1953 – The Houses

ARNOLD HOUSE

Although the Margetson Cup again eluded us we can, at least report one championship success this year—Cricket. Our three teams did a very good job. Our Swimming representatives are also worthy of mention—Payne in particular—they held a lead in points up to the relay. Unfortunately, our Captain, Teddy Mills was cruising on the high seas at this time, or perhaps we could have reported a further championship. In Athletics, J. Hart did especially well and became Middle Champion. Of Football, we will say nothing except that as we enter now a new season we hope our teams will do their very best to rise to the top. We still have with us for a 6th year E. Mills, Andrews and Sealey and we look expectantly to the new arrivals hoping for a Tom Finney, a Gordon Pirie, an Alec Bedser and a Len Hutton. In conclusion, we offer our best wishes to those who have left us and hope they will read of further successes of Arnold House.

DRAKE HOUSE

The House was glad to welcome Mr. H. Throup on his return as a Housemaster, and also Mr. B. M. Baker, who took the place of Mr. E. R. Fagence at the beginning of the Summer Term. Fifteen new boys also joined the House; we hope they will strive to maintain the high standard of the House in all its activities.

Comparing the efforts of the House with those of the previous years one finds that its achievements in the various fields of activities were exactly the same:-

Again Cricket and Swimming were our weak points but the Junior Football and Cricket Xl's did extremely well, which is a good omen for the future.

The Middle House Teams deserve a special mention because, although often heavily defeated they never gave up trying.

The Senior House in Athletics again proved too good for the other Houses. To win the Sports for four successive years is an excellent performance. D. Greenway was Senior Champion. The Senior Relay Team set up a new record for that event. The Juniors won the Junior Relay—again a good omen for the future.

The House was well represented in School teams:—

Football—-M. Niblett, J. Coombes, J. Russell, G. Townsend, D. Guy, A. Clark, J. Close,

F. Walker, A. Grant, J. Neno and D. Neale.

Cricket—D. Attwood, R. Close, R. Dyer, R. Cook, G. Heaven, B. T. Connors, E. Benton,

C. Mutton, B. D. Connors and J. Neno.

Athletics—D. Greenway, J. Neno and D. Neale.

Finally, farewell to those who left at the end of the term; may they do well in the future. It was a pleasure to see some Drake House Old Boys on Sports Day to cheer on their successors.

SCOTT HOUSE

The year opened well with our narrow victory in Football, which we owed to useful contributions by all three sides. In Athletics, we were third by half a point until the last event, the Senior Relay; unluckily we could not snatch points from Arnold, so were fourth. The Swimming sports, perhaps, gave our best single effort. Hopkins, Vick, Checkley and Wall swimming against Gardiner, Pegler, Sollars and Gay, were beaten by about a yard. Our team, one from Form IV, three from Form II, did magnificently against the much older team of Wren. We hope to see them win in later galas; we must not overlook those who expected to swim but were asked to make way for Wall, Vick and Checkley at the last moment. Thank you all. The Cricket we enjoyed, especially in the Junior section.

Finally, we lost the Margetson Cup to Wren, whom we congratulate. We were runners-up—so Scott, what shall we do next year? Yes—that is the answer.

The House Party had to be put forward in order to make way for a Parent-Teacher Association Party postponed for bad weather in November. This was unlucky, since a heavy snowstorm during our Party compelled us to close early as all buses were forced off the roads at seven o'clock. Nevertheless, in the time available we enjoyed a very brisk party indeed. We thank all parents who helped so generously, and Mrs. Coombes in particular for being present. She had to walk from Brimscombe Corner to Minchinhampton in deep snow. We hope to earn another party, as we hinted above, very shortly.

WREN HOUSE

Well done, Wren! The presentation of the Margetson cup was a fitting climax to a year of achievement and effort. We had our disappointments, particularly in the Junior House, but the spirit with which defeats were accepted, was typical of the attitude which brought us final victory.

Our overwhelming superiority in the Swimming Sports was the deciding factor. Here we again owed much to Pegler but we were no "one-man team". Other noteworthy performances, particularly by junior and middle School swimmers, left us little reason to be despondent about our future prospects.

In football and cricket the points that fell to the House were earned entirely by the senior and middle teams. The juniors, in spite of keenness and hard work, suffered from a shortage of natural talent and experience, so failed to take a point in either series. Ruston, Gay and Hewett gave valuable service on the football field, while Gardner, Walker and Hewett contributed much to our unbeaten record in the higher section of the cricket competition.

Peyton helped to restore the juniors' prestige by gaining the Junior Athletics Championship. He and Stagg, who was also outstanding, were well supported by a general effort which took us to second place on Sports Day.

Space does not permit mention of many others who were invaluable to Wren this year. We must not omit Stacey, our Captain, who lectured us on music with a severity which has been the envy of the Staff ever since. Of our departing members, Ollie will leave a gap difficult to fill while another "character", much smaller, may be said to have left his mark in more ways than one.

Finally, a welcome to our new members who, we trust, will help to keep Wren where it belongs—at the top.