House Reports 04 (1959-60)

BEC HOUSE REPORT

House Master: MR. P. L. P. CLARKE House Captain: C. SNOOK

THIS year's was perhaps the most enjoyable House Competition inasmuch as it was the closest finish yet. Bec House could only manage second place this time, mainly owing to the fact that the junior department was generally spiritless and timid of action.

Only in the cricket competition, when they were narrowly beaten in the final, did they show any signs of the enthusiasm required of Shield winners.

Our usually reliable chess players did not show their customary form, and could only manage third position in a keenly contested competition.

I should like to congratulate the Senior and Middle Houses on their consistent performances. Only once, in the Middle Cricket Competition, did they fail. Bec House won both the Cross-Country Competitions and the Senior Cricket Cup. Bec's Cross-Country runners are surely worthy of individual mention, R. Skinner, Prior and Munson running very well in the Middle race, while C. Snook, I. Skinner and Speller finished in second, third and fourth place respectively in the Senior race.

In Athletics, Bec House was the proud producer of the Senior and Middle Champions, namely H. Snook and Piears, who receive the House's congratulations on their fine performances.

We have lost several useful members of the Middle and Senior House. Both Lockyear, who provided inspiration with his leadership, and consistently good performances, and Grove, who always gave of his best for the House, have left. So has "Shorty" Gibbs, who was, despite his size, a good all-rounder, and his partner in crime, "Jock" Paton.

We look to the new boys and to the obviously weak second and third year members of the House to make up amply for these losses and replace the name of Bec on the Championship Shield for 1960-61.

C. SNOOK, L.VI.

KEVERE HOUSE REPORT

House Captain: P. W. SARGEANT House Master: MR. J. RICHARDSON 

PREVIOUS authors of this report have searched for some nobility in our persistently lowly and ignominious position in the Championships. This vain task and our spirits have been sustained for the past two years by Mr. Winter's wit. In House competitions, it seems, one House inevitably fares rather worse than the others. until a change in the "balance of power" thrusts it to the forefront. But we must admit that our organisation has lacked coherence and enthusiasm, and as a result leadership has sometimes been uncertain, making it difficult in all to reconcile results with genuine ability.

The close finish of the Championship this year and the mathematical effect of narrow defeat in our last cricket match serve to demonstrate the importance of team efforts.

The Championship also reflects our best ever year, which we owe to the achievements of the Middle School, who carried off Rugby, Cricket and Athletic honours and still came second in the Cross-Country (Rogers, second; Harris, fourth in the individual result). All credit to the teams and Captains, and to Harris for another outstanding Athletics performance. Our one other triumph was joint victory in the Chess Competition.

Our Seniors have shown during 1959-60 that their unsuccessful past belies their capabilities. They eluded disgrace (or disgrace eluded them) in three competitions, although sizeable adverse Rugby scores continue to haunt them. It will be for the Juniors to support the Upper School in the coming year. Their efforts in Cricket (admittedly a scratch competition) and Athletics left room for improvement, though they showed promise at Rugby this year. Markedly better results can be achieved by determined play.

1959-60 can be regarded as the year in which Kevere regained its dignity; we can go forward with confidence.

P. W. SARGEANT.

KING'S HOUSE REPORT

House Captain: C. J. WORLEY House Master: MR. R. ARMSTRONG 

A YEAR of extremes would be an apt description of the performance of Kings House this last school year. While we surpassed ourselves in some activities, a poor showing elsewhere let us down.

Our Juniors excelled themselves and very nearly made a clean sweep of Sports events. All credit is due to them for their keenness. Mention should be made of Coath, who won the Junior Cross-Country, and Muxlow, who ably skippered our Rugby XV to second place.

I feel the spirit engendered by the Juniors was not emulated by the Middle School, who were left holding the wooden spoon in all events. More effort next year might lift us from the depths to which we have sunk.

The Senior School's performance is to be commended, especially in Rugby. After first defeating Northwood Secondary Modern 1st XV in a trial run, we continued on our winning way, overcoming all opposition, to regain the Rugby Cup.

In the Cricket Competition we met Abbots in the last vital match. Harris and Payne triumphed over the hard-working bowlers of Abbots to win the match with minutes to spare, but by some quirk of mathematics we were placed finally in second position.

The House Competition was extremely closely fought, and only a few points separated all four Houses. Although last, we were not disgraced, and we should be spurred on to greater things next year so that that elusive Shield may become a reality rather than a myth.

Finally, I should like to welcome all our new members, and especially Mr. Clarke, our new House Master, who I am sure will encourage us in our future victory bids.

C. J. WORLEY, M.VI.

1959-60 School Magazine