself “You are such a fool!!!”

Jake Bumett-Hitchcock

The QueueI gave a huge yawn as I stood in the queue outside the Post Office. The early morning air was crisp on my cheeks.

I gazed around me. I saw a variety of people with different appearances. At the front of the queue was an old man leaning on his walking stick, his back hunched and a huge wart on his forehead. He peered over his circular glasses and smiled at the rather rude, observant glare on my face.

Behind him was a young teenager, whose hair was almost non-existent. In one ear he had three earrings. He wore skin tight, bleached jeans and a bomber jacket.

The next person in the queue was an old lady. Her face looked kind and helpful. Her short body was covered by an anorak. She saw me looking at her and offered me a sweet.I refused, as my mother does not let me accept money or sweets from anyone other than family.

In front of us was a young mother holding two prams. She was very touchy and objected to anything she could. She flung her head around and her hair swung with it. Her two sons started crying. “Shut up!” she screamed at them.They cried louder and louder, until suddenly they did stop. The mother’s aggressive expression changed, and her frown rose up her brow.

Behind us was a middle-aged man. He must have been the most unfashionable man I have ever come across. His trousers were brown and several inches too short. He was wearing a white and green striped shirt with an orange and jade tie. He looked ridiculous!

Finally, right at the very back was a perfectly ordinary person, standing, however, rather oddly. She was slumped against the wall. She looked as if she was on her way to work in an office. She was very smart and tidy, which is why I was surprised when I saw her lazily leaning against the wall.

After a long, tedious wait the door of the Post Office opened. Everyone scrambled in, desperate not to have to wait any longer. In the commotion the old, white haired lady dropped her purse. The youth bent down, picked it up, and then, when she was leaving, offered to help her across the road.

When my mother and I had left the Post Office, we were walking through the town centre and I saw the unfashionable man going into Burton’s, one of the most fashion conscious clothing shops in Britain. I thought to myself, ‘It just proves you cannot judge anyone on his appearance!’

Paul Da Rocha

The EncounterThe air was cool and crisp that night as I ventured out of the tent, Mark following close behind me. We scampered across the damp ground and through the thin blowings of rain which met our faces. The gende wind brushed through our hair and made our noses cold and rosy, like ripened apples.

We stopped dead still, like rabbits being preyed upon. A slow clattering and clanging was rhythmically approaching. We listened and stared: there was a glimmering light travelling quickly towards us. The sound was growing and we were glued to the spot. We had now managed to associate the sounds and lights with a train. The train was close and becoming a danger to us. Closer. Closer...

We scurried away in disbelief, the lights flashing past, dii77ling our eyes. We could just pick out the faint figure of a driver, but that only. We called out to him, but there was no reply over the loud rumbling as the train echoed away into the distance, followed by the rattling carriages.

We wheeled round and strolled back to the safety and comfort of the tent. We clambered in and fell asleep.

When we awoke in the morning we retraced our night-time wander and arrived at the point where we had seen the train. No track was anywhere in sight. We drew our own conclusions, and we were mystified by them.

Paul Da Rocha

1 Ready! Load!

Lundy - A sight that few children have seenLundy is an island in the Bristol Channel. The island is three miles long and half a mile across. It is roughly thirteen miles in circumference. The nearest point or headland is thirteen miles away, Hartland Point, on the north coast of Devon.

The island has many interesting features including: animals, sea life, old mines, quarries, old hut circles, a church and three lighthouses.

The North Light is on the north east point. Below the light are the Virginia Springs, and to one side is Constable Rock. The light was built in 1896-1897. At the same time, at the south end of the island, St Eleyna’s church was being constructed by the Reverend H.G. Heaven, who owned Lundy at this time. The Old Light had been made before this and is not used any more because it is too high. It was the highest light in England. At the most southern point

2 Have a break. . .

stands South Light, which is manned, unlike North Light. The main power source of South Light is four very large generators run on diesel.

The only food source on the island is a shop called the Marisco Tavern; the Tavern also has a pub. This pub has no licensing hours at all.

In the 1880s the Lundy Granite Company ordered three hundred men to dig for granite. Lundy is one solid lump of Lundite, the name for the special granite found on Lundy. The company built quarters for the workers above the mines. In many of the mines are still the crane implacements. One particular quarry is called ‘V.C.Quarry’ because the Harman family’s son, John, won the Victoria Cross in one of the wars. As a boy, John had played in that quarry. Proof of this is a slab which was erected which tells the story of John Harman.

Another aspect of Lundy is its wildlife. There are Soay sheep, Sika deer, wild goats, black rabbits, wild ponies, black rats and the Lundy Bogit. There is a lot of bird life

Continued over

30

and marine life as well. The most famous of the birds is the Lundy puffin; ‘Lundy’ means Puffin Island. The major sea life is protected by the Landmark Trust. The rarest sight is the seals: only at one time of year do you see them. The reason the seals like Lundy is the naturally formed seal caves at the foot of the cliffs.

The north and west sides of the island could very easily be mistaken for Iceland or Norway in the summer or winter, but the east side is covered lavishly with trees and plants. The only problem is the rhododendron which has covered the whole of the island.

At the north end there are hut circles. In these hut circles there have been finds; for instance, flint saws, knives and pot boilers. Also there are kistvaens and tumuli.

My main impression of Lundy is how beautiful I thought it was, and how awesome and mysterious the rocks and cliffs were. I have only mentioned a few points about Lundy; if I had carried on I could have written a book! I would advise anyone to go to Lundy for a few days.

Jeremy Hill

The PresentJohn yawned and craned over to look at the alarm clock: it was seven twenty-four in the morning. He groaned quietly and turned his head to look at his wife. Then he remembered: it was her thirty-first birthday! He leapt out of bed and pulled on his clothes. He ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. What was he going to buy her? Over his cup of coffee he pondered the many thoughts which crossed his mind. That was it! She had always wanted a diamond ring. He finished his drink and went outside to the garage. He pulled at the handle on the door of the Volvo and uttered a cry of despair. It was locked. His wife always kept the key about her person. The town was six miles away. He trudged wearily up the road to the bus stop to look at the timetable. The next bus was at eight forty- five, in twenty minutes time. ‘I’ll wait here, then,’ he said to himself.

One hour later the bus vibrated up the hill and John angrily jumped aboard. He had a heated argument with the bus driver and was thrown off. He sulkily tried to ‘thumb a lift’ and ended up sitting in a dilapidated Morris Minor, chatting to a Greenpeace fanatic.He hurriedly stepped out of the car and bade the talkative hippy farewell. He ran to the best jewellery shop in Grangely and enquired about the cheapest diamond ring. The prices were far too steep, but he was told there was a shop of the same branch in a neighbouring town. John

Finger trouble, Cross?

went down to the station and leapt onto the train just as it was about to leave. A couple of minutes later he arrived in Chanderford and asked people in the street the directions to the jeweller’s. John was reluctant to pay the two hundred and forty pounds for the ring that caught his eye, but he decided that his wife would thank him all the more. He glanced at his watch and noticed that it was twenty past ten; his wife would be wondering where he had gone. He hurriedly scribbled out a cheque and ran out of the shop, clutching the little box in his hand. He stumbled into the station, gasping for breath. He had lost himself in the town and had spent a lot of time asking pedestrians the way. He was bustling around by the track when the litde box in his arms was knocked down onto the rails. He gaped in horror. There was a train coming. He leapt down onto the track and bent to pick up his treasured box. The train was getting nearer, and, seconds after he had clambered up the wall, it rushed past.

He was soon on the next train to Grangely, and had started a conversation with an elderly man, who was supposedly a retired practitioner from the nineteen-fifties. John stepped out onto the platform and started walking towards the taxi- hire alcove. Suddenly a man ran past and grabbed the precious box. He was going flat out when he tripped over a dog’s lead and skidded along the ground to land in a crumpled heap on the side of the ticket office.

The box lay on the floor, and John strolled over to pick it up. He hired a taxi and was driven back to the village. He was a sorry sight: scruffy hair, torn jacket, ripped trousers and a grubby face. He asked the driver to stop outside his house, paid him and then stole up the garden path. He opened the door and shouted, “Darling, I’m home!”

His wife bustied round the corner with a look of anxiety on her face. “Where have you been? I’ve been worried sick.”

“Darling, I have a present for you; I have specially chosen it.”He produced the box and asked her to open it. She gasped in awe at the ring.

“Why, John, it’s beautiful. Was it difficult to get?”

If only she knew, he thought; if only she knew.

William Stirling

The MorningThe birds and animals waited under the blanket of night, motionless and asleep.

While the Morning, below the brim of the horizon, prepared to peep his head once more.

He hesitated, took a deep breath, and lifted his head to the tree line noting what he saw.

The Night had turned her back; creatures stirred, rallying to the light of the Morning.

The fluttering and singing of every bird, coupled with the sun already dawning, turned the Night around.

Surprised at what she heard, and seeing the morning dove spread his wings with the sun among his feathers,

She did what she thought best:Defeated, she headed west.

Edward Hampshire- 31

Storm at Sea

0

30)Go

0 .ViO

E

We did not notice the clouds coming over us until the last moment. Then Henry shouted, “Help! A big breaker!” but it was too late. It tossed us like a feather. We crashed onto another wave that took our oars. We tried to motor, but the wave had us like a dog with a bone.

We were soaked and freezing. Henry was clinging very hard onto the boat, yelling like he had been bitten by a snake, but I could not move an inch. It was like being eaten alive for both of us. Henry managed to haul himself on before another roaring and whistiing wave came smashing towards us.

It smashed up under us and took us flying like a plane in the wind, splitting into thousands of pieces. Then we were falling.

We saw the water clinging to the beach like a man clinging for his life, but there was no hope of us escaping this prison of waves.

Simon Gent

The HuntThe wind blew fiercely above the dry surface of the planet Acheron. Against the dark sky a figure could be made out, struggling against the wind. It ran to the protected bunker and slammed the door button. Jones ran through the gap as the electronic door slid back on its tracks. He hit the close button and sat down on a bench. At least he was safe from the wind now. Looking around the room, Jones imagined he was in an assault bunker. Still out of breath, he glanced at the array of space marine weapons clinging to the wall.

Jones had previously been caught trying to smuggle illegal goods back to the space station. At the moment he was on the run. When he had left Dauphin in a dropship, he knew that the space marines would not be far behind.

Suddenly, in the distance, the low hum of the landing engines of a dropship could be heard. The space marines! They must have found him! Quickly Jones grabbed a pulse-rifle and six magazines. He trotted over to a security door and hit the button marked ‘open’. Nothing happened. He must have needed a securicard. Feverishly Jones took off the panel of the control box and retrieved the pair of wire-cutters from his utility belt. He cut a couple of wires and touched them together. The door opened a crack.Jones inserted his fingers in the gap and pulled. The crack

slowly grew bigger. He squeezed himself through into a long corridor, just in time to see the door slide shut. Jones slammed the magazine into place on the gun and advanced down the corridor.

Outside stood five space marines, loaded with weaponry.

“I was told he was dangerous,” Private Ferro announced.

“He’s no match for us, Ferro. Don’t be stupid!” Private Drake replied.

The marine team consisted of Sergeant Appone and Privates Ferro, Drake, Hudson and Frost.

“Load up!” Apone ordered.

“Ready to rock, sir,” Drake answered.

Drake was the smartgun operator in the team. Smartguns did most of the work for you. All you had to do was pull the trigger. Each had a built-in electro-laser and flame thrower. Automatic target locking was included on Drake’s model.

Apone opened the door, letting the other marines enter the room first.

Back in the corridor, Jones settied down behind some crates. An assault trooper came walking from round a corner, but before he saw Jones, Jones opened fire. Three bolts hit the trooper, who collapsed to the ground, dead.

“I heard shots!” shouted Frost.

“Get that door, Drake!” ordered Apone. Everybody stepped back and Drake opened fire on the door. When the smoke cleared a gaping hole was left where the door had been. The marines advanced down the corridor, covering each other.

“I’ll get him yet!” swore Hudson.

Suddenly, from behind a pile of crates, jumped Jones, pulse-rifle ablaze. Frost collapsed to the ground and Drake’s smartgun went into action again. Jones retreated behind the crates. Suddenly remembering that magazines could be used as stun grenades he threw one over the crates and jumped out firing. A small explosion occurred, shaking the corridor. Drake and Ferro lay sprawled on the floor; Hudson was injured in the leg, but Apone was still safe. He slowly switched to flame-thrower mode and pulled the trigger. The crates ablaze, Apone screamed: “Drop your weapon and come out peacefully! You’re under military arrest!”

But Jones was not listening - he was dead on the ground, with his own knife embedded in his chest.

Nicholas Jenkins

* ■A Chick on his shoulder Table Tennis..32

He did not have long to wait. In moments I was dashing down the corridor again and into the dormitory. In the dormitory there was a silence that brought me to my senses like a smack across the cheek,

I calmed down. Having hung up my towel, I turned on my bedside lamp and put on my pyjamas; I crawled into bed. The sheets were freezing and my cotton pyjamas, which were intended for the summer, did not warm me. I had to curl up into a tight ball so as to retain some body heat.

As I began to read my book, a loud, eerie noise could be heard. I assumed, and hoped, that it was the wind. Then there were footsteps. I remember thinking: ‘Who is it?’ The door in the adjacent room opened. My mind filled with evil creatures that I had read about. Then the light next door went on and I knew that it was only Duncan. However, the comfort of our electric lamps did not remain with me all night.

At twenty minutes past nine we turned off our lights. Darkness surged into the room from the corners where it had been hiding.

I became aware of the eerie noise outside again, and the label in my pyjamas dug into me at the base of my spine.

The door started banging persistently until one of the boys crept out of bed and quietened it by jamming it closed with a duster.

At about ten o’clock a door slammed and, once again, I could hear footsteps. They were growing louder; they were coming to my door! The door opened and I could see the silhouette of a man standing in the doorway.

I could feel myself trembling, and then the man spoke:

“Come on, James. It’s time you were asleep.”

Very soon I was; oblivious of the storm outside.

James Woolford

My DogHis skin is black as black can be,He is exactly what I like to see.His eyes are hazel with a tinge of brown,And his face is as loving as a clown.He looks at me with his head on one side,And loves to play if I go and hide.His tail is long and bent at the end;He broke it once but it’s now on the mend.He is not very tall but built like a brick;Though he is small he is still very quick.He loves to fetch his ring and ball,And always obeys me when I call.He is still very young, but incredibly smart.I would hate to lose him - it would break my heart.

Chris Wheal

All in the MindBang! The door slammed behind me.

Patter, patter, patter, patter as I ran up the corridor in my dressing gown and slippers. I burst into the bathroom, hung up my dressing gown, left my slippers beside my towel which I had dumped on the floor, and dashed underneath an extremely cold shower. I was not long in there, for Richard Hannay, in ‘Greenmantle’, was sitting on my locker, awaiting my return.

The Old ManThe clock ticks The bells chime Tolling the length of time.Here I am Relying on people,People who come in their cars All in a flash Then goAs if I were behind bars.

Here I am In my small house Where happiness has passed me by. Over sea,Below sun.

Here I shall die,But no children will cry.

Edward Craddock

New boys on Cox Tor...

A study in concentration in the study

33

Sunrise

>

And when the sun’s first probing rays do touch the countryside

The yawning hills will stretch their arms and let the light shine wide.

And when the dark hills golden turn and cockerels start to crow

The dormant houses rise from sleep, their movements tired and slow.

And when the sun does bravely show its head above the hills,

To lighten up the countryside it golden lustre spills.

And soon the day will truly start when people rise from sleep.

They’ll throw their windows open wide And hope the light will keep.

Mark Gent

The Model CitizenAll day long he stands watching People pass by him,But he just ignores them.His clothes are changed frequentlyAnd sometimes people stop and stare at him.He views the world through glass,Haunts the menswear store,But never buys a thing.

He has only one companion,His identical twin you might say,Though they dress differently.He is there to attract attention - That is all he wants, and If people make fun of him, which They rarely do,He does not care;Even though they call him a dummy,Because he never talks,He does not care.He does his job well.The manager says he does not know What he would do without him.

He is the Model Citizen.

Nicholas Jenkins

The PrisonerIn the darkness, in the gloom,I heard the screams and shouts from the solemn walls, From the people who were once here But are now gone.The postcards upon the wall that said “Wish you were here”, and showed Children playing on the beach,Free as birds.

But here I am in this sad cell,With doors clanging and windows smashing,With beds as hard as steelAnd the sink so dirty with algae growingAnd the deathly sound ofHell in this little cell.

Nicholas Grey

Team Work 34

Contra-DictionThe dulcet tones of E-—d Jones* are really not that mellow: his flats are sharp, his sharps are flat, and his blues are almost yellow.

The dolorous tones of this same Jones are strangely rather moving.His funeral march is full of life and his heavy metal soothing.

The non-stop tones of E-—d JonesI think you’ll find are boring.His piano’s a crashing sound Which quite defies ignoring.

Mark Gent

*Editor’s disclaimer: The E— d Jones referred to above is an entirely fictional character. Any resemblance to any living person of that name is purely coincidental.

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A public leaning post

A Windy DayAs James McCoy and I marched promptly down to Collingwood at bed time we noticed the wind was picking up speed. The trees were bending over as if they were picking up their leaves off the ground.

The next morning it was even more windy. I ran up to my music practice, being blown this way and that.

Breakfast was very noisy, because everyone wanted to tell their friends all their news. Coming out of breakfast was a large gathering of people standing outside the toilets. I pushed my way to the front, only to find that a flying tile had come straight through the skylight, narrowly missing a few people. Once I had viewed the dramatic scene I strode off to my form room, where I saw more effects of the wind: the large pane of glass in our window was bending inwards dangerously under the ninety miles an hour winds.

The latest news from our teachers was that we were not allowed outside, because of flying tiles. This was all extremely exciting to the boys, but rather scary to the teachers.

Once the third lesson had finished I headed for break; I was STARVING. I could sense excitement and when I reached the front of the queue I saw why. The Scripture Room - the conservatory - which protrudes from the front of the school, had been partly blown away. Mrs Price, Charles Walter, Mark Gent, Russell Talbot and Duncan McDowall were all lending a hand. Major Bengough looked very upset. I stepped over the blockade and helped with the rapid clearing of the Scripture Room. We were then told it was time for lessons, so we all piled into English. Mr Price entered our classroom and warned us of the danger of sitting by the windows, so we shuffled nearer to the walls.

After lessons I heard everyone saying, “Did you know the tree outside the Common Room has been blown over?” I did not know if the latest rumour was true, so I decided to investigate. Yes, it was true. The Turkey oak, well over a hundred years old, had fallen across the road.

I went and sat in my form room before bed time and thought to myself, “Nature is red in tooth and claw tonight!”

Edward Merrill

Uprooted - the redwood by the tennis court

The conservatory has been partly blown away

‘The Turkey Oak outside the common room Ims been blown over’

36

A Very Unexpected, Storm

. and some people were reading

Nobody knew when it started to blow up at about noon, that before everyone was asleep in their beds, two dormitories would be evacuated and repairs from the aftermath of yet another severe storm, which had occurred previously that month, would be swiftly and mightily removed by mother nature.

This real experience, which I was involved in, kept me very nervous and frightened. I was a member of Benbow dormitory, which had to be evacuated.

It was around midday that the wind became noticeable, and then, at one o’clock it died down, but not before torrential rain. I and about three others went with a member of staff down to the drain, or leat, behind the lake. We had the entertaining job of clearing away an enormous tree which had fallen across the lake. Time passed, and we came up to school at five. The wind started up again, and at six, while resting in my form room, I could hear the wind

pummelling the window. I shut the curtains for fear of the window shattering and sending showers of glass everywhere.

I then decided to go down to the computer room, where I forgot everything for a while. Then, at ten past eight, a boy came downstairs, panting, and said that while he had been undressing in his dormitory the window had smashed behind him. I suddenly realised that the wind must be blowing a strong gale and I rushed to my form room. One member of my dormitory said that we had to go to the library instead of going upstairs.

In the library one boy was crying because of shock when his dormitory window smashed. Soon the library furniture was cleared and we were told to bring our mattresses down. Once we had done that I went to fetch my camera and I took some photos. There were mattresses and sheets lying about and some people were reading.

The library had formerly been a dormitory, about twenty years ago. Now it had been brought back to life after lying dormant for those years, like a rusty steam engine being repolished.

Once everyone had changed, the lights were turned out and everything was pitch black. Lying in my bed I could hear the wind howling furiously outside. It was ripping parts of this ancient school away, slowly, as if stripping it to its bare bones. Nature was in a merciless mood. Between strong gusts of wind there was a forbidding silence and the tap, tap, tapping of water on the verandah. Nerves were on edge, and suddenly the wind would start up again, besieging the school. I fell asleep and awoke at three.The silence was overwhelming; the wind had gone.

JanEvetts

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37

SHI vous plaitMots Croises par Mark Gent A La GareHorizontalement

1 Information (14)7 C’est comme la S.N .C .F., mais sous-terrain (5)8 Ici on peut acheter des cigarettes (5)

10 On le cherche avant de monter dans le train (4)12 On la suit quand on doit changer des trains (14)15 On doit l’acheter pour monter dans le train (6)16 Le train roule -— une rue dans un tunnel (4)17 Train a Grande Vitesse (3)21 Ici on trouve les trains (4)23 Niveau (5)24 Bureau de gare oil Ton depose provisoirement les bagages (8)25 Trans-Europ Express (3)26 Ce qui porte le train par-dessus une riviere, par exemple (4)27 “Pour entrer, prenez la porte d’ ” (6)28 Faire un voyage par le train (7)

Verticalement1 Un aller e t ----- (6)2 On le trouve a la gare (5)3 Ici on doit composter les billets (10)4 On peut les acheter au tabac (8)5 Ici on achete des billets (7)6 Sur lequel les porteurs peuvent porter les bagages (7)9 On peut arriver a la gare e n ------(7).......

11 ......ou en — (4)13 On descend du train, et puis on la cherche (6)14 Un indicateur des temps de trains (7)15 Ici, sur le train, on peut acheter les sandwichs (6)16 Une gare du metro (7)18 Dans laquelle un passager porte ses affaires (6)19 L ’arrivee du train (5)20 Ce train - c’est pour les longs voyages (6)22 Societe nationale des chemins de fer frangais (4)

Andre et HenriUne fois un chat, qui s’appelle Andre Habitait dans un grand logis gris,II desira quelquechose pour son dejeuner, Comme Henri - une petite souris.

Henri habitait dans une cavite Dans la meme maison que le chat,Et un jour quand il vit du fromage frais,II se dit qu’il le mangera.

Mais Andre vit la petite souris A l’entree de sa cavite,II y courut et poussa un cri,“Maintenant je vais te manger” .

Mais Henri disparut sous un fut de biere, Puis il sauta sur la tele,II saisit le fromage, il glissa par terre,Et il frappa le grand nez d’Andre.

Puis Henri fila a sa cavite Et Andre est tombe par terre,II avait une bosse au bout de son nez,II se decida a manger le ‘Purr’.

par Mark Gent and Simon Allenby

Mots Croises - Blancs!On lit les definitions,On debrouille les anagrammes,On verifie les epellations,On cite un mot de drame.On complete les mots croises -Un devoir journalier -On les met de cote, tout est ditC’est pour l’honneur, il n’y a pas de prix.

Gros Mots - ******!

GPWC38

urel

y fo

r P

leas

ure

Mots Masques Les VivresAGNEAU CHOCOLAT LAITUE POULETAIL CHOU MELON PRUNEANANAS CITRON NOUILLES RADISBANANE CONFITURE OEUFS RIZBEURRE FRAISE OIGNON SELBOEUF FRAMBOISE PAIN SUCRECAROTTE FROMAGE POISSON TOMATECERISE JAMBON POMME VIN

Par Simon Allenby and Adam Hurst

X p 0 H M £ 6 r ci— L u 0 P FN A 6 0 £ U P c R Cr V K 6 R &A P A 1 KJ KJ f? Q z M Q- S A S TN 0 R r 1 C S H p A M w V 0A A 0 N X z £ 0 F R 6 A A c Hs E K 1 L I R H O L 1 NJ R Ac M U R 0 s A J 1 P H L E E rR £ F M s 1 A S F S f 0 H C E0 A S 0 s M £ « Q P £ 2 c \) CC U K) £ 8 r 0 s Q R C H 0 u A0 S N 0 P M u B £ V R R £ KJ RL KJ M P A a 0 1 Gf N 0 NJ 1 A 0A 0 T Gr L A 1 T U E 6 V V F TT S E L L ( u 0 NJ r U s £ U TC 0 N F I T V a E R /\ D 1 S E

Des Poemes en cinq versII y avait une modele de Bruxelles,Qui pensait qu’elle etait ties belle,Elle a degringole l’escalier,Elle s’est dechire les oreilles,Maintenant elle porte les poubelles.

II y avait une fille de Bordeaux,Qui aimait boire beaucoup d’eau.Elle etait joyeuse quand la mer elle a vue, Mais elle a avale une grande morue,Cette pauvre fille sotte de Bordeaux.

II y avait un homme de Marseille,Qui est ne le quatorze juillet.En conduisant son auto,II renversa un oiseau,Cette personne aveugle de Marseille.

par James Woolford et Edward Hampshire

Un pauvre jeune homme de St. Lo, Souffrait severement de mal a son dos.II a cherche un remede D ’un medicin de Zagrebe,Depuis quand il fait toujours dodo!

GPWC

zzzzzzzzzzzzII y a quelquechose de louche Dans la salle ou Jean prend sa douche. Enfin, il comprend que c’est une mouche Qui s’envole quand Jean la touche.Or 5a, Jean ne fait jamais la fine bouche,II poursuit et il tue cette maudite mouche. Puis, fatigue par la chasse, il se couche Et, bientot, Jean dort comme une souche.

GPWC

Posez une question stupide, recevez une folle reponse!par Simon Griffin et Nicholas Jenkins

Un Anglais, un Ecossais et un Francais conduisaient dans le desert quand, malheureusement, ils sont tombes en panne. Ils ont decide de marcher a la ville la plus proche en portant une possession chacun.

L’Anglais a pris de l’eau, l’Ecossais, du whisky et le Frangais, une portiere de la voiture!

Apres un long trajet, les trois hommes sont arrives a la ville ou on leur a fait bon accueil et on leur a pose des questions.

A l’Anglais - “Pourquoi est-ce que vous avez apporte de l’eau?” . II a repondu: “Parce que je pouvais la boire quand j’avais soif’.

A l’Ecossais - “Pourquoi avez-vous apporte du whisky?” .II a repondu: “Parce que je pouvais le boire quand j’avais soif’.

Et au Francais - “Pourquoi avez-vous apporte une portiere de la voiture?”

II a repondu: “Parce que quand j’avais chaud, je pouvais baisser la glace!”

' 39

Spor

t

1st X V 1989

1st X V Rugby 1989Like all schools, the XV has to be developed in the first few weeks of term. Once fixtures start, changes tend to be cosmetic or enforced due to injury. This year would certainly see several of the latter.

The Clayesmore Sevens and the Prior Park XV’s Festival are ideal (and most enjoyable) competitions with which to start the season. Both provide pointers as to future success or otherwise; some players confirm their places, some never play again; certain skills are shown to need more practice while some tactics need redefining.

At Clayesmore, we fielded two teams. The 1st VII lost their first game against Prior Park, but thereafter remained unbeaten to win the Clayesmore Shield (awarded to the winners of the Plate Competition). Wins over Taunton, Wolborough Hill and Daneshill, without conceding a point, were boosts to a growing confidence. The 2nd VII also played well to win their group without conceding a point before running up against a very strong Millfield VII in the semi-finals.

Hot workThe semi-final, against an impressive St. Mary’s Hall side, was a ding-dong battle, each side scoring a try. At the end only Patrick Grant-Sturgis’s conversion separated the two sides.

v Daneshill at Prior Park (1)

At Prior Park the XV had its first test. Losing a tight match against the hosts, the XV had to win both its remaining group matches to qualify for the knock-out stages. Narrow victories over Monmouth (6-0) and Daneshill (12-4) saw them through to the quarter finals. On a small pitch, against large opponents from Colston’s School, the XV adopted sound tactics and ran out comfortable winners.

v Daneshill at Prior Park (2)

Trophy presentation at Daneshill by British Lion Andy Robinson

The XV had been spurred on throughout the long day by the chance to avenge their earlier defeat by Prior Park. The

40

Spor

t final gave them the opportunity. In another hard fought match the XV took the lead only to concede two late tries to lose the match 4-10. The weary players who received their runners-up medals from British Lion Andy Robinson had acquitted themselves magnificently and fully deserved the praise heaped upon them.

The Downs, Wraxall, is never an easy opening fixture and missed opportunities in the early part of the match proved decisive. Poor kicking and tactical naivety meant that much of our effort was wasted and two defensive lapses cost us the game.

This result prompted three changes in the XV. Callum Zaloumis, recovered from illness, returned to the front row allowing David Mackenzie to revert to his normal position of flanker. Mark Gent moved to the wing to tighten the defence down the flanks and Adam Hurst came in at fullback.

These changes proved effective as the next four matches all resulted in victories, three of them by very comfortable margins indeed.

Exeter Cathedral School proved far better than usual and provided stiff opposition up to half-time; the second half however was rather one sided. St. Michael’s, Tawstock are always tough to beat, so our convincing 36-4 win was especially pleasing. The three-quarters in particular caught the eye with some excellent running and handling. We equalled our second highest score ever (74-0) in the win over a very poor Buckfast Abbey side, scoring fifteen tries in the process.

Half term, as ever, came at the wrong time in terms of the team’s development. Over confident following earlier results, the XV found themselves in trouble against a lively King’s Hall XV. A try down approaching half-time, the XV woke up to draw level with a good score by Rupert Seldon. Immediately after the break Paul Da Rocha scored a splendid solo try and the team gradually gained the upper hand without extending their lead. The following day the XV raised their game for the visit of Prior Park. After an open, entertaining match between two well matched sides Prior Park recorded their first win at Mount House thanks to a solitary try just before half time.

The next two matches saw the first changes to the XV since the match against Exeter Cathedral School. Mark Burton and Sydney Zaloumis made their debuts, while Adam Hurst moved from full-back to deputise for the injured Patrick Grant-Sturgis at fly-half. Despite these enforced changes the XV scored eighteen tries without reply in wins over Sherborne Prep. (46-0) and Taunton Junior School (36-0).Our annual battle with Wolborough Hill was as competitive as ever though the XV was again disrupted by injury. Once again Callum Zaloumis was missing from the front row while the three-quarters continued to miss Patrick Grant-Sturgis’s inventiveness. In a tight game, scoring chances were few. Wolborough created two and scored from one; we manufactured more but could convert none. A disappointing result, but a sound performance under the circumstances, especially from replacement prop Richard Ferguson making his debut.

We returned to winning ways against St. Peter’s, Lympstone, and then recorded a very good win over Long Close, on tour from Berkshire. Although the score (26-8) suggests a comfortable match it was a very close game for the most part. Injury robbed us of David Mackenzie and Duncan Stone made a good job of replacing him at prop. We won because we took our chances and turned them into points, an outstanding individual try by Justin Gibbs sealing the victory.

This was a good result, for our visitors had suffered only two previous defeats: 0-20 against Caldicott and 4-22 against Papplewick.

The season ended at Millfield Junior School where it is difficult enough with a full team let alone one showing four changes from the normal XV. The opening exchanges indicated a close affair but a five minute spell midway through the first half changed all that. In this period Millfield ran in three tries, all down our right wing, thereby killing the game as a spectacle. After this, things settled back to normal and the rest of the match was evenly contested.

In retrospect this was a good season with much achieved. Individuals worked hard to improve their particular skills and both pack and three-quarters showed limitless enthusiasm to develop the unit skills that are essential for team success.

The pack, despite constant changes, won considerable ball from the set pieces and developed an aggressive rucking style in the loose. David Mackenzie, Justin Gibbs and Charles Walter shone throughout the season, while Simon Griffin, Russell Talbot and Mark Wyer all made telling contributions.The three-quarters meanwhile were evolving into a most effective unit. Ex-Colts James Fulton and Patrick Grant- Sturgis were a highly successful halfback pairing, James’s superb passing giving Patrick plenty of time to get the centres moving. In the centre Charles Reeves exhibited skills that received too little appreciation; his ability to create space for those outside him was paramount in the eighteen tries shared between Paul Da Rocha and Rupert Seldon.

In all, twenty-two players represented the 1st XV in 1989. Ten of those will still be available in 1990. And so it goes on.........

1st XV Results 1989

Played 12; Won 8; Drawn 0; Lost 4; For 288; Against 65v The Downs, Wraxall (A) L 4-14v Exeter Cathedral School (H) W 24-0v St Michael’s, Tawstock (A) W 36-4v Buckfast Abbey School (H) w 74-0v Sherborne Prep (H) w 46-0v King’s Hall, Taunton (H) w 8-4v Prior Park (H) L 0-4v Taunton Junior School (H) W 36-0v Wolborough Hill (A) L 0-4v St Peter’s, Lympstone (A) W 30-0v Long Close, Berks (H) W 26-8v Millfield Junior School (A) L 4-27

Tries: Gibbs 12, Da Rocha 9, Seldon 9, Reeves 6, Gent 5, Grant-Sturgis 4, Mackenzie 3, Wyer 2, Zaloumis C. 2, Walter 2, Ridland 2, Philpott 1, Hurst 1 Fulton 1,Talbot 1, Griffin 1.Cons: Grant-Sturgis 13, Fulton 7, Hurst 2.

The following boys have represented the 1st XV:A M Hurst, M R Gent, P W Da Rocha, C B Reeves, R J W Seldon, P B R Grant-Sturgis, JA G Fulton, C C Zaloumis, A S G Griffin, C R J Walter, R C A Philpott, R M Talbot, D N Mackenzie, M A Wyer, J A Gibbs, M J Burton,S J Zaloumis, R T R Ferguson, D R Stone, R E Jackson,J L D Macleod, A Ridland

41

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2nd X V , 1989

2nd X V Rugby 1989The first game was at home against a strong side from the Downs. All the boys gave 100% during the game; in fact on the final whistle they just made it to the grass bank beside the pitch before collapsing onto their knees! The forwards played as a tight and effective unit, the backs ran and tackled well. The game was well contested but through our poor kicking and slight lack of pace we lost 12-0.

The next two matches were against St Michael’s Tawstock and Taunton Junior School. These were slightly easier games, resulting in Mount House recording wins of 32-0 and 20-0 respectively. It was at this stage in the season that players such as Harry Hensman, James Macleod and Andrew Ridland began to excel on the field; unfortunately Andrew was to break his collar-bone during a training session prior to the match against T .J .S .. Matthew Muldowney, a last minute replacement for the Taunton game, displayed fine running skills and held his place in the team until the end of the season.

The Wolborough Hill match was played at Mount House and proved to be a cliff hanger of a game. The back-row of Jeremy Hill, Michael Willoughby and Edward Jones had an excellent game; in fact all of our scores came from moves involving these players. With three minutes to go before the final whistie, the score was 10-8 to Wolborough. Then, after a fine rolling move by the forwards, Edward Jones put the ball down to score the winning try for Mount House.

In the match against St Peter’s the front row of Duncan Stone, Duncan McDowall and Richard Ferguson put on a fine display of scrummaging skills. With plenty of ball won by our strong pack, the three-quarters, particularly Simon King, Michael Follett, Sid Zaloumis and Matthew Muldowney, played some great running rugby. The resulting score was 42-0 to Mount House.

The last match of the season was, as usual, against Edgarley Hall. Edgarley were a big side and took a lot of containing;

the Mount House pack did this remarkably well. Our three-quarters and half-backs failed to get into the game and defence was poor except for the sterling efforts of Oliver Coryton. Edgarley won the game 16 points to nil.

Played 6; Won 4; Lost 2; Points for 106; Points against 38.

M J B

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3rdXV, 1989

3rd X V Rugby 1989Although it was asking the impossible to equal the results of the 1988 3rd XV, it was in many ways an equally exciting season due to the closeness of the scores in three of the matches played.

We were unlucky to meet our strongest opponents - The Downs - in our first match. McCoy and Matheson, perhaps the most influential players during the season, both did so much to keep our hopes alive, but two missed tackles cost us the match and provided the only ‘low’ moment of the season.

Exeter fielded a weak side due to illness and after ten minutes we were four tries up and the contest was over.It was a good team performance with nine different players scoring tries.

The match at St Petroc’s was the first of two ‘classic’ games in which nerves were tested to the limit! Mount House went ahead with a try by Matheson in the corner, but after the interval St Petroc’s scored. Hulme scored after a line-out break but St Petroc’s then went 10-8 ahead with a converted try. With only a few minutes to go McCoy scored a captain’s try to snatch victory and ensure a safe journey home in his father’s car!

The second ‘cliff-hanger’ in four days saw King’s Hall score in the opening minute before Muldowney replied with a try, starting his run from the half-way line. McCoy converted - a vital kick as it turned out. King’s went 8-6 ahead in the second half, but then a try from Hensman swung the match our way in another terrific finish!

A week later the team was again in action on Taunton soil at Taunton Junior School. Despite the final score it was another well-balanced game as Jeremy Hill inspired the pack to its best performance of the season.

The final match against Wolborough saw the backs in good form. Roger Perowne had a great game as hooker and provided the three-quarters with plenty of possession and three tries. Leading try scorer of the season, Charles Matheson, scored the other two:

Results:Played 6; Won 5; Lost 1; For 118; Against 38

v The Downs (H) L 8-16v Exeter Cathedral 2nd XV (A) W 48-0v St Petroc’s 1st XV (A) W 12-10v King’s Hall 2nd XV (A) W 10-8v Taunton Junior School (A) W 20-4v Wolborough Hill (H) W 20-0

Tries: Matheson 7; McCoy 4; Hensman 3; Hill 2, Hulme 2, Gaffney 2, Evetts 2, Allenby 2, Muldowney 2, Hulme 1, McDowall 1, Stone 1, Warren 1, Woolford 1.Cons: McCoy 1

Team: J Shakerley, J Woolford, M Muldowney, J Evetts, H Hensman, J McCoy (captain), E Hulme, R Perowne,D Stone, R Gaffney, C Matheson, A West, W Stirling,S Allenby, T Perowne, S King, J Lott, W Worthy.Also played: A Walter, M Timms, C Wheal, J Warren,E Jones, R Bettison, E Hampshire, J Hill, D McDowall,R M Cross.

Jonathan Banyard

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4th X V Rugby 1989Our two matches this term were against King’s Junior School and St Petroc’s. The first, against King’s, saw Mount House score in the second minute of the game when Edward Hampshire dived close to the corner flag. The best try came in the second half when Jeremy Hill (No 8) kept the ball at his feet as the scrum moved forward. At the right moment he picked the ball up and charged for the line.It was a good game to win, despite the cold, wet weather, with the team playing well together and demonstrating some useful skills.

The second match was in complete contrast. This time St Petroc’s scored in the second minute of the game. Our confidence had been knocked. True, three star players had been promoted to the 2nd and 3rd teams and we were fif-lrling five new caps but, nevertheless, it was no excuse for our ineffectual play. St Petroc’s made us look amateurish as they did to us what we had done to King’s. Their team consisted of three large players who were ably supported by several under elevens and their commitment was 110%. We did have our moments and William Worthy scored our only try. A disappointing game. Both games were well captained by James Woolford.

Results:v King’s Junior School W 24—0v St Petroc’s School L 4-24

The teams were chosen from:- T R Beard, R J C Bettison, T E Browne, R M Cross,E C G Hampshire, J W Hill, N J Jenkins, J D Lott,A D Mackie, E S Merrill, T P Newey, N A N Owen,G N R Radford, A W P Samborne, C J Scofield,M J K Timms, A H J Walter, C H Wheal, J R Woolford, and W J Worthy.

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Colts X V , 1989

Colts Rugby Autumn 1989Plymouth College Prep (A) Lost 4-8Our first game of the season was the usually close encounter with Plymouth College Prep. Plymouth scored two tries playing down the slope in the first half. Simon Gent replied quickly in the second half and nearly levelled the score but had a try disallowed. Our inability to maintain the pressure for long enough proved the telling factor.

The Downs, Wraxall (A) Lost 4-24The very powerful Downs pack and incisive three-quarters scored six tries, five of which were in the first half. They exposed our overall lack of pace and erratic tackling. The 20-0 score at half-time looked ominous; however Simon Gent took a quick penalty and barged his way over for a try. The Downs replied late in the match.

Exeter Cathedral (H) Won 18-4A much better performance saw the first win of the season against Exeter Cathedral. Two tries by Gent, one each by Tait and Barnicoat and a conversion by Britten produced the points.

St Michael’s, Tawstock (A) Won 12-4The long journey to St Michael’s provided us with our second win. Two first half tries by Britten and Tait rounded off a very competent performance up the slope and against the wind. With the elements in our favour we conceded a try and only scored one in return by Barnicoat. Our lack of concentration highlighted the limitations of the team.

Plymouth College Prep (H) Drew 0-0My match report for this game read “ a very boring game” , this seemed to sum up the post-match feelings of disappointment. We lacked any sense of purpose throughout the match and were lucky to escape with a draw, as the few opportunities in the game fell to Plymouth.

King’s Hall (H) Won 18-6The forwards overpowered the opposition, winning a lot of good ball throughout the game. This allowed us to score four close range tries, two by Barnicoat, one each by Lytle and Udy. Britten kicked one conversion.

Taunton Junior (H) Lost 0-8Against quite a big, strong running side we tackled very well, except for a lapse that allowed Taunton to score just before half-time. We were under intense pressure in the scrums and did win some possession, but it was Robert Lytle’s brave tackling that caught the eye. We rarely threatened to score but it was one of our better performances.

Wolborough Hill (A) Lost 0-18We failed to perform at all well against Wolborough Hill who were as usual an efficient, well drilled side. We won little good possession and were rarely able to threaten their line. They scored four tries by being more alert and capitalising on our mistakes.

St Peter’s Lympstone (A) Won 12-8This was a particularly hard-fought game made difficult by

*a dry sloping pitch and strong breeze.Despite being outscrummaged throughout the first-half we scored three tries by Gent, Barnicoat and Lawrence .We knew that with the elements against us in the second-half it would be a hard struggle, and so it proved. St.Peter’s replied with two tries and were denied a third by a tremendous try-saving rear tackle from Austin Smith.This proved the decisive factor in a tense encounter.

Edgarley Hall (A) Lost 4-12The long journey to Edgarley Hall almost proved fruitful until poor tackling in the last quarter of the game cost us two tries. Simon Gent scored early from a quickly taken tap penalty by barging his way over. The forwards performed solidly and the three-quarters ran elusively but lacked the necessary support to score tries.

The season from a coaching point of view was most enjoyable, the squad of players were enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with. Our lack of pace and mobility meant we would always find it difficult to score tries and in this respect we relied heavily on Simon Gent who scored seven, and Aston Barnicoat six. For the future, we found it necessary to play five Under 10’s, which gave them valuable experience for next season. Robert Lytle captained the side with great credit, leading by example with some outstanding tackling.

P S

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t Under 10 Rugby 1989Played 3; Won 2; Drawn 1; For 38; Against 20

v Cathedral School, Exeter D 8-8v Wolborough Hill School W 12-8v Plymouth College Prep W 18-4

Tries: J Barneby 3, J Turner 2, O Collier 2, R Ridland 1, W Keeler 1.Cons: J Turner 1

Match Reportsv Cathedral School: Despite intense first-half pressure when we remained in their 22, we failed to take chances to score. Stung into greater effort by a Cathedral score early in the second half, first Keeler then Collier ran in good tries.A missed tackle let in the Cathedral for a equalising score. Captain and Flanker Simon Church had set a fine example with good tackling and he was well supported by William Keeler.

v Wolborough Hill School: This was a close and hard- fought game with some fine individual efforts. It was good to see better passing in the 3s, giving Simon Wilsey and Crispin Procter chances to run. James Turner, from the base of the scrum, scored twice with well-judged jinking runs and Oliver Collier, with a try, rounded off a fine win. Alexis Tanner, brought in as hooker, won good ball for the forwards, whose rucking was particularly good.

v Plymouth College Prep.: The team produced a very fine performance on the small pitch, with the well-defined slope. We played downhill in the first half and scored twice through N o.8 John Bameby and Centre Robert Ridland. Turner was on target with a conversion. Early in the second half we conceded one try but withstood further intense pressure. Gradually we worked our way out of trouble and ended a splendid match with another try from Bameby.

The following represented the School: W Seldon, S Wilsey, J Seldon, R Ridland, C Proctor, W Keeler, J Turner,T Davies, A Tanner, H Voelcker, M Philpott, S Church,T Sellick, O Collier, J Barneby, C Borradaile, K Zaloumis, M Fulton, T Keane, H Cox, P Bennett, J Kitson.

Patrick Cashell

Our season started most agreeably with the delightful Tournament hosted by St Peter’s at Lympstone, which supplies an early season scamper, in the friendliest of atmospheres, against five other schools, on an all-play-all basis.

W 18-0W 10-0W 14-4W 12-0L 0-18

L 0-8W 10-6W 4-0L 4-6

Competition to gain a place in the squad was again fierce and the boys put up a fine performance, tackling and passing well. The forwards gained a good deal of possession and Jefferson gained a plentiful supply of good ball which he used to good effect.

Results:v St John’s v St Peter’s v Ravenswood v St Michael’s v Wolborough Hill

Tries: Jefferson 10, Bowles 1, Davies 1.Cons: Jefferson 3.

Our own Toumament followed a week later and we started too slowly in our opening game against Plymouth College to come back into contention. Our best game was against Wolborough Hill, when we showed a great degree of determination, and just one missed tackle lost us the game. By this stage Ben Davies, Tom Babbington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Petrie were making a very good impression.

' Results: v Plymouth College v St Michael’s v St Peter’s v Wolborough Hill

Tries: Jefferson 2, Bowles 2.Cons: Jefferson 1.

Out third and final Tournament was at Wolborough Hill where we put out A and B teams.The A team started in fine style with a convincing win over Buckfast Abbey, but their tackling against Wolborough Hill was disappointing. However, tackling, passing and confidence all improved against St John’s and they played a storming game against Plymouth College to end the season on a very high note.

The B team started very weakly, with wild passing, missed tackles and too much running across the field. This was their first experience of match play, and it was encouraging to see them improve as the afternoon went on. This is, after all, what such tournaments are all about.

Results:A Teamv Buckfast Abbey v Wolborough Hill v St John’s v Plymouth College v Wolborough ‘C’

Teams: These represented the A team at least once:T Babbington, S Bowles, P Cass, B Davies, W Gabb,J Grey, T Jefferson, R Kongialis, J Petrie (captain),J Radcliffe.

These came on as A team replacements and/or played in the B team: J Collin, K Goodall, C Harris, L Jarrett-Kerr,W Luke, W McNeil, M Radcliffe, W Russell,T Samborne, C Timpson.

We are sending some promising and enthusiastic players to higher games next year, and are happy to be able to have Davies and Jefferson as under-nines again in 1990.

David Cowgill

W 16-0B Team

L 0-20 L 0-22W 22-4W 10-0 L 0-8

L 0-8

Under-Nine Mini-Rugby, 1989

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Devon X V

Devon v Somerset Prep Schools Set Rugby 1989Devon 24 Somerset 13

In December Mount House hosted the annual fixture between the Prep Schools of the two counties. For the first time, five boys from the School were selected to play. In the three-quarters, centres Charles Reeves and Paul Da Rocha were chosen after their excellent performances during the term, while Rupert Seldon’s abrasive running and deadly finishing made his selection almost inevitable. David Mackenzie confirmed his versatility by gaining a place in the pack at prop, while the ultimate honour befell Justin Gibbs who was asked to lead the side from lock.

With Wolborough Hill also supplying five players the Devon XV looked a strong outfit. Somerset selected chiefly from Millfield Junior School and Hazelgrove House and they too appeared a good XV.

Appearances however can be deceptive. While the Devon XV gelled instantly, Somerset never really came together as a unit. When the first hints of cohesion eventually surfaced Somerset were well beaten. It is pleasing to note that the intense rivalry between Mount House and Wolborough Hill engenders great respect and friendship among the boys; essential requirements when playing representative rugby.

The close match envisaged never materialised. Devon ran away to a commanding lead by half-time, Rupert Seldon adding to his reputation with two well taken tries. Further tries were added by Hill and Evans (both Wolborough Hill).

Somerset did get back into the game with two tries midway through the second half, but Devon had the last word with a try by David Mackenzie.

After the game John Rees, Head Master of Blundell’s School, awarded the Sam H unt Cup for “Man of the Match” to the Devon prop Mark Jameson (Wolborough Hill).

Three cups were competed for in the Set Rugby competition this year.

At U9 level a knock out tournament was organised. Hawks and Owls won through to the Final where the Hawks were convincing 18-0 winners. In the last match of the competition the Otters defeated the Kangs to avoid the wooden spoon.

The U11 competition resulted in a convincing victory for the Otters. In the early rounds Hawks easily defeated the Owls (16-4) while the Otters came through a close match with the Kangs (8-0). The Final was mostly one way traffic as the Otters scored three tries to win 12-0.

In the Seniors the Owls looked very strong and confirmed their status as pre-tournament favourites with an easy 28-0 win over the Hawks. In the other game the Otters beat the Kangs 8-0 in a much closer affair.

The Final was a very competitive match. Though the Owls enjoyed considerable territorial advantage, the Otters defended well and Paul Da Rocha was a constant threat. Tries by David Mackenzie and James Macleod gave the Owls the lead, but this was reduced just before half-time when Paul Da Rocha scored a splendid try.

The second half saw almost constant pressure by the Owls and their efforts were rewarded with tries by Mark Wyer and David Mackenzie.

This position remained unchanged until the final whistle and the Owls ran out worthy winners 16-4. This result enabled the Owls to maintain their firm grip on this particular competition, having won the trophy in each of the previous four years.

The Kangs and Hawks revived the long forgotten wooden spoon match and fought out an honourable 4-4 draw.

J Symons

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IstXISoccer

Soccer 1990As usual in the Winter Term the only real winner was the weather! The 1st XI managed only four matches of which two were won and two lost! The team, on paper, was a strong one, but contained rather too many ‘fair weather’ players who froze (literally and metaphorically) in adverse climatic conditions!

We started the season with a hard fought 3-1 win over Buckfast Abbey. St. Peter’s Lympstone again proved to be the best footballing side on the circuit and inflicted a 3-1 defeat on us. An ‘A’ side - mainly 1991 hopefuls went over to Bude and achieved a comfortable 7-1 victory. In what proved to be the last match of the season we travelled to Ravenswood and in appalling conditions surrendered a 3-1 lead to lose 4-3 - a disappointing result as we should certainly have won comfortably.

Simon Griffin made up for in handling, bravery and positional sense what he lacked in stature and became a most dependable goalkeeper. The back line changed during the term but the best formation was undoubtedly Mark Wyer, fast and sure footed at right back; Justin Gibbs, steady, reliable and ever more skilful in the centre, and James Macleod, also speedy and determined, in the perennial problem spot of left back.

The midfield also went through some changes but again the most effective combination was the aggressive, even impetuous Andrew Ridland on the right; the skilful and thoughtful Charles Reeves, the captain in the centre, and the naturally left footed, sound and dominant David Mackenzie on the left.

At the front we played with two wingers - James Fulton clever, skilful and gaining in confidence as the season progressed on the right; and either Adam Hurst, with great skill and control but lacking in pace, or the more direct approach by Harry Hensman on the left. Each was

successful on different days in different circumstances! Paddy Grant-Sturgis is a naturally very gifted footballer but tended to flit in and out of matches (more consistency next year!) and the main scoring duties fell to Paul Da Rocha who indeed scored all the goals in the 1st XI matches! A naturally ‘goal hungry forward’ with skill, pace and determination he was the outstanding footballer in the team throughout the season!

So, rather a disappointing season from what had, on paper, appeared to be a very good side. I am sure that had we been playing in the summer term with warmer weather results would have been very different - but football is a winter game and conditions must be adapted to!

My thanks to Jonathan Banyard for his help and support during the season and as a nucleus of the team remains in 1991 perhaps with clement weather and thermal shorts we shall be able to produce the kind of football (and results) of which I know we are capable!

Graham Bush

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Colts Soccer 1990Played 4; Won 1; Lost 3; For 4; Against 15

The above facts speak for themselves. This year’s side, captained by Robert Lytle, lacked the fire power to score and the determination and strength to clear its lines in defence. Opportunities were presented to the forwards, particularly from the wingers, Mark Fulton and Simon Wilsey but, too often, final shots went wide or straight to the goal-keeper.

No nonsense, skilful attacks found our defence fairly easy to penetrate, largely due to indecision or misdirected kicking.

v Buckfast Abbey School (Lost 0-8)We were quickly into the attack and threatened their goal for five minutes or more. Sadly, we failed to score and began to retreat, muddle and panic. We need to be first to the ball; we weren’t and a smart footballing side secured an impressive win.

v Cathedral School (Lost 1-5)For the majority of the game we were penned back in our own half and through indecisiveness conceded some soft goals. The final ten minutes, however, were ours; Fulton scored and the spectators saw a revitalised side.

v St Peter’s School (Lost 0-2)In the hopes of finding a striker to score and to ease the congestion in defence, we went into this match with a 2-3-5 system. The overall effect was better and, although we failed to control the midfield, James Turner in goal looked less harassed and more in command, whilst Aston Barnicoat tried hard to convert opportunities in their area.

v Ravenswood School (Won 3-0)On what must have been the coldest, wettest and one of the windiest days of the term, we travelled to Ravenswood and won decisively. The conditions were such that the referee had no hesitation in curtailing the second half with the majority of the 22 players soaked to the skin, crying with cold and only keeping going through sheer courage.Fulton, Jeffreys and Wilsey scored the welcome goals to give us our only victory of the season.

The ‘B’ side had two fixtures.

v Cathedral School (Lost 0-3)Away on a big pitch in Exeter where 3 corners proved too much for our defence, which scored twice in panic and conceded a third goal to the opposition. Our attack lacked cohesion and scoring power, although there were many individual praiseworthy efforts.

v St Petroc’s (Lost 0-4)Against a stronger and more experienced side, we rarely left our half and the pressure exerted on our defence resulted in a clear-cut victory for our visitors.

The Colts XI: J Turner, S Gent, O Collier, W Keeler,S Britten, R Lytle, S Wilsey, J Jeffreys, A Barnicoat,R Abbott, M Fulton.

The following played for the ‘B’ side: R Tait, N Grey,H Voelcker, P Bennett, J Lawrence, T Keane, T Hanson,R Ridland, A Smith, C Kivell, M McCoy, T Sellick,P McClarty, J Babbington, D Timms, J Patel.

The U. 10 XI enjoyed their one and only match at Wolborough Hill. A 1-1 draw was a very fair result in a game in which much good football was played. Collier in our goal kept out some powerful shots and our forwards tried hard to add to John Seldon’s goal in the opening minutes.

The team: O Collier, T Sellick, H Voelcker, W Keeler,J Turner, C Kivell, S Wilsey, J Jeffreys, J Seldon,R Ridland, M Fulton (capt.)

Patrick Cashell

Under-Nine Soccer,1990We opened our season with a highly exciting match at St Petroc’s, Bude. 0-1 down at half time, rather against the run of the play, we did well to come back and win, deservedly, but with some timely assistance from the very strong wind. We were clearly put off our stroke by playing on a much larger pitch than the one we were accustomed to and all sense of positioning and to a great degree our confidence were noticeably damaged in the first half. The goals came from Williams and Petrie, and Babbington and Cass both played very well. As the game progressed our skills became more evident and it was good to see the boys trying to play some good football.

Continued over

Set match finalists; Hawks ( l ) v Owls (2)

Goal!

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t It was disappointing, then, to be soundly beaten by our next opponents, The Cathedral School, on their large and sloping pitch in Exeter. We never came to terms with this pitch and they ran rings round us from start to finish. Our forwards, even when in scoring positions, seemed reluctant to shoot. Everything went wrong for us, including two goals scored from blatantly off-side positions. There were several plucky and determined performances from individuals, but never a good team effort, and we could but admire the skill and speed of the Cathedral School boys who were rightiy delighted to beat us 6-0.

We travelled to Newton Abbot for our final match which turned out to be a fast, skilful and entertaining game from which both sides emerged with great credit. Wolborough Hill defended very stoutly and they were much faster on to the ball. For Mount House, Davies, Radcliffe, Petrie and Jefferson played particularly well. Despite going down 0-4 to our doughty foe, it was a pleasure to watch such a sporting contest, refereed quite impeccably.

The following played in the Under-Nine XI this season:T Babbington, P Cass, B Davies, K Goodall, J Grey (goal), T Jefferson, R Kongialis, J Petrie (captain), J Radcliffe,N Whatmough, E Williams.

David Cowgill

1st V II

Rugby Sevens 1989- 1990 (Senior)Early success at the Clayesmore Sevens gave impetus to the Sevens training that took place throughout the winter and spring evenings. That there were the makings of an excellent VII could not be denied; but did they have the enthusiasm and dedication to give up much of their free time in order to achieve a standard capable of challenging the best?

The first real test came at the Montpelier Sevens.The group matches proved disastrous as we struggled to beat a Wolborough Hill ‘B’ side, drew with St Michael’s, Tawstock and then lost heavily to a very strong King’s Hall team.

Looking back, however, this was the making of the VII. Though they had shown good skills and sufficient organisation, they had been found wanting in other areas: commitment, awareness and decision making were all poor. Changes in the side were made to counter these problems and a far stronger team evolved (mentally as well as physically).

The results were immediate. Despite our weak showing we had secured one of the semi-final places. Taking to heart some of the comments made after the group matches, the VII defeated Wolborough Hill ‘A’ 16-0 to set up a return match with King’s Hall.

It was an unbelievable final. We had lost our group match against them 4-18, but here we were a different side. At full

time the scores were equal and it was only in the third period of extra time that Mark Gent scored the winning try. The final lasted twenty-nine minutes! The courage and determination shown in the final was extraordinary but at the end it was apparent to all watching that Mount House would be a side to be reckoned with.

The Sevens season, when we seem to live in the mini-bus for three weeks, really gets under way at The Downs, Wraxall. Our record in this tournament is pretty grim and this year proved no exception.

The 1st VII struggled to beat a mediocre Port Regis side, politely lost to the hosts and then convincingly defeated Davenies. The 2nd VII fared little better, losing to Caldicott and beating Oratory in competitive matches.

Caldicott, in Buckinghamshire, was our next stop and the long journey hardly seemed worthwhile as we contrived to lose our first match against an equally bad Papplewick side. The now familiar discussion about commitment followed and a substantial improvement materialised.

An easy win over St. John’s, Beaumont led to a final group match against Millfield J.S. Victory was crucial if a place in the quarter-finals was to be achieved. Against all the odds the VII performed magnificently and David Mackenzie poached a blindside try to give us a deserved win. Undoubtedly the best performance of the season.

The quarter-finals pitched us against Caldicott. Out of the frying pan and into the fire! We took the lead through Rupert Seldon and only a late mistake let Caldicott back into the game. Extra time was needed to separate the teams and both sides had chances before Caldicott took one of theirs, to settle the result. We remained perfect guests!

Our group at the Millfield Sevens included Caldicott and Oratory (both previous winners of the National Schools Sevens), Rokeby (winners of the London Prep Schools Sevens) and Taunton J.S.

To emerge from that company with four wins was a quite considerable achievement. To do so conceding only one try was remarkable! The belief that this was as good a side as Mount House has produced was now fully confirmed.Our quarter final opponents were the Downs. We dominated for much of the game and scored two good tries though only one was allowed. Sevens is a cruel game, however, and an interception led to a Downs try under the posts. The conversion gave the Downs a fortunate victory.

On the same day the 2nd VII was representing the school in the Port Regis Sevens. It proved to be a difficult afternoon against the 1st VIIs of the other competing schools. Despite this there was a win over Walhampton to celebrate and most boys agreed that it was interesting to visit a new school.

At Sherborne the 1st VII won its group but lost their semi-final against a much improved Port Regis VII. The lure of third place medals dispelled the disappointment of missing the final and the VII played splendidly to overcome a strong Shrewsbury House side.

The National Schools Sevens is always a pleasant three days, no matter the results. Our routine is now well established and always starts with breakfast at Taunton Deane Services, followed by a visit to the Leisure Pool at Swindon.

Once in London we watched the early rounds of the Public Schools Sevens. This year we bumped into several Old Boys: Andrew York (Prior Park), David Carter (Sherborne), Robert Abernethy (Millfield) and Paul Wilson (King’s, Taunton). Barneby Wright (King’s,

Continued over50

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t Taunton) missed the Tournament through injury, Simon Caldicott SevensThompson (Sherborne) due to GCSE Spanish Oral and one Group v Papplewick L 4-6other (who shall remain nameless) due to the kick off times v St John’s Beaumont W 14-0being too early! v Millfield Jun. Sch W 4-0

Overnight we stayed in comfort at the Hotel Antoinette andQ/Final v Caldicott L 4-8 (a.e.t.)

enjoyed a tour of Twickenham before tackling our group Millfield Sevensmatches the following afternoon. Group v Caldicott W 4-0

Our first match was a hard fought batde against Dean Close. Unbeaten as a XV, Dean Close were a powerful unit. They took the lead in the first half but some desperate scrambling in the second half saw us score in the comer.

Q/Final

v Oratoryv Taunton Jun. Sch. v Rokeby v The Downs

WWWL

8-018-08-44-6

This still left us behind and we only took the lead when the Sherborne Sevensforwards crossed the line following a prolonged rolling Group v Sherborne W 14-0maul. Hardly classic Sevens, but the most important try of v Buckfast Abbey W 16-0the season. S/Final v Port Regis L 4-12

The Old Malthouse and Davenies provided far less of a3rd Place v Shrewsbury House W 20-4

threat and in these games we scored twelve tries for the loss National Schools Sevens (Rosslyn Park)of only one. These results meant that Mount House would Group v Dean Close W 8-6make its first appearance in the knock-out stages of the v Old Malthouse W 40-0National Sevens at Rosslyn Park. v Davenies W 26-4

Our opponents on this historic day were well known to us. Group Winners v The Downs L 0-20

We had played The Downs twice before and lost on both Sevens Playing Record:occasions, albeit in close matches. Events this time followed a similar pattern though in this match there was no disputing The Down’s superiority.

How good was this VII? It was a question they themselves continually posed. Despite their splendid record they constantly underestimated their ability. Let me answer them through this magazine.

In 1986/7 Mount House enjoyed its best ever Sevens season. They reached three major finals, two semi-finals, won their group at Rosslyn Park and won 22 of their 31 matches.

This year’s VII won the School’s first Sevens trophy, reached one semi-final, two quarter-finals, won its group at Rosslyn Park and won 20 of their 29 matches.

There is very little to choose between them, even the points for and against are similar! Perhaps the best compliment to pay the 1989/90 VII is to say that when future VIIs want to know how good they are it will be their record and that of the 1986/7 VII with which comparisons will be made.

J Symons

Rugby Sevens 1989-19901st VII

Clayesmore SevensGroup v Prior Park L 0-18

v Taunton Jun. Sch. W 16-0Shield v Wolborough Hill W 20-0

v Danes Hill W 16-0(Winners, Clayesmore Shield)

Montpelier SevensGroup v Wolborough Hill B W 8-4

v St. Michael’s, Tawstock D 0-0v King’s Hall L 4-18

S/Final v Wolborough Hill A W 16-0Final v King’s Hall W 8-4 (a.e.t.

Downs SevensGroup v Port Regis W 6-0

v The Downs L 0-14v The Davenies W 36-0

Played 29; Won 20; Drawn 1; Lost 8; For 326; Against 128

Tries: Seldon 15, Da Rocha 11, Grant-Sturgis 10, Mackenzie 10, Gibbs 9, Gent 6, Reeves 6, Walter 1.Cons: Da Rocha 12, Grant-Sturgis 12, Fulton 4.

Colts Sevens 1990The first tournament of the season at Plymouth College saw most of the best Colts teams in the South-West represented. In the group matches we comfortably defeated Wolborough 2nd VII, and King’s Hall and drew with the hosts Plymouth College Prep 4-4. In the quarter-finals we came up against a very competent Buckfast Abbey VII who won comfortably by over twenty points. The tournament was eventually won by Edgarley Hall who defeated Buckfast Abbey in the final.

A week later we accompanied the first VII to Millfield and struggled all afternoon losing to Sherborne Prep, Wolborough Hill, Clayesmore and St. Michael’s from Wales. Our only victory came against Edgarley Hall 2nd VII. This tournament was won by Wolborough Hill who defeated Edgarley Hall in the final.

Sherborne Prep once again staged their Sevens tournament which included Sherborne, The Downs and Wolborough Hill. Each side played the other three. We started poorly against The Downs, played very well against Sherborne Prep, but lost 4-0, and convincingly beat Wolborough Hill 12-0. The Downs won all three of their games and were worthy tournament winners.

The final tournament of the season was across the river at Kelly College on the last day of term. We lost the first game against Plymouth College Prep 4-0, but defeated Monkton Combe 8-0, Robert Tait scoring both tries. Our group results put us into the Plate competition where we defeated Exeter Cathedral 12-0 with tries by Tait, Gent and Smith. We then played Edgarley Hall in the semi-final and in a very close game were awarded a penalty try when James Turner was prevented from scoring by a high tackle; this was the vital score. In the final, we met Wolborough Hill. All seven played with total commitment, tackling bravely and running elusively, none more than Robert Tait who scored two excellent tries. Sebastian Britten also scored and added a conversion. The final whistle blew with the score14-8 in our favour. „ ,Continued over

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t This rounded off the season admirably and undoubtedly saw us play our best sevens of the term. It was also a fitting farewell to Aston Barnicoat who left Mount House for the warmer climes of Southern France. The main tournament at Kelly was won by a talented Cheltenham Junior VII who defeated Buckfast Abbey in the final.

P S

Rugby Tour to JerseyIn the Easter holidays a party of boys flew to Jersey to play in the St. Michael’s Mini-Rugby Tournament.

We flew from Exeter and arrived at St. Helier in mid- afternoon. Within an hour the boys were playing their first match! As a makeshift XV we played well, but could not match the Cheam opposition in terms of organisation.We lost 4-16, but did score first with a good try from Edward Jones.

That evening we settled in our excellent hotel,The Sandringham, in St. Helier and the boys were quickly asleep.

Saturday morning was spent at the German Underground Hospital before setting off to St. Michael’s for the tournament.

In the group matches Mount House successfully defeated Victoria College (8-0) and St. Michael’s (28-0) while Cheam and Bedford School were cruising through their group.

In the semi-finals Mount House lost to Bedford School (4-12) in a tough game while Cheam defeated the remaining island team, Victoria College, by a large score.

The two best sides had reached the final, but Bedford proved no match for an ever improving Cheam side who ran out easy winners.

On the following day we spent the morning at Gerald Durrell’s magnificent Zoo and then had lunch at Jersey Rugby Club. In the afternoon we played against the Rugby Club’s mini rugby team running out very comfortable winners.

In the evening we explored the Fort Regent Leisure Centre and swam in the superb pool, before Matron (holidaying on the island) paid us a surprise visit at the hotel to check that the boys were in bed on time!

Monday morning was taken up with packing and last minute shopping before a run along the beach at St. Ouen prior to flying home.

A cloudless sky gave us a magnificent final view of the islands and the forty minute flight was spent ship spotting before the plane gave us a wonderful aerial view of the south Devon coast on its approach path to Exeter.

J Symons

HockeyThe inclement weather meant that we were often unable to use our grass pitch and so the boys were taken by mini-bus to the all-weather surface, which Kelly College kindly let us use. Being a short term, few matches took place. The first game was against Kelly who, fielding rather too strong a side for us, won convincingly. The Mount House hockey team is a casual side, the players coming from 3rd, 4th and 5 th soccer teams unless matches permitted boys from the top two games being able to represent the school at hockey. This year we played two matches against King’s Hall. Our ‘A’ XI beat King’s Hall 2nd XI, whilst our ‘B’ XI came second! The weather was absolutely appalling but this did not deter the boys or those magnificent parents who came along to support us, thank you! For our second game against Kelly the team was strengthened by a few boys from the 2nd XI soccer team. We still lost the match but this time it was a very close game.

‘A’ XI: J Hill, C Zaloumis, R Talbot, J Woolford,S Allenby, D McDowall, C Matheson, A Hurst, T Inman, M Gent, S Zaloumis.

‘B’ XI: C Walter, R Perowne, E Hampshire, S King,J Shakerley, J Lott, W Stirling, R Cross, M Willoughby,P Friend, T Beard, C Scofield, A West, J Woolford,R Jackson, O Pool, M Follett.

M JB

Indoor Hockey LeagueThe league consisted of 8 teams and competition was based on a round-robin principle. Play was restricted to 6 minutes each way yet some high scores were achieved. The top scorer over the course of the term was Toby Borradaile with 12 goals, then came William Martin and Charles Reeves with 6 goals each and James Macleod with 5 goals. The outstanding goalkeeper or kicking-back was Simon Griffin, a player of great nerve. The league was won by the Skellys, just beating the Vikings by one point!

The teams in league order were: The Skellys, The Vikings, The Dinos, The Bears, The Wizards, The Tigers, The Knights and The Dracs.

Indoor Hockey TournamentIt was 2pm on Sunday 4th February; 6 schools arrived to take part in the Mount House Indoor Hockey Tournament. The first round of matches produced 3 draws; it was going to be a closely fought and exciting afternoon! The standard of play was high, the sportsmanship was excellent. At the start of the last round King’s Hall and St. Peter’s had 8 points each, St Michael’s 7 and Mount House 5 points. King’s Hall won their last match, as did St Peter’s . . . it was all on goal difference. King’s Hall won the cup by three clear goals.

Result:Winners King’s HallRunners up St Peter’s3rd St Michael’s

4th Mount House5th Clifton6th Exeter Cathedral

M JB

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Junior Winner: James PetrieSenior Cross Country, They’re off

Intermediate Winner: William Seldon Senior Winner: Jeremy Hill I think I ’d rather be running!

Cross Country 1990Held under good conditions in the Easter Term, the Cross Country was won by: Hawks2nd Owls3rd Otters4th Kangs

Individual winners were:Juniors James PetrieIntermediates William SeldonSeniors Jeremy Hill

SquashThe new squash courts in the sports hall have given many boys yet another opportunity to expand their sporting horizon still further. We were fortunate to have several boys who had played a considerable amount of squash with their parents to form a squad with some ability.

One match was played at St. Michael’s, Tawstock on the occasion of the opening of their courts also so very generously given by Denis Ball and his family. The match could not have been better arranged as the result hung in the balance until the final game between the No. 1 players. St. Michael’s won by the narrowest of margins, but deservedly so.

The open competition was keenly contested and an enthralling final was won by Adam Hurst who beat James Fulton to be awarded the Tugwell Shield. The under 11 final was to have been between Paul Bennett and Tom Davies, but unfortunately Paul was taken ill and the tide went to Tom Davies.

There were regular coaching sessions, although these are difficult to fit into an already overcrowded day. However I am grateful to Mrs Jill Brooks and Miss Lindsay Young for all they did. Next term several of the top boys are still with us and we look forward to a good season.

Charles Price

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1st X I , 1990

1st X I Cricket 1990With the splendid weather of late April, the season started well with conditions ideal for batsmen. It was soon clear that, if we batted first, the lower half of the order would not take guard. Our declared totals in the first four matches bore witness to this fact. Somewhat to our chagrin and dismay, we lost two of these matches which proved just how difficult our bowlers found their task. Three good wins before half-term (and before the change in the weather) brought us to the Wolborough game, that against Aldwickbury - a strong touring side from Hertfordshire, and the always close encounter with Plymouth College.Our fortunes fluctuated, but we were not too anxious about the traditional Sunningdale visit. However, the heavens opened and not a ball was bowled whilst they were in Devon.

James Fulton, young but experienced, captained the side and set a fine example with both bat and ball. David Mackenzie bowled a lot of overs and captured the most wickets. Patrick Grant-Sturgis fielded very keenly and also discovered the joys and frustrations of leg-spin bowling. Edmund Hulme emerged from the 2nd XI to bowl a steady line and length. Harry Hensman scored just over 100 runs, whilst Tom Inman, Peter Friend and Adam Hurst all enjoyed success with the bat. Thomas Williams bowled quite steadily and the final two places were shared between Paul Da Rocha - a very safe fielder; Russell Talbot, no mean all-rounder; Andrew Ridland, potential batsman and Simon King, sometime wicket-keeper. All played their part to the best of their ability. By and large the fielding was adequate but, occasionally, dropped catches proved expensive and not every player quite kept to his designated place in the field.

Our visit to Prior Park for the 6-a-side tournament proved singularly abortive. We were one of two rather weak sides and met powerful batsmen from Caldicott (eventual winners), Prior Park, the Oratory and Packwood Haugh. Our bowling did not stand up to attack, nor did we manage

to score very many runs. Of the side, six return next year to improve upon this season’s performance.

James Fulton won the Single-wicket competition at King’s Hall, Taunton, beating strong entrants from 11 other West Country Prep Schools and he was selected to play for, and captained the Devon Schools U12 XI. Peter Friend, Tom Inman and Patrick Grant-Sturgis all had trials for the same XI and were chosen to represent the County in several matches.

Match Reportsv Whitchurch CC We fielded a predominantly U12 side, batted first and declared at 127 for 5. Friend (33) and Inman (32) scored well. The opposition proved weak batsmen and Hensman (4 for 1), T Perowne (3 for 10), Fulton (2 for 10) and Friend (1 for 1) dismissed them for 22.

v Cathedral School, Exeter Here we batted first on a strange and not very even artificial wicket. 113 for 5 dec (Fulton 49) seemed a good total before tea. The Cathedral batsmen, however, were sound and despite fairly steady bowling from Fulton (1 for 23), Williams (1 for 29) and Mackenzie we left, well-beaten by 8 wickets.

v St Michael’s, Tawstock Fulton (56*), Hurst (36) and Hensman (14) enjoyed batting first and 125 for 5 dec was another good total. However, our bowling was rather wayward and, in allowing one of their batsmen to score a 50, we suffered a rather disappointing defeat by 5 wickets. Hensman excelled in the field that day, but others drooped.

v St Petroc’s Another fine total of 120 for 8 dec was made at Bude, where Fulton (44), Hurst (21), Mackenzie (18) and Hensman (14*) made the best contributions. The pitch was not very good and batting was a bit of a lottery -I think we were lucky to survive and reach a respectable total. St Petroc’s found life even more difficult and six of our bowlers enjoyed brief spells to dismiss them for 26. (Mackenzie 3 for 5, Hulme 2 for 4, Friend 2 for 0, Grant-

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t Sturgis 1 for 1, Fulton 1 for 2, and Williams 1 for 12).

v Buckfast Abbey School Our fielding in this match was particularly good and with Fulton (4 for 10), Grant-Sturgis (3 for 15) and Hulme (1 for 6) bowling tidily, our visitors could only reach 54. Some silly calling resulted in an early run-out, but Mackenzie (15*) steadied us and, after Fulton (11) and Hurst (12) had gone, ensured a 6 wicket victory.

v Kelly College On the small pitch the other side of the Tavy, the home side reached 137 (Grant-Sturgis 4 for 22 and Mackenzie 2 for 24 were the pick of our bowlers), despite particularly brave fielding by Da Rocha and Inman. Our splendid 5 wicket victory was thanks mainly to Fulton’s 65. Grant-Sturgis (14), Inman (20) and Hurst (12) had made valuable contributions.

v Wolborough Hill In this drawn match, we gave far too many runs away in the field and dropped several vital chances. Hulme (3 for 27) and Grant-Sturgis (2 for 21) did their best to stem the flow of runs, but 137 for 7 dec was always going to be a big total to chase. Despite sensible batting from Hensman (36) and Inman (22) we struggled, but eventually held out for 75 for 7 ... very much a ‘losing draw’ in League Cricket parlance.

v Aldwickbury If we thought 137 a big target, Aldwickbury’s 173 for 3 dec was probably way beyond us and beyond most Schools on our circuit. Mackenzie’s 1 for 13 were the only respectable bowling figures. He batted well, too, for 27*, supported all too briefly by Fulton (14), Friend (11) and Hensman (10) as we succumbed for 74. This was a tough lesson delivered by some very useful cricketers - we hope that they will return next year and that we shall be able to compete rather better.

v Plymouth College Our visit to Ford Park produced our most emphatic win. Their U12 side was not playing to its

normal standard but we, at the same time, had raised ours. Mackenzie (4 for 9), Hulme (2 for 10), Talbot (1 for 4) and Grant-Sturgis (1 for 22) all bowled well to dismiss them for 55. With Hensman (29*) and Grant-Sturgis (24*) in fine attacking form, we rounded off the season with a fine 10 wicket victory.

As a footnote, may I add to what has already been written and said about Malcolm Marathalingham. Malcolm set about refurbishing the Square on the Oval four years ago and now I am proud to say that it is the best of all those at the Schools we play. No greater tribute can be paid to his efforts than the compliments of visiting Cricket masters and their teams, who have enjoyed even bounce, fair speed and the beautiful setting. Eric Willcock has now taken over and the work to improve and maintain the wickets continues. It is a privilege for all players to bat, bowl and field on a square and outfield so well looked after.

1st XI AveragesPlayed 8; Won 4; Drawn 1; Lost 3.

Mount House scored 760 runs for the loss of 44 wickets - average 17.3 runs per wicket.The Opposition scored 823 runs for the loss of 56 wickets - average 14.7 runs per wicket.

v Cathedral School, Exeter v St, Michael’s, Tawstock v St. Petroc’s v Buckfast Abbey School v Kelly College v Aldwickbury v Plymouth College

Other match U12v Whitchurch CC

lost by 8 wickets lost by 5 wickets won by 94 runs

won by 6 wickets won by 5 wickets

lost by 99 runs won by 10 wickets

won by 105 runs

Batting Innings Not Out Highest Score Runs AverageJA G Fulton 7 1 65 239 39.8D N Mackenzie 5 3 27* 65 32.5T W Inman 7 3 22 77 19.2A M Hurst 6 - 36 98 16.3H J Hensman 8 1 36 101 14.4P B R Grant-Sturgis 6 2 29* 54 13.5P G Friend 5 1 11 17 4.2

Also batted: A Ridland, T E Williams, P W Da Rocha, R M Talbot.

Bowling Overs Maidens Runs Wickets AverageD N Mackenzie 58.4 15 142 13 10.9P Grant-Sturgis 35.2 7 114 9 12.6JA G Fulton 37 10 106 8 13.2E M P Hulme 38 10 136 10 13.6P G Friend 28 10 72 3 24.0T E Williams 37 5 115 4 28.7

Also bowled: R M Talbot (1 for 18), H J Hensman.

Catches (25) Da Rocha 7; Hensman 4; Grant-Sturgis 3; Friend, Williams, Mackenzie, King (+ 1 stumping) 2; Ridland, Fulton, Hurst 1.

Edward Hampshire was in charge of the scoring and kept a very neat and accurate record.

Patrick Cashell

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2nd X I, 1990

2nd X I Cricket 1990Played 4; Won 1; Drawn 1; Lost 2.

In the first game against Exeter Cathedral School, Roger Perowne (50*) and Jeremy Lott (32) produced an excellent opening partnership of 75, which enabled us to declare at 113 for 1. Seven bowlers managed to have a turn against the Cathedral batsmen and six took at least one wicket as the opposition tumbled to 41 all out.

We then travelled to St. Michael’s, Tawstock and scored 110 for 7 by tea, Edmund Hulme (36) providing a stylish backbone to the innings. St. Michael’s 6 wicket victory was in part due to several dropped catches - a draw would have been a fairer result. Against Kelly College U12 team we scored 144 thanks mainly to two big partnerships: Russell Talbot (23) and Tim Perowne (27) and then Simon Allenby (25*) and Callum Zaloumis (22). In reply, Kelly struggled to 69 for 9 to force a draw. Roger Perowne produced the

best 2nd XI bowling of the season in taking 4 for 16 and this included 3 wickets for no runs in his last five overs!

Our final match, at Wolborough Hill was the only occasion when we were outclassed. We were soundly beaten, scoring only 44, and losing by 9 wickets. In summary - another season of mixed fortunes!

The regular Team members: R Talbot (captain),R Perowne, T Perowne, J Gibbs, S Allenby, J Lott,C Zaloumis, R Jackson, S Griffin, M Gent, R Seldon.Also played: E Hulme, P Grant-Sturgis, M Wyer, J Evetts, A Ridland, C Matheson.

Jonathan Banyard

The Set Matches 19901st Round On the Oval, Owls beat the Kangs by 4 wickets. The Kangs batted first and were just a little slow in scoring 35 for 4 in their allotted 12 overs. Jeremy Lott top-scored with 12*. Mackenzie (2 for 20) and Friend (2 for 14) had picked up the wickets. The Owls had a shock or two on their way to victory, losing 2 wickets without a run on the board and another with the total at 2! Callum Zaloumis, Macleod, Wyer and Richard Philpott all sensibly contributed to their winning 39 for 6. Talbot (3 for 4), Hensman (2 for 29) and Lott (1 for 0) took the wickets.

On Herongate, Otters batted first and scored 56 for 5 (Mark Gent 18, Da Rocha 14*). For the Hawks, Hulme (3 for 12), James Fulton (1 for 8) and Gibbs (1 for 15) had controlled things well. In winning by 8 wickets, Hawks were indebted to Fulton (28*) - all fours! - and Thomas

Williams (11). Mark Gent (1 for 21) and Andrew Ridland (1 for 25) found containing bowling difficult.

The Final The Hawks set a formidable target in scoring 85 for 4 in 15 overs. Hulme with 35* led the assault, Fulton added 20 and Hurst 14. Roger Perowne (1 for 12) and Friend (1 for 18) were the pick of the Owls’ bowlers. Their batsmen made a brave attempt to reach a winning total. Rupert Seldon (12), Roger Perowne (15), Timothy Perowne (11*) and Friend (15*) pushed the total to 65 for3. A splendid, exciting match in which the Hawks were well-marshalled and fully deserved their victory.

Patrick Cashell

Owing to the adverse weather conditions towards the end of term it was impossible to complete the Senior Single- Wicket Competition for the Perry Cup which, therefore, was not awarded this year.

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t Cricket 3rd X IOur annual match against Wolborough Hill was away this year, on their very small Colts’ pitch. Fours and sixes should have been scored with ease but good, tight fielding by both sides prevented many from being obtained. Mount House opened the batting against some rather good Wolborough bowling. Both Matthew Timms & Mark Wyer scoring 17 apiece but the top scorer was Extras with 24. We were 86 all out.

Our bowling this season has been poor and despite some excellent fielding we could not take many wickets. Time

was running out and with only two overs left Wolborough Hill managed to get the winning run for the loss of only two wickets. It was an entertaining match well supported by both sides.

Mount House 86 all out Wolborough Hill 87 for 2

The score of each member of the team is in brackets.

Mark Burton (1), Jan Evetts (captain) (2), James Macleod (9), Charles Matheson (0), James McCoy (3no), Charles Reeves (9), Andrew Robertson (1), Matthew Timms (17), James Woolford (1), William Worthy (1), and Mark Wyer (17). Scorer & 12th man was Charles Walter.

Colts Cricket 1990The success of the past four years was based on a mixture of talent, enthusiasm, cricketing know-how and a desire to improve. Unfortunately, these attributes were in short supply this year and results suffered accordingly.

Our bowling was probably better than our batting, though neither inspired much confidence. The bowling was generally accurate, but lacked penetration. Nick Grey and Sebastian Britten were the pick of the bunch with George Williams close behind. Crispin Procter and Mark Fulton showed considerable promise and will still be available next year.

Most of the batsmen played one valuable innings but reliability was missing. On too many occasions wickets were surrendered without a fight or thrown away senselessly. Sebastian Britten deservedly topped the averages, but Paul Bennett and Robert Ridland were the only other regular batsmen to average double figures.

Fielding, despite much practice, never reached a good standard and throwing in particular was weak. Poor concentration cost the team runs and wickets throughout the term.

v Exeter Cathedral School We bowled 41 overs during which Exeter scored 82 while losing 7 wickets. Britten (4-30) and Bennett (3-36) did the damage with the ball.We paced our reply perfectiy and reached the target for the loss of only 3 wickets. Robert Tait (30no), Bennett (20no) and Britten (17) all batted well.

v St. Michael’s, Tawstock Batting first, we accumulated 91 runs by tea thanks to a splendid innings by Britten (32no), ably backed by Bennett (25) and Tait (13). St. Michael’s lost wickets quickly, but good 6th and 7th wicket stands enabled them to secure a deserved draw. Again Bennett (3-19) and Britten (3-22) were the chief wicket-takers.

v Buckfast Abbey Buckfast benefited from the services of the quickest bowler seen at this level for some time. Our batsmen did not enjoy him at all and succumbed meekly. Only Robert Ridland showed the technique and temperament to cope and scored 14 out of our total of 44 runs. Not content with destroying our batting the “demon bowler” turned out to be a batsman as well, scoring 35no in a total of 45 without loss.

v St Petroc’s An improvement in the fielding sawSt. Petroc’s dismissed for 78. Four good catches were heldas Nick Grey (5-27), George Williams (2-20) and Britten

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t (2-28) all bowled well. There was no such improvement in the batting however; only Grey (16) and Ridland (10) reached double figures in a total of 56.

v Wolborough Hill Big hitting put our bowling under pressure in this match and eventually seven bowlers were used in an effort to stem the runs. Chasing 142 to win we were soon in trouble. Nobody reached double figures and only Crispin Procter and Williams batted with any determination. Indeed, they came closer to achieving a draw than the team deserved.

v Treliske An interesting and nerve tingling game with the result always in doubt. We bowled straight and took wickets regularly, in the end dismissing Treliske for only 34 runs in 12 overs. Grey (6-16) and Williams (3-1) took the honours. Was this to be our second victory of the term? At tea we were 28-8 and confidence had sagged a little! However, after tea Rhys Abbott and Toby Keane batted sensibly until Toby smote the winning boundary.

v Plymouth College Prep Britten (28) and Bennett (16) enjoyed a return to form with the bat, but it was Toby Keane (17) who rescued the innings after another middle order collapse. Our total of 84 was respectable but unlikely to be good enough on a small pitch. That was very much the case as Plymouth passed our score for the loss of only two wickets, both falling to Grey (2-23).

John Symons

Colts Cricket 1990

Played 7; Won 2; Drawn 2; Lost 4.

v Exeter Cathedral School Won by 7 wktsv St Michael’s, Tawstock Drawnv Buckfast Abbey School Lost by 10 wktsv St Petroc’s Lost by 22 runsv Wolborough Hill Lost by 92 runsv Treliske Won by 2 wktsv Plymouth College Prep. Lost by 8 wkts

AveragesBatting

Innings Not Out H .S. Runs AverageBritten S 7 2 32no 89 17.8Bennett P 7 1 25 70 11.6Ridland R 3 - 14 30 10.0T aitR 7 1 30no 55 9.1

BowlingOvers Maidens Runs Wkts Average

Grey N 34.1 11 105 13 8.07Williams G 22.3 8 61 6 10.16Britten S 51 9 157 14 11.21Bennett P 39.2 9 101 8 12.62

Catches2 - Bennett, Grey, Lytle R1 - Procter, Ridland, Keane

Under-Nine Cricket 1990, absent T Jefferson

Under-Nine Cricket 1990(Played under N C A rules)

(Under NCA rules teams of 8 players play a 16 over game, batsmen batting in pairs for 4 overs each pair. Each team starts with 200 runs on the board. However, when a batsman is out, he forfeits runs, normally 4 or 6, to the fielding side and continues at the crease. Thus the batting side, while adding to its score with the bat, can also lose runs . . . as we discovered to our cost more than once!Each fielder - the wicket-keeper apart - has to bowl in turn. Five fielders bowl two overs each and the other two bowl three overs.)

We opened our season against St Peter’s in a home fixture which we lost by 47 runs. It was, nevertheless, an encouraging start. Three of the St Peter’s batsmen played particularly well, hitting the ball cleanly and hard, and we were unable to dislodge them. Our batsmen proved more fallible, and our calling and running, when we needed every run we could muster, was altogether too casual.

Two days later we made the journey to St Michael’s, Tawstock where we saw a very evenly balanced and extremely exciting game, which we won by 4 runs, even without the help of Jamie Grey, our stalwart bowler and fielder! St Michael’s batted first and scored 256. Our fielding and throwing were both good and Babbington,

Timpson and Jarrett-Kerr bowled very steadily. Jackson and Kongialis gave our innings a sensible start but the next pair scored only 2 runs. The third pair added a further 15, leaving Babbington and Petrie to score 24 which they set about achieving in a spirited manner, helped just a little by some friendly wides!

It looked at one stage as if we were going to win our next match, too, played at home against the Cathedral School, Exeter. We invited our visitors to bat first and they scored 223 - not a huge total, particularly as we contributed 14 wides! Babbington and Grey bowled well but the others were not on form. The fielding, though, was excellent, and this certainly contributed to their low score. Timpson,Grey, Babbington and Jefferson all shone in this department. We started our innings confidently, but Exeter’s bowling was too good for us. They took 9 wickets (we had taken only 4), and so our score steadily went backwards! With six overs to go we needed only 4 runs to win. But it was not to be. Babbington and Petrie, despite all their brave efforts, could not rescue us. We actually hit 50 runs to their 22, but their bowlers had the upper hand and we lost by 6 runs.

For all the advantages the NCA game offers in terms of all­round participation, it does deny the better batsmen the chance to build an innings of any length, and the bowlers the opportunity to experience long, unchanged spells. So it was a pleasant change to return to ‘proper’ 11a side cricket in our match against Treliske. Treliske batted first and Babbington and Grey had a field day, taking 5 wickets each and dismissing them in 12.4 overs for 28 runs. Kongialis, batting no. 1, took his time, very sensibly and as requested, to make a valuable and undefeated 3, while Babbington, Petrie, Grey and Jefferson were more adventurous and pushed the score along to bring us victory by 6 wickets in 8.2 overs. This left us with the time to play an informal 15 over game which brought pleasure to players and spectators alike.Sadly, bad weather robbed us of our fixture against Wolborough Hill, but it had been an enjoyable and worthwhile season. Many of the boys put in a great deal of hard and willing work to try to turn their natural aptitude

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t into cricketing ability, and by the end of the term it was paying off. Time is the real enemy, and there were more boys deserving of net coaching, for instance, than time allowed. Generally, the batting came on better than the bowling. Petrie’s wicket-keeping deserves a special mention; it was always safe and at times outstanding. I am left looking forward to next year - he is a lucky man indeed who is asked to coach this age group!

Team: The following played at least once in the NCA matches:T Babbington, W Gabb, K Goodall, J Grey, S Jackson, L Jarrett-Kerr, T Jefferson, R Kongialis, J Petrie,C Timpson; and B Davies played in the XI.

David Cowgill

Athletics 1990At the beginning of the term I viewed our prospects with ‘cautious optimism’! The seniors in particular looked strong and, for once, well balanced between the track and field. In retrospect I erred on the pessimistic side for this was an excellent and rewarding season!

There was not an outstanding sprinter but a nucleus of ‘quick’ runners, and competition for places is a great incentive to improve. Paul Da Rocha, Rupert Seldon, James Macleod and Mark Gent were never more than a couple of metres apart in the sprints and David Mackenzie (captain of athletics) led from the front as captain, and literally in most of the competitive races!

The middle distance also did not have a ‘star’ but Jeremy Hill developed into a most determined and ‘gutsy’ runner in the 800m and 1500m and his all round efforts made him a worthy winner of the Victor Ludorum on Athletics Day. With Patrick Grant-Sturgis and Ross Jackson ‘pushing’ him constantly, times improved consistently throughout the term. With Charles Reeves confirming his ability as a very competent hurdler the track team was completed!

With the arrival of Geoff Whaley as coach, mentor and inspiration to the field event squad it was no surprise that standards improved dramatically. Justin Gibbs developed into a fine technical shot putter, ever improving discus thrower and, with his emerging talent as triple jumper and ‘latter day’ sprinter, should become a fine all-round athlete. Mark Gent, by dint of dedicated practice, became an above average javelin thrower.

There was plenty of competition for places in the jumps with Mark Gent and James Macleod vying for the triple jump spot and there was a similar struggle in the long jumps with Gent, Reeves, Seldon and Grant-Sturgis the main contenders. Rupert Seldon dominated the high jump, but William Worthy should be a ‘worthy’ (sic) challenger to him next year!

After the ‘preliminary skirmishes’ in the King’s Taunton Athletics meeting it was obvious our main rivals would, predictably, be the Downs and Wolborough in the Area Championships at Kelly. So it proved to be, but with the whole team performing on top form and with everyone (with the exception of the unfortunate Jeremy Hill who came a praiseworthy 4th in the 800m) gaining a ‘medal’, we eventually won the 12 school competition and secured the overall trophy for the first time. A remarkable team performance.

The Junior Squad, not thought to be particularly strong, also acquitted themselves well and finished a creditable 3rd overall, with promising performances from Oliver Coryton in the sprints, Seb Britten in the hurdles and Rhys Abbott in the 800m. Rhys followed this up by breaking the meeting record at Millfield - which augurs well for the future!

Our own Athletics Day produced some fine, closely contested races: with new records in the senior sprint relay and the intermediate 800m (Rhys Abbott again!) and the

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From Mother with love:A kiss and a cup for David Mackenzie

intermediate hurdles - Seb Britten continuing the Mount House tradition for producing good hurdlers! The overall result was in doubt until the final ‘Giant’ relay and for the first time produced a tie between Hawks and Otters!

Nine of our athletes represented the area in the National Championships at Crawley. The standard was incredibly high and though most managed personal best performances, only Rupert Seldon managed a medal, an excellent silver in the U. 13 High Jump.

Silver Medallist at the National Championships Rupert Seldon

So an exhausting but successful and rewarding season came to an end - sadly our annual match with Wolborough being cancelled due to the vagaries of our ‘summer weather’.

My thanks go to Geoff Whaley and Malcolm Bassett for their tremendous help: but most of all to the boys themselves for their whole-hearted effort to ensure a memorable athletics season. Thank you and well done!

Graham Bush

Archery 1990The weather was kind to the group of twenty-five boys who lost but one evening’s practice. The standard has remained very high and last year’s victory over Wolborough Hill was followed by another success, this time by 214 points.

The situation is more than encouraging with all members of the team returning next year and two of them available for three years.

A word of thanks to Mr Carl Palmer and for all the help given by Mr Arthur Ball

D Udy and E Merrill were candidates for a guest place in the Staff “B” team, Merrill winning 43 to 36, a guest of some account having the best group in the whole shoot but only scoring 18 in his application.

In the match against two balanced Staff teams, the school eight won comfortably the scores being-

Staff“A” team 352Staff “B” 340School “8” 370

However, with the best eight scores from the two Staff teams, and the best eight from the School the result was

Match Result (away): reversedWolborough Hill 673 Staff best eight 393Mount House 887 Won by 214 points School 374Team:C Kivell 257 points In the competition for the shooting cup, in addition to theH Wilkinson 219 points term total, score against the Staff teams are added toN Radford 206 points ascertain the winner. J. McCoy last year’s winner shot lastC Procter 205 points and had to score 51 to tie. Under considerable pressure heReserve: R Bettison scored a fine 50, thus losing by a single to D McDowall.

Michael Stock Cup Winner D McDowall 223 Runners Up J McCoy 222

Shooting -1990 P Friend 221 OCoryton 221

The shooting this year has been of a very high standard and The top score for the Staff was Wendy Wroe’s excellent 51competition to win a place in the school eight, tremendous. out of 55.Those who succeeded were, I’m sure all thoroughly enjoyed the shooting during theD McDowall 175 with match scores of 48 term.0 Coryton 174 47 K C CJ McCoy 172 50P Friend 171 50J Macleod 171 46T Williams 170 39D Stone 169 44J Evetts 162 46

The Decider

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t Swimming ReportThe term started well with wonderful, hot weather to encourage swimmers and non-swimmers alike. We were able to concentrate on improving technique. Unfortunately the weather then became cold and wet and swimming time was devoted to stamina and survival.

The Taylor Cup for Best Swim was won by Christopher Wheal for his tenacity and for his superb length in the Giant Set Relay. Simon Griffin was awarded the Runner Up Medal.

A t fu ll stretch

The Set Swimming Gala was held in the cold if not the wet, on Wednesday, July 4th. The boys shivered from race to race but, never-the-less several School records were broken:

Simon Allenby James Macleod Justin Gibbs

Senior Medley Relay Senior Freestyle Relay

Backstroke (2 lengths) Breaststroke (2 lengths)Butterfly (1 length)Freestyle (2 lengths)Owls. (Both squads selected from: Owls. David Mackenzie, James

Macleod, Richard Philpott, Callum Zaloumis, Mark Wyer.)

In the swim

After the Set Gala it was time for the Giant Set Relay for the Dolphin Trophy. Every one in the set took part, even if he had to use a float or swim a length for the very first time. Four teams of 50 swimmers per team means quite a squash at both ends of the pool but it was most successful, with Hawks finally becoming this year’s winners of the Dolphin Trophy.

E S

The Set Cup was won by Owls.

The Dolphin Trophy, sorting out by sets

The Dolphin Trophy, shivering on the brink

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ies Dear Mr Allen...

Dear Mr Allen,This is to confirm that Charlie (aged 8) has cooked a light meal comprising toast, scrambled eggs and baked beans plus made a cup of tea.

Tasted delicious and we all survived!

Dear Mr Allen,I write from my hospital bed - no, seriously, we survived a very nice tea made by Philip (aged 9) this evening. He thought scrambled egg in our microwave would be simple, but found the co-ordination of matching the toast, grilled bacon and tomato and a cup of tea for his mother slighdy more tricky. I didn’t lift a finger and he produced the lot in edible form and cleared away, more importantly!

Dear Mr Allen,Tom (aged 9) has prepared a hot drink and a light snack of scrambled eggs, and the house is still standing!

Dear Mr Allen,We took your advice and let James (aged 9) loose in the kitchen...!

He cooked breakfast very competently on two mornings - the dress rehearsal went pretty well, and the following day he cooked (to an excellent standard):1 bacon, eggs and baked beans2 two kinds of toast3 cocoaHe had orange juice and cereal on the table as well.M y only problem was being unable to persuade him to do it every morning o f the holidays!

Dear Mr Allen,Just a note to tell you that Tim (aged 8) has cooked us all breakfast and made hot drinks during the half-term. We all survived, but could you please explain to the boys about washing-up!

Dear Mr Allen,This is to certify that we have survived the haute cuisine cooked by Robert (aged 10). He cooked a main course of grilled sausages and beans on toast and this was washed down with an excellent cup of tea.

Yours ‘windily’, . . .

Dear Mr Allen,A short note to confirm that David (aged 10) makes a terrific hot drink - the coffee on Sunday morning is particularly good. On the cooking front he has coped with scrambled egg, eggy bread and of course beans on toast.

As far as Matthew (aged 13) is concerned . . . he has done a three course meal (does a whisky and water count as a starter?), has painted various skirting boards - gloss paint should score triple points - the shelf and washer will be covered at Easter. A couple of years ago he impressed me greatly by clarifying some MFI furnitureinstructions__ We haven’t met anyone else who canunderstand MFI furniture instructions. Could this be the way the future lies?

Dear Mr Allen,James (aged 13) has been busy this holidays. Apart from home work he has completed the following projects towards the Adventure Challenge scheme:

1. Cooked a three course meal: home made soup; home made pizza with tossed salad; ice cream with home made 62 ■"

chocolate sauce; coffee and cheese. The meal was beautifully presented, with minimum supervision, and set off by candle light and usual trimmings.

2. Assembled a garden hose cart, supplied in kit form with unbelievably complex instructions. It works!

3. Painted his 12' dinghy with anti-fouling and hull paint. Applied official identification numbers. He has learnt to handle boat under oars and engine.

4. Constructed wooden slipway for dinghy leading to the water from the existing boat dock at the bottom of our ‘yard’ (where we keep our motor boat.)

5. Assisted with assembly and erection of basket ball net and back board on outside of garage.

6. Cut grass (twice) - one acre - with hand and ride-on mower. Instructed friend in handling ride-on.

7. Moved furniture to re-arrange layout of two bedrooms. Replaced bulbs, fixed damaged lamp etc.

Dear Mr Allen,This letter is to state that both Benjy (aged 9) and Lex (aged 7) can cook simple meals and make hot drinks. They survive their own fried egg and bacon regularly and can also bake cake AND peel potatoes!

(We’re now working on the next stage of ironing clothes!)

Dear Mr Allen,This is to say Henry (aged 9) is able to make a hot drink and a snack. I look forward to being redundant in my kitchen as my son is now competing with his sisters.

Dear Mr Allen,John (aged 10) has cooked my supper of sausage, beans and chips and my breakfast of mushrooms, bacon, egg and tomato, and if he continues so efficiently I shall retire!

Yours sincerely.......

(What do you do without them? - Editor)

Junior Adventure ChallengeAdventure Challenge is an exciting period that takes part every week instead of games. It includes climbing, first aid, places of interest and many others. These activities are divided up into three sections. Bronze is the easiest, Silver is a bit more difficult and Gold is hard. When you have passed Bronze, Silver or Gold you will receive a certificate from Mr Price.

However, we now also do dry slope skiing. We go in the mini bus. When you get there you are given a sticker, then you collect boots and skis and go outside. When your ski instructor comes, you follow him to your slope.

Alexis Tanner

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The Peelers... The Professional...

The Patient... and the Puffed...

Adventure ActivitiesOn Mondays all the Juniors have Junior Adventure Challenge, which is very good. Different members of staff take different groups. Junior Adventure Challenge is in three parts. The first part is Bronze and that includes the Green Cross Code, Thanks and being Polite. The next part is Silver, which includes making kites, night games and visiting a place of interest. The final part is Gold, which is quite hard, there are first aid, entertainment and obstacle course. When you finish them you go on to Senior Adventure Challenge.

Paul McClarty

Award WorkAward Work is quite fun. I think everybody liked Murder in the Dark in the Sports Hall. We had to stop the game twice because some people got so scared that they screamed. We thought they had been murdered! But they had not. We played wink murder which was quite fun as well. We have done kites and all of them actually got into the air. It was great fun trying to get them into the air! We also had to make some soil fine and take the weeds out of it- could you believe it! But then I found out we were going to plant seeds. We also did Bicycle Safety and Flags.

James Petrie

are beginning to rot. There is nothing much more to say except I hope it will be open soon. (It is! Editor)

Thomas Charlesworth

Junior Adventure Challenge BarbequeIt was a lovely day. We collected the food and down we went. When we got there we made the fireplace by putting some quite big stones in a circle. Mrs Turner put some firelighters in so we could light it easier. Soon we got the fire going. Shortly afterwards I helped her peel the potatoes so we could have chips. Soon the chips were done and we stated to eat them. The frying pan had caught alight about five times so far. We were all waiting for the ducks to come down the river and some people had even gone down the side of the river to help catch the ducks. One boy,who had gone down the river, had been stung by a bee and had almost fallen in. Back at the fire we were now cooking the eggs, but all the yolks had broken so we had baked beans with the remainder of the omelette. Soon it was time to go up to school to tell our friends about one of the best times we had had this term.

Tom Davies

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Adventure PlaygroundThe Adventure Playground is very good and exciting. It has a lot of things to do there. Like, for instance, a death slide, a rope walk and lots more besides. It is still out of bounds though from the storm in January. A lot of trees came down then. Then there is the wood, just below it.It has quite a lot of camps there which make it even more fun. I’ll now go back to talking about some more of the activities. There are three tyres on a thick branch in the air. It is a bit dangerous, but I haven’t fallen off and, hopefully, I never will. There are two rope-walks. One has got two places to put your feet and hands, the other one has not. There are some very rare trees in the Adventure Playground. They are called Weeping Beeches. On the other hand there are some very tall, old trees there. They

Grass sledgingWe have to get changed into our games clothes, boilersuit and wellies then line up outside the Adventure Store.

There we wait for Mrs. Anthony. When she comes she opens the door. We collect four turfboards and four grass sledges. We take them to the hill by the Conservatory.We have to wear helmets to protect our heads.

People give us large pushes and we go right down to the bottom of the hill. To steer you have a lever on either side and if you pull the lever on the right you will go right and the same with the left lever. It is just like a tank’s steering. To stop you pull both levers together.

On the turfboards we have to stand up on a skateboard with a track in the middle. We keep our balance by holding on to a piece of string. It is quite difficult to steer because you have to lean over and sometimes you lose your balance. We are not allowed to kneel or he down because our fingers may get caught in the track. Mrs. Anthony gives us a drink afterwards.

Simon Church

Senior Adventure ChallengeAssignmentWe were given an assignment which was quite hard. We had to fill up the bases of the giant chess pieces with sand.

We went off with some of the bases and bags of sand and started to fill the bases. It was quite hard because there was a small hole which we had to put the sand in and when we used the funnels the sand just stuck in it.

Christopher Anthony volunteered to clean the bases and take them back and then he brought new ones along. When we had finished we had to screw the tops on the bases. That was easy and then we went to get changed and have tea.

John Clayton

BurratorThursday afternoon is when we do Adventure Challenge. This time the notice said that we were to meet the Bursar at the Land Rover at 2:30 pm. When I got to the Land Rover there were nine people waiting for the Bursar to come.

Soon the Bursar came and let us into the Land Rover.Jones sat in the front with the Bursar, I sat in between Clayton and Newey. After about 25 minutes on the road we arrived at Burrator Reservoir and stopped there for a few minutes.

We drove on to the Tor. The Bursar said that this was the Devonport Leat. There were lots of trees down and the Bursar was worried that a tree might come down on us. We walked down and saw a potato cave which was used to store all the potatoes in. It was all slimey in there and a few of the boys ventured in.

Then it was time to go back to school. On the way back the Bursar told us we had to write an essay on it next week.

Alexander Moth

Bivouac Making

Bivouacs and FirelightingWe went with Mr Stock and Mr Bassett to Rowden Woods. We were organised into groups of four. First of all we started to make a bivouac. A bivouac is a small hut made out of twigs and leaves. Our bivouac had to fit at least two people in and it had to be used as a shelter from the wind. We found an ideal place to make it about half way down the hill next to the path down to the pitches. There were two trunks of trees next to a small pit. We found lots of good branches and we piled them up on the tree trunks. Soon we had finished the side next to the pit. Christopher Anthony and Toby Keane then went to look for some good strong branches that we could put on the roof while we started to organise it. They found some very big, strong pieces of wood and we piled them onto the roof. We only had to block off the side away from the wind now. I went searching for some logs and soon found some sturdy ones. Our bivouac was well made, but we had completely forgotten about lighting our fire and Christopher Anthony went off trying to get some matches from Mr Bassett, but, unfortunately, the bell went before we had lit it.

Sam Plagerson

Bivouac Camping at Eagle RockThe idea of bivouac camping excited Jason Darch, Christopher King, John Lawrence, Jeremy Hill,

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Christopher Hutton, Simon Painter, Charlie Matheson and me. So we signed our names up on the Adventure Challenge notice board and waited impatiently for Saturday.

We set off for Dartmeet car park.

When we arrived at Dartmeet we unpacked the Landrover and then Mr Allen disappeared and came back five minutes later with ice-creams.

We arrived at the Eagle Rock, where we were to build our bivouacs, to find that some other people had chosen Eagle Rock as their campsite.

When we had built the frame for our bivouac we covered it with heather. When everyone had finished their bivouac we went exploring at the top of Eagle Rock. I was in a group with Christopher King and Simon Painter. It was great fun.

When we went to bed we told ghost stories and gazed at the stars!

We woke up at 5:00a.m. and I was about to go and wake up everyone else when Chrisy reminded me that we weren’t allowed up until 7:00a.m. I climbed back into my sleeping bag. We could not bear another moment in bed, so, ignoring Mr. Allen’s rule of not getting up until 7:00, my group went and woke everyone up. We climbed up to the top of Eagle Rock and messed about.

At half-past seven we came down and had breakfast, packed up and got back to school just in time for my Mum to take me out. A recommended trip.

Oliver Coryton

Moles emerging

CavingWhen we got to Pridhamsleigh we changed into our wetsuits and boiler suits. We collected our hats and batteries. We started to walk up the track to the cave entrance. Mr Allen told us about the cave as we went in. He showed us where whirlpools had been. Soon our eyes got used to the cave and our lights. Then we had to go through some tight gaps. At one point Mr Allen told us to turn off all our lights. You could not see anything.

We did not go down Maggot’s Hole because it was too far to go, so we went back. When we left the cave we were steaming. We walked down to a stream where we washed off all our gear. Then we went back to the Landrover, changed and went back to school.Alexander Walter

CanoeingI was not looking forward to canoeing because everybody had been telling me you were jumping off fifteen foot weirs. I knew that they had wildly exaggerated what had happened, but it was rather daunting! The last lessons passed and at three fifty, there I was getting changed into my tracksuit. I walked up to the Adventure Store, put a wet suit on and jumped into the Landrover. Mr Allen drove us past the fish farm and down to Rowden Woods. The sky was not very promising and I was not looking forward to it. We helped Mr Allen ship the canoes out of the trailer and he dragged a canoe past the weir and demonstrated how to jump it. It looked so easy, but still I was dreading my turn. Two other boys did it and then it was my turn. I paddled round the area and got ready to jump the weir.

“Well here goes,” I thought and shut my eyes.

The sensation was wonderful riding down it and water spraying all over the place. The worst was over now, I just had to dodge the rocks and paddle leisurely. I got stuck quite a few times, but everybody helped me get free. I dragged my canoe past the wire and then swam to the place where we were going to pot jump. There was quite a big drop down into the water and I was timid about jumping in and going under water, then popping up with your wet suit acting as a float. We did this several times until the sad moment came when we had to stop and put the canoes away. The one thing I had been dreading now I wanted it to last forever!

Sam Plagerson

Mudlarking

Clearing the lakeOn the 26th of June, nine other boys and myself offered to clear out the lake with Mr Allen. First we went up to the Adventure Store (after looking at the Lynx helicopter) and changed into wet suits. When we got to the lake we put on life jackets and pushed the weed from the side of the lake into the middle. When we had done that we got a net and pulled it through the water and pushed the weed down the weir and when we went through the middle of the lake I could not stand up because I sank in the mud and when that happened lots of smelly bubbles came up.

When we had finished one length of the lake we ran around the side and jumped in by the top weir. On the second time through Thomas Beard found a very big eel which looked horrible. As well as going through with a net, Julian Shakerley and Marcus Butler went through with a rope cutting off the bottom of the weed so it would just float down the weir.

When we had finished we washed off in the river leading into the lake. We had a big water fight and I got very wet. Anon

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CookingThe best thing I have done in Adventure Challenge is when I was cooking with Robert Babbage. The Bursar gave us some bacon, eggs, one tea bag, bread and two sausages.

A couple of minutes later we lit the gas fire. Then we put in the bacon and then we put in the sausages and that was all for the moment. When Rob Babbage and I were talking we forgot all about the bacon and, when we realised it was burnt, we went to get some more.

When we had cooked the bacon and sausages we cooked the eggs and potatoes. I forgot to tell you about the potatoes. The eggs were cooked quickly. While the eggs were cooking I cut up the potatoes and peeled them to make chips. When the chips were cooking we ate the bacon, sausages, eggs and bread which we cooked and we ate them straight away. They were really nice as well.

Then Rob Babbage found the tea bag. It was under his leg. We started to heat our tea, but the gas ran out so we borrowed Matt McCoy’s stove. When it was done it was really hot. We put some milk and sugar in and we waited for it to cool down.

Robert Tait

Dry SkiingDry skiing was a new sport for Mount House.

On Saturday we got ready for skiing. It was not very stable weather.

We walked down the drive to the coach. On the coach it was raining.

At the Ski Plymouth Centre we were given our skis and ski boots and told to wait for our ski instructor.

We skied down to the drag lifts, doing snow plough basic swings. The drag lift was not very easy to hold onto, so I missed two drag handles.

Our ski instructor (called Rick) said that we should make a snake of Mount House skiers.

I skied to the drag lift. I was now at the top of the ski slopes. It was about 200 metres to the bottom.

Every 25 metres I did a basic swing turn.

We did not have a ski instructor now, because it was the end of the lesson. We had had free time on the ski slope.

On the coach we were given a Mars bar, because we had missed tuck.

TomBrowtie

FirelightingThen it came to building a fire. Dum, Dum, Dum, Dum! Luckily we had two sheets of newspaper as it was a windy day. Dan and I had our fire going in no time at all. I, of course, was the bellows that kept the thing going. Once I got a tongue of flame about two foot and a bit up. Then the other three in our group came running up moaning that they were no good at fire lighting. We said they could get a light from our fire and then go back to their bivouac. At the end of the day everyone stamped out their fires and went back to school. Everyone had enjoyed himself.

James Humphry 66 "

First AidWe were going to have a first aid test, but nobody had ever taught us the basic first aid, so Mrs Saxon had to explain it to us. She talked about treating a nose bleed first. She told us that instead of just blowing, or wiping your nose, you should put a pencil in your mouth and bite on it. If you don’t the blood will stop for about five minutes and then it will pour out again.

Then Mr. Bassett showed us how to get people into the recovery position, what to do if you see somebody suffering from shock and how to treat a bee sting. Three boys handed out some test sheets and some sides of foolscap.We wrote down all we could remember.

Sam P lagerson

Incident HikeI looked at the Adventure Board and it had Group 12, Incident Hike with Mr Ball and we met up in the Geography room. Mr Ball said that we had to light a fire with 6 matches, follow a rope with a blind fold on and then we played a game of hide and seek really. Mr Ball said we could head down to the gate at Rowden and wait for him there.

He said, “Go and get a fire ready and I will give you a box of six matches.”

I lit mine with one match and Mr Ball was very surprised with me.

Then we got our blindfolds on and went to the ropes. I finished first and then he explained the hide and seek to us. I was hiding by Everest, but he still saw me behind that tree.

R Jackson

The LakeI like the lake because of its wide range of boats and the wildlife. I often see the ducks and the Canada Geese fly overhead and, sometimes, if I’m lucky, I see the ducks on the lake with their ducklings.

I always try to go down to the lake whenever it is possible.I like going on the wave riders and the big raft. I often jump in!

You have to be careful on the finned boats, such as the wave rider, because there is a sandbank in the middle of the lake.

There is an island on the left side of the lake where it is out of bounds to school boys without a member of staff, mainly because lots of ducks and geese nest there in the summer.

At the other end of the lake on the right there is the weir and you are allowed to jump off the weir into the smaller lake below. Sometimes H .L . throws mini-crunchy bars and you jump and get one.

Occasionally you see herons flying overhead and sometimes you see them in the lake. I often see salmon and trout jumping in the lake.

Robert Ridland

Senior Adventure ChallengeLetterboxingFirst we were dropped off by Major Bengough on Dartmoor.

When we reached the top of the tor we took out one of the clues. It read: One hundred paces from the double lone hawthorn.

After reading we split up and checked the south face. It took us quarter of an hour to find a double lone hawthorn with a dead lamb and sheep by it. We found it was the wrong hawthorn!

We carried on looking, but found nothing. All this time Cross was saying:

“I know where it is!” But no one would listen to him.

After half an hour had passed, Charles Reeves told Cross to take us to where it was. Then he immediately turned round and shot off in the direction none of us had been and showed us the double hawthorn. We walked one hundred paces and found the letter box.

When all of us had got a stamp it was time for us to be back at the cattle grid to meet Major Bengough. While we waited we played games and threw stones.

Then Major Bengough turned up with the van and we all got in and went back to school.

J Clarke

Mapping ExpeditionIt was a cold, windy, Thursday afternoon. We were on a mapping expedition. We were huddling in the minibus while Major Bengough told us what to do if the worst came to the worst. I was chosen as a leader in charge of Robert Babbage, Matthew McCoy, James Babbington and Christopher Anthony. Mrs Saxon supplied us with a map and two grid references. We set off heading for the cross next to Feather Tor. When we arrived at the cross I sat down by the leat to study the map. There was a call from Robert Babbage:

“Oli, look at this sign. It says ‘Drinking Water’, can we drink some?”

“Yes, why not?”

When I had worked out the route to the aqueduct, we set off following the leat. We were walking alongside the leat peacefully when there was a yell from Matthew:

“Look at this!”

We ran to see what he was yelling about. It was a carcass of a sheep in the leat! We told Major Bengough. He said that we would be all right.

Oliver Coryton

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Lydford Castle

OrienteeringBecause some of our group had gone to the Royal Cornwall Show, two groups combined and consisted of Alex West and Nick Jenkins in one and Austin Smith, Jake Burnett- Hitchcock and me in the other. As we set off, it began to drizzle a particularly damp and persistent drizzle. We jogged enthusiastically towards what we believed was the first label to find. To cut a long story short, we couldn’t find it. Instead, we headed off to the ls t’s pavilion, where we found one. A quick glance at the now disintegrating map and we headed for the island. It was successful. Our next destination was Rowden and, en route, we popped by the study to pick up one. When we got to Rowden we couldn’t find that one, so we jogged up to the CDT centre. The same situation. After getting cheesed-off with the whole thing, we went all the way back down to the sluice gate. After finding one, we ran out of patience as well as time, so we handed in our wet, torn and rapidly metamorphosing map. We had collected nothing but extremely wet clothing, and four labels. We met Alex on the way in. Nick had fallen in the lake and he was wringing himself out.

H Wilkinson

Painting

Putting up a tentThere were eighteen of us going with Mr. Davey to Lydford. The castle was built as a prison and was used as one until the last century. First of all we went to the Watchmaker’s tomb which unwound the story of his life. This was very funny. Then we walked into the grounds and straight up the motte which was built after the castle. We looked at the cellars, prisons and the guardrobe, which was an old-fashioned toilet. After that we wandered along a path to a very old L-shaped Saxon fort. It was protected on one side by Lydford Gorge, the same as the castle is. On the way back to school we saw Brentor Church which stands on a volcanic crust.

Julian Shakerley

We all assembled outside the Adventure Store and, after having a lecture about gas stoves, we all ran down to Sunny Slope.

Mr. Allen carried the tent down. The first thing we did was to lay out the ground sheet on the grass. We got lots of pegs and then we walked round the ground sheet pegging it in. When that was done Mr Allen opened up a sack of tent poles. They were telescopic. You had to unfold them and then they snapped home.

Many minutes later we had all the poles in place. The next step was to pull up the top of the ground sheet and to hook it onto the centre pole. We then put the fly sheet on and pegged it down. It was assembled.

The most important thing to do with a tent is to put its rear end into the wind.

We finally packed up and raced back to the school.

Jake Bumett-Hitchcock

Rafting

On one Thursday afternoon I looked at the notice board and found myself in a group that was painting. I walked to the Adventure Store and found out that Mr Ball was taking us. We walked over to the climbing wall where the boats were. Mr Ball talked to us about how the boats should be painted. Some people gathered together at one boat, while my friends and I found another boat. Mr Ball asked for the ,paints so someone collected them. He came back with some J v lV e r R u n n i n g brushes as well which was clever.

For Adventure Challenge, a week ago, Group Five did rafting on the lake. We had to build the raft and try to reach the rubber tyre just above the weir, before tea. We started to build the raft at four o’clock. Tea time was at half past five, which seems to be a long time, but the time soon catches up with you.

When we had built the raft we lifted it into the lake. As soon as it floated onto the lake one of the barrels rolled out of the bottom of the raft. We jumped on to the raft and started to row. Every time we rowed a piece of the raft fell apart. By the time we reached the tyre there was nothing left of the raft, except a few logs and a barrel which soon rolled away. By this time, we were all in the water anyway!

Matthew Muldowney

We started, but I had to wait a while because there were not enough brushes to go around. After five minutes I was painting the boat. When our group had finished one colour we started on another colour. We had nearly finished, but there was a corner to paint. We could not paint over the mark. Even Mr Ball had a go, but he could not do it either, so we left it and after we had cleared up we were allowed togo.

Geoffrey Stead

I looked at the notice board and I saw my name,R. Jackson, under River Running. I shot up to the Adventure Store and chose my wetsuit. I slipped into it and collected an inner tube. Mr Whaley took the biggest one, an earth-excavator inner tube!

We made our way down with Mr Whaley and Mr Allen to the river. As we moved up stream a bit we spotted a rope which some boys from Kelly had put up in a tree. We each had a go on it. Justin Gibbs was too big, so as soon as he swung down his feet touched the water and he fell off the rope. Then we made our journey down to the big rapids.

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On the way down Charlie Reeves’ inner tube burst and he had to borrow Mr Whaley’s.

When we were pot-jumping Mr Whaley cut himself on a rock at the bottom. He had to go up because of the bleeding. When we reached the big rapids Patrick Grant- Sturgis went down on four tyres. A few people and I balanced on the biggest one and went down. When we had twenty minutes to go till tea we all rushed up to school, changed and had to rush to arrive on time.

Ross Jackson

The Senior Barbeque“Right, all I know is that we’ve got to build a fire, and we’ve got to build it on the beach. I trust you lot have the firelighters, turps, matches, hot coals etc., all sorted out.Oh yes, and the food. We’ll need food. And drink of course. I trust they’ve got some Pimms for the Members of Staff, such as myself and you lot can have squash. Austin,you go and get............ Austin? Where are you? Oh, thereyou are, go and get some wood. I’ll see you down there,” said Mr Bassett to us, in the courtyard.

We went off to collect wood, grub, drink, turps, etc., and we got down to the beach without much hassle. The food consisted of potatoes, sausages, baked beans, cowburgers and eggs. The only really noticeable thing that happened was the omelette, which looked sort of second-hand and the baked beans, which seemed unable to decide whether they were going to stay cold or allow themselves to be heated, when heated. At the end Jake (B-H) babbled on about Sir

Francis Chipster (e.g. a chip that he bunged in the river.) It started something like,

“He was bored of the b a rb e q u e .a n d some waffle about waffles.

Hugo Wilkinson

Special AssignmentOn Thursday I read the notice board which said, “Get changed into games clothes, boiler suits and trainers, meet Adventure Store.” I changed, walked up to the Adventure Store and waited while the others were given their jobs. Then Mr Allen saw me and said I had to paint a sign saying “Caution Walkers” . Mr Allen gave me a plank of white wood and left.

I walked back down to the form room to get a pencil and a ruler and started marking out the plank, after returning to the store.

Marking the plank out was hard, especially putting the letters on, for you had to work out where each letter was to go before you even thought about drawing it.

After drawing out the letters and squeezing S in at the end, painting came next. That was even harder than drawing the letters. There was black paint spilling on me while I was trying to get it in the letters and nowhere else, but I seemed to get it everywhere else except on the letters. At the end, when Mr Allen checked, I did not pass because he said a driver would have an accident trying to read it!

Jonathan Clarke

P. V. TUG WELL & COMPANYBUILDERS AND CONTRACTORS

KHBCRegistered House-Builder

Pixon Lane, Tavistock PL 19 8DHTELEPHONE: (0822) 613335

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PadstowWe arrived at school, Dad and I, all ready for the Padstow trip. I was going on Padstow 1. We had a pleasant drive to Harlyn Bay. We arrived in good time and picked our beds. The people who came in the Landrover were Ross Jackson, Nick Radford and myself. After we had unpacked we disappeared down to the beach to be back by 6:30. When we arrived back at the house Ally Mackie and Thomas Williams were there. Benjie Nicholls was coming the next day.

The first evening, when we were all there, Mr Allen gave us a safety talk about Harlyn Bay. We were not allowed to go into the arcade. I could see Ross and Thomas were thinking they were going to spend their money that way. Later on M r Allen said if we had some money left at the end of the week we could spend it that way. It’s funny how Ross and Thomas never bought anything in the early part of the week.

On the second day we did some canoeing out at sea. Then at lunch Benjie came with his mother and Jonathan. They zoomed off and we disappeared down to the beach for a swim.

We discovered horseriding one day. It was very hot.My horse was called Moonfleet.

Canoeing a long way out to sea one day was brill. Other boys have not done it because the tide has to be just right. One evening we ventured for a walk along a headland. When we reached the end we played a game of ‘it’ on the rocks.

On Thursday evening we went to the Ashworth’s. William and Henry were there, so was George Edward-Collins.We had games of Man-hunt, Hit, Chainy and, at the end, a game of British Bulldogs, which was good fun. When it was dark we went inside and played table-tennis. In the middle of the games we stopped for a lovely barbeque.

We went fishing from the Cornish Bird, a modern fishing boat. That day we had a trip on JAWS a 211 twin horse power engine. They are both fuel injected as well. We went for a joy trip on the Jubilee Queen around the Rumps and Pentire Point. We saw a basking shark which was fun. The trip before us saw a puffin.

One of the days we attempted windsurfing, but there was no wind.

On the evening of Wednesday we saw a film in Padstow. Afterwards we bought fish and chips, then we walked up through a dark churchyard. We also tried waterskiing which was good fun. When it was time to leave I was sad.

Julian Shakerley

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Spelling Competition 1990The overall standard showed a distinct improvement over last year’s results. Form 6 again headed the Form averages with 99% and Form 5 ran a close second with 97%.

Form 1, who are asked to learn only the first 25 of the 100 words on the list, produced the magnificent average of 36/ 100! Charles O’Connor (71), Ivan Tanner (65), Rupert Burnell-Nugent (58) and Guy Bailey (51) all scored over 50.

Alexis Tanner (98), Charles Kivell (96) and James Irvine (95), all from Form 3Y, produced remarkable results, as did Crispin Procter, Form 2Y, with 90.

Only 8 boys failed to improve on last year’s scores and several of these were in any case very high scorers who dropped only a mark or two.

12 boys scored 100 (6 boys in 1989)45 boys scored 90+ (29 boys in 1989)61 boys scored 50— (88 boys in 1989)

Into the Spell Off for the second year running went Warwick Goodall, Mark Gent and Harry Hensman. They were joined by Justin Gibbs, Adam Hurst, James Macleod, James Woolford, Mark Burton, Thomas Beard, Tom Inman, Timothy Perowne and the eventual winner of the Competition, Andrew Ridland.

David Cowgill

(Bum Mtl igea itotelPrincetown, Yelverton PL20 6SW

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Phone for reservations quoting ref: 3A

This year’s ski trip was very good. We arrived at the front gate of Mount House. My parents had a quick chat with Mr Allen. I loaded my bag into the minibus. I said goodbye to my parents and hopped into the minibus. Mr Allen started driving for about half an hour, then Mr Stevens drove. Soon we stopped somewhere near Axebridge to get some more petrol and collect the Burtons. We drove on for about another hour. Then we stopped at some loos. I stayed asleep for about one hour, then I woke up, when we were about fifteen minutes away from Gatwick.

We arrived at Gatwick at one o’clock in the morning. Talbot, Matheson and I went to play on the Arcade games. Then the whole party went to sit down on the baggage trolleys. The loud speaker said “Please will the baggage by gate 10 be looked after please. Thank you.” Soon seven o’clock came and we boarded Air Caledonian’s 737 I was sitting by the window.

Then we arrived in France.

When we got to the resort we were told where we were sleeping. I was sleeping with Smith and King. The first day’s skiing was quite funny. First I slid backwards down the slopes. About one hour later I crashed into some girls! On the second day I improved a lot. On the last day I tired out Mr Stephens and Mrs Stirling. I also managed to get my bronze medal. The next day we went back home.

Humphrey Voelcker

The Sponsored WalkFirst we parked near the Rescue Control and walked to the ‘gap bridge’. This is at Whiteworks. We jumped over the gap bridge and started down the leat. After about quarter of a mile the leat entered a tunnel. Here we crossed and went over to N un’s Cross. Then we slightly detoured up a hill but, luckily, were directed back to where the leat left the tunnel. We walked on along the leat for about two miles. Suddenly the leat dropped down a steep hill to an aqueduct. After crossing this and slogging up a long hill, we finally reached the ‘early lunch stop’. We had a quick snack and set off on our way again! Soon we came across a bog. After a lot of hopping we reached the old railway line. We walked along it for about one and a half miles and then left it heading for the late lunch stop at the Four Winds Car Park. Here there was a small enclosure where we had lunch.

After lunch we set off again down to Merrivale. There are two bridges here, one modern and one old. There is also a quarry there. Then we headed up to Pork Hill Car Park. We all bought an ice cream! After that we headed to the refreshments. We arrived, had a drink and went on again.

Peter Goodfellow

Ski Trip 1990

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Lieutenant Commander Pepper brought his Sea King helicopter for us to see.

The Sea King HelicopterIt was a sunny day in the early part of June. All the boys were very excited because Lieutenant Commander Pepper was bringing a Sea King helicopter for us to see.

I was running down from my gardening when I heard the rumbling of a helicopter. I ran straight for Sunny Slope.As I arrived the Sea King Mark Five naval helicopter was circling above, and a few moments later it landed on Stony pitch.

The bell for lessons went, but that did not matter. I ran to double maths, (very unusually for me!) and bagged the seat nearest the door. Mr Bassett came in almost immediately and we left, following him down Stony pitch. On the way there Mr Bassett had thought of one question for our exam: he was going to ask how long the rotor blades were and at what speed they went round.

We reached Stony pitch, and there was the helicopter. It was grey and very tall. My form was one of the first to reach the site, so we sat and waited patiently. While we were waiting I thought of the many questions I was going to ask.

After a few minutes we were hushed to silence as Mr Cowgill introduced us to Commander Pepper, who then gave us a briefing about the helicopter and we were introduced to the crew. One of the crew grouped us beside the helicopter for a photograph, and we then took it in turns, form by form, to be shown around.

Tom Newey

Inside the aircraft we looked first in the cockpit and a pilot talked to us about the flight and explained nearly all of the buttons and dials to us. He told us about his training and which planes he had flown before. It was all very interesting and I was surprised by the number of buttons and dials there actually were.

Then we went further back into the helicopter to see all the navigating and sonar equipment. There were more buttons, and little screens and maps as well. There was a winch to let down the sonars into the sea. These are used to track down submarines.

Outside, there was another winch on the side of the aircraft for lifesaving emergencies.72 .... .............................— ...

Later on, when the whole school had had a conducted tour, the helicopter’s giant rotors were started and the massive creature lifted into the sky.

Jeremy Lott

Climbing at the Dewerstone with Mike and Sue HardwickCentral Groove

As soon as the clock struck mid-day, I and two other members of my form left our lesson and outside the front porch met up with Mr Allen, Sue and Mike Hardwick and one other boy from another form who had been invited to climb also.

The adults were ten minutes late, but, after fifteen minutes, we were on our way to the Dewerstone, jolting up and down in the school land rover.

After a swerving half an hour journey along twisting country lanes, we arrived at a small car park where many cars were parked. When we had loaded each other up with ropes, rucksacks and climbing equipment, we ambled off towards the rock.

At last, we arrived at the base of the rock; there was a surprisingly large number of people climbing, all with multi-coloured climbing trousers, shoes and harnesses.

We then split up into two groups. Mike took Mark Gent and Warwick Goodall and Sue taking Jeremy Hill and myself.

After much preparation of ropes, Sue commenced scaling the rock face whilst Mike ascended a climb neighbouring ours. Thirty minutes later Sue had reached a point at which she could safely set up a belay and she soon did.

We decided that Jeremy should climb first and when he had tied on he commenced the climb.

After about twenty minutes Jeremy reached the belay point, tied himself on to the rock and waited patiently for me to ascend the rock face.

The first little section I spent what seemed like twenty minutes, trying to climb, but later I was told it took only ten minutes or less.

Continued over

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with aching limbs.

After much effort I arrived about thirty centimetres from the end of the pitch when I felt my hands slipping; suddenly I was dangling on the end of my rope facing away from the wall a hundred feet up gazing across a heavily wooded valley.

Although the thought of falling gave me the shudders, the actual fall was quite enjoyable for I only fell about ten centimetres, due to the rope holding me up.

Five minutes later I was securely tied on to the rock face and was leaning out away from the rock sitting comfortably in my harness belaying Sue as she subtly climbed the second and last pitch.

When Sue had set up a belay at the top of the climb, I set about tying on and ascending the last pitch.

This section was much easier and considerably more enjoyable, especially when I had cleared a small overhang.It was quite easy.

I reached the top and waited for Jeremy to arrive. Then I suddenly felt my stomach rumbling, which was not surprising, for it was half past four!

We walked around down the back and met the other group whom we had seen eating lunch when we were only half way up. They seemed to have had an exciting climb and after we had finished lunch we packed all our equipment away and set off back to the Land Rover feeling shattered by the day’s climb.

Justin Gibbs

The Troll WallMike Hardwick and his wife came south from Plas Y Brenin, North Wales, to give Mount House a lecture, based on the ascent of the Troll Wall which they accomplished two years ago.

The slides started with pictures of Mike loading up his car. He explained that food is very expensive in Sweden, and that if he took his car over he could pack it full of food and equipment. Then he showed us slides of himself and his wife on the ferry going over to Norway. So far I thought the lecture was a holiday snaps show. After this we saw slides of the country and he told us how jagged the coast of Norway is.

The next section of the lecture was quite good: he played some music while we watched a set of slides describing the journey to the Troll Wall. The countryside was very pretty. It had many waterfalls, hills, valleys and different coloured trees in the bright woodland. I thought the music blended in well with the slides.

When they had approached the mountains as far as they could by road, they thought they should find their way to the base of the mountain. After pushing through dense forest they came to the bottom of the wall. They looked around and after planning their route up from the base they returned to their car. They camped for the night.

Mike then explained the early stages of the climb, where they camped and what they had to eat and drink. The actual ascent was not really detailed enough, and in no time at all they seemed to be in the usual poses at the top.

Then, as they began to climb down, the clouds and mist closed in. As they were going down the other side they had no map! Luckily they found footsteps in the snow. After following these for a while they came across a group of

Norwegians who were also lost, but they did have a map. So, with Mike’s compass and the Norwegians’ map, they found their way down.

Mike played some more music and we watched some slides of the descent, or should I say the sunset, and that was about it.

Afterwards came the usual asking of questions and then the juniors went off to bed while the seniors had free time.

Robert Gaffney

Aromatic CruiseIt was on Saturday the second of June that I was to go cruising on Aromatic, Mr Beard’s new yacht.

The weather did not look like it was going to be sunny, but we were not going on a Caribbean cruise. Mr Goodfellow drove us to Sutton Harbour, where we found M r Beard and Reg (a policeman) who were going to look after us.

After we had stowed everything in the main cabin we set out to sea, all wearing oilskins as we had been warned the seas were very rough.

We had just got out of Sutton Harbour and we were already doing seven knots. I knew that when we were past the breakwater and Penlee Point we would go much faster.

We tried going to Looe, but there was not enough time, so we turned around and headed back to the river Yealm, my home, world, where we picked up Mr Beard’s moorings.

On the way into the Yealm we saw my parents on a friend’s mooring. Mr Beard kindly invited them over for a drink, which they accepted.

Reg cooked us all a really good stew. I went round the buoy twice.

The next morning everyone was up early, we turned on a machine that told us the temperature of the water. It was 14 centigrade. Nobody wanted to swim so we had breakfast.

Before we left the mooring a yacht passed us and one of its crew told us there was a seal further up river, so we went and had a look.

Before long, we were out past Mouthstone Point and into the sea. The waves were much rougher than the day before.

As there was a lot of wind we got to Plymouth quickly. It was early so we went up the Tamar to have lunch. Yet another good meal by Reg.

Mr Beard soon decided we should get back to Sutton Harbour. I did most of the helming there. At one point we were doing seven knots.

Soon we said goodbye and went back to school.

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FoggintorWe left lunch early and set off in the Landrover. I was surprised we were going because of the weather. After a quarter of an hour or so we reached the track that leads to Foggintor Quarry. The group was Nick Owen, Hugo Wilkinson, Johnny Nicholls, Richard Cross, Warwick Goodall and myself. We put on our climbing gear and set off on the long, puddly track leading to the quarry. It was a cloudy, wet and windy day. Quite typical for the moor.

After a tiring walk we came to a narrow, trodden-in path. We scrambled up it and entered the quarry. We then set up the belaying points. We set up three in all. It was easy enough. Then we took off our coats and boots and put on our trainers. When we had accomplished that we put ourselves into (what you could call) a ‘queue’. I went third. Abseiling first is quite unusual because normally you would climb up and then abseil back down.

My time came; I attached my descendeur to the rope and then my karabiner and, just to be safe, you had to tie onto Mr Allen, who was fastened to a belaying point. I put my feet on the edge and cautiously leant back. I’ve heard ‘curiousity killed the cat’ but just then I did not really care.I thought I was just going to go weeeeeeeee! Splat! But, much to my surprise, I didn’t. It was hard going down at first, but then it became easier. There were a couple of ledges on the way down. On the first one I was enjoying myself so much that I just went quite simply THUMP! “Ouch!” In between the ledges I found an easier route, but if I took it I would go too far to the left. I was not to know that and I took it. Suddenly, I swung to the right and THUD! Mr Allen was quick off the mark and was already laughing his head off at the top of the rock face. The rest of the journey went by with comparative ease. Nick Owen was waiting at the bottom so he could show me the route up. We took a direct route across a bog. About half way across I had found my balance, I thought it was getting too easy; I lost my footing and, S Q U E L C H ! The sound was repulsive and it was worse still taking my foot out.

As soon as we had reached Mr Allen we were told to go back down again because Mr Allen thought it was safe to

climb. I thought that it wasn’t, but he just wanted to knock off a few schoolboys. Warwick climbed first, then Hugo and then me. My time came and I went up. I did not have many problems. When I had climbed up I was greeted with the question,

“Who’s for coffee?”

George Williams

Surfing Weekend at Harlyn BayOn a Saturday five boys got into the school Landrover. The boys were Duncan Stone, Nick Jenkins, Rupert Bettison, Marcus Butler and I. We had packed our rucksacks and were about to leave for Harlyn Bay.

We were on the way. As we drove along in Cornwall I recognised some of the roads because my family and I had been on them when we had visited Cornwall for a week in the summer holidays.

When we arrived at Harlyn Bay we chose which beds we would sleep on. Rupert Bettison had to sleep on a lilo which kept on going down. After that we went surfing and I impaled myself on the board twice. When we had to go in for dinner we had a quick shower and then dressed. The dinner was delicious. First we had tomato soup with cheese in it; then salad and salad dressing and, for the last course, chocolate pudding. While I was finishing I heard the television being switched on, so I finished quickly, just in time to watch the ‘A Team’.

In the morning we went surfing one more time and then tidied up the house we had stayed in. We packed and then got into the Landrover and drove to a farm. On this farm we tried out a new kind of grass sledge.

After that we played a kind of hide and seek with the farmer’s son and daughter. Marcus, Nick, Duncan and Gisselle went into a tree house and the rest of us stayed outside until we had to go back to school.

John Clayton

BRIAN JONES(Photography) ^

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Bedtime with Bernard (Picture by James Lyne, Focus Press)

The firemen arrive (Picture by Jaynes Lyne, Focus Press)

Fire PracticeThe West Devon fire fighting services again held a full scale practice at the School this summer term. Teams came from Bere Alston, Princetown, Tavistock and Yelverton one evening just as the junior dormitories were going to bed. A roll call was held in the Centenary Hall and five boys were found to be missing, as was one matron, Miss Wendy Howell. These had been ‘planted’ in the school and were later to be rescued.

Water was pumped up from the lake; firemen, fully equipped with breathing apparatus, went into the building which had been filled with dense smoke, and soon the ‘casualties’ started to be brought out for the attention of the doctor who had also swiftly arrived on the scene. In less than an hour the operation was over, and all the boys and staff were given the chance to sample for themselves the

difficulty of finding their way around a smoke filled building when they groped their way through Benbow and Hawkins dormitories.

Such practices are of great benefit to the school, as we can check that our drill and precautions are satisfactory, and also to the Fire Services who have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the layout of the school lest one day their call out is in earnest.

Footnote: Mr Bernard Chamings, Tavistock Fire Chief, also runs Philpott (Souwestjwho look after the school’s plumbing and heating and is a good friend to Mount House. We congratulate him most warmly on the British Empire Medal he was awarded in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

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Royal MarinesLate in the Summer term Major Robert Wilsey dropped into the school in his Lynx helicopter to lead a presentation on some aspects of the work of the Royal Marines.

His ground team set up displays on survival in the wild and ditching at sea, a video was shown to the boys and they were also given guided tours of his helicopter.

This was a thoroughly interesting afternoon and our thanks go to Major Wilsey and his team for coming over to us.

Bang, You’re dead

Parties by arrangement, Major Wilsey’s Lynx on view

S urvival training Obviously out o f his depth

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At 7:00 pm Sunday evening, I arrived at Holne Park. I set up my two-man tent with the help of Simon Allenby who was sharing it with me.

After we had all finished we had free-time.

On the first activity day, we started with hillwalking with Mr. Davey. In total, we walked eight miles along the River Dart, from Sherrill to Holne Park itself, stopping to eat and swim.

The rain had not been bad, so far; it only forced us to have breakfast in the shelter most mornings.

On the second day, we climbed Hay Tor. This was my first climbing trip and I found it good fun. On the third day our group caved. This I had also never done before and it was brilliant. We spent a total of five and a half hours down in Baker’s Pit. We crawled through the 90 ft. ‘Drainpipe’ which really was not as bad as it seemed. We were led by a person called Nigel. He kept making jokes that he was lost. He really knew how to put someone off. That evening we did the high ropes course and the parachute jump; both were fairly nerve-racking, but good fun.

On Thursday evening, the last day, it rained all the time, which meant that we packed up the tents in the wet. We left Holne Park at 2:30pm. We had had a really good time.

Russell Talbot

I came running to the parachute jump area with David Mackenzie and James McCoy after completing the high ropes course. I arrived and stared up at the platform in awe and with timidity. David was already down and James was ready to jump. James jumped and when he reached the bottom he was all red and looked worried, but he said it was brilliant!

As I climbed the ladder I became ever more petrified.When I had virtually reached the top I glanced down to the ground - a quick drop of about seventy feet. This sent a shiver through me. I clambered onto the platform where a man called Vernon was waiting for me. He strapped me into a harness and told me not to worry.

“I’ll count to three, and then you jump,” he said. “If you don’t, I’ll kick you off!”

So, as he uttered the numbers, I prepared myself for the jump. I stepped off, with a feeling of dread. As I descended the air rushed up around my body. My heart was in my mouth. I stopped suddenly, but it did not feel sudden. It felt as if I had been stopping slowly. One boy, who was trying to hold me down, was grappling with my legs, while two other boys unstrapped me from my harness. I walked off the crimson crashmat, my body feeling as if it would crumble in a heap. My legs quivered for a long time after, but I enjoyed it all immensely and I’m sure I will never forget the parachute jump.

Adam Hurst

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Course at Holne ParkI was Alex West’s ‘buddy’, helping him around the course from the ground, making sure he was always clipped on to a safety line. While I was helping him, I was fiddling with my own karabiners, hoping my turn would not come.

After what seemed an age Alex came tumbling down the net to the ground. I knew it was my turn. I reached the ladder and slowly plodded up. I reached the top safely, with a pit in my stomach. I tried to clip myself onto the safety line, but found it difficult as my hands were shaking frantically. Eventually I was clipped on and I began to climb a chain ladder. Various reasons for not doing the course flashed through my mind and I came out in a fret. Luckily Alex gave me lots of help and encouragement as he was acting as my ‘buddy’, and I managed to climb the ladder twenty feet up.

I reached a rope bridge with logs spaced a stride apart. The best way to tackle these obstacles was to look straight ahead; when I looked down I felt nauseated. Another thing to remember was to stay clipped on to a safety line at all times. There was not one long safety line, but one for each obstacle; that is why we had two karabiners, so we could clip on to two safety lines while changing obstacles.

After the rope bridge came the worst two tasks for us to undertake. First of the two were the logs. They were spaced out two feet apart, one at head height, the other at foot level. You had to lean across, face towards the ground. My blood rushed from my head and I almost fainted.About half way across my legs would not obey my brain and I became stuck. It took me a while to collect myself and I struggled to the end.

The second task came in the form of two wires, one above the other. I stepped carefully out onto a wire, with my hands holding the wire above my head. The wire began to wobble - 1 felt like letting go and crossing on the safety line. I moved steadily along; looking to my side I could see a vertical ladder with steps that rotated, stretching up to a rope tunnel.

When I had finished the tantalizing task of the wire, I hugged as close as I could to the ladder, using every part of my body as an anchorage. At last I reached the top, but only after a few trial runs. I unclipped my safety line and proceded to crawl down the rope tunnel which was the only obstacle without a safety.

The next obstacle, though short, was frightening: you had to walk a gang plank, then jump onto another on the other side, with no railings. I cheated slightly on this one by holding the pulley on the safety line above me to stop me over-balancing.

That was really the last of the frightening obstacles, because I had now gained my confidence. There was a bridge, like the first, but metal. Then came the Burma bridge, where I became caught up in the safety line and Mr Rowe, the instructor, had to untangle me when I was hanging on for dear life without a safety line.

The last obstacle was a death slide, from one tree to another that was almost a piece of cake. Finally, to reach the ground again, I had to tumble down some thirty feet into a scrambling net.

Chris Wheal

ComputingSuperart, a graphics package, has been the most popular piece of software this year. Nearly a quarter of the entire network memory has been used up by the boys creating pictures. The top artist on superart was Nicholas Jenkins; close runners-up were Ed Hampshire and Simon Griffin. Another piece of software that has proven to be very popular is a History package that simulates the Crusades. The vast number of boys that are busy trying to get into Antioch or even become a Lord or Lady (!) has meant extra allocations of memory to the History department!!

Simon King and Simon Kongialis have been the two busiest and most proficient programmers in Basic, whilst Warwick Goodall remains the number one Logo programmer. The standard of programming varies a great deal but enthusiasm has been terrific.

Throughout the year I have run numerous computing clubs and almost one hundred boys have belonged to at least one of these! The clubs this term have been: junior and senior Superart clubs, Logo club, programming club, newspaper club and junior and senior recreation clubs. During the set computing lessons the boys have been involved in such things as producing newspapers using a desktop publishing package, learning how to use Superart, how to program in Basic and in Logo and how to use the wordprocessor and the database.

The school recently purchased an Archimedes 420 computer complete with a desktop publishing package and word processor. The advance facilities that this machine provides will considerably enhance the quality of our work.

M JB

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ies Family Camp 1990

You probably know the feeling: sitting down to enjoy a long anticipated meal at a favourite restaurant, you are told that more or less all the choices on the a la carte are ‘off.

So it was with the Family Camp. The weather was cruelly unkind: cold, windy and very wet. ‘O ff were the cricket matches; golf and tennis tournaments; barbecue; donkey derby; duck race; stew competition and outdoor service. Left ‘on’ were lake activities of an informal nature; swimming, but no organised ‘Gala’; casual tennis, but please disperse the puddles before playing; badminton and squash in the sports hall and Jonathan Banyard’s ever popular disco in the Centenary Hall, starting with its ‘Power Hour’ for the younger set at 9.00pm and going on until ‘quite late’!

Overheard during this wet weekend were several wet comments not worthy of repetition here, but some dry humour was also in evidence. “I can never understand parents who bemoan putting their dogs into kennels for twenty-four hours when they happily send their children away to boarding school.” (And this from a parent, please note!)

One dog who was reprieved took first prize in the adults’ fancy dress, leaving his owner, Mr Warren, to share second prize with Mr Spong. Master Warren won first prize in the children’s section (boys), and Master Spong was declared the winner in the children’s section (girls). “Highly irregular!” I can hear someone saying, and it does sound very rum to me, but then I was not, sadly, there to see all this. Dangerous events, Fancy Dress Competitions. I hope feelings did not run too high.

Given the option on arrival of staying on and making the most of the reduced menu or treating the weekend as a surprise bonus exeat weekend, a large number chose the latter and ran for cover before nightfall. Those who remained, buoyed up by an immense superiority complex, disdained even umbrellas in the downpour and sloshed about in their wellies on the social round. Every so often games of rounders or baseball sprung up on the higher ground, but early on Sunday morning the whole thing was officially declared ‘off - there was nothing left on the menu, and slowly the tents were dismantled and the campers set off for home. This was a great disappointment to every one. Most families had made elaborate preparations for the Family Camp, but none can have been more disappointed than Geoffrey Allen who had put such energy and effort into his meticulous arrangements.

It was left to Geoffrey to tow forty-three caravans from their cantonment (I like this word: it is not listed amongst the 80,000 on my word processor’s ‘Spell-check’!) on Herongate field - and then to face the Head Groundsman, Eric Willcock, next morning. No stick-in-the mud he: next day tons of sand arrived and he and his team threw themselves into the rescue operation.

And Wimbledon, meanwhile, escaped it all. There surely is something strange happening to our weather.

Ear-Witness

Master Spong, winner o f the fancy dress (girls)!

The Stamp ClubThe Stamp Club has been supported by a small but enthusiastic band, who have derived much pleasure from this Wednesday evening activity. We have been much encouraged by the participation of Mr and Mrs Ben Morland at several of our meetings.

Any stamps which are unwanted will always be very warmly received by us.

We hope that all those who took part last year will try to encourage new members to share our interest with us next year.

Lois Spencer

The Set Cup 1989-1990Kangs won the Set Cup this year, by dint of accumulating a greater number of pluses (for work, art, music, games and helpfulness) than the other Sets, who followed them in this order:

2nd Otters3rd Owls4th Hawks.

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Mr Charles Price has somehow found time to compile these notes from information sent to him by Old Boys at their Public Schools. We are most grateful to him. Such news is always very welcome - please do not wait to be asked!

Inevitably some news is repeated in the later columns presented by Mr Wortham. Editor.

Toby Wright (1985) gained some very respectable GCSE grades at King’s Taunton and is studying English, history and social biology for ‘A’ levels.Christopher Cashell (1986) did very well in his GCSE examinations and has had considerable success with the 1st XI this summer at King’s Taunton.Barnaby Wright (1986) gained excellent GCSE results at King’s Taunton last year. He has been playing for the 1st XV as flanker.Paul Wilson (1986) produced the best GCSE results of all at King’s Taunton last year when he achieved 10 A ’ grades. He represented the College at the National athletics in hurdles, and played for the 1st XV.William Ireland (1987) is enjoying life at King’s Taunton where work and sport are going well.Ben Lott (1989) played Under 14 B rugby and cricket at King’s Taunton and was over playing for the Wanderers. He is finding the work quite difficult, but coping reasonably well, and finding life enjoyable.James Homewood (1987) was also playing for the Wanderers and tells us that he has just taken 9 GCSEs at Blundell’s where he is enjoying life. He hopes to take biology, chemistry and French at A ’ level and then go on to study marine zoology at university. He has been playing cricket and hockey for the school.Adam Dalgliesh (1986) is off to France after a busy term at Sherborne which included the Ten Tors again and sailing.Rory Benham (1986) is nearing the completion of his ‘A’ level course at Sherborne. He runs the Photographic Club and is a member of the Environment Committee. He plays bass guitar in a band and would have participated in the Ten Tors, but for an injury.Tim Donne (1986) is enjoying life at Sherborne. He went on a French trip to Paris during the term. He is still playing the flute and is a member of the School concert band.Jeremy Morton (1986) is still at Sherborne. He has enjoyed wind surfing.Julian Perowne (1986) and Edward Madgewick (1986) are enjoying Sherborne and doing well.Dane Salter (1986) has been elected to a Foundation Scholarship at Repton. This is the highest accolade that the school bestows and is awarded to only a small number of Sixth Formers.Daniel Hughes (1989) has enjoyed his first year at Marlborough taking part in major sports, cycling, electronics and technology design.

Patrick Hughes (1989) is staying at school in America and has been enjoying acting.

James Gaskell (1987) has just completed his GCSE examinations at Sherborne and is hoping for good results. He is going to study art, English and maths for A ’ levels. He is still hurdling in athletics.Simon Thompson (1987) has also completed his GCSE examinations at Sherborne. He has represented the school at rugby, hockey and cricket and is taking up swimming.David Carter (1987) is taking English, Spanish and art for A ’ levels at Sherborne, where he is also indulging in as much Thespian activity as possible.James Carter (1985) has finished English, art and French A ’ levels at Sherborne. Although he had an unconditional offer from the Central St. Martins School of Art he has chosen to go to Newham to study a foundation course.He is considering graphic design.Nicholas Kendall (1989) has completed his first year at Cheltenham College, where the work has been going well and he has been playing hockey and rowing.Henry Madden (1987) has finished his GCSE examinations and is really enjoying life at Gordonstoun. He is a member of the school Inshore Rescue Unit and hopes to end up with the qualifications to be a lifeguard on some Pacific island beach during his gap year! He has been on twelve expeditions including a recent one to the Hebrides. He is going on tour with the school cricket XI to the Blundell’s festival.Marcus Taylor (1984) has left Gordonstoun and was working at the Armidale School in Australia. He was last heard of in the cotton fields in New South Wales.Hamish Southby-Tailyour (1987) has played for the 2nd XV at Wellington College as hooker and won his house cross-country colours. He has won the Junior Design prize in CDT and is still playing the bagpipes. He is following in his father’s footsteps and has entered for the Royal Marine Scholarship.Toby Borradaile (1989) has had a successful first year at Millfield, particularly in sport. In athletics he has done the hurdles and triple jump and was awarded his colours.Timothy Pratt (1988) won the prize for the boy making the most progress in lower school music at Sherborne.William Martin (1989) had the pleasure of meeting the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh during Eton’s recent five hundred and fiftieth celebrations. He has started Spanish and has taken up design. He has been playing cricket for the house team and rowing occasionally.Robert Shove (1988) has played rugby, hockey and tennis at various levels at King’s School, Bruton. He was in an unbeaten basketball team and also was swimming for the school. He had a major part in the junior play. He would dearly like to be selected for the forthcoming rugby tour to New Zealand and Fiji as reserve hooker.Tom Craig (1987) has finished taking nine GCSE examinations at Shrewsbury. During the year he has played for the under 16 A ’ XV and also for the school football and tennis teams. He has been made a senior instructor in the camping society which has about 200 members. Next year he is doing Geography and business based A ’ levels. He will be joined in his house next term by Mark Burton (1990).Edward Nottingham (1987) is continuing to do Science based A ’ levels at Shrewsbury and has enjoyed tennis and squash as well as playing badminton for the school.

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examinations last year and went on to study geography, politics and economics for ‘A’ levels, which he is taking next year. He hopes to eventually become a chartered accountant. He has enjoyed caving and canoeing. He has been sales director for their ‘Young Enterprise’ company, selling Christmas cards, cards and notelets. He has represented the school for fencing and backstroke swimming. He was part of the team in the ‘Young Business person of the year’ competition in which the school reached the national semi-finals. This summer he is cycling with Bamaby Harwood (1986) through the highlands of Scotland from Inverness to Skye, a total of 300 miles.Toby Harward (1984) left King’s Bruton for a gap year in New Zealand during which he has taught, farmed and had a thoroughly worthwhile time. He has a place at St. Andrew’s University.Tim Hodgson(1988) is finding the work harder, but is enjoying life at King’s Bruton. He was in the under 15 ‘B’ rugby and cricket teams. He takes his GCSE examinations next year.Harry Spedding (1986) is in his lower 6th year at Pangbourne College where he is studying ’A’ levels in mathematics, further mathematics, physics and chemistry. He has represented the school at 1st team level in sailing and fencing. He has also been in the 3rd XI hockey team. He has maintained his interest in the theatrical world and is hoping to be in the main college production next term. He has directed and acted in house plays. He is hoping to enter the P».oyal Navy as an engineer and is applying for university places at Exeter, Southampton and Sussex.Edward Noy Scott (1985) has completed a year as Head of School at Bradfield College and has been offered a conditional place at St. John’s College, Cambridge to read classics. During the past year he has played cricket for the lst/2nd XI and has captained the college XV. His academic requirements have unfortunately caused a reduction in his extra-curricular activities this year.Christian Ball (1988) has just taken mathematics and French GCSE examinations at King’s Canterbury and has been playing in a very successful under 15 ‘A’ XI cricket team.Robert Clayton (1988) has joined the Charterhouse scout group. He has taken English Language and French GCSE examinations. He has enjoyed scoring for and watching cricket.George Edward-Collins (1989) played in the under 14 ‘A’ rugby and hockey teams at Milton Abbey and also competed in the Athletics team. He has particularly enjoyed carpentry and pottery.Toby Payne-Cook (1986) has been in the middle of his ‘A’ level studies at Milton Abbey, where he came first in biology and chemistry. He has set his sights on medicine and possibly a career as an Army doctor. He is secretary of the Natural History society and was recently promoted to House Pilot (one down from Head of House). He played 3rd XV rugby, and has enjoyed swimming and tennis. He has seen various Mount House old boys during school matches. (Both Toby and George entertained my wife and me on a recent day for Prep School headmasters and their wives. We were most impressed with all we saw - CDP).William Martin (1989) has had a splendid first year at Eton. He has found the work quite demanding. He has been in the C3 football team and is in the judo team. In a six mile long steeplechase he came 7th out of 256. He is taking up rackets, fives, fencing and waterpolo.

Toby Cox (1987) has finished his GCSE examinations at Kelly College. He is playing rugby for the college and is a Lance Bombardier in the CCF.

Jonas Hurst (1987) has represented Kelly College in rugby, hockey, cricket and athletics. He was selected for the South West of England under 16 XV.Richard Dawe (1987) has finished his GCSE examinations and has enjoyed windsurfing and sailing with the college.Frederick Mosdell (1987), Alistair Robins (1987) and Jeremy Ball (1987) have finished their GCSE examinations and are enjoying life at Kelly College.Michael Priddis (1986) is leader of the Army section of the CCF at Kelly College and is second in charge of the Army section.Richard Martin (1986) has completed his Lower 6th year at Kelly College and has been awarded an Army scholarship.Timothy Lister (1989) has enjoyed his first year at Kelly College and played cricket for the Junior ‘A’ XI.John Taylor (1989) represented Kelly in the hammer at athletics and competed against Ben Hicks (1989) from Grenville College.Nicholas Hamilton (1988) writes from Sherborne “wish you were here.” He has competed in ‘B’ team rugby matches, is enjoying all sports, sailing and he took GCSE mathematics.Rupert Bolingbroke (1988) is in the middle of his GCSE course at Sherborne and has played representative cricket.Ben Davis (1989) played in the mini colts ‘A’ XV at Sherborne with Sam Hunt (1989) and had a very successful season. Ben has been sailing in Poole Harbour for the junior team.Stephen Butler (1988) is enjoying life at King’s Taunton before the arrival of his brother! He has represented the athletics, rugby and cross-country teams and successfully completed the Ten Tors in May.Alistair Banner (1988) has been working hard at King’s Taunton and has enjoyed life in Neate’s House.Jonty Tucker (1989) has played three different representative sports at King’s Taunton and manages to go surfing most weekends.Ashley Crawshaw (1988) played for the ‘B’ XV at King’s Taunton and is working hard!Jonathan James (1986) is enjoying the new challenges and responsibilities of sixth form life at Radley. He hopes to take the fourth term entrance examination to Oxford next term along with an organ scholarship. He now has the ALCM on the violin. His high point this year has been the new dimension of being able to conduct his own groups, the school choir and orchestra. He still hopes to read modern languages at university.Warren Greatrex (1988) has been in a number of teams at King’s Bruton. He represented the under 15 ‘A' XV at scrum-half and was impressed by the King’s Taunton team. He also represented the school in hockey and cricket. He has been on the stage in “Tom Jones” and in “A Penny fora Song.”Richard Williams (1989) represented Sherborne in the LAC National championships at Barnet in the high jump and came 4th. He is looking forward to his younger brother, David joining Mount House in September.Hugh Cope (1989) is looking forward to a busy Summer holiday after having a full and happy first year at Canford. He has played in the ‘C’ teams for cricket, hockey and rugby, and will join the RAF section of the CCF next year. Swimming and golf also occupy him. Edward Hampshire (1990) joins him in Franklin House next term - “the most modern house with good facilities.”

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Patrick McCready, circa 1925 in Plymouth.Patrick was born in 1917 and after Mount House went on to Rugby and Oxford. He was a poet, playwright and linguist. During the war he became ADC to General Leclerc and was killed in North Africa in 1943.Patrick had a sister, Noreen, who now lives in Tavistock, and who married David Hughes. They had a son, Nicholas, who left Mount House in 1959. His sons Daniel and Patrick left Mount House in 1989, Daniel for Marlborough, and Patrick for the USA where his father works. HPW

H.P.W. writes:The following notes have been gleaned from many sources- personal contact, parents, relations and friends. I cannot vouch for accuracy and some news will inevitably be out of date. Those who are members of the MBOBA will already have read many of the notes. I apologise for errors and omissions, but I hope you will find some interesting news of your com temporaries. I have purposely avoided tabulating names in date or alphabetical order.(Dates in brackets after names are those of leaving Mount House - Editor)

Christopher Sharrock (1970) is a solicitor in Hong Kong and married with two children.Michael Sharrock (1972) works in London for BP and is also married. He visited Mount House last year.Crispin Hain-Cole (1964) is now head of the Market General of the Ordnance Secretariat, Ministry of Defence. He is having 12 months in Cambridge, USA, at the ‘Centre for International Affairs’.Sam Rutherford (1986) goes this year to St Andrew’s University to read French and Russian. Then he plans 5 years in the Army Air Corps before joining the Metropolitan Police.Jeremy Sankey (1983) is at the City University reading Business Studies. He spent part of his GAP year at a kibbutz near Tiberias in Israel and found that a most interesting experience.Mark Barley (1976) is a solicitor with Bond Pearce in Plymouth. He spent three weeks in summer 1989 working in a solicitor’s office in France.

Christopher Barley (1979) is working for Ove Arup, a firm of Consulting Engineers.

Paul Barley (1981) is in his final year at Reading where he has been reading Geography. He has ideas of now training to become a barrister.Roderick Porter (1973) is now a Captain in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He is married.Daniel Huntington (1977) is a Captain serving with the Gurkhas and currently recruiting in Nepal.Tim Huntington (1975) advises fish farmers. He is married and lives in Leamington Spa.Paul Gay (1959) is a Major in the Gurkhas and has recently taken up a new appointment in Nepal. He was recently at home on leave and found time for a little bird-watching. He is married with three children and they all holiday in Nepal.

Paddy McKillop (1969) is working on a diving support ship owned by Stirling Marine. He is married and has a son and daughter. His home is at Loddiswell in Devon.Andrew Key (1983) is in his second year at Clare, Cambridge, where he has a Choral Scholarship. He also sings with the Cambridge University Chamber Choir and the University Consort of Voices.Paul Vick (1983) is also in his second year at Cambridge, Magdalene College, where he is reading Architecture, not History as recorded last year. (Apologies! HPW) He has been joined by Simon Donne (1983) who is reading Mathematics, plays hockey and is in the University Orienteering Club. He was also stroking the College second boat in the Lents.David Pinder (1983) is at Robinson College reading Geography.Adrian Travis (1975) is a Ph D and a Fellow of Clare, Cambridge. He has a Lectureship in Optical Engineering.A recent lecture he delivered in Nevada was on ‘Passive quadrative detection using speckle rotation in a multisegment photo detector’! He also continues his research into three dimensional television. He and four of the Mount House undergraduates attended a Gathering in the Fellows Guest Room at Magdalene last October. Sadly Richard Youngman, also at Magdalene reading History, was unable to attend owing to a Golfing Society engagement.Ben Simpson (1983) is at Durham University reading Law, Economics and Political Studies.John Gay (1957) is a Regional Operational Manager for Crane Industrial. He, his wife and two children live in Suffolk.

James Allerton (1981) achieved a 2:1 in Geology and Geography at the West London Institute. He is now at Reading working for a M Phil in Land Management. Christopher Allerton (1983) is also at Reading, reading Zoology.Jonathan James (1986) who is at Radley, has been awarded an Honorary Exhibition for excellence in his GCSE last summer - 9 ‘A’ grades. His music goes from strength to strength.Simon Goodenough-Bayly (1978) left Edinburgh University with a 1st Class Honours degree in English Literature. During his last two years there he ran the University Theatre for the Fringe. He is now studying Dramatic Art and the Japanese Theatre at London University.Nicholas Goodenough-Bayly (1981) is in his second year at the West Sussex College for Higher Education doing Sports Studies. At present he has ideas of becoming a sports journalist with plenty of time for cricket. He plays for the Dorset Rangers and the Bryanston Butterflies.

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College, Oxford, with a degree in History. He is now in Japan teaching English under the Japanese English Teachers’ scheme. After that his plans are undecided.Neil Maciver (1983) is at Bristol University reading Mechanical Engineering.Robert Scourse (1980) has completed his third year at Portsmouth Polytechnic reading Civil Engineering. He continues to be keen on photography, managing the Film Society. He is also an enthusiastic windsurfer.Toby Scourse (1986) has done his GCSEs at King’s Bruton. He is a keen canoeist and fives player.Patrick Thompson (1963) works at Superior Interior Decorating. He lives at Sennen, Cornwall, and married last year.

Gordon Lewis (1982) is reading Engineering at the South Glamorgan Institute. He plays rugger for the Newquay Hornets.Evan Lewis (1983) is at the Cambridge Technical College reading Business and Finance.David Lewis (1985) is in his last year at Blundell’s and played in the 1st XV.Toby Ashworth (1981) is in the Royal Navy and has been on a course at RNEC Manadon. He and David Bartlett (1977), also at Manadon and a Lieutenant RN, paid us a visit recently.Henry Ashworth (1982) is at the Oxford Polytechnic doing a Hotel and Catering course. He has also done a ‘sandwich course’ at a London restaurant.

Robin Bertram (1983) spent his GAP year travelling and is now settled at Nottingham University reading Architecture.Christopher Bullocke (1981) has joined the Merchant Navy and is at the School of Maritime Studies, a branch of the SW Polytechnic in Plymouth.Peter Fox (1978) now has his commercial pilot’s licence and works in Tanzania. His elder brother Christopher (1977) runs the Game Park at Mafindi in Tanzania. Alexander Fox (1986) has one more year at Plymouth Technical College working for a B Tech National Diploma in Mechanical and Production Engineering. When he qualifies he, too, hopes to work in Africa.Robert Orr (1974) passed well into Sandhurst after leaving Wellington College. He is a regular soldier in the Royal Engineers, stationed at Chatham.Ian Orr (1981) is in his second year at the Oxford Polytechnic. Also keen on service life, he is a member of the OTC.Dane Salter (1986) is at Repton and has excellent GCSE results. He has been awarded a Foundation Scholarship. His interests include computing, hockey and rock- climbing.Gill Baldwin (1973) is a Captain in the Queen’s Dragoon Guards and Adjutant of his Regiment. He plays polo and paints portraits of his fellow officers to help pay his mess bills and he makes furniture. He has been decorated for his service in the Lebanon.David Balmer (1983) is at Stirling University reading Biology and Psychology. Last year he converted a VW transporter into a caravan and conveyed the family to Venice and back - safely.Adam Fox-Edwards (1975) is a Flight Lieutenant in the RAF and is instructing after a stint flying Tornadoes in the West Country. He has recently become engaged.Thomas Blaikie (1971) is teaching English in London after graduating at London University.

Graham Beaumont (1966) and his brother Keith (1970) are both Chartered Surveyors working in London. Both are top class rugby referees - Graham with the London Society and Keith with the Devon Society. I had the pleasure of watching him refereeing the Blundell’s v King’s Taunton match last autumn.Keith Graham (1968) emigrated to Australia in 1970. He works at a Job Centre in Sydney. He paid us a visit last autumn.Timothy Graham (1965) also emigrated to Australia. He runs a cleaning business in Armidale, New South Wales. Robert Fogwill (1968) is involved in numerous enterprises in Tavistock. He is the proprietor of the Drake Manor Inn in Buckland Monachorum and his wife Mandy is always busy there. He is also a partner in Tavy Graphics, which prepares a weekly newspaper, magazines etc for printing (including the MHOBA literature). His mother, Jacqui, known to many Old Boys as Assistant Matron at Mount House when Wimbers retired, works there tirelessly on the typesetting.Andrew Lamb (1982) is now at the Plymouth College of Further Education doing Sports Studies. He hopes to do a degree course elsewhere at a later date.Andrew Cross (1986) has been stroke of the Winchester College 1st VIII.Andrew Gillett (1971) is a viola player with the SW Mozart players. He also teaches, and has his own ensemble, The Parnassus.Michael le Flufy (1960) has recently left his job in Cambridge and now works in Aldermaston.Michael Priddis (1986) who is at Kelly College, has been awarded an Army ‘Scholarship’. He hopes to go to a university before joining the army.Michael Greenwood (1975) is proprietor of Albaston Garage, near Tavistock. He is getting married shortly.Richard Pinder (1977) works for a Public Relations firm in London.

Edward Bye (1969) is in television, on the production side. He is married to Ruby Wax.

Adrian Lukis (1970) is a television personality. He played a lead in the Agatha Christie Miss Marple Mystery ‘A Caribbean Mystery’, shown last Christmas.Richard Baker (1985) is at the Plymouth College of Further Education doing a course in Hotel Catering and Institutional ManagementRichard Lamb (1986) is also at the Plymouth College of Further Education and doing a similar course. They paid us a visit recently.Nicholas Mannering (1986) is at Bryanston doing ‘A’ levels in Economics, History and CDT. His sights are set on the Police Force.Robin Mannering (1989) is also at Bryanston. He has played for the Under 14 B rugby team, enjoys squash and tennis and is keen on acting.Rory Benham (1986) is at Sherborne and has started on his ‘A’ levels in Chemistry, Physics and Biology.Simon Travis (1971) has a three year appointment at Oxford lecturing on gastro-enterology. He and his wife Pamela are living in Oxford and have a daughter, Clementine.Rupert Travis (1973) is working with Thomas Howell, the Loss Adjusters. He and his wife live in London. They have two children.Quintus Travis (1977) is serving with the Royal Marines and has a two year appointment as Training Officer in Barbados.

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ews Julian Churcher (1972) is a GP in Acton. He is married

and has a daughter, Louisa.William Churcher (1977) was, on the last count, job­hunting in Australia.Rupert Houghton (1981) is in his second year at Edinburgh University.Sebastian Smith (1981) is in his final year at Edinburgh reading Spanish.Marcus Stone (1978) is in the Merchant Navy. He is a Fourth Engineer with Furness Withy.John Beckly (1984) has been on a British Schoolboys’ expedition to Alaska, in particular doing botanical and zoological research. He intends to go to Medical School in due course.Robert Creber (1968), proprietor of NH Creber Ltd of Tavistock, was this year’s National Winner of the Delicatessen and Fine Food Association, an accolade he received with his usual modesty.David Key (1981) is a Second Lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards. He has been temporarily seconded to the Scots Guards in Northern Ireland.Sinclair Stevenson (1972) is a Training Officer with the Legal and General Insurance Company in London. His brother Toby (1977) works for J Lewis in London. He has also been orchestrating a Pop Opera for Leeds Playhouse. Both brothers are defecting (temporarily!) to Moscow this summer.Patrick Coutin (1972) now a Ph D, is in Australia.John Caverhill (1956) a Lieutenant Colonel in the Lowland Brigade, is stationed in Edinburgh.John Harvey (1985) is working for ‘A’ levels at King’s College, Taunton, taking Chemistry, Biology and English. He is Captain of Shooting, the nearest substitute for archery at which he excelled at Mount House. He hopes to go in for Marine Biology.Christian Ball (1988) is having a busy life at The King’s School, Canterbury. Apart from much hard academic work he has been playing hockey for the Junior Colts A team. He has been joined by his younger brother Robin (1989) who has played rugby for the Under 14s and also enjoys hockey. (I attended Christian’s confirmation by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the Cathedral and later tried unsuccessfully to keep up with them on the Lech ski slopes! HPW.)William Beard (1984) is working at Blostin’s Restaurant in Shepton Mallett. (Highly recommended in the Good Food Guide.)Horatio Morpurgo (1980) went down from Cambridge last summer and has since been in Heidelberg studying German in his own time. He was in Bavaria when The Wall crumbled. He has much to tell of his experiences on the border, and also has time for bird watching.Chris Peam (1959), Richard Tonks (1963), and John Jellicoe (1967) are to be congratulated on sending sons to Mount House last autumn.Paul Vincent (1975) is proprietor of the Vincent Gallery in Magdalen Road, Exeter. Since he opened the Gallery last year he has held a number of exhibitions of Ceramics and paintings of countrywide importance.Harvey Phillips (1969) is a Tax Accountant in New Zealand. He is happily married with a family.William Phillips (1976), Harvey’s brother, is on the Design Board of March Engineering in Bicester. He is working on Formula Three racing cars and says that his success is largely due to Ken Cload’s insistence on meticulous care when designing his carpentry projects in the ‘Cop Shop’.Stephen McCormick (1961) and his wife have emigrated to Ontario, Canada.84 —

Toby Wright (1985) is in the Upper VI at King’s Taunton after some reasonably good GCSE exams last year. He much enjoys squash and has time to visit the golf course occasionally.Bamaby Wright (1986) had good success in his GCSE exams last year and later played as a flanker in the 1st XV.Paul Wilson (1986) achieved 10 ‘A’ grades in his GCSE exams. He took part in the National hurdles and played in the King’s Taunton 1st XV.Sam Perowne (1988) is also at King’s Taunton and is doing very well, especially in the academic field. He played for the Under 14 cricket XI.Rufus Bowen (1974) is head of ‘The Marketing for Business Intelligence Group’ based in Dublin.Marcus Bowen (1976) is a Chartered Building Surveyor working in central London.Martin Stubbs (1975) is an actor and lives in North London. He left Christ’s Hospital in 1982.Cameron Todd (1981) is at Kent University doing Media Studies.Patrick Smiley (1979) is a stockbroker in London.Peter Glossop (1958) lives in Heytesbury, near Warminster. He has his own Agricultural Seeds Merchant business.David Glossop (1961), a Major in the Royal Corps of Transport, is on an advanced Transportation course. He hopes to spend next Christmas with his sister Susan in Sydney.Daniel Hughes (1989) is enjoying life at Marlborough. He plays tennis in preference to cricket, does athletics and swimming and is interested in CDT. His brother Patrick (1989) enjoys school in the USA and home cooking! He is involved in acting and computers.Charles Cameron (1982) is at Sandhurst and will be joining the Queen’s Own Highlanders, following in his grandfather’s footsteps. He is a keen Scottish dancer and performed the Hamilton House and a Sixteensome before the Princess Royal in a demonstration team.Robert Milne (1984) is having his GAP year in Australia after leaving Sherborne. He also visited Thailand, Hong Kong, China and New Zealand. While in Australia he had a 7 day diving course on the Great Barrier Reef. He has a place at Kingston Polytechnic to do Business Information Technology. He helped with flood relief while in New South Wales.Dominic Phillips (1981) has had his training with the Royal Marines disrupted by an accident. He is uncertain about his future.Christopher Cashell (1986) won his 1st XI cricket colours at King’s Taunton, where he has been made a School Prefect.Simon Read (1979) is training in management at the Bedford Hotel in Tavistock.Paul Gregson (1983) is doing Estate Management at Newcastle Polytechnic.Richard Rashleigh (1971) is setting up a computer system for a housing association.Simon Cameron (1988) is enjoying life at Pangbourne, rowing and sculling and only worrying a little about approaching GCSEs. He much enjoyed the three years with his parents in Sri Lanka and had visits from his friends Christian Ball, Robert Parker-Swift and Ian Forbes.Rupert Woodard (1977) who is in the Royal Navy, has recendy been serving in the Falklands which he says are so chilly that even the penguins have gone abroad! He much enjoyed his year in Britannia with William May Somerville (1975). He has recently married and plans to leave the

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ews Navy next year after a great time since 1984, during which

he has visited sixty foreign ports and spent two weeks on the Galapagos Islands. He hopes to settle in Plymouth after the Navy, but is uncertain about his future career.Denis de B Welchman (1961) has become Building Surveyor at the University of Warwick.James Milne (1988) is at Sherborne with GCSE ahead of him next year.Robert Gillett (1968) left farming 2Vi years ago and is now a computer consultant and partner in Cloud 9 Computers in Tavistock.Anthony Wilson (1968) after service at sea in a variety of vessels from tankers to ferries is now a nautical journalist.William Wilson (1970) works in Barclays Bank International. He has been at the bank’s headquarters in Lyon, Munich, Paris and is now in Madrid. Both Anthony and William meet up annually with Edward Bye.Justin Morshead (1973) works for a leading computer firm in London.Christopher Morshead (1976) works for a firm constructing fencing in Buckinghamshire. When time permits he returns to Launceston to assist with the farm.

Anthony Horridge (1977) works for British Aerospace in the computer department dealing with Harrier jets.John Bussell (1975) owns a fruit and vegetable retail shop in Broadway, Plymstock. His hobby is racing Porsches.Ian Dacre (1964) is married to a Chinese girl and lives in Hong Kong. He is a successful performer at the triathlon, but his business is hiring out and running bicycle tours.His venture has been very successful.Philip Helby (1965) lives in Australia and has transferred from the Royal Navy to the Royal Australian Navy as a submariner.Robin Forshaw-Wilson (1963) works for television, producing music programmes.Rufus Wixon (1978) now has his own model making business in London. He visited Mount House in July. Simon Goodenough-Bayly (see earlier entry) has completed his course at the University of London with an MA and a distinction in Drama and Theatre Studies. He is presently directing the Galloglass Theatre Company, touring Eire this summer. He is learning Polish and has been awarded a scholarship when he joins the Polish Theatre in October.John Hutchison (1966) has left the Army after six years as a Chaplain and is Vicar, or Priest-in-Charge, of Viney Hill, Lydney, Gloucestershire. He is also Warden of the Diocesan Adventure Centre. He is married and has two daughters.David Hutchison (1969), John’s brother, is a Major in the Grenadier Guards. He has been a Company Commander while serving in Germany and after a Staff College course he is expecting a staff appointment in this country.Martyn Bateman (1947) recently Canon of St Edmondsbury and Ipswich is now Rector of Lydford and Rural Dean of Tavistock. He visited the school in July.Patrick Harris (1984) has left Marlborough and is starting a Foundation Course in Art at Falmouth Polytechnic. Meanwhile he is helping to sail a boat to Gibraltar.Vincent Harris (1985) is still at Marlborough. He has completed his GCSE exams and is undecided about his future.

Mark Deeble (1974) has been doing some great filming for the television series ‘Survival’. His interest in filming brought first success in 1986 when he and a friend, Victoria Stone, produced a film of underwater life in the Fal estuary. ‘Valley under the Sea’. His latest film, ‘Here be Dragons’ is a remarkable study of crocodiles made in Africa, in the vicinity of the Murchison Falls.

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ews Mount House

Wanderers Tour 1990The 1989 tour report was sent out on 9.10.1989. Dates for 1990 were notified on Christmas cards to all members. Fixtures were arranged, availability lists were sent out in April, so the scene was set for 1990.

Our first match, against Charles Price’s XI at Mount House, proved to be a very fine game indeed. James Allenby, captaining the Headmaster’s XI, elected to bat first. Patrick and Christopher Cashell opened the batting to the bowling of Robin Lumb and Ben Lott. With the short boundary there were obviously many runs going to be scored, but with 30 on the board, Patrick was well taken by wicket-keeper James Homewood off Lott. Chris Cole relieved Lumb and had Edmund Hulme lbw with his score at 1. Christopher Cashell scored an attractive 37 (3 6s and 3 4s) and looked to be in a menacing mood before being given lbw to D Carr. Allenby senior was the next to go at 84 to a good catch by Neil Major. Simon Allenby scored 8 before falling to another catch by Homewood, this time off Cole’s bowling. B Hulme and W Lean took the score to 116 before William Lean was brilliamly caught by Skipper Chris Pearn off Lott’s bowling. Cole bowled Hulme for 14. David Grey and Peter Hamilton-Leggett were now at the wicket. Peter was bowled for 10 by the untiring Cole. Jim Hannaford played a minor but crucial role in the ensuing partnership, which saw 101 runs added, before the innings was declared closed at 238 for 8. David Gray’s powerful batting of 73 not out, including 8 6s and 3 4s, was a delight to watch. The bowling showed Cole taking 5 for 80 and Ben Lott 2 for 26, while Homewood let through only 8 byes and had two catches to his credit.

The Wanderers opened with David Rees and Jonas Hurst, the latter scoring only 5 before being caught and bowled by Charles Price, who then accounted too for Geoff Whaley (7). When Graham Bush was bowled by Edmund Hulme the Wanderers seemed in deep trouble. The situation was steadied when Neil Major came to join David Rees and 70 runs were added before Neil fell to a good ball from Chris Cashell for 37. Chris Cole now joined Rees who was batting steadily, but was caught behind by Patrick Cashell off Christopher’s bowling. David had scored a most valuable 50, including 9 4s. James Homewood and Cole put on 52 runs before Homewood was run out to a brilliant fielding recovery by Chris Cashell, whose attempted catch was in itself fine, and the good throw to the wicket-keeper gave Homewood no chance. His 17 runs were most valuable.The Skipper managed a couple of singles before being bowled, but No 9, D Carr, showed the value of a good eye by hitting a fine 26 before being beautifully caught on the boundary by Charles Price. In the meantime Chris Cole yet again proved what a fine cricketer he is, for in the last over, with two wickets in hand, he hit a mighty six to win the game for the Wanderers; his 76 not out included 7 6s and 6 4s. A most valuable single from Robin Lumb had ensured that Chris was at the right end at the right time.

With his 5 for 80 and his 76 not out, Chris was adjudged Man of the Match by umpire Rodney Browne. It was a very good game of cricket.

KCC

v LauncestonLaunceston batted first on a very good wicket. Trevor Ryder and Nick Blythe opened the bowling for us and Ryder had Walter caught at the wicket for 0. The second wicket fell at 33 and Launceston declared their innings closed 177 for 6. Ryder bowled 12 overs, taking two wickets for 18. Ben Lott took two for 18 in two overs, thanks largely to two magnificent catches in the deep by Christopher Cashell. James Homewood kept wicket well, taking a good catch and conceding only two byes.

The Cashells opened the batting and put on 51 runs. Chris Cole joined Chris Cashell and took the score to 108 when Cole was run out for 27. Nick Blythe and Geoff Whaley failed to increase the score and at 137 Chris Cashell’s fine innings came to an end. His 81 included four 6s and eight 4s. Jonathan Perry scored 15 and we then lost David Grey for 0 and William Perry for 2. With 11 runs needed for victory in the final over James Homewood hit two boundaries and a single. Ben Lott was facing the last ball with 2 to win. The ball was bowled fast down the leg side and Ben was unable to connect, so the match ended in a draw, having swung first one way and then the other.

KCC

1989 Caption CompetitionLast year’s caption seemed to spark off the imaginations of only a few of our readers.

The winning caption, in true nautical style, came from Sir David Clayton:

DO YOU HEAR THERE.THIS IS YOUR SKIPPER SPEAKING - ALL HANDS ON DECK!

Produced by Nicholas Toyne Topsham Devon Printed in England

Bfi. .......

The Horn of PlentyGULWORTHY * TAVISTOCK * DEVON Tel: TAVISTOCK 832528

continues its tradition of excellent cuisine together with the comfortable bedrooms with bathrooms.

The Horn of Plenty, Gulworthy, Tavistock, Devon PL 19 8JD Tel: (0822) 832528

Rooms open all year except Christmas Day. Restaurant closed Thursday and Friday lunch.

Prize for the best caption - Entries to the editor by 1.1.91