Last year our cricket teams did extraordinarily well, the second XI emerging with a better record than the first, Monk proved an adequate captain leading his side to five victories in ten matches and losing four. The second XI carried away the honours in all their five matches and confounded their numerous critics; the team proved that orthodox strokes also pay.

We were all very pleased to see that Garth Hope has had trials for his County and was chosen on one occasion to represent Lancashire Club and Ground. We wish him every success.

Colours:- Rimmer, Bloomer.

1963.

At the time of going to Press the first XI of this season has not had much success due to team rebuilding, but gradually they are settling into a balanced team. With the new 2nd XI the story is different as they have had success in all their matches, which augurs well for the future 1st XI.

This year has been one of rebuilding and reshaping the team after two or three years of having the same successful team Consequently the result sheet does not read like a fairy tale. This should not, and does not, reflect the amount of effort put into the game by the team as a whole. McCormick and Pomfrit especially, worked like Trojans and deserved better luck than they had.

Of last year’s team, only Salt and Legge remained and so Mr. Jones was left with the unenviable task of selecting a team from scratch. Because of this, and because of the rather severe winter which restricted practice to a minimum, the team could not settle down to any recognised pattern.

We look forward to next year when, with any luck, there will be a nucleus of players who have gained experience this year. With this experience a successful team could well emerge.

On behalf of the whole team, I would like to thank Mr. Jones and other members of the staff who gave up their Saturday mornings to referee our matches and I am sure the team will echo my sentiments when I thank Mrs. Rutland and the girls who provided refreshments after the game.

Scorers: Riordan (10), Dyson (5), Hosie (5), Smith (3),

Salt (3), McCormick, Pomfrit, Parris, Neil, Legge.

Colours: Salt, Pomfrit, Legge, Thomley.

The staff match was held this year with the customary humour associated with this event.

As a football spectacle the only class came from Mr.J. Smith who demonstrated his undoubted ability with those neat back heel flicks in the manner that he has made his own; K. Pallin’s cool approach to the full-back position shone like a bright star on a dark night; and the excellent goalkeeping,, albeit for only 5 minutes, of Mrs. B. M. Smith a guest star of truly brilliant skill.

The girls of the Junior School soon made their presence known with cries of "Come on, D… ." and "Give it to G…"

Mr. Coles responded to the adulation by converting a rather dubious penalty decision given by the impartial staff referee.

Parris opened the school’s account with a low left-foot-drive from 12.2 yards. Then came Mr. Coles’ finest hour: wiping the mud off his right toe cap he calmly measured his run up (bowing to the applauding crowd in a manner befitting a gladiator) and forthwith sent such a drive with his left toe cap that the poor, unfortunate Finch could not contain the ferocious shot.

The final score was 2 - 2 with P. A. Pomfrit converting one of the corners eventually conceded by the referee. This was a fantastic header from all of two yards which richochetted off the post with venemous ferocity. Mr. Jones scored the equaliser with a lucky last minute header from a pinpoint corner on the left by the superlative Mr. Thomas.

The School Team Was:-

The Staff Team Was:-

Normans must feel very proud that they are the first house to take the Cross Country Cup from Stuarts, who came second this year, are very disappointed that they could not extend their run of victories to ten years; Norman’s. Junior, Middle and Senior teams all won their races, although only in the middle boys race did a Norman win. Tudor. and Saxon. took 3rd and 4th positions respectively.

Middle: - Wallwork (N)

Senior: - R. Jones (X)

Norman. 264 Stuarts 307 Tudors 420 Saxon. 426

After one postponement because of bad weather the 3rd Annual Inter-Schools Sports were held at St. Patrick’s R. C. Sec. School, Peel Green on Wednesday May 22, when boys and girls from 5 schools took part, viz. Ellesmere Park, Winton, Irlam, Alfred Turner, St. Patrick’s and Eccles Grammar

From the first event competition was as fierce and support from biased spectators of all ages as fervent if not more so than in previous competitions, and excitement was at fewer pitch throughout the evening. It was a fitting climax to the meeting when in the final event, Stuart Hosie broke the tape to give us first place in the Senior Boys' Relay - how this brought to mind the 1962meeting!-for in the final reckoning it was Eccles Grammar who led the field to win the competition by a clear 31 points with Ellesmere Park 2nd with 245, Winton 3rd, Alfred Turner next with 214 and St.Patrick’s in 5th position.

The girls triumphed in their sections to retain the trophies held last year, beating by four points Alfred Turner in the Junior and Inter Section, and by 17 points Ellesmere Park in the Senior Section. The boys, however although winning overall by a clear 30 points, had to be satisfied with runners up positions in both sections, losing by a mere 4 points to Alfred Turner in the Junior and Inter-groups and by 5 points to St. Patrick’s in the fiercely contested Senior Section.

Although most praise must go for the overall performance of the team, for a 4th place gained in a field event carries valuable points and is just as important as a major win if the team is to triumph, full praise must he given to Jennifer Cochrane, 2nd in the Junior Girls Individual awards, Sandra Moodv and Janice Yates who were 1st and 2nd respectively in the Inter Girls group, and Hillary Rothwell, Jennifer Roe and Barbara Thompson, equal 1st and 2nd respectively in the Junior Section. Ably backed up by their team mates these girls paved the way. to success. No boys entered the three events required for individual honour, competition is to fierce for this!, yet special mention must be made of several nameless reserves who stepped in at the last moment and fought their way to success. The strength of a team is in its reserves has never been a more fitting statement ... and how fitting it was to see youngsters emulate the success of elder brothers in years past and in much the same fighting spirit. Who knows, in five years time the final event might bring yet another Seniors Boys’ Relay win for Eccles G.S. this time with Peter Hosie taking pride of place from his brother.

A truly pleasing performance by our competitors (one spectator was overheard to say that even Mr. Fairweather looked pleased!) and full praise to all concerned for the success of the evening, including our hosts St. Patrick’s and in particular Mr. Cleare for his very able .organization. Trophies were presented by Mr. Fred Ireland at the end of the evening.

The season started with every member of the 1st and 2nd VI playing with keen enthusiasm. The 1st VI played well with quite good results, and the 2nd VI slowly improved every match. The weekly practices were attended very regularly by both teams, and the standard of play improved a great deal, owing to the valuable coaching of Mrs. Smith.

The season ended with a mixed doubles match against the staff team, with the staff winning by quite a margin.

Both tennis teams’ thanks go to Mrs. Smith who, by her keenness, encouraged us all not to give up even if we were at the losing end, and for giving up a great deal of her time for practices and matches.

Tennis Colours were awarded to, E. Gardner, J. Roe, and P. Gerrard.

This year the session started very well, the 1st XI beating Canon Slade for the first time in ten years, and the 2nd XI drawing. Unfortunately, after beating Worsley Wardley, we tended to rest on our laurels and later results were disappointing.

We were further handicapped by the winter freeze, which limited us to indoor practices and do matches for 2 months. Towards the end of the season, however, we improved considerably, the 1st XI managing 3 draws in the Hockey Tournament, making us second in our division.

Our thanks go to Mr.. B. Smith, Mrs. Rutland and Miss Bolton for giving up so much of their spare time, both to coach and umpire.

S. G.

This years netball, like every other sport, was badly hindered by the severe winter, which caused four of the ten fixtures to be cancelled. The first VII won five matches out of ten, but the season was marred by a poor show at the Lancashire Schools Netball Tournament, where the team only won one match out of four.

The under 13 team have been fairly successful, winning 10 out of their fourteen matches in the Eccles Schools’ Junior League, finishing third at the end of the season. The team also attended a Junior Rally.

This year three members of the 1st VII sat the Lancashire County Umpire’s Written Test, two out of the entrants being successful.

At the end of the season a school party attended an interesting lecture with slides, at the Manchester Training College, on the West Indies England Netball Teams’ recent tour of the West Indies.

On behalf of all the netball teams, I should like to thank Miss Pryor and Mrs. Smith for their valuable coaching, and for giving up so much of their free time, especially for Saturday morning matches.

This year a School Swimming Club has been formed under the supervision of Mrs. Smith and Miss Pryor. Each Friday night about thirty girls, equipped with swim wear, leave school in great haste in order to reach the baths before 3.55 p.m.

There has been a marked improvement in the performance of members, and due to this it is hoped that a full team will be entered for the Eccles and Irlam Schools Swimming Gala which is to be held later this term. The greatest success of the Swimming Class is due to the untiring efforts of Miss Pryor and Mrs. Smith who have sacrificed their hairstyles every Friday night during the past year!

The beginning of this season saw some very good results at the Lancashire County W.A.A.A. Annual Championships, held at Blackpool. Mary Edwards won the Junior High Jump Competition with a jump of 4ft. 2ins. and in the Intermediate Long Jump Competition, Jennifer Roe and Janice Yates gained sixth and seventh places respectively. The Junior Relay Team did well to get into the finals after coming a close second in their heat. None of these results would have been possible without the coaching, which was given by Mrs Smith. It is to her we owe our thanks for sacrificing her spare time to train the girls during the Easter Holiday and at lunchtimes. Something must also be said for the girls, who have trained enthusiastically to make the above results possible.

We now look forward confidentially to the meetings this coming season.

B. Blinkhorn 5T1

R. Norton.

Born at Bolton "J. B." was, in his younger days, a very fine tennis player and footballer. He was still a follower and a great fan of the "Wanderers" and "United". In the First World War, he served with the Kings Regiment (Liverpool), and in the second with the Home Guard.

We should record, with gratitude, that the Old Essians’ Association have invested a sum of money so that the interest may ensure the yearly presentation of the Old Essian Prizes for Advanced Physics and Chemistry.

Unfortunately, there has been a period of lack of support and so, for the moment, the Society is in a state of "Suspended Animation" until some keen young people form a new Committee, call a General Meeting, and restart the Society.

SUPPORT is what is required - not just verbal approval but the actual bodily presence of people with their own real efforts, willingness and service.

We congratulate the following on their qualifications and appointments.

Audrey Lumb M..A., (1944/47) Fellow of the Institute of Librarians. She works in the Libraries of Manchester University.

Diana Winterbottom, (1944/51) Fellow of the Institute of Librarians. She works in Eccles Public Library.

Alan Cantwell (1950/55) obtained 1st Class Honours in the Diploma of Technology (Chemical Engineering)

David Watts (1953/58) Diploma of Technology in Industrial Chemistry. He works at Milford Haven in the new Oil Refinery, looked after by his wife, Myrna Wright (1951/57)

A. E. Ackstine (1940/46) is assistant to Mr. J. Longland, Director of Education for Derbyshire.

Patricia A. M. Henderson, M. A., (1948/54) is a research Fellow in the Fine Arts at Newham College, Cambridge.

Alan Pidcock (1950/56) is Junior Lecturer in Chemistry at the new University of Sussex. The Junior Lecturer in Physics there is the grandson of this school's first deputy head.

Michael Warrington (1949/56) obtained his M.Sc. at London University; played Lacrosse for England; teaches Chemistry and Lacrosse at Warehouseman & Clerks School, Cheadle Hulme; is married to Susan Lomax, 1954/57, and in his spare time looks after his infant daughter.

Margaret Blanksby (1957/60) eldest daughter of the Rev. Dr. Arthur Blanksby of Warrinambool, Victoria, was married to John, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Branson of Chelmsford, Essex at the Methodist Ladies College Chapel, Melbourne (her previous school).

Judith Gardner (1951/57) who obtained 1st Class honours in the Diploma of Technology (Electrical Engineering) the first woman in England to do so, became engaged to Edward Robinson in May.

Geoffrey Allen (1945/51) was ordained Deacon in Manchester Cathedral at Michaelmas. He was the Gospeller at the Service.

The Rev. F. R. Cooke, (1946/53) was ordained priest last Trinity Sunday.

Burnham Savage (1948/55) was teaching in Canada. One day, the headmaster of a school in New Zealand telephoned me about Burnham. I expect his geographical location has now changed.

The following old boys and girls have taken their degrees:-

Pauline Beswick (1952/59) B.A.,Hons. History, Exeter University

E. Coxhill (1953/58) B. Sc. Tech. (Chem. Eng.) Manchester College of Technology.Pauline D. Jackson (1953/59) B. Sc. Sheffield University.

Fleur S. W. Penford (1951/59) B.A., Hons. Geology, Leeds University

P. Sharples (1951/58) B. Sc. Hons. Metallurgy, Leeds University.

R. Wolstenholme (1952/58) B. Sc. Hons. Geology, Sheffield University

D. Watts (1953/58) Dip. Tech, Loughborough College.

The following have left us for Universities and Training Colleges:

Barker, S.R. to Sheffield University to read Medicine

Hoath, J.M. to Manchester University to read Chemistry

Inch, A.J to Durham University to read Geography

Sharratt. M. to University College, London University, to read Chemistry

Warburton, G. E., to Durham University to read Chemical Engineering.

Lynette Ball to Birmingham University to read French

Jean Lockery to Leeds University to read Law

Elspeth C. Taylor to Sheffield University to read Psychology.

Katherine A. Smith to Manchester University to read for a General Degree.

Monk D. H. to City of Birmingham T.C.

Jean M. Barks, Goldsmiths College, London.

Christine M. Hardy. Coventry T.C.

Janet Maxwell, Battersea College of Housecraft

Janet Walker, Alsager T.C.

Jacqueline Beswick, Manchester Day T.C.

Patricia L. Hayes, Goldsmith's College London.