ECCLES GRAMMAR SCHOOL 

ESSAYAN

Headmaster:

H.H. Fairweather, M.A. (Cantab.) F.R.G.S.

 

Editors:

M. Little, P. Robinson, T.Robinson

P. Thomley, Jennifer M. Jones,

Pauline McCormick, Pamela Fell,

Elizabeth Gardner, Elizabeth Bent. 

No.15.

Summer . 1963

  

School Officers

Head Girl: Elizabeth Gardner Head Boy: P. Robinson

Deputy Head Girl: Pamela Fell Deputy Head Boy: P.Thornley

PREFECTS:

Girls: Kay Bardsley, Elizabeth O. Bent, Pat Coade, Susan C. Gunn, Diane V. Partington, Pauline McCormick, Enid A. Shepherd, Pauline A. Twine, Jacqueline C. Walton, Anne Withington.

Deputies: Carol M. Johnson, Beulah O'Hara, Lynda Webster.

Boys: G. Ainscow, G. Brookes, R. Griffiths, G. Dyson, M. Hartland, K. Hodson, I. Legge, M. Little, J. Parkinson, P. Pomfrit, T. Robinson, A. Salt, K. Westbrook, A. Worthington, G. Johnson.

Deputy: J. Dodd.

HOUSE CAPTAINS:

Normans:Pat Coade, M. Hartland.

Saxons: Beryl Almond, S. Hosie.

Stuarts: Pauline McCormick, A. Salt.

Tudors: Elizabeth Gardner, T. Robinson.

 

SCHOOL LIBRARIANS:

J. Parkinson, G. Hayward, K. Redferm, R. Mills, D. Bommer, D. Grimshaw, J. Caldwell, P. Johnson, G. Morgan, R. McCune, N. Brierley, M. Ramsbottom, Jennifer Jones, Sandra Guest, Marion Pritchard, Rosalind Norton, Mary Bowden.

Netball Captain: Hilary Rothwell.
Football Captain: J. Legge.
Cricket Captain: P. Thornley.
Hockey Captain: Susan Gunn.
Chairman of the Union: P. Thornley.
Secretary of Union: M. Little.
Secretary of Chess Club: M. Little
Boys’ Games Secretaries: A. Salt (Soccer), N. Ashcroft (Cricket).
Girls’ Games Secretary: S. Gunn.

Editorial

In spite of a vigorous advertising campaign, there has been insufficient interest shown in your magazine. The voluntary contributions were few but some were of a high standard and much hard work had to be done by the editors selecting the best material. The Essayan presents a unique challenge but we should like to see more people rising to the occasion.

During the year it is pleasing to see how much co-operation there has been with other schools in music and athletics. Our one outstanding achievement in competition with other Grammar Schools has been the winning of the Manchester Schools Chess League by our Intermediate team, for which a cup was presented by the Manchester Evening News.

The School and parents in giving money to support the Christmas Fair, the Freedom from Hunger Campaign and the buying of Charity Christmas Cards have been most generous but the pressure needed to persuade them to do such things as attend the School Concert was quite considerable

This year some French pupils from Narbonne are again coming in the Summer holidays to stay with pupils of Eccles Grammar School. Since the "twinning" of the towns, the enthusiasm for this special relationship has not declined and surely this, if anything, leads to a greater understanding and awareness of the peoples of the world

To all the French pupils and all our readers we wish a happy holiday. M.L.

Staff Changes

At the beginning of the School Year we welcomed to the Staff Miss Jean A Pratt to teach Mathematics. In her spare time she sings in the choir.

Mrs. Marion C. Rutland has taken charge of the Domestic Science Room. She plays games and sings in the choir when not cooking. Mrs. C. Barlow has helped us part time with our English. At Christmas Mr. J. B.Law B.A., joined the English Staff - to our profit and pleasure. Miss B. M. Renshaw did not leave; she merely changed her name to Mrs. B. M. Smith.

In July we shall finally lose Mrs. E. M. Broadley (Mrs. E. M. Bryan). For the last two years she has been taking Needlework part time after having been Gym. Mistress since 1925. Mrs. Broadley goes to live in retirement at Minchinghampton and our best wishes and most grateful thanks go with her. Miss Judith C. Brown, who has helped with biology for the past three years, is going to Bristol University to learn more and still more Biology. Her work and personality have been appreciated by us all. Her future success will give us very great pleasure.

Mr. John F. Smith has reigned in the Woodwork Room, that room of personalities, since 1957. When he was not working in wood, putting up the stage and trying to convert people, he was travelling with School Parties to Italy, France, Switzerland, Spain and Scotland. On one famous occasion, he is reputed to have carried, unknowingly, a large rock in his rucksack. He is going to Loughborough College for a year to learn Metalwork.

Mr. J. B. Watson M.A. Historian, Debater, Liberal - to our very great regret is seeking pastimes new, where he hopes there may be even more eager grazing than here. A man of many parts, he has touched and influenced most sides of School life for the last seven years. His job has been well done. Our gratitude must be great.

Christmas Fair

Once again the School set itself the task of contributing as generously as possible to our own School Charity, the Sunshine Homes for Blind Babies. As usual during the long months of work before the Fair, the Sixth Form organizers were dismayed and disheartened, being sure that the response would fall far below what was required, and once more, "all was well on the day". When the time came, we had a huge accumulation of saleable goods and articles, and all was ship-shape and ready for the opening by Mrs. Jessel. The smooth running and the absence of last-minute complications was entirely due to the organisation and foresight of the Staff, the Sixth Form, and, above all, to Miss Jackson.

As a result of a magnificent combined effort from the whole School, the record-breaking sum of £250 was sent to the Sunshine Homes.

Congratulations and thanks to all concerned for a fine achievement

Nor was this our only effort to help others;- the Christmas Cards raised £53-17-0, which was divided between the various organizations caring for thalidomide babies, and we sent £ 35, collected in support of the "Freedom from Hunger" campaign.

Nevertheless, let us not be self-satisfied and complacent. We have done something - but need we stop there. The crying needs continue and all of us can and should help.

  

 

Pictured here are parents and pupils of Eccles Grammar School at the cake stall at the Christmas Fair organised by the Sixth Form on December 12th, in aid of the Blind Babies. Approximately £ 200 was raised.

Photograph by Darrell Jackson, 407, Worsley Road, Winton, Eccles.

 

Christmas Fair Quiz 1963

FORM 1. Prize. Elaine Norris Form 1B

Highly Commended: -

Britton lA; Critch 1B; Jones B. E., 1A; Jean Roberts 1B; Susan Ashworth 1A; Boardman 1C;

FORM 2 Prize. Nola Brown Form 2B

Highly Commended: -

Popplewell 2A; Dolan 2A; Jennifer Cooke 2A; Ashworth 2B.

FORM 3. Prize. M. Parr Form 3A

Highly Commended:-

Lee 3A; Sandra Twigg 3A; Susan Gray 3A; Olwen Owen 3C; Marion Lockery 3B; Ashley Jones 3D;

FORM 4 Prize. Ann Houltram Form 4 Sc.2'

Highly commended:-

Carol Grayson 4 Bio; Hazel Brown 4L; Janice Yates 4 P/C; Mary Edwards 4 Bio;

FORM 5. Prize. D. M. Brown Form 5 Sc.l

Highly Commended:-

Peter Scott 5 Sc.1; R. H. Brown 5L; Pauline Evans 5 T2; Helen Henshaw 5 T1

FORM 6. Prize. Jennifer Jones Form 6 LA.

VERY Highly commended:-

Patricia Twine, 6 U.Sc.2; Parkinson, 6 U.Sc2.

 

School Christmas Cards 1963

The sale of Christmas Cards designed by Pat Coade and Linda Webster raised £ 53-17-0 for charities to assist thalidomide children. This was distributed as follows:-

Society for the Aid of Thalidomide Children £22- 9-0

Chailey Heritage Hospital and Craft School £21-l8-0

Lady Hoare Thalidomide Appeal £9-10-0

W.

Speech Day 1961

Speech Day was held in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, on November 23rd., 1962. The evening began at 7.30 p.m., with the singing of the School Hymn before an audience of ex-pupils, relatives and friends.

Mr. Fairweather M.A., (Cantab) F.R.G.S. then gave his report on the School’s progress over the last year. This was followed by the choir singing J. L. Hatton’s "Softly fall the shades of evening". The Chairman, Mr.J.P.McDougall M.M.,, J. P., was then called upon to make his remarks, after which he introduced our guest speaker, Sir Francis Hill C.B.F. Pro-Chancellor and President of the University of Nottingham.

Sir Francis distributed the prizes and certificates, after which he gave the address. He opened his speech by referring to our headmaster as "young Harold" to the amusement of many of the lower school. He then went on to the more serious subject of how we can best serve our fellow men. He told us of many different kinds of voluntary work we can do as well as working in our chosen careers.

The Choir then sang Arthur Sullivan’s "Brightly dawns our wedding day" from "The Mikado". A vote of thanks was proposed by His Worship, the Mayor of Eccles and was seconded by Ald. J. McCann, M.P., The Head Boy, Paul Robinson, then led the School in the customary cheering and the evening was brought to its close with the National Anthem..

Pauline McCormick 6.US.

Open Day

In a School Magazine some years back, an optimistic editor pointed out that a rumour was going around saying that, "Eccles Grammar School, approaching its fiftieth birthday will be superceded by a new building - perhaps some impersonal monster of glass, concrete and corrugated iron!" Although we celebrated our jubilee two years ago and the "smoke blackened edifice" as she put it, still remains as our Grammar School, what may be termed as a minor revolution has since taken place inside its walls.

For, during the summer holidays, the School was overrun by busy painters, rickety ladders, messy pots of paint and planks, all waiting to be tripped over, being accompanied by a chaotic row of banging, shouting, shuffling and whistling with the tinny sounds of transistors blaring in the background. To view in its place a new, tidy, clean and so white looking sight is unbelievable. The long waited for laboratories are now the proud possessions of the happy Science Department, whilst the Library has been redecorated and now owns hundreds more hooks than it did before.

It was to "show off" our magnificent splendour in these alterations and new expensive equipment that an Open Day was held in October. To make the occasion more interesting and entertaining the Sixth Form Boys worked at experiments in their impressive, white, lab-coats in front of an appreciative audience. Next door, in the Biology Lab., huge mobs collected to admire(?) the dissected rats and other animals and similar interesting specimens.

All this time activities continued below, where samples of work on all subjects for all age groups were being displayed. About 50 brave parents, in spite of their offspring’s pathetic warnings,, undertook their first lessons in that unfathomable subject, Latin. Others surveyed the colourful Domestic Science displays with great interest, eagerly gazing at the neatly arranged delicious-looking dishes. P. E. skills were demonstrated, in the gymnasium, with great success, all under the control of Mrs. B. Smith, who is almost always on the move.

Throughout the school that day there was a buzzing atmosphere of enthusiasm and enjoyment which maintained its height right up to the time when the bell went.

Jennifer M. Jones 6 Lower Arts.

School Concert 1963

The programme opened with a Choir favourite, the Madrigal from the Gilbert and Sullivan opera "The Mikado". This was followed by Gervais’ "Three Dances", popular in the first Elizabethan age, from the orchestra, who later played, still in the vein of Elizabethan dance, Byrd’s Pavan "Salenger’s Round" and "Saraband and Rondo" by the Belgian, Juriaan Andriessen, who, although living in the era of another Elizabeth, still achieves the preciseness inherent in sixteenth century music. Continuing this dance theme, Paul Robinson giving his now expected polished performance, played Stravinsky’s immensely virile "Tango".

"Small Choir" captured the sadness of unrequited love in the hauntingly beautiful strains of Benet’s seventeenth century love song, "Weep, O mine eyes", contrasting with the following gay and unmistakeably English air "In these delightful pleasant groves", of Purcell.

The most difficult composition attempted (and with some trepidation) was undoubtably Alexander Goehr’s witty setting of William Blake’s paradoxical words into "A Little Cantata Of Proverbs", and consternation was rife among more conservative elements as to its reception. Personal observation made at both performances showed these fears unnecessary.

The first half ended with the full choir’s interpretation of Britten’s "Hymn to St. Peter", its gloriously soaring solo soprano part, blending finely with the plain-song responses of the rest of the choir.

Music from Parts I and II of Haydn’s oratorio "The Creation" of whose musical merit little can be said which has not been said effectively before, comprised the remainder of the programme. Moreover, one could venture the opinion that the choruses together with the solos of L. Woodward, G. Ainscow, T. Jones, A. Salt and P. Thornley were received with the same high degree of appreciation always gained when performed.

To conclude, little criticism would be valid, either of its varied content or the standard of its execution and thanks are offered to Mr. Ellis and all who helped in its production.

R. L. N.

The School Play

 The first thing one noticed about this year’s play - Goldsmith’s "She Stoops to Conquer" - was the set. Instead of the old proscenium, with its ugly cherubs flitting across the top, there was an arrangement of curtains and double-sided screens which made it possible to change the scenes quickly, the stage remaining open to the audience throughout and the scene-shifters getting laughs as well as the actors.

The main theme of this comedy is the story of Miss Hardcastle (Jean Powell), who finds that young Marlow (C. Farlow) the husband chosen for her, is suitable in every way but one - he is completely tongue-tied when talking to respectable women. "But still, he’ll do", she says, and starts a plan which involves pretending that her house is an Inn and she is the barmaid - the sort of person young Marlow has no difficulty in talking to. Meanwhile, the love affair of her cousin, Miss Neville (Hazel Brown), and Hastings (C. Coxhill) is meeting opposition. After some very funny complications all ends happily.

Although one or two of the cast were inaudible at times, they were on the whole very good. Especially good were J. Sandham. as the bewildered Mr. Hardcastle, who finds that the "Polite" young Marlow treats his house like an inn and orders him around like the landlord; R. Hollinson, as Tony Lumpkin, Mrs. Hardcastle’s son by her first marriage; and Doreen Manson, as the ageing Mrs. Hardcastle, who alternates between addressing her son by over-affectionate terms and hitting him. The highlight of the play was perhaps the scene in which she kneels before her husband, who she thinks is a highwayman, begging him to kill her, but spare her innocent child - who is skulking guiltily in the back-ground. When she finds out his trickery, murder is almost done.

This play was certainly the best-advertised ever, and despite last-minute illnesses, lived up to its publicity. A well known newspaper critic judged it "A flawless presentation".

L.D.

Stoops.jpg (18114 bytes)

Lament

Each year th’eternal question rears its ugly head. And yet, I have received no satisfactory answer. The annual search continues. The never-ending strife goes on, and The End is still nowhere in sight. Neither is the beginning. It seems as if I am to be denied forever, the elusive answer to my question. My queries have brought forth no worthwhile response and consequently I feel despondent. My life is becoming meaningless. A solution to this problem must be found. I cannot possibly go on in this way, year after year. My conscience is dogged by the horrible knowledge that my life is incomplete; that the work expected of me is not yet conceived.

I must face the dreadful truth. I must accept the realization, that the answer to my question, is not yet placed within my grasp

Can no one aid me? What can I write for the Essayan?

N.Emo 6 Omega

 

The Wreckers

At an unmentionable hour one spring morning, the smug suburban calm was widely shattered by the arrival of the "Wreckers" van, optimistically claiming to remove anything, anywhere. The neighbours were already comfortably esconced behind their lace curtains when, out of the cab, hopped four typical examples of the back-bone of British Society, heavily laden with such inevitable essentials as the tea-caddy and the milk-bottle. We were later informed somewhat pointedly that mugs and sugar are usually provided.

Having passed an hour in the back-breaking task of observing the quantity of furniture to be transported, the British workmen then adjourned to take refreshment in the form of the usual beverage, and then to work! It soon became apparent, even to the most untrained onlooker, that we were in the company of real experts - with a system to which they worked faithfully; namely to remove all seating first, and then to arrange it tastefully in the middle of the road, thereby causing an insuperable obstruction to any unfortunate motorist, who had previously succeeded in circumnavigating the van, also tastefully arranged in the middle of the road. For three chaotic hours the working-class wonders laboured, sustained at intervals with tea and chocolate biscuits; at last they withdrew, taking with them, in a final excess of zeal, all washing apparatus and all tea.

Slowly peace ventured to the shattered district; the neighbours reluctantly replaced their curtains and returned to the nether regions to debate the mornings viewing.

Ex Native

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