Societies & Clubs 04 (1957-58)

SOME MUSICAL NOTES

Five clarinetists, three flautists and, most recently, one oboist are learning to play their instruments in school, from a visiting teacher; twelve boys
began to learn the violin, of whom eight, after their probationary two terms, will continue, one as a 'cellist. We hope that one boy will soon be taking up the viola.

A few choristers took part in the performance of "Elijah" in the Northwood Parish Church in May - D. Olley sang there as soloist

Each week in Assembly boys are invited to play, and a succession of short recitals has taken place on this basis, the music including such varied items as a Haydn string quartet, a solo for trombone, the solo aria from a Mendelssohn motet and a modern arrangement of music for viola da gamba: we did manage an end- of-term concert at Easter, and hope that this kind of informal concert will become increasingly easy as the school grows up.

A collection of gramophone records is now suitably housed and will, we hope, be available to boys. The two winter terms. were lightened by organised playing of records, and "The Music Club" put on some very enterprising programmes. The collection of scores in the library has been steadily added to during the year.

We ought, finally, perhaps to mention that Anthony Hymas, Terry O'Brien, Christopher Van Kampen and David Olley submitted themselves to a B.B.C. audition, as a result of which they have been promised a broadcast, in "Children's Hour", later this year.

G.M.D.

THE CHESS CLUB

DURING the past year the Club has continued to grow, and it has been necessary to increase considerably the number of sets available.

First-formers were especially keen and, higher up the School. a marked improvement in the standard of play has been noticed, so much so that we were this year able to defeat a strong Junior team from St. Clement Danes Grammar School by five games to three. This result, coming after our rather sorry effort of the previous year, has served as a tonic to our senior players.

House matches were well supported, about fifty boys taking part. Bec House, ably led by Goodwin, who also captained the School team, were again the victors, but by a rather narrow margin.

K.W.J.

OIL PAINTING CLUB

AFTER several terms of painting on canvas-paper a number of boys have now reached a standard which has justified the use of proper canvasses.

It is extremely encouraging to see the first results of a number of boys in the third forms, notably Nicholson, Tickner, Weaver, White and Whitham. Attempts to paint in a surrealistic style have produced some very intriguing and thoughtful work.

A number of first-formers began oil-painting in the summer term and their attempts were colourful and varied: the work of Osborne, Browning and Bolsover is particularly commendable.

BT.

THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY

THE Geographical Society was started in the winter of 1957 by Mr. Newton and Mr. Banton. Mr. Easom delivered the Society's first paper on the 18th October under the title of "Bogged Down in Ireland," which was an account of a holiday he spent in Eire with Mr. Tilbrook. The latter gave a lecture which described life in Japan, sound effects being provided by Japanese records and illustrations by colour-slides. Mr. Newton gave two talks, one dealing with fossils and the other with a journey he made together with a party of students from Ostend to Venice, at the end of which there was a film of life in an Italian mountain village. For the last gathering of the Society three members of the School; Page, Glen and Wilkinson, volunteered and this meeting especially was well supported.

The bad weather of the latter part of the year and the approach of examinations caused the Society to close down for the rest of the summer term but it will re-commence next term with a programme of interest to all members.

P.N.