Lydney Grammar School Magazine 1968.
THE MAGAZINE OF LYDNEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL
SCHOOL YEAR, 1967-68
Editorial Committee
Terry Jones
Kathyrn Laycock
Anne Northam
John Biggins
David Kelsey
The last school year has been much overshadowed and it seems fitting that the
magazine should begin with the following tributes.
MR G. DAVIES
Geoff Davies, who joined the staff in the Summer of 1959, died suddenly after
a three day illness in November 1967, aged 43. He was educated at the Queen
Elizabeth's Hospital School, Bristol, and Bristol University. During the war
he served with the Airborne Division, landing in France the night before D
Day, and fighting right through Europe until he was seriously wounded only
a few weeks before the war ended. After two years in hospital he returned to
University to complete his degree. He disclaimed his evident physical courage.
I moved to Lydney shortly after he did and became his next door neighbour.
I believe I knew him well. I found him very rational, cautious, and harshly
realistic. He was a rebel by nature and could never resist provoking controversy.
He took his teaching seriously and professionally, believing in endless, meticulous
marking and scorning exhibitionism. As Head of the French Department he organised
every alternate year a school trip to France; his good nature, humour and pleasant
company played a major part in the success of these holidays. Outside the classroom
sport played a large part in his life. He loved all games and it was a delight
to see him coming in to face a fast bowler when he played for the staff cricket
team. He was an ardent supporter of the school teams and an honoured vice-president
of the Lydney Rugby Club. He is much missed. R.E.J.
MRS DORA WINSPEAR
There are some people whose contribution to the community in which they serve
is so valuable and many-sided that their loss seems irreparable. Such a one
was Mrs Winspear whose sudden death early in this Autumn Term dealt the school
a stunning blow and caused immeasurable sorrow. This school had been a large
part of her life and she served it with unflagging loyalty and devotion. Coming
here straight from Oxford University in 1939 to teach Physics and Mathematics,
she was appointed Senior Mistress in 1957 and so entered on the second phase
of her service here. It is for her work as Senior Mistress that she will be
most gratefully remembered. Even those who knew Mrs Winspear well were surprised
at the facility and competence with which she undertook her new and difficult
duties. After a very short time, it was as though she had been doing the job
for years, such confidence did she show. She was equally at home whether it
was a question of tending the sick or injured, administering a rebuke for some
misdemeanour, or giving advice to the older girls on their future careers.
Though the welfare of all the girls was her concern, it is the older ones and
those who have left school who best know and appreciate the value of Mrs Winspear's
work, and their sense of loss was apparent at the time of her death, in the
numbers who attended the memorial service. Mrs Winspear was no stranger to
pain and illness. She had during her life undergone several major operations
which she faced with characteristic courage, and she allowed ill-health .to
cause only the minimum interference with her work. Indeed, the over- riding
impression she gave was one of energy and busy-ness. If there was a job to
be done she was never one to wait around for someone else to do it. She even
found time off from her work at school and running a home for a number of activities
outside both, and the numbers who filled St. Mary's Church at the funeral service
were a witness to her many friends and many interests. Those of us who survive
Mrs Winspear will seek consolation in a feeling of gratitude for the work she
did and the example she set. Our hearts go out in sympathy with her surviving
relatives, especially her husband and sister.
MR ARNOLD COOPER
Mr Cooper, who had represented the West Dean Parish Council on the school's
Governing Body since 1953, died early in January this year. Mr Cooper was a
conscientious at tender at Governors' meetings and school functions. A man
of liberal and progressive views, he had much of value to contribute to any
discussion concerning the school and always had its welfare at heart. His interest
was heightened by the fact that he had had two sons and a grandson in the school.
Any school is fortunate which can call on the service of such a loyal and devoted
Governor .
MR W. CULTON
Mr Culton last served as school caretaker in December, 1965, so that to younger
pupils he was known only by name. But the Staff and older pupils were grieved
to learn of his death last June, all the more so because the serious operations
he underwent at the end of 1965 and all his subsequent suffering had gained
him such a comparatively short span of life. Until his illness, he had served
the school loyally and well for more than twenty years. Those who saw him in
hospital or at home during his long illness will long remember the outstanding
courage and cheerfulness he showed. Our sympathies are with Mrs Culton and
Mr Culton's daughter, Sheila, who was a pupil of this school. E.B.
STAFF NEWS
This year we welcomed to the school two new members of staff, Mr Hall and Mr
Lovibond. Mr Hall came here in September as Senior Chemistry Master; he previously
taught for two years at Crewe and for five years at Wolstanton Grammar School,
New- castle-under-Lyme. Mr Hall is a keen sportsman, and has already, in his
first year at the school, begun a climbing club as well as encouraging after-school
tennis and badminton. Mr Lovibond had been teaching in this area for four years,
in his capacity as French Master at Bell's Grammar School, Coleford, before
coming to Lydney last term. Before this, he spent five years at the Henry Mellish
Grammar School, Nottingham, and four at a co-educational boarding school, Frensham
Heights. Our French assistant this year was Mlle. Annie Frerere from Romans,
Drome. We hope she enjoyed the year with us. We are sorry to lose Miss Boulton,
who left at the end of the Summer term after teaching French here for ten years.
Miss Boulton was always ready to help her pupils, and through her great patience,
encouraged even those who were slow to grasp the finer points of French grammar;
we shall all miss her. She is now taking up a more senior post at Wolverhampton
Municipal Grammar School. Mr Dyal, who has taught Art here for three years,
also left at the end of last term to go to St. Edmund's, Canterbury. Mr Dyal
was known to us all, even those who did not take Art, and was universally popular;
Art lessons will not be the same without him. Miss Davies has temporarily deserted
our sports fields to attend Chelsea College of Physical Education, Eastbourne,
for a year of further study. We are extremely grateful to Mrs Hale, who is
known to many as a former teacher at the Church School, for her help in the
French Department. Mrs Durrant, a retired teacher living in the neighbourhood,
has also been helping out the English staff in a part-time capacity this year.
Congratulations to Mr and Mrs Morris on the birth of a daughter, Susan Anne,
last October .
SCHOOL OFFICERS
Head Boy: G. BEECH
Deputy Head Boy: G. BAND (Sept.-Dec.) .
P. SELBY (Dec.-July)
Head Girl: KATHRYN LAYCOCK
Deputy Head Girl: ANNE NORTHAM
Prefects
M. BAKER, HELEN CAPPS, J. BIGGINS, RUTH CHILVERS, D. HUMPHREYS, JEAN DAVIS,
D. KELSEY, LYNNE HUNT, D. PHILLIPS, SUSAN LEGG, S. PREEST, HILARY LEWIS,
M. SHANAHAN, LARAINE PENGILLEY, C. SILCOCKS, SUSAN RIDLER, T. VICKERY, ASTRID
THOMAS, G. WILDIN, NORMA VINE, CAROL WALLIS, ELIZABETH WATSON
Games Captains
Rugby: P. SELBY
Hockey: JEAN PAVIS
Hockey: D. PHILLIPS
Tennis: SUSAN LEGG, ANNE NORTHAM
Cricket: D. PHILLIPS
SCHOOL DIARY AUTUMN TERM 1967:
Sept. 12- Term begins.
Mr D. R. Hall, Senior Chemistry Master, vice Mr Stevens joins staff. MIle.
Ferere French Assistant.
" 27-6th Forms' parents' evening and Careers Interviews of 6th Form.
Oct. 19-Annual Prizegiving: guest speaker, Mrs E. Salter.
" 23-Concert to junior forms by the Lyndon Singers.
" 27-Governors' meeting.
" 30/31-Half-term holiday.
Nov. 8-6th Form visit to Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham.
" 9-Death of Mr G. Davies, Senior French Master.
" 10-School Remembrance Service.
" 14-Funeral of Mr Davies.
" 27-Visit to French Play at Churchdown.
Dec. 11-Dental talk to 1st Forms.
" 12-1st Forms' Christmas Party;
" .14-3rd Form Christmas Party.
" 19-5th and 6th Form social.
" 20-End of term.
SPRING TERM 1968 :
Jan. 9-Term begins. Mrs Hale part-time teaching (French). Two Bristol students,
Mr Tomkiss and Mr Farmer, begin teaching practice.
" 12-Talk to lst Forms on Smoking by Dr. Hunt.
" 15-Careers Interviews of 5T by Mr Field.
" 18-Visit from H.M.I., Mr Fuller.
" 19-Talk to School Assembly on National Savings by Mr Traynor .
" 29-Visit from H.M.I. (Art), Mr Walsh.
Feb. 8-3rd Form visit to see film 'Julius Caesar'.
" 12/13-Visits to Theatre, 'Macbeth'.
" 22 Concert by Camden Wind Quintet.
" 23-Governors' meeting.
" 26/27-Half-term holiday.
" 28-Two St. Paul's College students begin teaching practice.
Mar. 4-5C visit to Beechams, Colefod.
" 7-5 Alpha and 4A visit to Malvern-Shakespeare film.
" 12-Talk to 4th Form girls by Mr Leaven of West Glos. Technical College.
" 13-4 alpha visit to North Glos. Technical College. 5A and 5TC visit to
film of 'Macbeth' at Cheltenham.
" 15-6th Form visit to French play at Bristol
" 19-4th Form girls visit to Standish Hospital.
" 20-3 alpha visit to Caerleon.
26/27/29-School Play, Pinero's 'The Magistrate'.
Apr. 2-Careers Interviews this week of 5th Formers.
" 3-A.T.C. party at Camp.
" 10-End of term.
SUMMER TERM 1968 :
Apr. 29-Term begins. Deputy Head absent till half-term. Mr D. C. Lovibond takes
up appointment as Senior French Master.
" 30-4C visit to Sewage farm.
May 6-- Two St. Mary's and two St. Paul's College students begin teaching practice.
" 7/8-Lydney Schools' Music Festival.
June, 3-7-Half-term holiday.
" 12-3rd Form visit to Three Counties Show.
" 13-Funeral Service for Mr W.Culton.
" 18-Talk to lst Forms by R.S.P.C.A. Lecturer.
" 19-Careers Talk to 4th Forms. 3rd and 4th Form Parents' evening.
" 4C visit to Tewkesbury Waterworks.
" 21-Governors' meeting.
July 2-Visit of 6th Form group to Oxford Department of Metallurgy.
" 3-Conference for 6th Formers at Bristol University.
" 15-18-Various career talks to 4th Forms.
" 19-Swimming Sports.
" 22-School Service at St. Mary's Cburch. Preacher: Rev. C. C. Sykes.
" 25-Athletics Sports. lst and 2nd Form Parents' evening.
" 25-Old Boys Cricket Match and Girls Tennis Finals.
" 26-End of term. Miss Boulton leaving staff.
THE GREAT FLOOD
Weather which would have taxed Noah's ingenuity gave a splendid opportunity
for heroics and paddling this year. On the night of Wednesday l0th July, a
torrential rainstorm brought severe flooding to most of the West of England,
following as it did days of practically incessant rain. Thus the river Lyd
overflowed its banks at Newerne and Lydney's main shopping area was under four
feet of water by next morning. In school next day many a strange tale was told.
Someone had seen the water rising inside the Chip Shop until the plate-glass
window had burst under the pressure, disgorging flood water and furniture.
Manhole covers were blown into the air as the water- head built up in the sewers.
The damage in Newerne was severe since the floodwaters had not simply risen
but poured through the shops in torrents. Thus it was that our champions of
the 5th and 6th, lion of heart and iron of limb, came to offer their help to
the police for the un-pleasant clearing-up operations. At two o'clock Lydney
was treated to the sight of the eleven volunteers, clad in motley, marching
along the High Street. Such was one's enthusiasm to join that he completed
his three-quarter hour paper round in seven and a half minutes. At Newerne
they were joined by a party of girls, who of course couldn't bear to be left
out. As the water gradually sank, clearing-up began. Damaged stock and debris
were to be removed by sweeping. The volunteers sloshed about in the darkness
carrying slime-covered boxes which usually fell to pieces, and piles of ruined
clothing. Everything, including the volunteers, was covered in vile water containing
a good percentage of untreated sewage and mud. Undaunted, our heroes continued.
One of their feats was an ingeniously constructed dam of sacking and railway
sleepers, at the back of the restaurant. Its purpose was clear: to prevent
water flowing through the building from the back. It succeeded only too well,
and reflooded the ladies' hairdressers next door, as the girls, who had just
finished there, lost no time in pointing out. One over-zealous second former,
who refused to be left out, was put out of harm's, and everyone else's, way
by being given a bristle-less broom and instructions to stand in a passageway
and sweep until further notice. By five o'clock the street was practically
clear of water. Remaining problems were those shops with sunken floor-boards,
which would have to be baled out with buckets. A bucket chain was swiftly organised
to deal with one floor which was under six inches of water. Half an hour and
about three hundred gallons of water later someone observed that the water
level had fallen half- an-inch. This was hardly surprising: the floor was afloat.
Most of the tasks were really quite uniquely unpleasant. Whilst fumbling up
to the armpits in filthy water trying to clear a blocked drain, one volunteer
emerged triumphantly holding a pair of false teeth. He spent the rest of the
afternoon trying to trace their owner . Most people, especially the traders,
were grateful for all the help given, except for the one woman who threw an
ice-cream at one volunteer while he was perched on a girder over the river.
He had been dumping ruined boxes of soap powder and her ice-cream was washed
whiter-than-white. The volunteers obviously enjoyed the whole operation, in
a perverse sort of way, and did something useful at the-same time.
EDITORS.
THE NIGHTMARE
It was a lovely afternoon for a flight. The aircraft was a Chipmunk. It was
small and frail, but was a very reliable aircraft. Anyway, it came to my
turn and I strapped on my parachute, with a little aid, and went out to the
aircraft in a posture which I felt was a cross between a chimp and the Hunchback
of Notre Dame. Still, I clambered in and we taxied and took off, climbing
into the blue sky. The pilot took her over a city pointing out what he could,
and we put the plane through a few manoeuvres. Then it happened. I heard
the pilot mutter over the intercom. I asked what was the matter. He said
it was a little engine trouble. But it got worse. The pilot said he'd have
to take her down. As he did I said a silent prayer, hoping I would not have
to parachute to safety. We got further down when the pilot told me he would
have to take her up so I could bale out, a landing being too risky. I felt
my previous confidence seep like water out of a cracked glass. This was the
moment I had dreaded. When we got up to the required height the pilot jettisoned
the cockpit cover and I had to undo my seat belt and stand up. It was no
good asking if we could land, it was too late and, I knew, impossible. I
stood up, fear running through my body. I looked back to see my discarded
helmet and seat belt in which I had had such confidence. The pilot shouted "Jump
head first. Count to ten then pull the rip cord. After three." But I
stood and I knew that now, at the most vital moment, my courage would fail
me, as it had on a few previous occasions with undesirable, though not horrific
results. I knew I could not jump, and if I did that falling through space
before pulling the ripcord would surely petrify me. But the pilot put an
end to my nightmare thoughts as he shouted "Go on. Jump!" I climbed
over the side and shouted that I wanted to jump from the wing. "Hurry
up," he shouted, "I've got to get out yet." On the wing it
was no better. And then I lost my grip and I was falling. ..The aeroplane
was already spiralling towards the earth but all I could hear was a voice
inside me saying "Pull that cord!", but I couldn't. All I could
feel was blind fear. My hand fumbled vainly for the rip cord. I thought I
would deface some field or road with my remains. And what remains after falling
so far ? ... Yet it is popularly believed that if you dream you are falling
a long way to your death your body experiences It and you die. But I was
alive.
ROGER PRICE, 4A.
POP GOES THE DIESEL
It was 9.l5 on a cool, bright Thursday morning in the Summer holidays when
our train pulled into Newport station. My father was taking me to London
for a day's train-spotting. After boarding the express, we soon left the
station, gathering speed past R. T .B. steelworks, and we were able to get
a good view of the marshalling- yards on our way to Severn Tunnel Junction.
Then we roared through the eight-mile-long Severn Tunnel and through the
out- skirts of Bristol. Now we were in the country again. From our compartment
we watched fields, bridges, and rivers flash by, and took note of the various
goods-yards, engine-sheds, signal-boxes and so on. Soon we passed through
Swindon, and later arrived at Didcot, our first scheduled stop. My list of
locomotives was gradually getting longer, but the best was yet to come.Our
next stop was at Reading, where the passengers for Heathrow Airport changed
trains. After a five-minute break our engine Dl907 made up for lost time
with a fast run to Slough, where we passed an electric multiple-unit -the
first one of the day. As well as this, London-Penzance, London-Swansea and
London-Bristol trains were speeding by. Slough was our last stop before Paddington.
After another fast run we passed Royal Oak Common Carriage Sidings and Edgeware
Underground Station before drawing into Paddington. The train jerked to a
halt and we stepped onto the platform. In the warm air voices boomed over
loudspeakers, and there was the usual crush of people at a major terminus.
We soon left Paddington and began our tour. The first station we visited
was Victoria, which we reached after a short journey on the Underground.
This station was very busy with suburban electric multiple-units rushing
in and out all the time. We stayed here for about an hour and then made our
way to Waterloo. At Waterloo, Southern Region suburban trains were occupying
every platform except for D825 "Intrepid" which was about to leave
with a train for Exeter. As it was now lunch-time, we began to look for a
restaurant, but they were all full, so we decided to go to Euston and have
lunch there. At Euston, one of the most up-to-date stations I have seen,
modern electric trains were arriving and departing all the time. After a
meal, we walked to the far end of Platform 2 where I took a photograph of
an electric locomotive. A couple of hours later we left Euston and walked
to nearby King's Cross, where locomotives D5557, Dl150 and D9018 "Bally-
moss" were occupying the first three platforms. We walked to the end
of the station and were just in time to see D9004 "Queen's Own Highlander" running
over the crossover. Engines of new and unusual classes were arriving every
minute and we were lucky enough to see the Yorkshire Pullman leave just before
six o'clock. At six we left King's Cross and took the Underground back to
Paddington, where we caught the Swansea train hauled by D1936. A disadvantage
about this locomotive was that at speeds above 70 or 80 m.p.h. the whole
train would start jerking and jumping. It was now getting dark, but I was
able to log all the engines outside Swindon Works before darkness made further
spotting impossible. The day was now coming to an end; both my father and
I had thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, and were very pleased with a highly successful
day's train-spotting.
R. COOPER, 3B.
WEST RAYNHAM 1968
We had traveled from the Severn to the Wash and now we were in East Anglia,
at West Raynham to be precise. It was only as we were leaving on the following
Wednesday as the four large hangars slowly disappeared from view, that the
events of a hectic week became clear in my mind. It certainly had been a week
with a difference, a week packed with fun, excitement find insane exercise.
From the start, the three squadrons present were subdivided into smaller groups,
each with a leader who was, or rather should have been, the capable type. He
was responsible for keeping his group to its timetable. Our first morning,
like every other except Sunday, saw us up at seven and breakfasting by a quarter
past -by that time our barrack block was assumed to be cleaned up -and then
we were off in our groups to our first exercise. Now, an exercise is designed
to test skill and initiative, or lack of it; in either case the officer-umpires
are guaranteed a good laugh. At this camp we attempted six exercises, two of
them apparently impossible tasks. However, no matter what each individual thought
of either the exercise or the master-mind behind it, at the time, everyone
later agreed that it was all tremendous fun and a laugh from start to exhausted
finish. On 'Exercise Night Infiltration', we were further divided into smaller
groups, again each group having a leader, and were de- posited from a truck
at dusk. at various places within a three- or four-mile radius of the camp.
Each leader had a 'card signing for the purpose of' to be initialed at each
capture. The idea was to return to the control tower by half-past eleven without
being caught -an impossible task! I and my fearless band of denim-clad commandos
-Blaby, Clark and Cook -set out for the airfields with guerilla-like cunning
and stealth. One field later we were caught. So much for stealth and cunning.
From then on we blundered our way through hedge, nettle, bramble and copse,
over fields and roads. All the time we were trying to go towards our objective,
but much time was lost by running in a near-opposite direction to escape capture,
and lying facedown on whatever happened to be underneath while flares lit up
the sky. But at last without further capture we crawled under the perimeter
fence. There, half a mile away, lay our goal -half a mile of crawling through
sopping wet grass, clumping over runways and getting caught again. Only two
groups fared better than we while many didn't do too well. Dunsdon's group
had an enthralling time crawling round the station rubbish dump and one group
arrived somewhat upset, two hours after anyone else and nine times captured!
As we were afterwards recovering in the block, eating supper 'in situ' (a few
sandwiches and an odd brew) we thought it quite amusing but on the exercise
I, for one, had very different thoughts. This offering was typical. There were
a good many excellent visits arranged. At Marham we traipsed over Victor tankers.
We saw all aircraft museum, the Air-Sea-Rescue base, and heard rather than
saw Lightnings at R.A.F. Coltishall. Perhaps the most interesting station we
visited was at Lakenheath which is the base of several U .S.A.F .E. squadrons
of Super Sabres. One of the pilots, a Captain Dean Stickell, showed us over
his brutish-looking aeroplane. We also visited Norwich Fire Station and spent
part of a morning at the swimming pool. As we were in the middle of nowhere,
I can see why our programme kept us busy from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Consequently
our precious little free time was spent in recuperation, with the exception
of Saturday night when we had a late pass into Hunstanton. This was an evening
to be remembered by various people for different reasons, for there were some
who were determined to enjoy themselves in spite of only one thing being open,
and others who spent four hours, sitting in a coach, waiting for the said some
to return. In between visits and exercises the groups shot, invaded the hangars
and No.49 Squadron and toured the station sampling R.A.F. life. The worst thing
at this camp was a futile competition called the 'Cock of the Camp Award',
which did nothing but stir up enmity between rival squadrons. (We did win the
drill competition.) But I can honestly say that everyone enjoyed that week
and as we boarded the train at King's Lynn that was the thought that struck
me as the most important consideration.
CDT. CPL. D. BROWNING.
(TO BE COMPLETED)
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