THE

AY MESTREY
MAGAZINE

SPRING 1981
 MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
OF THE OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION
HELD AT AYMESTREY SCHOOL ON SATURDAY, 21st JUNE, 1980
Present: The President, John Hughes; The Chairman, Hugo Tuthill; The Vice-Chairman, Edward
Carpenter; The Honorary Secretary, Bill Stallard; Colonel Anthony Claydon and Messrs.
Nigel Blair-Oliphant, Nicholas Coley, Andrew Duncan, James Edwards, Norman Green-
Price, Hugh Griffith, George Johnson, Richard Johnson, Paul Jeavons, Andrew Lane,
Edward Lane, John Phipps, Michael Rosoman, Jerry Thomason and Richard Tildesley.

Apologies were received from: Messrs. Alan Aitken, Dan Asterley, Air Vice-Marshal Nigel
Blair-Oliphant, Messrs. J. F. Bowles, John Eyton Coates, J. A. G. Coates, S. J. D.
Maclaren, A. P. Maclaren, Brian Massey, Charles Massey, M. P. St. John Mildmay,
Charles Scovell, Neil Brown. Jean and Dan Asterley and Jonathan Coates.

The Minutes of the A.G.M. held on the 23rd June, 1979, having been circulated, were taken as read
and were approved.
The Accounts for the year ended 31st March, 1980, were received and adopted. The following
Officers were elected for the ensuing year:
CHAIRMAN: Edward Carpenter.
VICE-CHAIRMAN: Anthony Claydon.
HONORARY SECRETARY/TREASURER: Bill Stallard.
SCHOOL CORRESPONDENT: Dan Asterley.
COMMITTEE: Norman Green-Price and Michael Rosoman to serve with Messrs. Anthony
Powell, Anthony Claydon, Andrew Lane and Francis Tuthill.

It was reported that Detailed Planning Consent for a proposed new Gymnasium had been obtained
and the Appeal Fund stood at £5,300. A Meeting of the Appeal Sub-Committee had felt that
there was an insufficiency of funds to see through the original scheme and thought should be given
to alternative projects. In the course of a discussion Edward Lane expressed the view that the
Association should inform the Headmaster that the funds were available for an alternative project
subject to the Association's approval of the manner in which the money was spent and that the
Appeal Sub-Committee should be empowered to approve the same. Anthony Claydon felt that the
Appeal Funds must be spent on a specific identifiable project and that it should be done soon.
Hugh Griffith indicated that he would like an en-tout-cas all-weather area with a wall at the one
end. The surface would cost £10 per square metre. This proposal had some support from the
Meeting which felt that speed was essential and also that contributors to the Appeal Fund
should be notified of any change in the nature of the project upon which the money was to be spent.
There being no further business the Meeting closed with a vote of thanks from the Chairman. Hugo
Tuthill, to Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Griffith and their Staff for the gracious way in which they had received
Members of the Association.
The Association's Annual Dinner was again held at The Union and County Club, Worcester. The
Association's President accepted the Chairmanship of the Dinner and proposed the Health of the
School which was responded to by Hugh Griffith.
2
 OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION
Income and Expenditure Account forthe Year ended 31st March, 1980

INCOME EXPENDITURE
£ £
Membership Subscriptions .... .... .. 25.20 Mr. and Mrs. D. H. Griffith — Contribution
Magazine Appeal Subscription .... .... 2.05 to School Magazine expenses .... .... 40.00
Interest on Abbey National Building Society Inland Revenue — Corporation Tax .... 4.71
Share Account .... .... .... .... 42.40 Lloyds Bank Limited — Bank Charges .... 0.48
Interest on Lloyds Bank Limited Deposit Balance in hand being excess of income over
Account.... ... .... .... .... 3.98 expenditure .... .... .... .... 28.44
73.63 73.63
Balance Sheet

for the Year ended 31st March, 1980

£ £
Balance brought forward from the 31st March, Balances at Lloyds Bank Limited:
1979 .... .... .... .... .... .... 562.82 Current Account .... .... .... .... 31.93
Excess of income over expenditure for the year 28.44 Deposit Account .... .... .... .... 25.61
Balance on Abbey National Building Society
ShareAccount .... .... .... .... .... 533.72
591.26 591.26

3
 L E AV E R S A N D N E W B O Y S

LEAVERS
March, 1980
D. A. Pearce — Came September 1978 (Bowbrook). Swimming Colours. Gold Survival.
July, 1980
R. Blair-Oliphant (Bryanston) — Came April 1975. Rugger XV; Soccer XI, Cricket XI. Choir. Head
Boy.
R. E. Edmonds (Old Swinford) — Came September 1976. Rugger XV; Choir. Prefect.
T. M. F. Edwards (Malvern) — Came September 1974. Rugger XV; Soccer XI; Cricket XI. Choir.
Prefect.
D. W. Ilsley (Wycliffe) — Came September 1978. Rugger XV; Soccer XI.
M. D. Kent (Old Swinford) — Came June 1978. Bronze Survival.
S. P. C. Nelson (Malvern) — Came April 1975. Cricket XI. Colours for Swimming. Silver
Survival. Choir. Ogden Cup. Reading Cup. Prefect.
R. C. Paske (Wycliffe) — Came September 1975. Choir. Prefect.
A. M. Perryman (Malvern) — Came January 1976. Choir. Bronze Survival.
B.J. L. Phipps (Bloxham) — Came April 1975. Prefect.
D. C. Richmond (Worcester Royal Grammar School) — Came September 1978. Rugger XV;
Soccer XI; Cricket Xl. Colours for Rugger, Soccer, Cricket, Swimming. Gold Survival. Sports
Shield.
M. A. Sanderson (Old Swinford) — Came September 1977. Rugger XV; Soccer XI; Cricket XI.
Bronze Survival.
D. Searle (Bloxham) — Came January 1977. Choir.
December, 1980
K. T. Steel (John Masefield) — Came September 1980. Choir.
B. F. M. Walsh — Came September 1979.

NEW BOYS
January 1980—E. A. Gleed, C. D. Parry.
April 1980—T. A. C. Duncan, O. L. Saunders, D. E. L. Taylor.
September 1980 — A. Bowen, N. J. Cox, K. F. R. Draycott, J. F. B. Essex,
T. R. B. Essex, J. N. Higgins, C. J. Knappett, A. D. Parry, K. T. Steel, J. D. B. Woods

W. J. BRITTEN
Will Britten died in April, 1980. He left Aymestrey in 1923 for Merchant Taylors', and his main
career was in the Metropolitan Police. He afterwards held various posts, and will perhaps be
best remembered as a tireless talker with an intensely lively mind, and also with a remarkable fund
of reminiscence about Aymestrey in its early days.

'TAYLOR'
Old Boys of earlier generations will be sad to hear of the death in August at Stockport of Charles
Mark Taylor, at the age of 85.
Taylor started work at Aymestrey in 1923 in a post which he held, expanded, and by his personality
adorned for 41 years. Engaged originally as 'School Porter', he was soon much more than that—
carpenter, decorator, electrician, skilled engineer of every kind, and friend of everyone connected
with the School. No tangible crisis at any hour of the day or night ever found him other than eager
to help and able to cope with success; and he was keenly interested in all the School's doings, and
in the boys as individuals, being always glad to hear of their subsequent doings even in much later
years.
 4

Intensely patriotic (and often saddened in recent times when he felt that his country was not being
true to herself), his greatest praise for event or person was "Makes you proud to be British", and
no better epitaph could be found for him: he made you proud to be British. There are many who
will be proud, too, and touched to know that his ashes were brought from Cheshire and now rest
by the side of the drive along which he walked to work those thousands of times.

OLD BOY NEWS

A. N. K. Brown has a M.A. (Hons,) in Psychology at Aberdeen, an M. Sc. in Educational Psychology at
Strathclyde and is now an Educational Psychologist in Glasgow.
N. Brown is a solicitor in London.
R. Brandram Jones has nine 'O' levels, four of them at 'A' grade at Malvern and is near the top of
his year. He is now doing an 'A' level course in Science and Maths.
J. A. G. Coates was made C.B.E. in the New Year Honours, for services with the C.B.I.
A. D. R. Colyer has 12 'O' levels, three of them at 'A' grade at Rossall. He has now started an 'A'
level course in Latin, Greek and English.
D. C. Davies has a degree in engineering. He is now a technician in Bristol.
J. C. Davies is at Leeds reading French.
S. J. Dorrell was married in September.
J. N. F. Edwards is in his last year at Exeter Art College.
J. W. F. Edwards is taking 'A' level in Ancient History, Latin and Economics at the Worcester Royal
Grammar School.
D. Elt is a deck cadet in the Merchant Navy and has been all over the world.
B. Gaskell is back from Operation Drake and working in the British Museum on the field work he
did on the expedition.
S. Green-Price, though dogged by injuries, played several times for the 1st XV at Gordonstoun.
N. Harris is in his third year at Oxford.
M. C. L. Harris was awarded the Munster Scholarship to the Royal College of Music. He sang the
bass solo in Sir Michael Tippetts' "Child of our Time" under Sir David Willcocks at the R.C.M.
Christmas concert.
M. Hughes married Miss E. Petrie in March.
P. Jeavons is in his first year at the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester.
M. Jeavons is dairy farming on Sark.
S. Kingston was working for the National Trust on Witley Common in Surrey.
R. Lane married Miss H. Lewis in August.
N. R. A. Leakey has completed 25 years with the Addis Brush Company and duly received the
traditional gold watch from the firm.
S. J. D. Maclaren is travelling in Australia and doing a variety of jobs.
R. Manning has 11 'O' levels and is now doing an 'A' level course in Maths. Physical Sciences and
Biology.
J. C. Nicholas has been in Canada and is now back farming with his father.
M. Packman is training as a chef in the R.A.F.
J. C. Peters is working on the Stock Exchange in London.
M. Rosoman married Miss A. Brooks in November and is working for a Kidderminster solicitor
doing his articles.
R. Rosoman did his H.N.D. at Middlesex Polytechnic and is hoping to open his own restaurant.
A. P. Sherwood is head of the English Department at Manama School, Bahrain.
A. Simpson is working for extra 'O' levels at Hereford Technical College, and is attending Holme
Lacy College of Agriculture part-time.
 Wing Commander P. D. Stokes is on the Defence Equipment Staff at the British Embassy in
Washington.
S. Tudge is in the Colts XV at the W.R.G.S.
5

TO WN S E ND - WA R N ER H I STO RY P RI Z E
(February 1980)
Lane and Edmonds E. qualified for paper 11 and both did well. Lane was 107th and Edmonds 174th
out of 747 entries from all over the country. This is a history competition that is open to all prep.
schools and, as always, the standard was very high.
S AT I P S C H A L L E N G E
(November 1980)
For the first time we entered both a senior and a junior team for this general knowledge
competition which is also open to all prep. schools.
Though the teams were not very high on the list we had some individual successes. In the Senior,
Lane was only six marks behind the leader with 77% and came 13th out of 560. Edmonds G. scored
73% and came 32nd.
In the junior we were not sent a list but Bader - 71% did well and Knappett and Rankin were both
in the 60's.
THE FETE
Weather played a great part in the Fete this year, because although it did not actually rain on the
afternoon itself, it only stopped about one hour before opening time. This meant that organisation
of the ghost house was a nightmare because a leaky roof made it impossibe to hang various
skeletons until the last minute. However, all was ready and everything went with a swing.
The net profit for the day was £908. The biggest contribution by far came from a splendid raffle
which raised over £500. For this we were most grateful to the many parents who gave such attractive
and valuable prizes.
First prize was a boy's racing bicycle which was given by the Richardsons, Rankins, MacLarens,
Goadbys, Edmonds, Parrys, Cummins and Princes. Mr. and Mrs. Bews gave champagne, Mr. and
Mrs. Rankin a turkey, Mr. and Mrs. Trove a tape-recorder, Mr. and Mrs. Rose-Cooper a £10
voucher, Mr. and Mrs. Phipps a Worcester Porcelain Dish, the Lanes and Schilizzis a camera and
Mr. and Mrs. Richmond a haggis.
We are most grateful to the many parents who helped with the stalls. Mrs. Paske made an
enormous amount of delicious cakes once again; she is now famous in these parts. Mr. and Mrs.
Carpenter ran the bottle stall and provided many of the bottles. Mrs. Edmonds, Mrs. Richardson
and Mrs. Rankin did well on the cake stall. Mr. and Mrs. Bews did a flourishing trade in second
hand books, Mrs. Rose-Cooper provided and sold Fancy Goods; Mrs. Prince sold plants and toys
and Mr. Richardson ran a successful clay pigeon shoot. The Brodie pig was a major attraction even
though it did not drink all its milk according to plan.
The boys ran many side shows and finally, once again, Mr. and Mrs. Coley sent over some
beautiful strawberries, some of which were sold on the Produce Stall by Mr. and Mrs. Beard and some
were sold to be eaten on the spot.
The Secretary of the O.A.A. writes that the balance of the Appeal Fund now stands at £6,402 after
settlement of tax and expenses.

MUSIC
During the year the following Associated Board Music Exams were passed:
Richardson—Grade 1 Piano
Maclaren—Grade 1 Piano
Kent—Grade 2 Piano
Wise—Grade 2 Piano
Lane—Grade 3 Piano
Bews—Grade 3 Piano
Palmer—Grade 4 Piano
Blair-Oliphant D.—Grade 5 Trumpet. He also played The Last Post on Remembrance Sunday in
Cradley Church. This follows on the tradition started by Fields A. and continued by Kimpton and
Edwards T.
6

GIFTS
We are very grateful to the following for their presents to the School: —
Mr. and Mrs. Phipps—Tape Recorder
Mr. and Mrs. Edmonds—High Jump Stand
Mr. and Mrs. Paske—Video tapes
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson—Video tapes
Mr. and Mrs. Perryman—Table tennis net
Mr. and Mrs. Godsall, once again, for their splendid potatoes on Nov. 5th

MALVERN PREPARATORY SCHOOLS ARTS FESTIVAL 1980

This year we took part in all three sections of the Festival—Drama, Music and Art.
Many boys contributed to the Art Display which was beautifully mounted by Mrs. Wales.
Mr. Driver wrote and produced a play—The Hunting of the Wren—which was staged in the College
Theatre and very well received by an enthusiastic audience.
As a result we were offered the use of the theatre for future plays.
Edwards and Nelson played their trumpets in the Orchestral Concert under the batons of Rory Boyle
and Neil Page.
On the Saturday our boys formed part of a Choir of 250 treble voices to sing Choral Evensong,
conducted by Neil Page and addressed by the Bishop of Worcester. The following was written by a
member of the Choir:
As we walked into the Chapel we heard the organ being played by William Watkins, who is the
senior music scholar at Malvern College. This recital included pieces by Bach and Howells.
The first hymn was not announced so it came as a bit of a surprise when the massive organ went
into action. The hymn was part of an anthem written by Henry Purcell. On the third verse the choir
sang unaccompanied while the Bishop of Worcester walked behind the Chaplain down the aisle. Mr.
Page, our conductor, made sure that he did not hit the Bishop with his baton as he passed!
Then came the first anthem—Lift Up Your Heads 0 Ye Gates. The music was by William
Mathias. As it was the first of four anthems I felt a little nervous. It all went well though.
Next there was a reading and then our second anthem—Jesu' Joy of Man's Desiring. There was
an oboe solo by Patrick Purcell who teaches wood-wind at the College. This was followed by another
reading and some prayers.
The second hymn—The Royal Banners Forward Go—was written by Percy Back.
After that the Bishop gave the address. It was about giving a shape to something that had no
shape. "For instance," he said, "your poster paints are useless by themselves but when they are put
on paper they are being used to create a shape out of something with no shape."
The third anthem was my favourite - O Lord God Thou Strength of my Health.
God be in my Head—the last anthem, was sung unaccompanied. The final hymn was Praise to
the Lord. The Almighty, The King of Creation—the third verse being unaccompanied and Choir only.
We went out listening to the music of Eugene Gigout.
DAVID BLAIR-OLIPHANT (IIIrd Form).
7

ACTING
The school's first entrance into the harsh limelight of public performances took place at the Malvern
College Prep. Schools Festival in March, 1980.
Sandwiched between a play with scenery and another with symbolic undertones the twenty
minute explosion of 'Hunting the Wren' complete with all the worst jokes in the world, sword dance,
demented char-a-banc trips and the Dreaded 'Obby 'Orse made a welcome, if sometimes bewildering
change. Following up the kind offer of the College to use their theatre again a packed house was
lured in to watch, and eventually participate in, 'The Giant Rat,' in the Autumn Term.
Most of the casts of both these homespun efforts have had, probably without noticing it, a solid
dramatic background. The Sunday afternoon skits have produced some remarkable performances,
intentional and otherwise, in most areas of what the knowledgeable apparently term "theatre
workshop". Acting lessons for most forms have been used in preparation for forthcoming events and
the shooting of the epic silent movie 'The Man from Porlock' on video introduced them, and the
cameraman and director, to the mysteries of the silver screen.
As yet we have avoided the 'star' system and every production has relied on total commitment
from the whole cast. (The latest production 'Desperado' involves every boy in the school).
However, inevitably, certain highlights from the various productions do remain: Rawlings' controlled
performances in the difficult parts of Zoomer Bloomfield, Jack the Lad and the Poet Coleridge; Lane
and his tail as the Giant Rat; Schilizzi's uncontrolled performance in various lunatic roles;
Nelson's villainy; Edwards' long distance endurance as the Butler; Paske's female leads; Blair-
Oliphant's tuba; the Ilsley babes; Woods and `Ice-a-cream' Prince as the knock-about Kings;
Palmer's cameo role as the van driver. The list, that ought to include the tribe of Arabs on the East
Lawn and the bodies spelling out "The End" on the South Lawn, is endless, but perhaps it may be
best summed up by the sight of the entire cast performing, with words and actions, "Swing Low Sweet
Chariot" at the end of the "Giant Rat", and, through their enthusiasm, compelling the audience to join
in too.

PRINTING
The printing press has lurked for the last couple of years in a corner of the Science Room. A
steady stream of boys has been introduced to the mysteries of galleys, furniture, ten point New
Roman, inner chases and hitting the automatic counter with a mallet when it refuses to work. The
pioneer work was done by Martineau and Fox. The present ink-stained operatives who brave the
perils of putting in, setting up and taking out are Blair-Oliphant D. and Woods, often aided by Essex,
Palmer and Evans.
Work undertaken has ranged from letterheads, invitation cards, business cards, record cards, W.I.
programmes, concert programmes, mysterious school play programmes, and lately to the epic
undertaking of printing a complete book. "Hunting the Wren" involved about two months' work
most evenings of the week, and for the statisticians, consumed over three thousand separate sheets
of paper, thirty different type settings, six different lino-block illustrations, and a good deal of ink,
though the latter was often equally distributed between the machine and its operators.
When it was found that some members of the public could be persuaded to buy copies of this limited
edition plans were immediately laid to preserve the "Giant Rat" in the same manner and work has
begun on this project. We hope the result will be as satisfying to the reader as its production is to the
printers.
8

SOCCER 1980
From a season where the 'goals against' compared to 'goals for' resembled a respectable prep.
school cricket score recollections will either be horrendous or humorous. Fortunately this year's
team kept their heads and, no matter what happened, continued to play on with a good deal of
spirit in place of the skill most of them lacked.
The back four that included among its members Ilsley D., Kent, Edmonds E., Edmonds G.,
Edwards, Schilizzi, Blair-Oliphant D. and Nelson in its times of crisis, always looked like a
remnant of a rugby team puzzled by the altered shape of the ball. At their best they delivered a series
of uncomplicated kicks roughly in the direction of the other end; on other occasions the ball could
pass all of them while they executed a chorus-line precision in missing it with exuberant air shots.
The midfield of Sanderson M. and Woods improved through the season and as well as providing a
staunch relief force for the beleagured backs began to operate a fairly regular supply of passes to
the wings.
Palmer played on the right wing and when he did get going proved quite useful. Shafto and Blair-
Oliphant R. ended up as the regular forwards and began to put more shots in as their confidence
increased.
Johnson, who played in goal for the first half of the season and on the left wing for the second,
was really the one player whose natural ability gave the others hope. In the Winterfold game he
produced a breath taking display of agile goalkeeping that earned everyone's respect, particularly
that of the opposition. During his games out of goal he bemused his opponents by his deceptive
running on the wing and his regular supply of crosses into the penalty area. His goal against Moor
Park was a good example of his creative skill.
Pulfer replaced Johnson in goal and tried very hard in what proved to be a busy position. He too
improved through the term and never lacked courage.
Sanderson must take credit for being the highest scorer with two goals. The last one of the season
was indicative of the whole team's enjoyment, no matter what the odds. We were about ten goals
down against Malvern Ferrets (having contained them well in the first half dur i ng which they
could only score one goal) when Johnson took the ball up the left wing, crossed, and Sanderson,
arriving with the rest of the front part of the team, chipped it over the advancing goalkeeper's
head.
 After the success of last year's team it was probably inevitable that we should find ourselves on the
receiving end this year. However promising the juniors have shown themselves this year, which is
always encouraging for the future, they should take careful note of the way this year's team have
conducted themselves in defeat. Despite their record they approached and played each game with
the same spirit of enjoyment and enthusiasm, and they never gave up.
The recollections then are more humorous than horrendous; Schilizzi bringing himself down, the
Ilsley knee shot, Johnson's repeated attempts to score an own goal and Kent's reverse tackle. Above
all, however, it is the good natured acceptance of their lot that ought to be remembered.

CRICKET 1980
Played 7, Won 5, Lost 2.
This year's side, though perhaps not the best we have had in recent years, was certainly one of
the most effective. Richmond, the captain, can take much of the credit for this. He was, without
doubt, the fastest and most hostile bowler that the writer can ever remember in prep. school
cricket. His batting was no less effective than his bowling but let the figures speak for themselves.
Batting-7 innings, 3 not out, 308 runs. Av. 77. At one stage his average stood at 137.
Bowling—He took 51 wickets at an average of 3.60 runs.
Added to all this his fielding was an example to everyone and his captaincy improved with each
match.
With such a good leader there is always the danger of becoming a one man band. When beating
the Elms by 32 runs Richmond scored 93 not out from a total of 105—with 7 extras. However, the
support developed gradually during the season. Johnson bowled well and took 27 wickets for an
average of 8.25 runs. He is at his best when he bowls his fastest round the wicket; being left handed,
when he used the crease, he became nearly as hostile as Richmond. His batting can have the grace
of a miniature Sobers but it is literally hit and miss at the moment. Luckily it was "hit" and not
"miss" against the O.A.A. (one of the rare occasions when Richmond failed—bowled for 19),
when he made 57 not out in great style; he hit twelve boundaries, nearly all in left handers'
territory between square leg and long leg. His fielding, particularly at slip, was always very sharp:
one remembers especially a hot caught and bowled when Jonathan Hughes hit the ball back at him
like a bullet.
Blair-Oliphant D., the wicket keeper, was brave if a little untidy, but it must be said that keeping
to Richmond and Johnson was never easy, as on many occasions he needed to stand a third of the
way to the boundary.
These three boys were awarded their colours.
Sanderson bowled tidily and was always useful in reserve. Blair-Oliphant R. looked a possible
middle order batsman but, like his brother, had little luck. Pulfer started well with a useful 21 in
the first match but he faded out because he did not pay enough attention to technique. Schilizzi always
played with great determination. The 'tail' was made up of a variety of willing triers but it seldom had
the chance to wag.
On the last Saturday of term a very keen Under 11 side routed David Holt's XI from Rushwick.
Winning the toss Maclaren put them in and, changing the bowlers every over, bowled them out for
52. We knocked off the runs for the loss of two wickets, the captain carrying his bat with 24.
Trove and Rankin batted well and no less than 6 of our 7 bowlers took wickets. The skill and
enthusiasm of this team bodes well for the future.

SWIMMING
Last year the weather was bad but this year, apart from three weeks at the beginning of term
when the pool was not ready, the weather was appalling. As a result, only a few hardy swimmers
achieved much. However, two juniors, Wise and Richardson, stand out for their courage in the
cold water and the vast improvement they made in their style and endurance during the term.

10

ATHLETICS
In the A.A.A. Five Star Awards the following did well: Shafto gained his four star in the three
events and Pentathlon Under 10; Hawa four star three events and Pentathlon Under 11; Johnson
four star in three events, Pentathlon and Decathlon Under 13; and Richmond, despite the injury
to his knee, four star three events Under 14.

RUGBY 1980
The season began well as we once again proved our capacity for enjoyment and success in the
Henry Oldnall Sevens. A competition of this kind is a great leveller allowing the smaller school to
exhibit its skills without being crushed by its larger rivals" advantages of numbers and extra weight.
Given this rare opportunity of uninterrupted space within which to run, Johnson and Woods scored
all the points that gave us a draw with Wells House, a win over Millstone and a narrow two points
defeat by Bromsgrove. The three forwards were Pulfer, Schlilizzi and Rawlings who, with Blair-
Oliphant D. at scrum half, Woods at fly-half and Johnson covering huge distances at full-back, were
the very reliable basis of the full fifteen for the rest of the season.
Our first match was away at Moor Park. This welcome win against their 2nd XV set the pattern
of play for the rest of the term. Although the ball, on several occasions, passed from wing to wing
it was the pack, playing as a unit, that established an efficient supply of ball. The decision to
concentrate our best players here, rather than spread them across the field, may seem to have been
faulty in the light of our next match when Winterfold performed their Anfield-style, complete
control, display and beat us at home. If, however, it is quality and skill that should be the
ultimate aim, and not the dreadful clamour for results that seizes so many coaches and even some
spectators in apoplectic paroxysms along the touchline, then the experience for the forwards
should have been beneficial. The return match against Moor Park perhaps proved this. The
visitors seemed determined merely to batter their way to the try line, and were beaten instead.
St. Michael's exacted revenge for last year by inflicting on us our heaviest defeat. Again our
forwards out-played theirs in the set-pieces, rucks and mauls but their centres crashed through on
enough occasions.
We can hardly complain about our game at Winterfold as they lent us their bus when ours broke
down, and we scored a pushover try.
The last game was against St. Richards and finished the season with one of the most satisfying
moves we produced. Having fought back hard through the second half we were awarded a penalty
in their twenty-five. Rawlings emerged from the back of the maul, bided his time among four of the
opposition, passed to Pulfer who, supported by Bowen, missed out Woods leaving Johnson to score. A
good example of confident support play under pressure.
 It was a season that, once again, saw the emergence of a team rather than a noisy band of
individuals. The forwards were represented by Pulfer, Essex, Schilizzi, Rawlings, Bowen, Palmer,
Trow, Richardson, Parry and Edmonds, all of whom worked hard to master their techniques and
produced a well-balanced and well-organised pack. Blair-Oliphant played a staunch role at scrum
half and learned to work closely with Woods and Johnson. These two never stopped running and also
contributed some spirited tackling. Johnson was top scorer with
11

thirty-two points. Shafto and Maclaren played in every full-side match and made up for what
they lacked in size by their enthusiasm. The rest of the backs changed fairly frequently but the most
promising duo was the unlikely Goliath and David combination of Taylor J. and Ilsley B. who both
provided some useful tackling.

The only disappoinment of the season was the attitude of some of the Senior Game who weren't
prepared to work as hard as the team and provide enough hard opposition. Their lack of
commitment, however, is soon forgotten when the all round ability and enthusiasm of the team is
remembered.
Colours were awarded to Johnson, Rawlings, Schilizzi, Puffer and Woods. The kicking
competition was won by Edmonds.

RU'A FIOLA 1980

We—Paske, Searle, Packman, Perryman, Phipps and the writer—were blessed again with excellent
mild weather which allowed us outdoors most of the time. Abseiling and climbing were both
popular despite a high wind which gave an added dimension to an abseil. Canoeing in the Atlantic
and attempting to paddle round the island were both enjoyed while the expedition to Scarba Island
turned out to be a truly blackening experience as it was necessary to walk through an area which
had been burnt by a huge fire a week before. Being marooned, adultless, on an island, was, for
many, the highlight of the week although the deliberate lack of food was soon put right by a late
breakfast the morning after. An exciting and most enjoyable week was over all too soon..

CAMP 1980
Mr. and Mrs. Green Price kindly allowed us to camp on their farm in Wales again this year.
Unfortunately we did not manage to do as much helpful work on the land as we had hoped but if
we re-routed part of the river it was the result of the Welsh version of the Aswan Dam,
masterminded by engineers Nelson and Edwards.
Despite poor weather Blair-Oliphant R. stuck to the task of cooking supper after our various
expeditions and no doubt felt rewarded by the sight of Paske eating it. Whilst Phipps was
improving on the construction of Ra II, Ilsley perfected the technique of sinking enemy shipping
by practising on the camp leader's mess tin.
Around an enormous camp fire we were again entertained by our visitors' spine-chilling tales
of horror, and it is doubtful whether Perryman has yet recovered from the effects of these. Several
wide games were enjoyed by all in the marvellous moorland bracken.
Our thanks again to the Green Prices for their generous hospitality and for the magnificent cake.
Also to Mr. Trove, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Edmonds for help with the transport.
(The Editor would like to add his thanks to Mr. Cash for his leadership. We have been invited to
return next year.)
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