- or Letter from The Common Salt Mines.
Hail Tovarichs.

 

 

With the departure of Malleus, Incus and Stapes it fell upon us, Tibia and Fibula, to make the report. Let us convey at this point our deepest condolences to the Universities of Manchester, Liverpool, Durham and Sheffield, whither our former companions have departed. (Congratulations).

4S Form Report

 

We have now embarked on a new school year. We have a new form master, Mr. Petford, and also a new form room. Various activities are being pursued by members of our science form.

Quite a few boys have been on the Under XV soccer team and several of the girls play netball and hockey. Rodney Smith has played on the school first team and is also one of the best anglers in the form, together with Fred Ogden and Philip Schofield. Hobbies such as train-spotting, stamp-collecting and coin-collecting are also pursued by some of our members. Jack Bottomley is the best aero-modeller in the form, and Frank Briggs is the best chemist. The radio enthusiasts of the form are John Battersby and Anthony Adams.

4 SCIENCE.

 

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4G Form Report, 1955

 

September 1st and back to school after a glorious six weeks' holiday, to meet again our friends and to make new friends with the new boys and girls of the school. Our form is 4G.  It is a mixed class, made up of 20 girls and 7 boys and our form teacher is Mr. Wright.

Some of the pupils came out of different forms to make up the "General" form.  The pupils are just getting used to each other. In our form there are many keen cyclists, athletes and. swimmers.  Two members of our form, Barry Hamer and Derek Morris, are keen cyclists and during the summer holidays they went on a tour of North Wales.  Derek Morris is also a keen swimmer and he swam in the school gala and, pleasing enough, won his event and came second in the school gala.  Bernard Dowd also took part in the gala, but he was in the diving and he came second.  Sylvia Fitzpatrick, another member of our form, is also a keen swimmer. Jean Wright was very fortunate to captain the girls' netball team.  Another member of our form, Shirley Bottomley, is a keen ornithologist and won the competition in 1953.  This is all I can say about our form but when we settle down properly I think we shall get on well together as a form.

BARRY DAVIES, Form 4G.

 

 

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Form 3A

 

Form 3A is about the most nerve-racking class in school.  As one enters, one is met by a shower of chalk and a few voices harmonising the "Top Twenty".

Quite a few people of the form are members of various activities in school, e.g. hockey, football and swimming teams are among services rendered by the form.  Although we have lost some of the last 2A we are pleased to see new members with us, and hope they will become accustomd to the ways of our rowdy set of brains.

 

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Form 3B

 

There are 31 people in 3B.    Our form teacher is Mr. Tempest.

This class is represented in many of the school's activities. J. Gordon and M. McHugh have been chosen to swim on the town team. We wish them much success.

 

Several girls from our form went to see the ballet at Manchester, with Miss Turner on the 29th October.

Only three of our members went with the party to France.

We  are  glad   to   say  that  everyone  is   responding admirably  to  the Charity Appeal.

On the whole we have settled well in the new term.

R. NUTTER, L. BUCKLEY, D. MOXON AND V. JONES.

 

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2B Form Report

 

Our form is made up of pupils from 1A, B and C. There are 11 boys and 18 girls in our form and the form master is Mr. Edwards.  Stamp collecting appears to be the main interest among the boys and ice or roller skating among the girls.  However, P. Holderness and F. Smith are successful swimmers, P. Wood plays cricket very well and L. Priest can play football.  We also have some good musicians - L. Kershaw plays the accordion and Catharine Smith the recorder.  M. Otzman is an artist of some renown and fortunately we have a First Aid specialist amongst our number - the well-known Kathie Howard.

 

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1A Form Report

 

This year's form 1A consists of 28 pupils, 8 of which are boys. The form mistress is Miss Turner, who also takes the form for maths.

Both boys and girls are very keen on games, the boys play football and the girls hockey.

Each of the three houses has a space on the wall on which to stick pictures. As each picture goes up the pupil gains a point for his or her house.

Most of the pupils in the form are liking Greenhill very much indeed. Most of us are liking the teachers and are able to keep up with the work.

 

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Form IB Report

 

About half the class are interested in stamp-collecting.  Some of them have some very bright colourful stamps, especially George Gray who has a few hundred of these.  In our form there is a Cook and a Kitchen who are both very good friends.  A few of the girls go to dancing class, and music class.  A few of them like ice-skating.  Most of the boys like football and cricket, as is only natural.  A few of the girls like table-tennis as well as netball.  Sheila Pool's hair is curly and all the curls stick up all over her head, so she is nicknamed "Fuzzy".  Patricia Hammet likes making plaster models in rubber moulds.  Peter Garside and David Hall like running very much and. Peter Garside came first for running at the Lifeboys' Sports at Uppermill.  Colin Jackson likes playing the mouth-organ.  He played it in a concert at Northmoor and received a good applause. Only a few of the boys like balsa-modelling.

 

 

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1C Form Report

 

1C consists of 14 boys and I5 girls and our form mistress is Miss Taylor.  Our representatives for the Charity Fund are J. Lees, boys, and D. Redfern, girls.  Our form room is No. 3.  Games, geography and maths, are the boys' favourite lessons.  Needlework, gym. and games and maths. are the girls'.

 

 

 

     -  PHOTO PAGES

 

 

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- VISITS/HOLIDAYS

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Speech   Day,   1955

On Tuesday, November 29th, we held our Annual Speech Day. It was, as the previous ones had been, very exciting, and needed a great deal of preparation.

This event is the highlight of the school year, when we are on show to the outside world. As a result everyone is expected to have scrubbed, shining faces, smooth hair and spotlessly white blouses and shirts, and, as usual, the school rose to the occasion.

The parents and guests arrived, and then the school filed in to fill the rows of empty chairs. The guests came on the platform and the proceedings began by everyone singing the School Hymn. Speech Day had begun once again.

We were introduced to the guests by the Chairman, Councillor Webster, and then Mr. Higson reported upon the progress and main events of the past school year. The prizes were presented by the Bishop of Middleton who in a most interesting and enjoyable speech, advised us not to go for the safe jobs but to be adventurous.

At intervals the choir entertained us, and were a great success.

Then in no time at all it seemed, the guests were leaving the platform, and the school filed out. Speech Day was over for another year. It had been a great success, as those in the past had been, and, we hope, those in the future will be.

 

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Our Holiday in France

It was a bright summer's day in July, when a number of schoolchildren gathered at the top of West Street to begin the first stage of their long journey to France.  The party was 34 strong when we embarked on the S.S. Falaise to cross the Channel.  St. Malo was reached at 7.0 a.m. the following morning for us to disembark amid rain and drizzle.  After going through the customs without mishap (thanks to Mrs. Kuler) we boarded a coach which was to take us across Brittany to Concarneau - our destination.  We arrived there at 3.0 p.m., very tired after our long journey.

After unpacking our suitcases and having a good night's rest we set out to look round the town.  The town was in two parts, the old part which was in the form of a castle, and the new part.  One shop in the old town was visited every morning by nearly everyone for souvenirs and presents.  Every afternoon we went down to one of the many beaches round Concarneau for a swim and to sunbathe.

We had three meals a day. these being different from what they are in England, but everyone seemed to enjoy them.

On Friday we visited Beg-Meil, a town just across the headland from Concarneau.  On Sunday we visited Quimper in order to see one of the processions of Les Fetes de Cornouailles and to visit the many places of interest there.  Le Chateau de Keriolet was visited on Tuesday morning and the Eckmuhl Phare (lighthouse) on Wednesday afternoon.

The language was overcome by using signs, phrase books and also by asking Mrs. Kuler.

The days seemed to flash by and after a fortnight's brilliant sunshine our holiday drew to a close. Once more the College Pierre Gueguin was in an uproar as we began to prepare for the long journey across Brittany and back home, with suitcases laden with presents for parents and friends, after a very happy holiday.

Now on behalf of the whole party we should like to thank Mrs. Kuler, Miss Taylor, Mr. Sanderson and Mr. Handforth for organising such a wonderful holiday, and also the many things they did which made it so unforgettable.

 

BARBARA JONES, JOAN WEBSTER, 4S.

 

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Our Visit to the Ballet

 

Some girls of Form III paid a most enjoyable visit to the London Festival Ballet performance of the "Nutcracker Suite" and "Esmeralda" at the Palace Theatre, Manchester, on Saturday, October 29th.  The dances were as exciting to watch as the costumes were beautiful to see. We were fortunate to see John Gilpin dance at a matinee.  He took the part of Gringoire in "Esmeralda" and performed some of his famous leaps.  The principal Ballerina in this same ballet was Jeannette Minty - a very lovely dancer.

The Sugar Plum Fairy in the "Nutcracker" was danced by Noel Rosanna and the Snow Queen was danced by Toni Lander.

It was a very happy party of eighteen girls who left the colour and sparkle for the cold grey streets and they will long remember the happy afternoon they spent.  Our thanks are due to Miss Turner and Miss Taylor for organising the party.

A.M.T., 3B.

 

 

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Rendezvous with an Old Friend

 

"I suggest we meet at 5 p.m. at the railway station in Luxembourg on Monday, July 25th".

Apart from a very rough itinerary hinted at in a letter received three or four months previously, this was the sole piece of information on which we embarked for a holiday in Central Europe.  The "I" was Herr Josef Baldauf, whom many will remember as a member of staff attached to the languages department about three years ago.

To keep this appointment we rose at 5 a.m., at 7 o'clock checked in our luggage at the Air Terminal at Royal Exchange, Manchester, and not long afterwards were airborne with seventy or so other travellers in a DC6 of Sabena Airlines en route for Brussels.  Changing to a smaller two-engined Convair, we soon experienced somewhat more disturbed weather conditions as we flew amongst towering masses of cumulus cloud towards Luxembourg, arriving there as per schedule at one o'clock.  Having had lunch aboard the 'plane, we were free to explore the city for about four hours, but on returning to the railway station, we had not long to wait before the familiar figure of Herr Baldauf sauntered up, and to our surprise, the successful linking-up assignation, which the day before had seemed scarcely possible, had actually happened.  In but a few minutes, we and our luggage were squeezed into a 4-seater Renault on our way to the Saar.

Episode one of the tour comprised a two-day "rest" in the heart of the Saar territory.  It was here we had our first real experience of the countryside, very different from that of England, vast areas of woodland separated by patches of cultivation surrounding villages and small towns, and yet, just up the Saar valley lay the familiar industrial pall screening the steelworks of Volkingen and Saarbriicken.
Somewhere beyond this cover of grime and smoke lay the University of the Saar, and our second day's activities included a short tour of inspection of the University grounds (although not until we had taken a morning walk in Herr Baldauf's beloved woods surrounding his home village).  He was fortunate in being educated in such attractive surroundings, although he pointed out that he graduated too early to enjoy the benefits of the newly-constructed residential block with its commodious study-bedrooms.  Self-operated lifts to each floor and French windows opening out on to balconies overlooking the well-wooded grounds seemed to us a luxury existing only in some far-off Student-Utopia.

Wednesday saw the Renault driving northwards towards the Mosel valley, following its fantastic meanders, with terraced vineyards extending right to the skyline on both banks, whilst such towns as Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach, Cochem and Moselkern reminded us of this valley's world-wide reputation for the quality of its wines.  At Koblenz, Mosel meets Rhine,  and here we turned south into the Rhine Gorge, pausing to climb by Sesselbahn to a high point, the Ehrenbreitstein, from which we had a splendid view of the river confluence, known as the Deutsches Eck.  Thunderstorms followed us along the Rhine, but were not too prolonged to interfere with our view from the top of the Lorelei rock.  Every bend of the river brought into view another string of barges and another "fairytale book" castle or burg, perched precariously on its crag crowning the steep-faced cliffs - Burg Katz, Burg Maus, Burg Rheinfels.  We spared an hour in Riidesheim to visit the famous Drosselgasse, a narrow street where visitors may sample every possible variety of the Rhenish wines for which this region is renowned.

Wiesbaden was next visited, and soon we reached Heidelberg, Germany's oldest University town.  Josef's attempts to show us some of the places frequented by the students ended in an unofficial visit to the broadcasting headquarters of the Suddeutscherrundfunk, but his friend, Angela, who knew the town well from her student days there, eventually showed us the Castle, the Old Bridge, students' eating dens, and even walked us along the famous Philosophien Weg.

The following day found us in the heart of the Black Forest, reached by following the Neckar valley.  Freudenstadt, the beautiful but expensive tourist centre, destroyed by the French after the war and since rebuilt on very modern lines, enjoys a very picturesque setting, surrounded by extensive pine-woods, the whole fully justifying several hours stay.  On the way again, we crossed the infant Danube at Geisingen and were soon driving along the shores of the Bodensee.  Accommodation was obtained at the small village of Immenstaad, where we remained for eight very memorable days, but Herr Baldauf soon departed, to continue his holiday with a group of friends in Italy.

We enjoyed the company of these two, and in spite of language problems, we had a great deal of fun.  We certainly hope to explore another part of Europe with them on another occasion.

No time remains to describe the rest of the holiday, but all too soon we had to travel from Konstanz to Luxembourg, remaining overnight at Freiburg so as to break the very long train journey.  Airborne again at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, August 10th (we just had time to look at Radio Luxembourg broadcasting station) we arrived home about five hours later, delighted at having been able to strengthen the link between Greenhill and our friends on the Continent.

R.W.

 

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We sit within our classroom walls, And laugh at the remote, unreal world. We laugh till our flimsy, fortress falls. And into the chaos, we, ourselves are hurled. Smug and self-satisfied we stare, Through the window that looks on life. Safe and secure, we do not care That the world outside is built on strife. M.T.

 

 

 

 

 

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Our Visit to Buckfast Abbey

 

"Very well, it's settled. Buckfast Abbey it is".  We had all decided to go to Buckfast Abbey for the afternoon and so we set off just before lunch.  We arrived at Buckfast about half past one and we started to walk towards the Abbey.  Being a little unsure of the direction to take, we asked a monk going into Buckfast for supplies.  On being directed to the Abbey we thanked him and went on our way.

From  a distance the Abbey does not look very impressive but to be able to realise how splendid it really is, one must see it.  The Abbey is surrounded by spacious grounds and plenty was to be seen.  So, armed with a camera, we set off on a tour of inspection.  We agreed to meet at the large gates later, and my friend and myself decided to see inside the Abbey first.

Inside the Abbey, monks were acting as guides and showing the people round the various small chapels and the High Altar.  Leaflets on the Catholic beliefs were on sale at the door and one shelf was devoted to Protestant beliefs.  As these were being sold to help the Church Fund we procured one or two and started off on our tour.  Photographs could not be taken, so we had to be satisfied with just seeing the inside of the Abbey and not taking photos as a memento.

The altars surrounding the Church are for the different Saints and different prayers.  They are decorated by gold plaques and stained-glass pictures.  They were, at that particular time, decorated by rich green tapestries trimmed with gold.

The High Altar, of course, is the main feature of the Church, the sight of which takes one's breath away.  Heavy gold candlesticks and the story of the Lord's Supper carved in gold dominates the Altar, and rich gold brocade surrounds the structure of it.

Above the Altar, a large statue of Mary and Jesus can be seen and on the roof are paintings and writings by famous artists.  The floor of the Abbey is made entirely of marble, and in the centre is raised higher than the ordinary floor level.  The Abbey was built by the monks themselves, and is made entirely of local stone.

When we had seen all we wanted to see, we left the Abbey and went into the Abbey gift shop.  After buying a few trinkets as mementoes we regretfully returned to catch our bus which was then due.
We took some last snapshots of the outside of the Abbey and returned to Paignton talking of course about our memorable visit to Buckfast Abbey.

 

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Tour of Wales

 

The day of August 12th, 1955, was a fine day as far as the weather was concerned and at nine o'clock I went to meet five of my friends at the Roxy Cinema, Hollinwood.  We were going on a nine-day tour of Wales.  It was the first really long ride I had attempted by bicycle and the whole tour was a thrill to me.  We set off for Chester and on the way there whenever we came across a boundary post we raced for it just for fun.  We spent our first night at Chester and the following morning, after doing our hostel duties, we set off for Colwyn Bay about fifty miles distant.

We arrived in Colwyn Bay about two o'clock and here we enjoyed ourselves.  We saw one of the boys who used to attend our school but went to live in Colwyn Bay.  We next visited Bangor and after Bangor we had an hour or two in Anglesey.  From Bangor we went to Snowdon and we went down the famous Llanberis Pass.  On the following day the hardest stage of our tour was to be tackled, the rise to Llangollen, via the Llanberis Pass which, of course, we had to go up.  To make matters worse it was raining, but we finally arrived in Llangollen where we met four riders from Royton. 

After leaving the fine hostel at Llangollen, which is a Tudor-designed manor house, we went to Rudyard Lake hostel, which is a new hostel, and its design is rather like that of a castle.  From Rudyard Lake we set off home and it was a fine day for us and also we passed from Staffordshire, through Cheshire, into Lancashire, arriving home about dinner time.  We all voted that the holiday had been a real good one and a great experience for us all.

DEREK MORRIS, 4G.

 

 

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	The Clowns
1.	One day in the village, some clowns ran around, Some hopped and some skipped and some tumbled right down! Some rode on elephants, some rode on donkeys, Some ran with doggies and some played with monkeys.
2.	Each, on his hat, had a little red bob, And every clown had his own special job. One had a poodle which he had to train, Another some horses imported from Spain.
3.	Then three midget clowns came walking on stilts And four other clowns were all dressed in kilts. White faces, black faces, red faces, mingled, And bells on their costumes jangled and jingled.
4.	One, just like Rudolph, had a big red nose, And another wore red and black baggy clothes. Another wore shoes which were two feet long And every few yards he burst into song!
5.	The clamour and noise they made was terrific. Naught could get past them, they stopped all the traffic! And then at long last, they vanished from sight, And I did not see them the next day or night.
	K. HOWARD

 

 

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Through Wessenden Valley

 

A pleasant walk can be experienced on any fine morning by walking the length of Wessenden Valley from the Standedge end to the "Isle of Skye Inn".  Some weeks ago my friend and I decided to traverse the valley in the following manner.

We travelled by bus up to the "Floating Light" and then proceeded to walk a quarter of a mile up the road to the small reservoir on our right.  We branched off here, along a small path, which soon led us to a quiet well-surfaced lane.  The smoothness of the lane was only to be enjoyed for a few minutes before we had to strike out across the open heather-clad moorland.  After wending our way through several minor peat bogs we finally found ourselves gazing at the sparkling- clear waters of the winding string of reservoirs spread out before our eyes.

After the long dry summer the level of the water in the reservoirs was very low and spits of mud extended well out into the centre of some of them.

When we had crossed the valley between two of the reservoirs we again had the pleasure of feeling a well-trodden path beneath our feet as we leisurely wended our way along the banks of the reservoirs.  The day was then growing warmer and Wessenden Head, which loomed high above us, was slowly shedding its wispy grey night-cap of mist.

After some miles of interesting and pleasurable walking we reached the "Isle of Skye Inn" and rounded off a highly enjoyable morning with an uninteresting walk down into Greenfield and thence by bus to Oldham.

F. LAMB, 5A.

 

-  CONTRIBUTIONS

 

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"Meals observed . . .

 

. . . from the top table

 

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Resignation

It rings! The "Madding Crowd" rushes in. They fight frantically for a place on the sagging benches. They clamour for the realisation of their hopeful dreams with the clanging of their rough tools and shrieks of torture. They can smell IT! IT! that mysterious quantity which brings hilarious happiness to thousands !

It's here! The din becomes inconceivable; the bearers are swamped by the onslaught of the vultures, in their wild lust for blood. At last their mouths are stopped. SILENCE !

Silence? Ah, No! This Paradise is not to be enjoyed for long! Bedlam breaks loose! ! The Mob are ravenous for more entertainment, more satisfaction and more animal bodies ! Their savage thirst is satisfied at last (not with the unfortunate teacher on duty). But wait! What is this? This is a sad disappointment for their fervour.

THIS IS SCHOOL DINNERS! !

"THE SUFFERER."

 

 

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A Poem    

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Kreuzwortratsel - Mots-croises - Aenigma verbale

 

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Tit-bits from Boys' Detention

 

 

 

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Crossword

 

 

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Topical Tunes

 

Masters' Staffroom   - "Deadwood Stage".
Sound emanating therefrom   - "We're busy doing nothing"
Mr. S-DG-LY - "Cry".    "
Mr. W-LLS   - "I'm sitting on top of the world".
Mr. H-NDF-RTH   - "With a smile and a song".
Mr. C--K-    - "I talk to the trees".
Mr. P-TF-RD   - "A blossom fell".
Mr. R--V-S   - "Gaudeamus Igitur".
Mr. AND-RT-N   - "We'll take the legs off some old table".
When approaching the ladies' staff-room   - "Softly, Softly"
Mrs. W-LD   - "Painting the clouds with sunshine".
Mrs. K-L-R   - "Let the sun shine in".
Miss T-YL-R   - "Dashing away with the smoothing iron".
Mrs. M-RR-S   - "Get well soon".
Miss P-MFR-T   - "Stranger to Paradise".
Vth Form Boys   - "Sky blue shirt and rainbow tie".
On arriving at School   - "I'm late".

 

 

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DEFINITIONS DERIVED FROM EXPERIENCE
- VI SCIENCE.

Homework : "The candles of night" are burnt at both ends.

The biscuit queue : "One for all and all for one".

Physics prep, room :"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread".

Maths., Physics, Chemistry and Biology:  "Does not our life exist of  these four elements?"

Woodwork : "Make me a willow cabinet . . . .".

School Fund due : "When that the poor hath cried . . .".    (In this case  Caesar does not weep).

School meals : Small mercies ?

"Self (denial), self-knowledge, self-control.    These three alone lead life  to . ..." a good G.C.E.

With apologies to Dumas, Shakespeare, Tennyson and Pope.

 

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September in Lakeland

 

Whatever was lacking in quantity was balanced by quality in the small party of four that spent the September weekend in Lakeland.  We centred on Ambleside, and were able to make four enjoyable excursions in as many different directions, the weather helping us considerably by remaining generally dry.

A short walk over Loughrigg, and by Hunting Stile and Red Bank to Grasmere on the Saturday afternoon, provided a useful "limbering up" exercise, and visibility was sufficiently good to permit a peep into Langdale and the peaks beyond.  So we included a full day here, later, ranging over Stool End, Crinkle Crags and Bow Fell, and descending into Stake Pass before returning to base.

Perhaps the climax of the outing was the day we spent ascending Helvellyn via Great Tongue, Grisedale Hause and Dollywaggon Pike, reaching Patterdale after a scramble along Striding Edge.  The rapid clearance of some unattractive weather with very heavy rain of the early morning lured us on in the steps where previous Greenhillians have trod on other memorable occasions, and our efforts were rewarded by views of more distant vistas, such as no previous expedition has enjoyed.

Our final walk took place before our return to Oldham on the Tuesday evening, and this had Fairfield as its destination by way of Nab Scar, with a return to Ambleside around the "horse-shoe" at the head of Scandale.

As the party included scientists from last year's Sixth Form fresh from triumphs at Advanced Level, it was inevitable that conversation should be more than a little weighted in that direction.  Considerable cogitation and discussion took place, resulting in the adoption of a basic formula for successful rambling, that of the constant placing of one foot in front of the other, accumulatively.  This profound conclusion is well advanced beyond the stage of mere hypothesis, and has already been accepted by the most eminent authorities as incontrovertible.  Steps are being taken to have it inserted as Article 1 in the Charters of all Rambling Organisations, and it should, by its sheer fearless conviction, revolutionise all previously accepted Philosophies of Rambling.

A less conclusive thesis concerned the attempts to establish the coefficient of spreadability of butter in open air conditions at varying altitudes.  This problem occurred during the preparation of sandwich meals during the walks, but no satisfactory agreement could be arrived at without evidence acquired during comparable expeditions in the Alps and Himalayas.  To build up a fully comprehensive survey and for the sake of the lower income groups, this research is being extended to include margarine, and when published, it should have far reaching effects upon the theory and practice of Rambling.
Even this small amount of reminiscence in which we have indulged ourselves makes us look forward eagerly to 1956, with its promise of further outings of like character and enjoyment.

 

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To the Editor of "The Greenhillian"

 

Dear Sir,
Many people imagine that the life of an undergraduate is one of sheer enjoyment, rags and parties, and perhaps some students do manage to lead quite a hectic life at times.  However, towards the end of the academic year there comes a momentous event known as an examination, and the whole university is plunged into an atmosphere of gloom.

This is much worse than anything we had to face at school, as failure means that the generous flow of capital from the Government will cease, and we will face the problem of poverty on the streets of the city paved with gold, with long, cold nights on a bench in Hyde Park or on the Embankment.

What are our feelings at exam, time? Misery, coupled with twinges of conscience. Perhaps we shouldn't have played so much football; perhaps we should have pondered over the amount of energy required to run a hundred yards.  Then after the exam, we can only wait, for a few long weeks. Finally the list arrives - you've passed.  What a relief. It's all over now until next year.

So our modern educational system goes on, as invariable as the comings and goings of this great city. The underground seems more crowded every day, everyone rushes about with frantic haste, and just about now we have the fogs - real pea-soupers.

But never mind, soon it will be spring, time for cricket, tennis and running.  Oh, but we have more exams, next summer, and they're even harder than the last ones.  So perhaps we shouldn't play tennis, perhaps we should give up running.  Perhaps we shouldn't be spending time writing letters when we could be learning our physics and our philosophy and so we will conclude by sending our best wishes to all at Greenhill.

F. BROOK, D. ELWELL, University of London.

 

 

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To the Editor of "The Greenhillian"

Leeds,
November, 1955.

 
Dear Sir,
I was offered the honour of writing a contribution for the Old School Mag. and having thrust the ugly monster of work away from me for an hour or so I should like to impart a few details of the unique life of Leeds University which I have adopted as my Alma Mater.  I will proffer a few pearls of wisdom and advice for any misguided creature who is thinking of entering this precinct of learning.

The first few days here go by the name of the Freshers' Conference, but it resembled a nightmare in which one's digestive organs, mental and physical, were put to the test.  The lecturers impressed upon us the importance of that disgusting habit, study.  They advocated five or six nights of study per week, but counter-attractions here, such as "bops" balls, and film-shows are too numerous (and cheap) to be ignored.

Viewed from inside the University, students are quite sane beings except for stubbly growths of beards, sheepdog hair, (un)-cuts, and duffle coats, but the ordinary mortals of Leeds regard us as objects set apart from this world, and as wild creatures tinkering about with test tubes, or as book-worms buried in the Brotherton.  It has been rumoured here that students are divided into wits, half-wits, and nit-wits, but we are not permitted to classify our friends or acquaintances into a division.

Lectures proceed from nine in the morning until five at night; so if any prospective student has visions of the five-day week, he or she will be compelled to enter the Arts Faculty, as only the scientists, doctors and dentists are allowed to practice on Saturday morning, but of course, many of them need to do so.  A full free dental service is run by students but if the tales of the horrific happenings in that forbidden fortress are true then one is seriously jeopardising one's chances of survival if a visit is paid there.  My unsuspecting friend decided that a minor dental operation was necessary, but before he had entered the door an enthusiastic young dentist had blithely ripped out four teeth, but unfortunately left the roots behind.

Uniform is not compulsory, but a Uni-scarf is the mark of distinction.  I am sure the unsuspecting citizens of Leeds, especially tram-conductors, quake with terror whenever the red, green and white scarves appear, and one can almost read their thoughts, and their soliloquies invariably begin "It's them students agen".  We are, of course, quite harmless, and it is only when the Rag Day bug bites us that we are apt to deviate from our normal behaviour.  Even then only public statues are decorated with certain articles of clothing or policemen are kidnapped and other minor items occur.

There are just a few incidents which add spice to the otherwise dull monotonous routine of Leeds such as the Engineers ceremoniously escorting a barrel of beer through the City Centre, and wearing flat-caps, bow ties, walking sticks, and huge E's sewn on their sweaters.  Unfortunately it took them such a long time to walk across the zebra crossing that the traffic was halted for over a mile.

The Union building at Leeds is reputed to be the finest in the country.  Everyone and everything is catered for within its sacred bounds.  The Refectory, where food is designed to fill and not to thrill, is cleared of chairs for "bops" and balls, and notable and notorious people officiate at them, such as Ted Heath, Ken Macintosh and Ray Ellington.  They hold their entranced, open-mouthed audience in a writhing agony trying to keep time to their blasts, wails and groans.  Mr. Johnnie Ray has not yet graced us with his presence, but he will no doubt be accorded the usual welcome by the lesser publicised brands of paper.  The "Union News" is the Students' Own (no resemblance to Woman's or Chick's) where views are aired and despaired of by budding literary genii who wish to experiment with their prowess before thrusting themselves on the unsuspecting public.

The fuggy, smoke-laden lair of students is "Caf", alias the Coffee Lounge.  No-one knows why it is named thus because the beverage served there has evidently never been remotely acquainted with either coffee or sugar.  Nevertheless the "Caf" is the only place where one can miss lectures with impunity and experience the minimum amount of guilty feelings.  If one's sorrows are too deep to be drowned by coffee, the only obvious course to take is the route to the bar.  This is the only Union institute which sells its potency below retail prices and still makes a considerable profit.  Many Education Authorities would gasp with horror if they knew that the amounts of money, which they so readily and generously donate, were being dispensed with so readily by a student trying to blot out the prospect of the approaching exams.  There has recently been an innovation in the bar in the form of a buzzer, because if the songs sung there are not "quoite noice", then the buzzer speaks.

An integral part of University life is the Debate in which many a would-be politician and never-will-be politician has been nurtured by the gentle taunts of a student audience. Every likely and unlikely topic is debated and if a person is heedless of the remarks thrown at him he is either a genius or just darned thick-skinned.

Exam time is now drawing perilously near and it is a common sight to see an inanimate object slumped over a desk in a position of utter despair with wild sunken eyes staring put through a curtain of matted hair.  This reminds me that work is hovering in the proximity and I wish the Old School and all its inmates "All the best", and if anyone is still determined to taste the fruits of University life, please do not say that I did not warn you.

Yours faithfully,
SHEILA M. KNOTT.

P.S. (for girls only). The males here outnumber the females by five to one, but the surplus is made up by the Engineers and Medicos, who, by reputation, are the untouchables, and are usually better kept that way.

 

 

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Ex-Students' Association

 

Hello there !
The year under review has produced much more evidence of activity, marked by considerable success, due mostly to the untiring help and initiative of my Committee.  The Annual Reunion took the more informal line of a "Barn Social" held in the School in January, 1955, and this was a great success, potato pie, modern, olde-tyme and square dancing being enjoyed by quite a large gathering.
Success here led to the organisation of a "Square Dance", Miss Turbefield and Mr. Llewellyn contributing much to the enjoyment by acting as "callers", although the support was not so great as expected.

Members have taken part in several outdoor excursions involving travel by coach and expeditions on foot in places of scenic beauty and interest.  The first was to the Vale of Grasmere, and included a walk via Sour Milk Ghyll to Easedale Tarn.  Not even the least prophecy of the forthcoming dry sunny summer was suggested by the greeting of persistent thick mist and intermittent rain which continued throughout the day.  Streams were full to overflowing, every gully and footpath raced with water as we splashed our way to the tarn, but enjoyment there was in plenty.

Our destination on July 10th was Malham, a charming village in tipper Airedale, and it basked in beautiful warm sunshine the whole time we were there.  Several hours were spent in a ramble which included visits to Gordale Scar with a scramble up the waterfall to reach the moor.  From here, we could enjoy the vast expanse of Malham Moor rising to Fountains Fell and Penygent beyond, with Malham Tarn immediately in front, reflecting the summer sunshine like a wondrous solitaire, rare jewel that it is.  The return to Malham lay by the famous Cove, following the infant River Aire to the village.  The rest of the outing included visits to Grassington, a glorious ride down Wharfedale past Barden Priory and Bolton Abbey and so to Knaresborough for tea.

North Wales was chosen for the final outing and the coach ride involved visits to Llangollen, Capel Curig, Bangor, Caernarvon and Llan-beris Pass, but a walking party dismounted at Llyn Ogwen, clambered up the ridge overlooking Twll Du, the so-called "Devil's Kitchen", and walked over by the Glyders to reach the main road and pick up the coach at Pen-y-Gwryd on its way up from Llanberis to convey us home via Ruthin, Mold and Queensferry.

Those who joined these outings expressed their great enjoyment of them, and it is strongly suggested that as many ex-students as possible will avail themselves of the opportunities for similar excursions in 1956.  A proposed Cricket Match, School XI v. ex-Students, and a cycle ride were less successful either because of inclement weather or insufficient support, and the latter resulted in the closure of a room made available for Table Tennis on one night a week.

I am sure that when those members on National Service and at College and University have completed these matters, the ex-Students' Association will develop into a much more active organisation, worthy of the school of which it forms so important a part. In the meantime, it can benefit much by the loyal support of all members.

Yours sincerely,
MARY LEES,
Secretary.

 

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SOLUTION  OF   PAGE  29
Across -   1, Pays.    5, Tener.   6, Laete.    9, Uralt.    10, Erika.    11, Sale.

Down -   2, Anker.    3, Stall.   4, Orme.    7, Atlas.   8, Tafel.   9, Ufer.

 

SOLUTION  OF   PAGE   30
ACROSS.
1, Cinemascope. 2, Ova. 9 Ax. 10, Elder. 11 Tract. 13 Erse. 14, Aver. 15, Mesa. 16, Seen.
18, Kris. 19, LDS. 20, Elia.' 21, Unto. 24, Rest. 25, Cora. 27, N.E. 28, Ayes. 29, Port.

DOWN.
1, Coexistence. 2, Node. 3, Ever and a day. 4 Mars. 5, Ceramists. 6, Paces.
7, Extravagant. 12, Aves. 17, Eli. 21, Urns. 22, Nee. 23, Otto. 26. R.A.