THE AYM ES TREY M A GAZI NE SP RI NG 1961 OLD AYMESTREY ASSOCIATION The eighteenth Annual General Meeting was held

d in the Memorial Library at the School on Saturday, November 26th, 1960, at 5 p.m. Present: The President, Mrs. E. M. Asterley, the Chairman, M. Billingham the Vice-Chairman, Alan B. Aitken, and A. H. Slade, K. Aitken, P. Birks, N. C. Helsby, C. J. A. Gallimore, D. G. Powell, W. D. Matthews, D. C. Grant-Duff, D. Lockhart, W. T. Barnes, C. Billingham, M. Godsall, J. F. Alderney, E. Carpenter, P. Baldwin, H. Moore, O. Mayfield, Jack Coates, L. Helsby, C. J. Powell, P. Robins, R. J. Thomason, P. Dorrell, J. B. Hughes, D. A. N. Asterley and J. E. Coates. The Chairman welcomed members to the meeting and the notice convening the meeting was read. Apologies for absence were received from R. A. Spreckley, J. A. M. Thomson, R. L. Steynor, T. S. J. Gallimore, N. R. A. Leakey, W. N. Coates, J. H. Phipps, G. L. Phipps, B. W. Massey, J. R. E. Coates, M. Bates, R. W. Massey, J. W. Massey, C. J. Mayfield, and C. W. Massey, who also sent a telegram of greetings. The minutes of the last Annual General Meeting were read and passed. The statement of accounts for the year ending 31. 10. 60 was adopted on the proposition of C. Billingham, seconded by P. Robins. The Joint Hon. Secretary and Treasurer present, J. E. Coates, gave a brief report on the past year which included reference to the President's 90th Birthday and the Old Boys' victor y in the annual cricket match. Both very notable events. Election of Officers for 1960-61. President: Mrs. E. M. Asterley. Chairman: Alan B. Aitken. Vice-Chairman: Peter Birks. Committee Additions: P. Baldwin, P. Robins, H. Moore. Honorary Auditors: Messrs. J. W. and R. W. Massey were re-elected and thanked again for their past services. Joint Hon. Secretaries and Treasurers: The Chairman remarked that Charles Massey, who had served the Association so well, had intimated his wish to resign at the previous Annual General Meeting but so far no successor had been appointed. Under the circumstances Charles Massey had carried on for a further year but now he felt he must vacate his office. At the same time J. E. Coates, who had also previously expressed a wish to retire from office, said that it would be advisable for the Joint post to be held by two new members. After some discussion two new Joint Hon. Secretaries were elected, namely David Powell and Julian Gallimore. The meeting voiced much appreciation to the retiring Joint Hon. Secretaries and Treasurers for their services. School Correspondent: D. A. N. Asterley was re-elected. Magazine Fund: The Chairman referred to the letter sent with the Autumn copy of the magazine, and reminded the meeting of the increasing costs of this publication and the Committee's wish that the School did not suffer by their generosity of sending copies to all members of the Association, whether they contributed to the fund or not. It would be much easier for the Secretaries if subscriptions of C2. 10s. Od. (covering the next ten years) were paid in full but otherwise annual sums of 5/- could be sent in. So far 19 full subscriptions had been paid and another 5 more received after the meeting. 3

Proposed change of date of Annual Dinner. Correspondence was read suggesting that November, with the possibility of fog, was not the most suitable time to hold the Annual Dinner and in view of the lower attendance at the autumn meeting it might be better to hold one Annual Meeting and that in the summer, with a dinner to follow. However, with the magnificent attendance at the current meeting this suggestion was not received with unanimous approval. The Chairman told the meeting that next year would see the 25th Anniversary of the foundation of the Association and thought that some recognition might be;made by a special effort to attend an earlier summer meeting in Ma y to be followed by a dinner. In addition for this next year at anv rate, the usual Annual General Meeting followed by a dinner would be held in November. In the meantime a circular letter to be sent out to all members would advise them of the proposed arrangements for next year and ask for their opinion regarding further arrangements. The date for the proposed summer meeting, after consultation with the Headmaster, will be Saturday, 13th May, The Chairman then voiced the thanks of all to D. A. N. A. and Jean for their kind hospitality and to Miss Worton and the staff for their good efforts. ANNUAL DINNER 1960 The Annual Dinner, following the Annual General Meeting at the School, was held at the Star Hotel, Worcester, at 7 p.m. on November 26th. The Chairman, Alan Aitken, the President, Mrs. E. Asterley, D. A. N. Asterley and Jean Asterley and 31 others including members' wives enjoyed a very convivial evening. The Chairman made a short reference to the proposed celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Association and stated how honoured he felt in being the Association Chairman during its Silver Jubilee Year as he was at the inaugural meeting held in January 1936. Laurence Helsby then proposed the health of the School and the Headmaster in his reply gave a comprehensive account of the activities of the school. It was very gratifying to see the good numbers present especially as some who had come from far away places were returning home the same night. OLD BOY NEWS We are sad to have to record the death after a long illness of R. C. L. Gallimore. Though he was of a quiet and retiring disposition he acheived distinctions at Avinestrey with his violinplaying and on the cricket field; and all who knew him will wish to extend their sympathy to his parents and his brothers. Air Commodore D. N. K. Blair-Oliphant is Assistant Defence Research Attach6 in Washington. A. J. B. Robinson has been appointed an England Hockey Selector. Capt. W. H. G. Hamilton has a daughter, born in February. Rev. I. R. A. Leekey has another son, born in February. Hon. R. M. O. Hill is engaged to Miss Patricia Hall. Major R. G. R. Hill is Training Officer to the Territorial Battalion of K.O.S.B. in Dumfrieshire. N. P. D. Green-Price has been appointed master of the Teme Valley Foxhounds. T. E. Christophers has a son. C. A. B. Adams is engaged to be married. He has given up farming in Rhodesia, and is on.a year's training course with International Computers and Tabulators. Dr. B. W. K. , Fayle is at Toronto General Hospital. He is engaged to be married and his fiancee is a stewardess with Pan-American Airways. His brother David is married and lives in Ottawa. 4

A. G. M. Slatter was married in August to Miss P. E. Foster: they live in Amersham. A. C. E. Parry has left the Merchant Navy and is working with Bowater's in London. R. J. R. Owen is engaged to Miss Beate Volker of Heidenheim/Brenz, Germany. L. G. Coley was married in April to Miss Mavis Izod. J. H. Phipps is engaged to Miss Gill Boswell. The two Coley brothers, the two Phipps brothers, and at the end of the season R. W. Robbins, all played for the 1st XV of the Evesham Rugger Club. and John Phipps also played for Worcestershire and Herefordshire. Robbins leaves Bromsgrove at the end of the summer and is to be articled to a firm of estate agents. N. J. Goodwin is with the Junior Tradesmen's Regiment in the Army Catering Corps at Aldershot. J. A. M. Thomson left Shrewsbury in December. He was a monitor, passed Physics, Chemistry and Maths at A level, was in the School 2nd XV and Captain of his house at rugger, and played for his house at cricket and soccer. He goes up to Edinburgh University in the autumn. C. J. Barnes, after agricultural work in Kent and Denmark, is at Bristol University Research Station with a post-graduate Studentship. P. J. T. Robins, after two months with an engineering firm in Canada, and visits to Bermuda and New York (where he saw Kruschev), is now doing accountancy in London. J. R. E. Coates is working at the Queen's Hotel, Birmingham. A. C. Record took a Second in Greats at Oxford and is now teaching Classics at St. Lawrence, Ramsgate. W. D. McDonald is leaving Oundle in July. He is to work at A.E.I. in Rugby for a year and then hopes to go to Nottingham University. G. M. K. Evans got seven "0" levels at Oundle and is working for "A" level in Spanish and French. He got his first XV colours and was in the Seven-a-side team which won the Public Schools' Tournament at Oxford. A. P. J. Parry is a house 'Polly' at Uppingham, was in the 3rd XV and got his XII colours. R. J. B. Davies played for the Colts XV, 2nd XV and for his house at Wycliffe. C.J Hoddell got his colours for cross-country at Wycliffe and won the junior event. He came third in the open mile and half mile, breaking the previous record time, won the junior 440 and was second in the hurdles. He has also played for the 3rd XV. D. G. F. Banks has his house colours for soccer and rugger, and has boxed for the College. He is working at Politics, Economics and Geography at "A" level, and is second leader of the orchestra. J. S. Sherwood got seven "0" levels at Glenalmond. He played full back for the Colts XV and was captain of his house junior XV. M. J. Bates played at wing forward for the XV at Hardye's, Dorchester. In athletics he won the 440, 220 and Discus with two records. C. J. Todd played full back for an unbeaten Junior Colts XV at Blundells. At shooting he won a medal for a score of 198 out of 200 in an inter-school competition which his team won. R. I. C. Turner played fly-half for the Junior Colts XV at Wrekin. S. H. P. Taylor got seven "0" levels at King's, Canterbury. R. D. Scholefield was captain of the Junior Colts XV at Epsom. D. H. Snell had his Colts XV colours and played for his house 1st XV at Wycliffe. He got 8 standards in athletics. R. M. Urwin is in the choir and orchestra at King Edward's, Lichfield. He played Lady Macduff in a production of Macbeth, and is full-back for his house junior XV. D. J. Trotter is head of his Social Hall at Radley; he has taken up rowing. 5

D. M. Wilson has been singing and playing the violin in the house music competition at Wrekin, and has played for his house junior XV. G. K. Lean is in the choir and the musical society at Sherborne. We have had letters or visits from Lt.-Col. H. G. Ogden, Miss V. H. Douglas, Mr. J. D. Glover, R. W. Massey, P. W. Baldwin, J. N. Thornely, D. S. Lewis, P. D. L. Thomson, R. N. S. Parry, L. J. Douglas-Osborn, M. G. Godsall, R. H. M. Tildesley, A. M. Turner, M. and A. Duncan, T. J. Mills, T. H. Fisher, D. W. E. Mayson, R. H. Collins, D. W. Henry, R. B. D. Ellam. SCHOOL NOTES The following have left: R. B. D. Ellam. Came September 1957. Prefect. Soccer XI. Swimming Colours and Swimming Cup. Choir. T. H. Fisher. Came September 1957. Rugger XV. Pentathlon White Badge. Shooting and Gym Colours, shared Shooting Cup. D. W. E. Mayson. Came September 1955. Prefect. Leader of Blues. Soccer XI 1959-60. Soccer XV. Colours for Shooting and Athletics. F. T. Tuthill. Came May 1955. Head Prefect. Leader of Greys. Soccer XI 1957-60, Captain. Rugger XV 1958-60. Cricket XI 1958-60, Captain. Colours for Athletics and Shooting, shared Shooting Cup. All-rounder Shield. Patrol Leader. Choir. F. H. Fowler. Came January 1959. F. A. Peate. Came September 1955. Shooting Colours. New Boys : September S. J. Dorrell, I. K. Johnson, C. R. A. Leakey, E. C. Pearce, T. J. S. Powell, I. G. Urquhart. January S. M. Andrews, M. J. Bate, J. C. Hartnell, R. D. C. Maughan. In the Associated Board's examination in March D. F. Butterworth passed in Piano, Grade III. Miss P. E. McGowan, who used to spend holidays at Aymestry when her brother was here 1925-30, has joined the Staff for two terms. Our Weather Station has had several records to note in the last few months. Rainfall for 1960 was 34.6 inches, more than 40 per cent above average; October was our wettest month on record with 6.2 inches, and from November 8th to December 4th there were 27 consecutive days with rain. Both February and March were our warmest, with average day temperatures of 53 and 61 degrees and the temperature in March twice reached 71 degrees. March was also the only month we have recorded in which there was measurable rainfall at all. INTER-COLOUR COMPETITION AUTUMN TERM WORK : 1 Greens, 46; 2 Greys, 30; 3 Blues, 24. Mentions. Blues: Powell A. 39-4, Hart 44-11. Dorrell 58-1, Urquhart 46-5. Greens: Conner 65-0, Goulding 52-1, Ellam 38-6, Fisher T. 35-5, Lloyd 56-4, Ashwell 60-0, McNeil 49-4, Fisher N. 53-5, Perry 42-8, Aldersey 47-6, Green 47-3. Greys: Butterworth 41-10, Brown 742, Beard 38-6, Coates 35-5, Keeble 56-1, Johnson 39-8. DISCIPLINE : 1 Blues, 42; 2 Greens, 34; 3 Greys, 24. Mentions. Blues: Mayson D. 14-6, Powell A. 28-1, Chandler J. 25-0, Powell P. 13-0, Dorrell 12-1. Greens: Conner 18-0, Goulding 19-1, Lloyd 14-0, Fisher T. 11-1. Greys: Tuthill F. 280, Lewis 12-1, Tuthill H. 15-2, Johnson 11-1. GAMES : 1 Greys, 36; 2 Blues, 35; 3 Greens, 29. Soccer Cup : Blues and Greys. TOTAL : 1 Greens, 109; 2 Blues, 101; 3 Greys, 90. 6

SPRI NG TERM WORK : 1 Greens, 54; 2 Greys, 25; 3 Blues, 21. Mentions : Blues: Chandler J. 27-4, Barber 32-5, Hart 35-9, Woodcock 33-4, Powell J. 24-2. Greens: Conner 37-2, Goulding 34-1, Lloyd 49-4, Baddeley P. 25-2, Ashwell 50-0, McNeil 37-4, Perry 32-4, Aldersey 23-3, Green 44-3. Greys: Gallimore 40-5, Keeble 34-1. DISCIPLINE : 1 Greens, 41; 2 Blues, 37; 3 Greys, 22. Mentions. Blues: Powell A. 38-0, Chandler J. 22-0, Banks 13-1, Powell P. 11-1. Greens: Conner 19-0, Goulding 20-1, Lloyd 15-1, Peate 13-1, Ashwell 14-4. Greys: Conner 19-0, Goulding 20-1, Lloyd 15-1, Peate 13-1, Ashwell 14-4. Greys: Gallimore 12-2, Tuthill 16-0. GAMES : 1 Blues 45; 2 Greys, 28; 3 Greens, 27. Rugger, Shooting, Boxing and Gym Cups : Blues. Kicking Cup : Greens. TOTAL: 1 Greens, 122; 2 Blues, 103; 3 Greys, 75. SOCCER The weather of course dominated the season. It was curious that not one school match was scratched, the Old Boys being the only sufferers in this way, but we had very little practice. The performances of the XI were uneven. They only once played really well through a whole match and ought to have won two more than they did, Abberley being the only side we met who were definitely superior. But it was mainly a matter of confidence and fighting spirit, and when we did get going we sometimes looked good. On the whole we could be content with a result of 4 won, 1 drawn, and 3 lost. The juniors were the worst sufferers from the weather, their ground being unfit more often than not, and the younger boys have never had so little football. S O C C E R M AT C H E S October 19th. AYMESTREY v. HAWFORD LODGE, away. Drawn 3-3. Wet ground and a heavy ball told against the younger players on each side and the game had a scrambling, beginning-of-the-season look about it. We started much the more strongly, being on top for most of the first half, and we ought to have put the result beyond doubt in the first quarter of an hour. But the finishing was poor, and though Gallimore and Lewis got goals for us we missed several ' sitters.' Hawford's main strength lay in their forwards, but in spite of some bad positioning and marking by our defence we did not often look in danger and it was against the run of the play when a good comer kick went in off one of our own players. We increased our lead to 3-1 with a good goal by Butterworth, made by Gallimore and Powell; but after half time Hawford improved greatly. They put in a long period of pressure, helped by muddling and bad kicking on our part, and we deserved it when a goal was scrambled through against us. Our forwards then put in a whole series of quite skilfully combined attacks, but the shooting was very poor, and time after time we put the ball past the post or straight into the goalkeeper's hands. Finally Hawford got a good goal to make the scores level, and after that there was only time for one more good attack and one more bad shot by us. Tuthill, Gallimore, Powell and Jay were our best players on the day. October 22nd. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, at home. Lost 1-4. As a team we made a poor showing. Very wet conditions caused both sides to make many mistakes, but Abberley pounced on our errors while we made little use of theirs, and any loose ball was always collected by an Abberley player and not an Aymestry one, unless Tuthill F. was within range. He was 7

the best player on the field and did three men's work, but all our other players. were markedly less energetic and hard-working than their opponents. Jay did all he could in goal, and our young backs, Dowson and Tuthill H., achieved a good deal, as did Ellam at left-half. Powell, Mayson D. and Gallimore improved after half time. Abberley scored twice in the first half, and we missed an open goal after our one good move, through sheer lack of dash. After half time we drew up to 1-2, a good long shot by Ellam being only half saved and Gallimore putting it in. But a little later we missed another sitter, a chance which might have made all the difference if it had been taken; and towards the end Abberley rubbed in our deficiencies with two more goals. Oc tober 29t h. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, away. Won 8-3. In spite of very heavy conditions the standard of play was remarkably high and it was much the best game so far. We had all the luck and we were not so far superior as the score suggested, but we did play with much more fire and determination. Within half a minute of the kick off Tuthill F. put Powell away and from a good centre Peate scored; and in two minutes more Seaford got an equally good goal the other end. This opening burst of excite ment set the tone for the whole game. For some time it was a ding-dong struggle, with Seaford looking rather the better side, and the impression one had at this stage was that we should be beaten, but with some honour. However, we weathered a storm of good attacks, Dowson, Tuthill H. and Ellam defending with courage; and then, after one or two good movements had been wasted by bad finishing, Mayson D. worked the ball through a crowd of players in a goal-mouth scramble and put us ahead. Soon Gallimore gave Powell a through pass and he cut in from the wing and placed his shot well; and soon afterwards we had a stroke of luck when a free kick by Tuthill F. was deflected by a defender into his own goal. Pressure by our opponents followed, but was ended dramatically when Powell received the ball some 20 yards from our goal after a corner; going very fast without losing control he outdistanced the entire defence, kept his head to the end, dribbled round the advancing goalkeeper and tapped the ball in. Soon after half time Butterworth atoned for some bad misses earlier on with two goals from fantastically narrow angles, one from Peate's pass, one from Mayson's. The Seaford forwards now had their best patch with attack after attack. Dowson, the two Tuthills, and Ellam saved us with good kicks or last-moment tackles, and Jay was good in goal, but the defence was tiring visibly; and when at last Tuthill F. slipped on the wet ground and requited Seaford's earlier generosit y to him by putting through his own goal, it was no more than our opponents deserved. They attacked again and Jay's only mistake gave them another goal. But we then rallied, and Gallimore and Powell, who were now playing very well together, worked the ball through, and Powell's square centre was put in by Butterworth. Play continued to swing from end to end of the field, but there was no more scoring; and indeed 11 goals in the game had provided a generous helping of excitement. November 2nd. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, away. Lost 2-3. We sank from the heights to the depths in the four days since the last match. The ground was slippery certainly, and the wind was strong; but we had had three matches already by way of experience while the Elms. had had none, and they were a new side with no old colours, and yet they played throughout with twice as much energy and effort and determination. The Elms played in the first half with the wind and the hill in their favour, and they were soon a goal up, feeble kicking and bad marking allowing them to have two or three shots in a scramble in the goalmouth. Then they 8

got a really good one the only goal of the game which was the direct result of a good clean movement. We tightened up our defence after that, but our attacks were slow and clumsy. In the second half we pressed much more with the help of the wind and the hill; but although we produced slightly more dash and skill the finishing was atrocious and we missed anv number of chances. After a time however the Elms defence began to be afflicted with our disease and twice in a fairly short time the ball wandered about the penalty area, hitting bodies and goal-posts time after time until it got tired of it all and went in. But the Elms, with the scores level, started to fight harder while we slacked off, and we rounded off a bad afternoon by putting through our own goal. The Elms' fighting spirit deserved to win in a more satisfactory manner; but it was a sadly typical way for us to lose. MacRae played really well for us, Jay made two excellent saves, and Ellam and Mayson tried hard. November 12th. AYMESTREY v. HAWFORD LODGE, at home. Won 7-2. The forwards of both sides were better than the defences opposed to them with the result that we had a very fast game in spite of heavy ground. But our halves and backs were fighting much harder and covered each other well so that we usually just managed to stem the attacks of some dangerous forwards, who also played into our hands to a certain extent by being too individualistic. Our forwards on the other hand were much better together than before and produced any number of pretty movements, though our finishing was still very patchy. Gallimore and Butterworth soon found a weakness in the defence on their wing and the rest had the intelligence to play to that flank. It was not long before we were pressing hard and from one of a number of corners Powell scored. Then a weak clearance gave Tuthill F. a chance to get a nice goal from about 20 yards. But Hawford improved and scored in a scramble after a corner, and soon after they seemed certain to draw level when their centre forward broke clear away; but Jay came out to narrow the angle, the centre forward tried to dribble round him, and Tuthill was back to clear off the line a creditable and important save. There was no more score in the first half, though Fisher N. sent in one excellent shot, volleying a centre from the other wing against the post. After half time we suddenly began to improve our shooting and we got five goals in a row through MacRae, Butterworth (2), Powell and Gallimore. All came from cool and accurate approach work, mainly through short passes kept well on the ground, and Powell's and one of Butterworth's were specially good efforts. The defence meanwhile had plenty to do, but they played well on the whole, MacRae and Tuthill H. in particular doing good work, and Jay making one very good save. We were tiring however and Hawford got the final goal after a good individual breakaway by the centre-forward, a dangerous player whom we did well to hold the rest of the time. November 16th. AYMESTREY v. THE ELMS, home. Won 1-0. The great feature of this effort from our point of view was that we at last showed a tough fighting spirit, enough to equal the Elms at their own strongest point and so allow our slightly superior footballing ability to carry us through. The ground as usual was wet and heavy and rain came on in the second half, but the degree of skill shown by both sides was considerably greater than it had been in the away match. Our forwards were quick onto theAoose ball and produced some good passing, especially the right wing pair; the finishing remained weak, but it is probably fair to say that we were a little unlucky not to score mote often.; The halves and backs however were the Teal heroes, kicking well in- the bad conditions, tackling hard, and above 9

all covering tirelessly so that there was always one more defender there when all seemed lost. Considering that the game was so close, it was remarkable that Jay in goal had so little to do. The first half was very even, and both goals had narrow escapes, but gradually we began to look a little the more skilful and better together, till Butterworth seized on a weak goal kick, Gallimore's shot was stopped but not saved, and Butterworth somehow hustled the rebound in. In the second half we pressed almost continuously. We concentrated on feeding our right wing, opposed to the weaker part of the Elms defence, and Butterworth and Gallimore were constantly through; but some bad luck, some slowness to shoot, and some good goalkeeping kept us out, and a few good long shots from the halves had no better fortune. Meanwhile the few raids that came from the Elms forwards always looked dangerous, especially with the scores so close; but each one of our halves and backs kicked and tackled and covered very well, and all threats were averted before the penalty area was reached. It was a very creditable performance. November 19th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, away. Lost 0-3. Abberley were easily the best side we met and for most of this game they ran rings round us : in fact for much of the time there seemed no reason why they should not push their score into double figures. But their finishing showed some weakness; and it was a curious fact, and unsatisfactory from the point of view of the unbiased enjoyment of good football, that none of their goals came directly from their many classically pretty movements. To our credit was the fact that the defence for the most part fought very hard; the two Tuthills, MacRae and Jay all played pretty well and covered and backed up and kept on trying though constantly outwitted and outplayed, with the result that we were almost continuously hard pressed and yet were as continuously managing somehow- to clear. There was teamwork and good spirit here, but it was missing from the forwards, who were slow, unintelligent and not very brave; and this was the more regrettable in that the Abberley defence was not as good as their attack, and it was by no means impossible to rattle them. In the first half Abberley produced any number of excellent movements, but their only goal came from a corner which we ought to have cleared. Our forwards meanwhile never looked in the least dangerous, and it was only one or two good long shots by the halves which had Abberley in any difficulty. In the second half we made one or two better attempts at combined attack and missed one ' sitting ' shot after a movement which really did go through prettily. At the other end our defence was for the most part more in command than before; but Jay, who otherwise played very well, allowed to rebound from the post a shot which he thought was going behind and this led to a gift goal; and Abberley scored again from a long high kick from their right back which just dropped under the bar. In the match on our ground we had not been a team at all; in this one we were half a team, but not a whole one as we had been in the two previous matches. November 23rd. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, home. Won 5-2. Form ' in school football is a strange thing. We had beaten Seaford on their ground 8-3 and had lost to the Elms away 2-3, and yet Seaford on the Elms ground had won 4-0. In the first half of this game it looked as if they were heading for a comfortable win over us too. They were playing good football, and we were just dreadful : we were slow, we missed our kicks, we tried to dribble on a slippery ground instead of kicking, and altogether we were lazy and unintelligent to a degree. It was hard to see why we were only 10

1-2 down at half time and we looked a beaten side. Tuthill H. alone of the whole side had stood firm, though Jay had made one or two good saves. Gallimore had scored our goal quite a good one. But a remarkable change came over the game in the second half. Our defence, though still not up to form, improved considerably and the Seaford forwards faded away badly. Their backs and halves had always been suspect but now our forwards began to realise it, and Butterworth in particular started to tumble to the fact that he was yards faster than the man marking him. It was not long before he made the running for Mayson to put the scores level, and after that there was only one side in it. We made one or two bad misses, but Butterworth scored twice from good long passes by MacRae and Tuthill F., and got a third in off a defender after he had been put away, by Powell. The Seaford attacks meanwhile had been nothing like so dangerous as before : Jay saved well twice, but for the most part the two Tuthills and Ellam kept a firm grip on things and Dowson was much safer than in the first half. It was not one of our best efforts, but it was at least creditable to put on four goals without reply in the second half after being behind and it showed some return both of spirit and of skill. RUGGER With excellent weather and health we had a splendid season all through the school. The Second Game can never have been keener or better, and their hard work in both games and practice must have laid good foundations for the future. The Senior Game were able to play 15 a side, and the fact that over half the school were good enough for this speaks well for the over-all standard. Several boys who did not reach the team would have been worthy of most prep school sides. In the Colour Matches, Blues beat Greens 11-0. Greens had plenty of the ball but their threequarters never got going whereas Blues made the most of their chances. Blues beat Greys 8-6 in a game which, in the first half especially, reached a high standard of skill on both sides. Greys beat Greens in a rather scrappy match, deserving their victory because they did rather fewer silly things than their opponents. The Kicking Competition reached a higher standard than usual in the punting, though the place-kicking was poor. Very few boys failed to score at all. The best individual scores were : MacRae 60, McNeil 49, Dowson 49, Powell A. 48, and of the juniors Woodcock got 23 and Clark 22. The XV were perhaps lucky in that they had more matches than usual and had no really first-rate side against them; but the fact remains that with a total of 154 points to 3 they scored more than any of their predecessors. They were not a heavy side but extremely well balanced ; and scoring movements came from forwards and backs alike, the whole team backing up splendidly and being ready to attack from any part of the field. Seldom can a side have kicked for touch so little. RUGGER MATCHES February 11th. AYMESTREY v. PENRHYN, home. Won 35-0. We were heavily outweighted in the pack, but our forwards scrummaged well and played intelligently together, while outside we were faster in thought and action, though Penrhyn tackled well. For ten minutes it was a hard battle, mostly forward, but then a quick heel in the loose gave the backs a clear run with two men over and McNeil scored. This showed the way and the move was twice repeated to give Butterworth two tries on the right wing after fast running and crisp passing. Next Jay dropped a clever goal, and then Butterworth scored again from an 11

opening made by Powell and MacRae, the movement covering nearly the whole length of the field. After half time there was a period of forward play, the pack doing very well with close passing. A scissors by the halves sent Powell through for a try, and then Powell made an opening for MacRae to score. After more forward-play in which Chandler and Tuthill were prominent, Conner excelled himself with a phenomenal jump in the line-out and dived over; and finally a smart movement along the line led to a try by Lloyd. MacRae kicked two goals and McNeil and Fisher one each. It was a good performance all round, and though the backs did most of the scoring the foundation of the victory was laid by the forwards, who played extremely well against heavier opponents. February 18th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, away. Won 24-3. There was not much difference in weight between the two sides, but Abberley were quicker than our previous opponents, especially in spoiling, though their backs relied mainl y on kicking. Our pack played very well in the first half. Conner's hooking and Chandler's work in the line-out gave us plenty of the ball and the other forwards. combined intelligently and backed up hard. Our backs however were rather slow and under close marking their handling was sometimes ragged. There was no score for some time, but at last McNeil got close after a fairly good passing movement and Chandler was up to seize on the loose ball and dive over. Conner got a similar try by good backing up; and then came a really good movement, MacRae making the break and McNeil giving Butterworth the scoring pass. Next came a try by Abberley after a forward rush and a break by their fly-half, but Jay replied with a blind-side break following good work by the forwards. In the second half our forwards tired and became rather ragged and intensive spoiling kept us in check for some time. But Powell made a good solo run for a tr y , and Jay and Gallimore combined cleverly to send Butterworth in. McNeil kicked two goals and MacRae one; and besides those mentioned already Tuthill and Ashwell played particularly well. March 4th. AYMESTREY v. SEAFORD COURT, home. Won 21-0. Seaford, fresh from a victory over the Elms, had a strong and fast threequarter line, and it soon became clear that we must deny them the use of the ball as much as possible. This our forwards proceeded to do, and though heavily outweighted they played a splendid game : they were superior in every phase of play and Jay at their heels was in his best form. Conner was the first to score after clever close-passing from a line-out, Soon afterwards the pack went for a pushover try and when held on the line they heeled for Jay to score; and later Jay broke on the blind side to send in Butterworth. Our threequarter movements meanwhile were being held, and the Seaford backs looked dangerous when they could get the ball, but McVeil and Fisher tackled well and Barber did some good covering. In the second half McNeil made a good break, Chandler backed him up on the inside, and when he was tackled a quick loose heel gave Jay his second try. A good passing movement, with Powell making the opening, sent Butter worth through again; but then there was a period of pressure by Seaford. Mayson at full back dealt very well with one or two kicks ahead, Powell showed up with a good tackle, and Tuthill, Johnson and Ashwell were prominent. Then.a good run by Fisher was backed up by Steadman who gave Gallimore the scoring pass, and finally Barber forced his way over in some loose play. In the absence of MacRae through injury our place-kicking was, atrocious and no goals were kicked. 12

M a rc h l l t h. AYM ES T RY v. TH E E LM S, a wa y. Won 25- 0. For the first few minutes we were penned in our own 25, but the side looked cool and confident and before long the forwards broke away with short- passing movements. Jay and Powell scored tries from close range after good work by McNeil and Barber, and then came one of the best tries of the season. From a line-out on our own 25 Chandler caught cleanly and the ball went via Jay, Powell, McNeil, Butterworth, Powell again and Butterworth again, and Gallimore was up, as a number eight forward should be, to take the final inside pass, after a movement covering threequarters of the length of the field. The next try too was a pretty one, a private affair between the halves a clean break by Jay from a set scrum, a scissors, and a final swerve by Powell with the defence all going the wrong way. Continued pressure by the forwards then led to a try by Tuthill. In the second half, with wind and hill behind them, the Elms had more of the play; but some rather individualistic running was held by our defence, Chandler, Johnson, Barber and Lloyd being prominent, and when they resorted to kicks ahead Mayson played very well at full back, never failing to find touch and several times scorning defence to start passing movements instead. Presently Powell cut through, Barber and Conner were with him on the inside, and when the movement was checked Lloyd picked up the loose ball and scored; and soon afterwards fast orthodox passing gave Fisher a try on the left wing. The best movement of this half began near our own line; McNeil and Butterworth made the running to send Fisher away on a 50 yard run, but he was overhauled a couple of yards out. McNeil and Fisher kicked one goal each, Conner hooked very well as usual, and Ashwell and Steadman had a particularly good game. March 15th. AYMESTREY v. ABBERLEY HALL, home. Won 26-0. With a temperature of 71 degrees it was the hottest March day we have on record, and both sides did well to play as fast as they did. The first half however was a little dull. Abberley got plenty of the ball but kicked too much, and we were foolish enough to follow their example and to make it a forward game again, regardless of the fact that our backs showed ever y sign of being in good form. Powell and McNeil scored with individual runs, Butterworth got a try in a blind-side move with Gallimore, and Powell made a good opening for MacRae to go over. We had little tackling to do but Mayson dealt well with such Abberley kicks as did not go into touch. In the second half we played much better. The pack got the ball back more and the threequarters moved really well. Powell, McNeil and MacRae made some excellent breaks and did not lose each other; and the passes to the wings were well timed, giving them room to use their speed, so that the attacks really flowed and were pretty to watch. Fisher, Butterworth and MacRae each scored after delightful passing, and Johnson got a try in some loose play following a line-out. Powell kicked our onl y goal, and Ashwell was perhaps the pick of our forwards on the day. March 18th. AYMESTREY v. PENRHYN, away. Won 23-0. We finished with a convincing performance against the stiffest opposition of the season. Penrhyn had improved, and we were not only g i ving away a good deal of weight and height in the pack but were up against intensive spoiling by destructive wing-forwards. I I We started slowly and were hard pressed for a time, but presently Powell made an opening and Butterworth rounded off some good passing with a try in the corner. This was followed by one of the prettiest tries of the season. From a set scrum about halfway the ball went via Jay and Powell to McNeil, 13

who cut through and passed to MacRae; he found his wing covered, so he passed in again to McNeil and Powell took the final pass, after a movement outstanding for intelligence and good backing up. Next Gallimore got a try with a, dummying run, and Powell scored again before half time. Afterwards the forwards got a Springbok-type try; Conner broke from a line-out, Chandler, Ashwell and Steadman joined in, and Tuthill scored. Then followed a period of intense pressure against us. For five minutes Penrhyn were camped right on our line; man after man was tackled only a few feet out, and the forwards piled into maul after maul with courage and intelligence, till at last Jay relieved things with a kick to touch. Penrhyn however still did most of the attacking, and Mayson, Johnson and Barber did good defensive work. At last Conner and Steadman broke again from a line-out and Butterworth backed up sensibly to take the scoring pass; and finally Jay and Powell worked the blind side for Powell to give Butterworth a perfect opening for a last dashing run and a try between the posts, which MacRae converted. This was a fine all-round performance by the whole side, and a fitting finish to the 1st XV's season. March 20th. AYMESTREY "A" XV v. HAWFORD LODGE. Won 17-6. Since Hawford had had a big leave since last season and were an inexperienced side, it was arranged that we should play 12 reserves with 3 members of the XV, Ashwell to lead the forwards and Jay and Powell to provide the link between pack and threequarters. It was a cheerful and pleasant game, more even than the scores suggest, most of our points being scored by the 1st XV players. Banks, Etty-Leal, Fowler and Mills did particularly well in the forwards, and Peate and Blake in the threequarters. SHOOTING For the first time for many years we had a shooting match against another school, firing against Hawford Lodge on November 22nd. We were well beaten, but considering that we were shooting on a strange range with strange targets our performance was not too bad. We shall hope to have more such matches in the future. HAWFORD Coomber Cole Stratton Jackman In the competition Fisher and Tuthill tied and Mayson, Chandler In the inter-colour scores were :BLUES Chandler 120 Powell 112 Mills 127 359 AYMESTREY 81 Chandler 65 83 Fisher 79 80 Tuthill 72 85 Goulding 65 329 281 for the individual cup in the Autumn the result was very close. Lewis, for first place with 72 points each (there was not time for a shoot-off) and Gallimore each got 71. competition, in the Spring, Blues were first with Greys second. The GREENS Goulding 113 Lloyd 101 Peate 121 335 GREYS Gallimore Lewis Butterworth 14 105 127 118 350

Colours were awarded in the Autumn to Lewis, Fisher T., Tuthill F., Mayson D., Chandler J., and Gallimore; and in the Spring to Mills and Peate. BOXING The standard this year was only moderate. Chandler J. was the only surviving colour and no more were awarded. Others who did well were Powell A., Tuthill H., Fowler, Fisher M., Mills, Woodcock, Chandler T., Perry, and Leahey. GYM Colours were awarded to Butterworth, Fisher T., Barber, Powell A. and Banks. The general level of ability and keenness was up to average, but no more. PENTATHLON In the Autumn term Fisher T. became the first boy to complete the entire programme of pentathlon tests and qualify for the white badge. After him Banks has progressed the farthest. Others who have passed the Second Stage are Powell A., Chandler J., MacRae, Barber, Mayson, Goulding, Peate, Baddeley P., Ashwell, Jay, Lewis, Butterworth; and those under 12 who have won their First Stage badge are : Hart, Woodcock, Dowson, Fisher N., Tuthill H., Fowler, and Steadman.

1959

O L D AY M E S T R E Y A S S O C I AT I O N BALANCE SHEET, 31st OCTOBER, 1960 s. d. s. d. 1959 s. d. Surplus Account: Balances at Lloyds Bank Ltd. Balance at 31st October 1959 105 5 5 10 General Account ...... 15 17 0 ... Add Excess of Income over 9 Savings Bank Account 3 9 6 ... Expenditure for year ... 900 55 131 Deposit Account ...134 2 9 ...

__________ 114 J. EYTON COATES Hon. Treasurers Magazine Fund: Secretaries. Balance at 31st October 1959 Add Subscriptions received

CHARLES 43 13 7 320 ...

W.

MASSEY

and

during year

46 15 7 Less Contribution to School for expenses of issue of Magazine ... ... ... 8 15 0 J. W. MASSEY, Jnr. I Hon. 44 38 0 7 R. W. MASSEY f Auditors Alderbrook, Solihull, Provision for Income Tax on Warwickshire. 16th November, 1960. 1 Untaxed Interest 133 150 153 9 3 150 153 9 3 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31st OCTOBER, 1960 Expenditure 1959 s. d. Income Contributions towards the cost of two issues 1959 s. d. s. d. 5 of the School Magazine ... ... ... 500 13 Ordinary Subscriptions ... 14 14 0 Sundry Expenses ... ... ... 330 Bank Interest ... ... ... 3 12 3 Balance being Excess of Income over 2 Less Provision for Income Tax 133 10 Expenditure for year ... ... 900 2 -9 0 15 17 3 0 15 I7 3 0

Report of the Auditors to the Members of the Old Aymestrey Association We have examined the above Balance Sheet and annexed Income and Expenditure Account with the books and vouchers of the Association produced to us and certify that they are in accordance therewith.