A Trip to Kandy

We had just arrived at Columbo in Ceylon from Australia on the S.S. "Orsova" when we were told coaches were waiting for those who had ordered tickets to go on the coach trip to Kandy, the old capital of Ceylon. We climbed aboard the bus and sat in our seats, Mum, Dad and I were behind the driver. Many of our friends were with us.

We passed through the streets of Columbo and saw some old London buses in the streets. There were many people about as it was a hot day and nobody needed cardigans on. As we came to the outskirts of the town we saw Hindu and Buddhist temples which were very elaborate. Children waved to us. We then came to the country where the workers were rebuilding a road. We also saw baby and adult elephants picking up logs and carrying them to wherever needed. After a while Singalese women wearing fine saris of many beautiful colours appeared on the road carrying their goods from market. We passed many villages, rice fields and coconut plantations At last we stopped for a break; some tourists were buying bananas, but we were warned not to buy any because of infection. Some, like myself, went for a drink of water. After about ten minutes we rejoined the bus and set off for Kandy, arriving at about 1.30. p.m. Then we went to a hotel for lunch, an English meal (thank goodness). The waiters were bare-footed and when they walked the floor shook. Mum, Dad and I had lunch with our friends; they had wine or beer and I had a lemonade.

We then had a conducted tour of the Temple of the Tooth when we had to take our shoes off - much to our amusement. The guide then took us inside this elaborate Hindu temple. He showed us the exterior as well; two carved stones were some of the elaborate sights.

The coachman took us to the Botanical Gardens and showed us a very varied collection. One was a very sensitive plant because if you touched it the leaves would curl up into a ball. We boarded the coach again and drove past a new college. It was beginning to go dark when we arrived at a cafe for a snack and something to eat. We had a drink and stretched our legs. After about a quarter of an hour we set off to Columbo to our ship. A hot meal awaited us when we returned. I fell asleep after a very exciting day.

Gwen Riley 2b

The Cherry Tree

Outside my bedroom window,

There stands a cherry tree,

And I cannot begin to tell

What joy it brings to me.

At night, when off to bed I go,

And throw my curtain wide,

I see its pretty blossom,

Petal cups, in which I ride.

Over the clouds and far away,

Into the land of dreams,

Where all we feel is never real,

And everything only seems.

Colin Robinson 1 C.

Story with a Moral

Kiwanda was the proud Chief of a tribe of head hunters. The hunting of enemies, and the shrinking of their heads to preserve them, was an age-old tradition and Kiwanda kept in a large casket all the heads which his ancestors had shrunk. This casket was kept under guard in the Temple of the Sun God.

One day after Kiwanda had killed his worst enemy and shrunk his head, he decided that it should go in the casket. He told the Temple priest to make ready for the ceremony of opening the casket. At sunrise the next day all the tribe, led by the Chief, marched to the Temple. The secret ceremony was performed and finally the casket was opened. As the Chief bent forward to put the new head in, he saw that the casket contained only dust. Two of the heads had been bitter enemies and had fought and killed all the heads in the casket. The moral of this story is:-"Don't put all your heads in one casket"

Enid Brookes, 4C.

 

The Goat of Mendes

We waited breathlessly –

The electric light flickered and went out, plunging the great room into shadow. Suddenly a violet, phosphorescent mist began to rise out of the pentacle, swirling with increasing rapidity, gathering height and bulk, spreading and taking form. An awful stench of decay, which yet had something sweet and cloying about it, filled our nostrils as we gazed with repulsion, at a grey face that was taking shape several feet from the floor. The eyes were fixed upon us - malicious and intent. "Surely, this must have come from the pit itself", whispered my neighbour, fearfully. Even as he spoke, the manifestation took on a clear shape. The hands, held forward almost in an attitude of prayer but turned downwards, became transformed into two great cloven hoofs. Above rose the monstrous head of a gigantic goat, appearing to be at least three times the size of any other we had ever seen. The two slit eyes, slanting upwards and down, gave out a red baleful light. Long pointed ears cocked upwards from the sides of the shaggy head, and from the bald, horribly unnatural skull, which was caught by the spluttering light of the long black pitch and sulphur candles, two enormous horns spread out -sideways and up. Before the apparition we knelt as the goat rose, towering above us , it seized from the Satanic altar of glistening red stone, whereupon reposed the ancient "Devil’s Bibles" containing all the liturgies of Hell, a golden crucifix, set with precious stones, and with one movement the Holy Cross was flung to the floor where it broke into pieces.

All was ready, the horrifying and macabre ritual of the Black Mass could now commence.

D. Brown 5 Sc. L

The E.G.S. Union

The E.G.S. Union is the successor to the Literary and Debating Society of previous years, and fulfils the same purpose. However, although it was hoped that the Society would be reinvigorated by a change of name, attendances at meetings and debates were no improvement on last year. Perhaps the most lively debate proved to be the one concerned with the rights and wrongs of legalized abortion.

The brunt of the organization of the Union fell upon the shoulders of the committee, to such an extent that not only did the committee plan the debates, but its members also spoke from the platform with regularity. We would have appreciated more "extra committee" members leading the debates; we thank the few who did. Maybe next year will see a considerable improvement.

In the inter-house debates the trophy went to Stuarts who defeated Tudors in a close contest which could have swayed either way.

Our thanks are extended to Mr .J.B. Watson for his interest in our meetings and hope that there will be someone to show the same interest in the Union next year.

P.L. Thomley, President.

Junior Literary and

Debating Society

This has been a very successful year for the Junior Literary and Debating Society.

The first event was the Annual General Meeting to elect officials. J.A. Smith and P. B. Gilkinson were elected President and Vice-President respectively. Committee members were elected to represent each year. Jean Shelton was elected as Secretary but resigned in the Spring Term, and was replaced by J. B. Lancaster.

By far the most popular event was the discussion with an attendance of over one hundred and fifty. The most outstanding feature was the competition to find the champion form in which 4S1 were the winners.

We are indebted to Mrs. Smith for her unfailing enthusiasm, and we would also like to thank all the form teachers who judged the inter-form debates.

J. B. Lancaster, Secretary.

C. E. W. C.

Interest in current affairs has continued to grow amongst sixth-formers as attendance at C. E. W. C. lectures this year has shown.

In the Autumn Term we attended an interesting and entertaining lecture, at Manchester University College, on American teenage life, by Mr. Penry Williams, former senior History master at this school, who had recently returned from a trip to the States to study educational systems there. Later this term, a conference on Cuba was held at Stretford Girl’s School, which was followed by tea and a square dance.

During the Christmas Holidays 3 members of 6 Lower went to the C.F.W.C. conference in London.

The last evening lecture of the year was held again at the Tech., the subject being the problems facing coloured immigrants living in Manchester, the lecturer giving us an insight into the problems and a better understanding of the plight of these people.

At the end of the summer term it is hoped to send a party to a full day conference at Manchester University, which will be devoted to the subject "Russia - Past and Present".

R. Norton.

 

The Stretford Conference

On March 27th a party of Sixth-Formers attended the Annual Conference, organized by the Commonwealth Institute at Stretford Grammar School. "The Developing Countries of Africa" formed this year’s subject.

Sir James Harford introduced the first of the two main speakers. Mr. John Hall, Commonwealth Correspondent of the "New Statesman" who gave a well planned and informative talk on the political social and economic problems facing the "new" countries of Africa, while Mr. Ali Mazoni, himself an East African, provided us with an interesting and versatile review of East African Affairs, and gave us a valuable insight into the African view of the Western Way of life and its impact on African Culture.

The morning drew to a close with the division into groups to discuss the evidence and to produce some searching questions for the speakers.

After sampling the delights of a good school dinner, we were invited to watch a film and join the throngs in the Sixth-Form common room.

 

 

 

The Answer is Prehistoric

My first is in dinner, it’s left out of tea,

My second’s in tiny, though absent from wee,

My third is in ancient, as well as in new,

My fourth is in sorrow, yet missing from rue;

My fifth is in summer, my fifth is in Spring,

My sixth is in leader, it's left out of King.

My seventh’s in purple, my seventh’s in hue,

My eighth’s in yours, but it’s left out of you;

My whole is a creature both heavy and slow

That lived on this planet a long time ago.

 

(H. Hesford 2 A)

Could it Happen to Me?

I have read in newspapers about accidents and I have felt sorry for the people involved, but they happen to other people, not like you or me, or 50 we think.

Try to imagine friendly people lifting you out of the wreck of a car, and being laid on a grass verge with a coat spread over you to keep you warm. People gathering around you, calling out to parents who didn't answer and hearing snatches of jumbled conversation – "The woman’s still trapped", "He’s only a boy", "The man can stand", "The two men from the other car are lying in the road", "Stand back everyone", "Thank God! Here's the ambulance".

What was in fact about forty minutes seemed like forty hours ending with an ambulance journey, with the siren sounding. Imagine the hazy glimpses of nurses and doctors cleaning up bruises, stitching cuts and being pushed around on trolleys. Oh How cold an X-ray table is at 1 o'clock in the morning when you are clad in vest and pants.

My father does not appear to be too seriously hurt. Is this a dream? What has happened to my mother? The hustle and bustle is now over and I am pushed into a cubicle whilst they decide whether I should be admitted or discharged from hospital. Fortunately after a further two hours I am able to make another cold, miserable ambulance journey to my grandparents’ home. It is now 3.30 a.m. and I am told that once again I will be picked up at 10.30 a.m. to return for further X-rays and treatment.

This experience happens to other people, but also people like you and me. I know, because it happened to me!

Stephen Boardman 1 C.

 

 

Childhood Memories of Various Members of 3C

The clear vision that I can visibly memorise is not that of my first day of school but the second. This indeed was a memorable occasion for I had at length decided that I detested my class-mates and form-mistress. To get me from my home to school was no mean problem that morning. Firstly I had decided that I wouldn’t dress (but after forcibly dressing me my mother made sure I arrived at school by dragging me). On arriving four minutes late I stormed into the classroom and was met by a blast of angry babble from the teacher and several clean neat pupils staring at me in disgust. Without further ado I promptly sat down and "wet" on the chair (which met with much disgust from the teacher!) ... ... ... ...

I remember being made to stand in front of an audience consisting of my mother, father, two aunts, some friends and a woman with a loud voice who kept on shouting and who rather frightened me. Before this formidable audience, I, scarlet faced and very self-conscious, was made to recite the alphabet and the numbers which I got wrong. When they started laughing I burst out of the room, for I hate to be embarrassed in any way or made a public spectacle. Another thing I remember was when I went to Sunday School, I was rather nervous and to reassure me my mother told me to do whatever John, a friend of mine did.

Everything went splendidly at first, then the teacher told John to take the collection box round, and so off I toddled after him. He picked up a box and I finding none picked up an imaginary one and followed him around the class holding an imaginary box in two sweaty, grubby little hands while all the class tittered at us . . . . . . . . .

At Blackpool once my friend and myself were allowed to ride on the donkeys. We did, but they both became rather wild and I slid gradually down the saddle, but before I could fall off the donkey kicked and I rose high in the air and landed in a rut in the sand. I have never been on a donkey since ... … …

My mother was at work; it was a Friday tea-time. My father just home from work was going to fry an egg. He put the egg on the table telling me to leave it alone. This I could not resist, I shook the table leg making the egg fall off. My father was annoyed and picked up a shovel to retrieve the egg. He showed the egg to me and lectured me. I thought he was going to throw the egg at me so I grabbed a tomato and threw it at him getting into more trouble. He tried to hit me so I ran up to my grandmother’s, hiding in the airing cupboard. In there I fell asleep and can't remember anything else … … … …

 

Charade

My first is in "cancer" and also in "cough"

My second is in "Inhale" but not in "enough"

My third is in "gasping" but not in 2catch"

My fourth is in "aroma" and also in "match"

My fifth is in "free gifts" but not in "lung"

My sixth is in "expensive" but not in "hung"

My seventh is in "filter" and also in "tar"

My eighth is in "taste" but not in "mar"

My last is in "death" but not in "drag"

My whole is cool and to guess it's a fag.

Margaret Dudley

Chess Club

This year we entered an Intermediate and Junior Chess Team in the Manchester Schools League, the Intermediate team for the first time. The League is divided into the Southern Schools, such as Sale Grammar, and the Northern Schools, such as Bolton, The Intermediate team proved unconquerable and won the Southern Division of the League. They then went on to beat Rochdale Grammar, winners of the Northern Section, thus becoming League Champions and holders of the Manchester Evening News Trophy which has been held monotonously by Manchester Grammar School for many years.

In the Junior League we were unlucky not to win but we were close runners-up to Manchester Grammar School, and the only team to beat them. The teams were as below:-

INTERMEDIATE Riordan G., Riordan B., West, Scholes, Perks, J.A. Smith, Fildes.

JUNIORS Hosie, Cunningham, Morrissey, Parr, A. Jones, Garner, Ruddock. Reserve: Britton.

Fildes (Intermediate) and Jones (Junior) did not lose a game, but both teams were strong throughout.

After a double round of house matches, Tudors became house chess champions, the result being (1) Tudors, (2) Saxons, (3) Normans, (4) Stuarts.

In the individual chess championships, last years senior chess champion, M. Little, was caught off form in the early stages of the competition and lost. The champion is now Ian Perks 4S1. Michael Parr, 3A is Junior Champion. At the moment there are very few 5th and 6th formers in the Chess Club but it is hoped that the present intermediates will be able to form a senior team in the next year or two.

The various attractions of the Chess Club include the familiar ladder competition now in five divisions, the summer handicap competition, the lightning competitions which require technique and the simultaneous chess displays given by Mr. Turner and Mr. Hardman, and by Mr. Heslop from Swinton Chess Club.

Excellent lessons are given to chess recruits at the beginning of the year, teaching the fundamentals of the game.

We owe many thanks to the girls, who provide refreshments. They often stay late to cater for a visiting team. We offer special thanks for the time and interest put into organising the Chess Club by Mr. Turner and for his help in improving the game of many individuals.

M. Little, 6 U.Sc.

 

Library

The Library continues to grow in its number of books and its number of uses. The many works of fiction, by a great variety of authors, have expanded the fiction shelves so much that there is a shortage of space. The non-fiction books (particularly in the science section) which have been added to the library attempt to cover the growing need of Juniors, as well as Seniors.

The "Paper-backs" have also been augmented in an attempt to cater for the demands of the Sixth Form. Later in the year the familiar green Britannica Encyclopę dias were replaced by a later edition, which was given to us by Eccles Library. Also during the year two other sets of encyclopę dias have been brought, one being a very up-to-date American set.

The interest in magazines continues to grow, and consequently the range has been widened by the purchase of "Understanding Science" and "Animal Life".

Suggestions for further book purchases will always be welcomed, but, before handing in your suggestions, could you please note the author, title, publisher and, if possible, the price.

Thanks must be expressed to all the Librarians for their valuable work during the dinner-hour and after School, and also for their work in processing the new books for the shelves. Special thanks must also be extended to Mrs. Baxter who works hard ordering and classifying the new books.

Let us hope that the Library will continue to be a place of lively study and interest.

J. Parkinson 6 U.S.

 

Girl's Trip to Switzerland

Easter 63

At the height of 7,000 feet, sitting in a cable railway opposite a man with Zermatt written across his left sleeve we had moments when we wondered why we had come. Luckily we saw the funny side of it as with many of these minor incidents while in Switzerland.

We had left the usual cheerful surroundings of Piccadilly Station at 8.15 a.m. excited at the prospect of arriving 25 hours later in sunny Switzerland. When we did arrive it was raining! This soon changed, however, and for the rest of the holiday it was sunny and warm. We stayed at the picturesque little village of Goldwil above Lake Thun. Herr Friedli and his wife looked after us wonderfully.

Most of the holiday was spent visiting the surrounding countryside. We went across Lake Thun by steamer where, to our delight, we went up an almost vertical mountain railway. The view at the top was magnificent. At Interlaken, Berne and Lucerne most of the party said goodbye to most of its pocket-money.

The most memorable day was Monday. We went to Grindlewald and took the train up the Kleine Scheidegg where we were surrounded by the peaks of the Eiger, the Mouch, and the Jungfrau and saw an avalanche in the distance. Some of the younger members of the party were delighted to find that you could hire toboggans and we soon saw that Miss Gardner and Mrs. Rutland had joined them. We did however manage to get everyone down to Lauterbrunnen in time to visit the Trommelbach Caves and Waterfalls.

Too soon, as with all good holidays, the time came to leave, and, replete from the meal on the Manchester train we arrived at Piccadilly once more safe and sound.

G+G+R.

 

The Boy's Trip to Switzerland

Easter 63

On the Saturday morning before Easter, a group of Eccles Grammar School Boys, all heavily laden and ready to start their journey, arrived at the familiar surroundings of Manchester Central Station. After a smooth crossing on the boat we all settled down for the long and somewhat tiring journey to Interlaken, where we arrived on Sunday at 10.30 a.m.

After our first taste of Swiss food we were allowed the whole day free, so that we could set off to explore Interlaken. On the following day, we went for a trip across Lake Thun to Spief. Our group reached the landing stage to await the boat for the return journey, their bowler hats and walking sticks - purchased in Spief - caused many a foreign head to turn and stare! On the last complete day at Interlaken we went up the Jungfraujoch by mountain railway; a height of 11,333 ft.

On Wednesday we left Interlaken for Locarno where we were greeted on arrival by true Mancunian weather-rain. Luckily however this only lasted for a short time. From Locarno we made a coach trip over the Swiss/Italian border to Milan where, just outside the Cathedral, we were overwhelmed with traders. However, we eventually managed to shake these off.

On the following Sunday we left Locarno for Basle; we spent several hours at Lucerne and, in Basle itself, had time to see the Rhine by night.

The party arrived in Manchester, one hour late, in true British Railway fashion where anxious parents were waiting for us.

The success of the holiday was due mainly to Mr. Smith, Mr. Turner and Mr. Hardman, to whom we extend all our thanks.

J. Parkinson 6 U.Sc.

 

Next Page

Previous Page