House Reports 10 (1967-68)

BEC HOUSE REPORT.

The introduction of new activities into the House Competition this year has encouraged greater participation from boys who in the past have been merely names on a list. Many have little ability on the games field and have shrunk in embarrassment from unfavourable comparison with their more illustrious contemporaries. Now, through drama, through music, through public speaking and literary composition these boys have been given an opportunity to contribute to the community of their house, an opportunity which many have seized with enthusiasm and success.

Of course it is impossible in the scope of this report to mention by name every boy who has made a good effort in the year's competitions, but there are some whose spirit and performance have been so outstanding that it would be un- worthy not to give them public praise. We therefore congratulate M. Hughes. Goulding and Ward for their performances in Athletics, Narracott and C. Szelewski in Cross-Country and D. Hughes in Swimming: James' captaincy of the Middle Cricket team was admirable. In an excellent all-round entry in the Music Competition, Salzedo was brilliant. Dennis gave a fine performance in the play Journey's End.

While it would have been pleasant to win the House Shield-a prize which we hope will one day be ours of more permanent importance is the attitude which so many of our members have brought to the competitions. It is apparent that they have given of their best. He's a hard man who asks for more.

D. DIXON J. SAMWAYS

KEVERE HOUSE REPORT

We began the year with considerable enthusiasm, as we faced the numerous competitions ahead of us. Throughout the year we sought to select our entries on a voluntary basis, and the response was very encouraging. In this connection, we would like to record thanks to D. Horne (House Captain) and J. Miller (Vice Captain) for the good example they have set by their attitude to house affairs

Some of our best performances in the sports competitions came from the Senior and Middle Rugby Fifteens and the Senior Cross-Country team, together with the Badminton and Basketball sides. However, one of the most spirited performances came from the Junior Rugby Fifteen, who, with limited ability. were only very narrowly beaten by King's in the struggle for third place. The one unfortunate result in the Swimming competition was caused by the unreliability of some of our juniors, and we hope that they will remember how important it is to honour their commitments.

The highlight of the House sporting achievements was undoubtedly the Athletics triumphs, in which all three trophies were won by our teams. We wish to thank Parsons, Frazer-Barnes and G. Phillips for captaining their respective groups.

In the cultural competitions we did particularly well. All credit must be given to Walker and his cast in the Tragedy of Tragedies of Tom Thumb the Great, which won us the Drama Competition. We were very encouraged by the high standard of the many original entries in the Literary Competition and the hard work which went into the prepared and unprepared speeches. The Music competitors set a very high standard and deserved to come second to Bec.

There have been several examples of individual initiative by the boys, and a special word of thanks should be expressed to those who took part in the Msemblies.

Several boys came along to the Table-Tennis provided after school on alter nate Fridays, and there seems to be a real demand for a competition in this sport in years to come.

This year has been very satisfactory, and we feel that all who have contributed to the success of the House will have felt it to have been well worthwhile.

We wish Mr. Cox and Mr. Clarkson as enjoyable a year as we have had and even more success.

J. C. GRINHAM
I. K. PORTER

KING'S HOUSE REPORT

Although, at the end of the year, King's finished fourth in the House Cham- pionship, in the Autumn Term the prospects seemed much more encouraging The Badminton and Gymnastics Competitions were won; the Senior Rugger XV qualified for the final. The Middle team won two matches, losing narrowly to Abbot's, and finished second in its group, In Gymnastics, J. Cannon; in Badminton. G. Smith and I. Summerhayes were particularly successful, while the Middle Rugger XV owed much of its success to 1. Summerhayes (Captain) and M. Drake, The Senior Final was eventually lost to Kevere, an early injury making victory virtually impossible.

In the original entries section of the new Literary and Drama competitions, a few outstanding contributions won maximum points in the Senior and Junior groups, but the speeches and recitations were less successful, while Woodnutt's production of the crowd scene from Galsworthy's Strife, in spite of considerable efforts by a large cast from the fifth and sixth forms, was far from its best on the day of the competition.

In the Spring Term the Middle Cross-Country team won a notable victory with A. Lovett (1st) and M. Drake running particularly well, but in Swimming and Music there were few effective competitors, although mention should be made of the individual performances and organising efforts put into these com- petitions, where the team as a whole stood little chance, by B. Cook and P. Tanswell respectively.

The Senior and Junior Cricket teams, on the other hand, were strong. The Seniors, captained by M. Hadland, won the final, In spite of the failure of all the better batsmen except P. Cannon, while the Juniors with seven members of the School Minor XI, led by K. Harris, won two matches. losing unexpectedly to Bec with whom they shared first place in the competition. At this stage it was still possible for King's to win the championship, but 4th place in the Middle Cricket and two 4ths and a 3rd place in the three Athletics groups meant a sharp drop to 4th place overall. Some good individual efforts on Sports Day could not make up for the general weakness, especially in the field events, of the King's entry. In the coming year a very substantial lead in the early competitions will be needed to overcome this handicap

Finally, our thanks are due to G. Smith (House Captain for most of the year) and the other members of the House Committee for their efforts in organising the various competitions, and, in particular to P. O'Connell, who left during the course of the year, for his work in training and encouraging the Junior teams.

C. J. EVEREST