Issue No. 17 Autumn 2000
Website: www.ashcombedorkinian.com
Return to Home Page
Back to Newsletter Index
CONTENTS
Editor’s Odds and Ends
Membership
Secretary, Rosemary Dale
Strawberry Tea for Norman Bradshaw's 95th
Maureen
Meier's Countdown to a Celebration
Stanley
Bruinvels got six of the best from Johnny Rivett!
Arthur Lowndes
with words and photographs
Ralph Mann is
retiring for the third time!
Robert Miller
reporting on Mole Valley today
Merrian
Lancaster ‑ a Long Distance Walker revisits Mole Valley
Ashcombe
Dorkinian Association Golf ‑ Harold Child reporting
Neil Perry
supplies 'another gem from yesteryear'
EDITOR'S ODDS
& ENDS
It is good to continue to receive such a wide
variety of comment and contribution from across the years, and the 1930s are
well represented this time by Stanley
Bruinvels, Arthur Lowndes and Ralph Mann.
Peter Newman belongs to the 1940s, and in giving us
his email address says he is Professor Emeritus of Economics at The John
Hopkins University ‑ so a potted history would be very welcome for the
next issue! But, of course, this comment applies to all those members who have
been too modest, shy or lazy (!) to come forward yet.
Gus Guthrie
met Professor Greg Bamber at a dinner in Brisbane earlier this year, and realised that they had
not only been at DCGS together, but also went to the same primary school. We
trust that Greg will soon be one of us! Gus is now at PO Box 369, Buderim,
Queensland 4556, Australia, having moved permanently.
David Richards
points out
that David checks out as Devoid in the spellcheck, presumably his excuse for
having no anecdotes from the 1965‑71 vintage. However we are encouraged
by his "maybe next time". He is Head of Clinical Development,
Bronchodilators and Intranasals International Product Development Leader,
Flixonase Respiratory Therapeutic Development ‑well, that's what his
email said!
Marian Barber has moved from Epsom and now
lives at 8 Balquhain Close, Ashtead, Surrey KT21 2DG
We were very sorry to hear of the death, on 22nd July this year, of David Adams (1953
Congratulations to Esme Leedham on her upper second in Geography (BSc. Hons) from
Bristol University last summer. Esme has now nearly completed her PGCE at
Liverpool Hope and intends to stay in Liverpool to teach Geography (11‑
18). Throughout her university career she was a Midshipman in the Royal Naval
Reserve (Bristol U. RN Unit)
Current address: 7 Danefield Terrace, Mather Avenue,
Liverpool L19 4TH.
Dave
Wilcockson, the
evergreen (in the best sense) Old Dorkinian cricketer, has described some good
performances in his report, none better than his own participation in a winning
last wicket stand of 48 with Dave Brook.
The tension must have been high!
In the Spring Issue I queried that Tracy Moorshead had played for the ODs,
and waited for Dave Wilcockson to explain. However, Lionel Rose, our sharp eyed Secretary, obviously reads the
Newsletters thoroughly as he told me that some years ago Tracy Moorshead
responded to an ad he had placed on behalf of a client who was looking to fill
a particular job. Lionel was intrigued by his name and during the course of a
telephone conversation found out that he lived near Dorking. Tracy asked Lionel
if he was aware that the School was having a Reunion ‑ that was 1992, and
but for that conversation we might never have had the pleasure of Lionel's
membership!
The umbrella left behind at the October Reunion has
been claimed ‑ another careful reader, if absent minded in other ways!
As mentioned elsewhere, we are planning to keep
records on disk of School photographs, and John Gent will be scanning some in
at the Reunion/AGM in October, so please bring yours with you, knowing that you
can take them away and not have to leave them with us! We hope to make disks
available at a later date.
By the way, no one commented on the new 'bookstyle'
of the Spring Newsletter ‑ did anyone notice?!
David Mountain August
2000
65 Broadhurst, Ashtead
Surrey KT21 1 Q1D
Tel: 01372 273227 Email:
David.H.Mountain@BTInternet.com
DIARY
ADA Golf ‑ next fixture on
Thursday October 5th at Dorking, thanks to the good offices of
Harold Child.
REUNION/AGM ‑ Saturday 14th
October 2000 ‑ early warning was given with
Sheila's letter of 31st July, and full details are enclosed with
this Newsletter.
ODFC host League Representative
Match against Cambridge University on Wednesday 8th November at
2.15pm.
COPY for next Newsletter to the
Editor by 1st April 200 1, please.
From The Chairman.
Welcome to our Autumn Newsletter. Another Summer is
quickly passing and weatherwise, not a very good one but who are we to grumble
as the sun shone superbly on Brute's 95th Birthday Party in Maureen and Bob Meier's beautiful garden at Bookham.
This was a lovely occasion with some sixty members attending. Mine was the
privilege to welcome Brute and present him with a few mementos to mark the day.
Our thoughtful hosts had secured an electrically propelled chair for him to
drive around in which enabled him to get about and talk to everyone. Brute was
his usual buoyant self with a memory that puts us all to shame, and there is no
doubt, he still commands the loving respect he did when he joined the School
sixty‑nine years ago.
Turning now to this year's project, the Memorial
Gates, let me bring you up to date. John Hayns who as you know, is leading the
project, produced a very elegant landscaped design which incorporated not only
the restored gates themselves but also the gate from the original boys quad
and, early in the year, it was thought that both "siting" and
"design" agreement with the School had been reached. However,
subsequent to a "confirmatory" meeting with one of the Governors at
the School in early June, concern was raised about the proposed siting in that
it could deny a particular access which, it was considered, might later be
needed. An alternative site was offered but as access to it would have
necessarily been through the School itself, we considered it unsuitable and
were therefore unable to accept it. However, further negotiation resulted in
agreement on a simpler [and therefore cheaper] design of memorial to be erected
on the original site but re‑orientated to allow the required access to be
maintained. This slight hiatus resulted in only a small delay in the overall
plan and orders were placed to begin early parts of the work. We remain hopeful
that all the tasks will be completed for a rededication of the Gates to be held
before the AGM on 14 October but we will communicate with everyone separately
nearer the time.
On the financial side, the money for the project
will come from the "buy a brick" appeal which so many of you so
generously supported and from Association funds which have been accumulated
over the years. Despite its earlier promises, the so called "1992 Reunion
Committee" declined to provide a contribution from the surplus of £3,700
of the monies which you paid to support that occasion and without your
authority, as the "owners" of that money, have now handed it all over
to the School to be disposed of at the discretion of the School. On your behalf
the Committee has challenged these various actions throughout the year but it
all became somewhat acrimonious and the Association withdrew from any further
discussion so that discredit would not fall upon the School.
Thus, the Memorial will perhaps not be quite as
elegant as John had originally proposed but nevertheless will still be a
fitting tribute to those Old Dorkinians in memory of whom it will be re‑dedicated.
As I have said, I hope all will be ready for 14 October [I ‑am quietly
confident!] and I look forward to seeing everybody at the top of the School
Drive on that date. In connection with the Memorial but in the longer term, we
are hoping to create a Memorial Book which would contain as much information as
possible about those who served wartime Britain. Such information is not easy
to come by so if any members have any, please send it in!
Best wishes to you all.
Mike Dobson.
The Ashcombe Dorkinian Association
from the Membership Secretary
Revd. Rosernary Dale, 5 Water Lane.
Wirksworth. Derbyshire. DE4 4DZ
e‑mail revrdale@aol com
Membership Report
August 2000
Numbers are keeping up very nicely, in October 1999
we had 325 members, and now, after removing 34 in the Great Purge, we have 326.
Any mathematical freaks out there may notice that there are more names than
this on the current Membership List this is because I did not remove the names
of defaulters fast time, in case they thought better of it and had to be reinstated
‑ but they didn't receive the last mailing. Many thanks to all those who
have been quietly or vigorously recruiting during the last year, to make these
healthy figures possible.
Please add
these new members, whom we welcome warmly, to your list.
CRATCHLEY Mrs Kathleen Bron‑y‑De
Dwyrain Llanfairpwilgwyngyll... Isle of Anglesey LL61 6YD
WADDINGTON 1946‑52
FENTON
Mr Peter Hall Stables Mickleharn
Dorking, Surrey RH5 6DY 1952‑59
FOTHERGILL Mrs Pat The
Granary, Shorehead , Stonehaven AB39
2JY WADDINGTON 1946‑54
FRASER Mr Ian Eversley
,79 Bentsbrook Park, N Holrnwood,Dorking, Surrey RH5 4JL 1946‑51
MOLYNEUX Mr John 18 Bay Close Horley , Surrey RH6 8LF 1949‑54
MURNAGHAN Mrs Daphne 172 Cirencester Road ,Charlton Kings,
Cheltenham Glos. GL53 8DY
SHIPLEY 1936‑44
SINKS Mrs
Olivia 5495 East Olivia Lane
Hereford Arizona 85615 USA
COLE 1953‑60
It is a great personal pleasure to me to have the
whole Waddington clan on board at last ‑ though I had hoped never to have
to cope with the dreaded Llanfair.. wordl (Yes. it really is that one; even
Katy doesn't write out the whole name). I'm sure a Membership Secretary should
be wore impartial than this ‑ Sorry to the others!
Will you please note that a new system for
subscription requests starts NOW. It has become clear that a good education
doesn't necessarily guarantee efficiency in the keeping of financial records.
Surprising numbers of you have paid twice, sometimes by banker's order and by
cheque. So this time, you should find in your mailing
• a thank you note if you pay by banker's order, Or
• a thank you note if you have already paid next year's
subscription (yes, some people really have!), Or
• the usual proforma if you need to pay, Or
• none of the above it you are an honorary or student member
I am hoping that the excellent education received
many years ago by your Committee will ensure that the fight slips go in the
fight envelopes. It you think there is a mistake, please let me know. Please don't pay unless you receive the
subscription request; if you do receive it please do pay ‑subscriptions
other than bankers orders are due on SEPTEMBER
1st.
Rosemary
John Gent's
Bits :
The Ashcombe
Dorkinian Association Bursary
This year the ADA Bursary attracted a record number
of applicants, all of very high standard. Indeed the Committee decided, after
due consideration, to award two Bursaries this year, to Richard Williams and to
Elizabeth Thompson.
Richard, who was Head Boy, has been accepted at
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, where he intends to read Geography.
Elizabeth has also let us know that she will be
going to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, to read Natural Sciences, having obtained
5 Grade A's and a distinction in S‑level Chemistry. She comments, "I
am very pleased that the hard work has paid off!”.
The Bursaries will be awarded formally at the
School's Awards Evening in December.
We wish them all the best and look forward to
receiving their reports for inclusion in the Newsletter next year. Our best
wishes also go to the other applicants: Helen Butlin, Thomas Phillips and
Leanne Robotham.
The Memorial
Gates
The Memorial Gates saga which our Chairman has
spoken about in his bit, is continuing apace and the refurbishment of the Gates
themselves is already nearing completion. The groundwork is scheduled to begin
as this goes to press and we have every hope that the rededication will take
place as planned. We are keeping a photographic record and it is anticipated
that this will be presented in the next Newsletter (Issue 18, Spring 2001).
The
"1960'ers" hold their Millennium Reunion
Not to be outdone by the "59/61'ers",
whose reunion was reported in the last Newsletter (Issue 16, Spring 2000), the
1960'ers held their Millennium Reunion on 6th May at the Stephan Langton Restaurant, Friday
Street. Organised, as on previous occasions by Anna Cooper, it was again a
resounding success, very well attended with no less than four overseas members
coming over specially, from Belgium, Netherlands, USA and Canada.
Once again Anna announced that this was the last
time that she'd be organising the event, but as the TV advert says, "She's
said that before ...!" However, to be fair, volunteers were forthcoming
for future reunions. Very well done indeed, Anna!
Anna Cooper making her
Welcoming Speech
Viewing
Alan Collins' Schooldays' Photos
The
Strawberry Tea honouring Norman Bradshaw's 95th Birthday
This year's Summer Reunion, or
Strawberry Tea, or colloquially known as "Brute's Bash", was of
particular note as it commemorated not only the Millennium but also marked the
95th Birthday of
Norman "Brutus"/"Brute" Bradshaw. On Saturday, June 10th,
in glorious sunshine (all day!), it was particularly well attended, so much so
that the original attendance limit was exceeded. Our very grateful thanks,
especially to Maureen and Bob Meier who once again allowed their house to be
used as the venue, but also to all other members of the committee who did such
sterling work in helping the event to run so smoothly, organised as usual by
Maureen Meier and Sheila Sandford.
Norman was in particularly fine
fettle and looked much younger than his 95 years, as can be seen from the
accompanying photos. An electric "buggy" was put at his disposal and
he took to it like he was Stirling Moss! Sheila Dobson, (our Chairman's good
lady), had made a very special birthday cake for Norman, even down to creating
an icing replica of his signature. Maureen (that lady again), of fuchsia fame,
had grown a special variety called "Brutus", which she presented to
Norman with the comment that it was particularly appropriate as it is
"hardy", and you can't get much more hardy than Norman!
"The
Calm before the Storm" "The Cake that Sheila made"
Norman and his Buggy, watched over by our Chairman Strawberries and Cream,
Anybody?
The School's Magazine
'Accent on Ashcombe'
The Ashcombe School website, http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk.,
has recently been revamped, and now comprises 135 pages and over 100
photos. Most of the information in the latest edition of Accent (Number 6, July
2000) can be found there, but for those of you without a computer the following
summarizes the main points.
South East Teacher of
the Year Award for Mr Blow
For his splendid work in ICT, and
more particularly for "The Most Creative Use of ICT", Mr Blow
received the prestigious South East Teacher of the Year Award (and £3,000 for
the school) at a ceremony at the Cafe Royal in London.
Overseas Visits
Once again the School was host to a
visit from Tanzania by 9 students
and the Headteacher (Mr Kaaya) from the Tambaza School. During the visit the &h Form Senior
Prefects hosted a St. Valentine's Day social for them.
In June, 63 pupils from Year 8 and 6
accompanying teachers went to Northern
France, staying as paying guests in French homes local to Armentieres and
Lille, close to the Belgian border. Visits to the WWI underground passages in
Arras and to the WWII V1 Rocket launch site at Eperlecques, as well as more
pleasant outings to Bruges and Calais made it a very memorable experience for
the youngsters.
Exchange Programmes have also been organised for 6 h Formers'
work experience in Germany as well as for 31 students and 3 teachers to Epernay in France.
During June 30 Year 10 pupils and 2
A‑level Music Students travelled to Munster
in Germany to present a 30‑minute operetta based on the Comenius
project's theme of "The world of work". Whilst there they also
visited EXPO 2000 in Hanover.
School Sport
6 pupils represented Central Surrey
at the Surrey Schools Cross‑Country Championships.
A Gym and Dance evening had also
been organised, affording a great opportunity for pupils to perform in front of
an audience
Katherine Hopson, Upper 6th, has
qualified for the Volvo Royal Yachting Association Youth Programme and will be
coached by Olympic Standard Sailors. Her goal is to reach the Youth World
Championships in Sydney.
40 Ashcombe School Swimmers took
part in the Swimarathon 2000 at Dorking Swimming Centre. A team of the School's
fastest swimmers formed themselves into a team called the
"Amphibians" and competed for the Secondary School Trophy. They
equalled last year's record of 101 laps and helped Ashcombe retain their place
as overall winners.
Sports Hall
The results of the School's tender
for the proposed new Sports Hall are to be known soon, says Accent. If the
Lottery agrees to support the bid, then Sport England will make a final
decision. If approval is given, building work should begin in October. As a
result of yet another delicate negotiation, the Foundation for Sports and Arts
has agreed to hold its offer of £75,000 until September.
Photographs of Some of Our Former Teachers
Alan Collins has very kindly lent me
a few pictures he took of some of our former teachers. The picture of Doc
Morgan was taken 40 years ago and as you can see he still has the same stance
which we knew so well (the inset picture was published in the last Newsletter
but is repeated here for comparison). As elsewhere in this Newsletter, we'll
leave you guessing as to the identity of the others ... Has anybody got any
more pictures and/or anecdotes?
Old Photographs
We are hoping to get together an
archive of old photographs of former pupils, staff and sports teams (and
anything else which might be of interest!). The intention is to scan them in
and put them onto a CD in digital format, returning the photos to the owners.
If you are coming to the Millennium Lunch on October 14th , I am hoping to be
able to scan some pictures then, so bring them with you. Please also have a
list prepared with as much information as possible about the picture, but particularly
the year it was taken and your name: we won't have time to do much writing on
the day!
Organising a Reunion
I have had quite a few requests for
pointers on how to organise your own Class Reunions. There is no easy way to
get the information and I'm afraid it will involve a lot of phoning. However
the results can be very rewarding.
• The first thing is to get a base list on
which to build. The usual way is to start with the 5th Form list which shows
all pupils who obtained O‑Levels. However that may not be complete as
some pupils dropped out before the 5th Form or maybe weren't listed.
• 5th Form lists for the years 1958 to 1974
were published in our Newsletter No. 11, Autumn 1997. If there is a demand we
may publish them again. (If you have issues of the School magazine with 5th
Form lists outside these years, please could we borrow them?)
• Additional information can be obtained
from the School Entry Lists, of which we have been able to obtain maybe 90%
(the war years were a bit iffy as the records don't seem to have been filled in
consecutively)
• Bear in mind also that some pupils
started after the 1st Form. This is particularly noticeable in the 50's when
there were regular intakes of "13 Plus" pupils.
• Having got your list you can then start
finding people. Unfortunately girls change their names when they get married.
Fortunately, however, they do tend to keep in contact far more than guys, and
finding the whereabouts of one will usually lead you to discovering several
more.
• I have also found that a fair number of
pupils either stay in the Dorking/Leatherhead/ Ashtead areas or come back later
on in life.
• Guys don't usually change their names and
you can search locally in the Dorking/Leatherhead/Ashtead area phone books for
addresses and telephone numbers.
• There are CD's of phone numbers available
which will facilitate your search.
• Try and find the full (and correct)
initials and names of everybody you are searching for. If they have several
initials you can probably do a country‑wide search. Be prepared to leave
several messages if there are alternatives. I have found that most people have
answerphones and are not averse to helping you: in fact some are very helpful.
• For the girls, if they have a brother,
find their names and proceed as above.
• Also, the girls may have cousins,
nephews, nieces, or even parents still living in the area. (That goes for the
guys as well, of course!)
• Finally, the internet is not a bad way ‑
somebody in our class was contacted out of the blue with the email "Are
you the person who was at Dorking County School?" And he was!
John
Gent
COUNTDOWN TO A CELEBRATION
AUTUMN '99 ‑
John suggests a Strawberry Tea to celebrate Mr. Bradshaw's 95th birthday in
June 2000. About 40 members might come so I offer the use of our house and
garden. Committee agree. Newsheet sent out with details to all ADA members. Mr
Bradshaw (hereinafter referred to as 'Norman') must not find out!!
FEBRUARY ‑
Great response ‑ 33 applications so far, without Committee.
MARCH‑‑ Numbers
going up (as are Bob's eyebrows), now reached 50. Can we cope? Close list at 60
with 10‑20 waiting. This is a lot more than we had bargained for. Bob not saying much ‑ eyebrows working
overtime.
APRIL ‑ Order china,
cutlery and glasses, 10 cut loaves, purchase champagne at great discount. Some
members drop out, still a small waiting list.
MAY ‑ Sheila and I choose
sandwich fillings, hopefully to suit all tastes. John, Robert, Esme and Peter
Weller and, of course, Sheila (who is co‑ordinating everything), all
offer to help. Spend every available minute planting up garden. It has rained
nearly all month. More members drop out, very small waiting list. Garden
finished ‑ much relief Still raining.
JUNE ‑ and the real Countdown
begins.
1st.‑ Clean garden furniture. Still raining.
2nd‑ Bookham Fancy Dress Shop will make
banner and balloons for THE DAY.
3rd‑ Start cleaning house.
4th‑ Carry on cleaning ‑ Bob
removes cobwebs I can't reach but others will see! Sheila 'phones with more changes in Guest List.
5th‑ Disaster! John 'phones. He and Mike
having meeting at School a.m. 10th re School Gates. With 2 bodies short on the day impossible
to get all preparations finished. 'Phone Sheila again who whips into Leatherhead and arranges great
sandwich deal with Harringtons. Cancel bread order.
7th‑ Rosemary 'phones ‑ can't come due to unforeseen church
commitment. She is very disappointed. Put clean
sheets back into linen cupboard.
8th‑ Shirley Green can't come. Means we
can now accommodate everyone, the full
60. Have hairdo.
9th‑ To Epsom early. Helpful M & S
assistant advises on strawberries. Wheel piled‑high
trolley to checkout. Security guard
enquires politely if I have a strawberry
fetish! Check‑out man raises eyebrows.
Explain about 60 for tea. Roars
of laughter ‑ thinks I'm mad. Into lift to "Having a bit of a do, are we?" "Can I come?"
"Hope the weather's kind". (so do I). To Ashtead to collect china ‑ it is pouring and I get very wet. Bookham Fancy
Dress let me down. In
desperation find suitable banner and
balloons in local gift shop. Ask droopy
Olive Oyl look‑alike assistant for numbers for 95 year old. Raising her weary head she enquires
",Is it for your husband?". Helpless with suppressed laughter I totter back to car clutching banner
and balloons. They have no numbers.
My friend Sheila kindly says
"Well, you don't really look much over 90" Look in mirror ‑
hairdo resembles frizz‑ball. Feel
105! It is still pouring.
10th‑ Wake up early ‑ THE SUN IS SHINING.
Sheila arrives (twice) with laden car. In quick succession the helpers come and preparations begin. By
noon the banner and balloons have been hung, tables and chairs arranged around the garden, tables laid in
the dining‑room, and copious cups of tea and coffee consumed. Bob and
John depart to collect the
sandwiches and fish and chips for the workers' lunch. Mike arrives at 1.00p.m.
with magnificent birthday
cake made by Sheila, Mike's wife, and we all enjoy a fairly leisurely repast in
wonderful warm sunshine. The
first guests arrive just before 2.30 and soon a steady crocodile wends its way
across the road from The
Preston Cross Hotel car park, some with folding chairs and some with raffle
prizes. At 2.50 David arrives
with Norman and his daughter. Norman drives through the side gate on an
electric buggy to be greeted
by the assembled company singing‑‑‑For he's a jolly good
fellow". And he had no idea ‑ we had managed to keep it a secret. The afternoon passed
incredibly quickly indeed. Old friends greeted each other with glee and sat in the garden
eating and drinking happily. Mike made an impromptu speech to which Norman responded with one full of
reminiscences about staff and pupils at the School during all his time there. The cake was cut, champagne
toasts drunk and presentations made to a wonderful gentleman who had meant so much to so many. What a
tribute to him the whole afternoon had been. And we had also been fortunate in having other members
of staff with us that day. What a lucky lot we were. As Norman left he said "This has been the best day of
my life". Everything planned over months had been so worthwhile. People lingered chatting to old friends
until finally at about 7.30 eight of us sat in the garden, still bathed in
sunshine, finished the
sandwiches and agreed we had all had rather a good day. The raffle made over £
100, only one member didn't
turn up and the last load went into the dishwasher at 10.30.
11th‑ My neighbour
said we must have had a very happy time as all they could hear was lots of
chatting and laughter. She
was right ‑ it had been super and nothing had gone wrong.
16th‑ Sheila and I went to tea with Norman and
took the remains of the birthday cake for him to enjoy. We intended to stay only a little while, so as
not to tire him out. Instead we stayed for two hours, had tea and fruit cake
and Norman regaled us with
stories about life at School ‑ and he was still as fresh as a daisy when
we left. We enjoyed the
afternoon enormously.
We
look forward now to Norman's appearance at the Millennium lunch in our new
surroundings.
My
grateful thanks to all those who wrote or telephoned to say how much they had enjoyed the day. That made it even more worthwhile. We loved
having you all.
Maureen
Meier, Bookham, Surrey.
Stanley Bruinvels (1931‑39) got
six of the best from Johnny Rivett!
Whilst I have not been a member of the Association for very
long, I see
that It Is long enough for. Rosemary Dale to do a spell check on my
name. It
was only to indicate what people have known for a long time
and what I was
often called in those dim, distant school‑days,
nonetheless, I must
point out that the result would have been different if she had
added the
‘s’ at the end of my surname. In the tracing back of my lineage. I
have
never found the name spelt without the 's' although in 1725 it
was spelt
Bruinfvels.
I would like to say that of the copies of
The Dorkinian received, they were much appreciated with their varied content,
bearing in mind all ages a very polished production.
Referring again to No. 16 Spring 2000, I was
glad to see that you had an excellent write up by Gladys Arlett of Rosa
Baigent. I knew her tolerably well, she used to play badminton at my parents
house and also at the South Holmwood Club, and as stated played tennis,
partnering my sister in law, and partnering my sister in the Surrey County
Badminton Tournaments.
Moving on to Messrs Randall & Kerr's
journalistic offerings, they both evoked strong memories. I first met Mr
Rivett, the then Headmaster, when I was taken to the school by my father whom,
as a result of an accident, and a long spell in hospital had decided to settle
in Dorking. I was younger than most who attended the D.C.S. and to enable me to
do so, I was required to spend two days taking tests. This I did, spending most
of the time in the Headmasters Study. Presumably all was well because I was
offered a place at the commencement of the new term.
I would like to add my observations to their
Life in School. Possibly because I had been a very young boarder at a school in
Essex made a difference but I thoroughly enjoyed my life at school. One of the
high lights was a visit to the Ford Works at Dagenham. I can remember the long
high walk ways as if it was yesterday. I expect it has all changed now.
Of the two masters that Randall mentioned, Dr
Cole I recall as living at the bottom of my parents in law's garden in White
Gates. He lived there for a time after Vaughan Williams. He was choir Master at
St Martins Church
and when I and a couple of friends went to join the Choir, the others were accepted and I was turned away having
been informed that "I cannot sing a note in tune".
Jack Harper was a totally different type of
person. He will always linger in my memory for a couple of reasons. The first
and very foremost was his being responsible for telling me to report to the
headmaster on finding my initials carved on the inside of my desk lid. That
resulted in six across my bottom from Johnny Rivett.
The second thing was my everlasting thanks
to him whom I got to know quite well in later life, for looking after the
academic interests of my elder son for one year. He got a rather reluctant
worker to become an eager one and passing his Common Entrance and on attending
his new school, won prizes for his work in the first year. In my humble opinion, Jack Harper
was a good man, he was fair and a good teacher.
Kerr
mentions Arthur Lowndes. Good to know that he is in the land of the living. I got to know him better after school as
he lived in Deepdene Gardens where we used to live until old age required that
we moved 'round the corner'.
Tony Lowman and his sisters are well
remembered as it was due to him that I and Donald Broyd (whom I spoke to last
year) joined the local Athletic Club. A Club with which my association ended on
its being amalgamated with another Club and terminating my twenty years as
President.
Miss Robinson and her motor car and who
cannot remember The Sydenham Girls descending upon Dorking.
Personally, if I was asked who made the
greatest impression upon me whilst at school, I would say, without hesitation
Norman Bradshaw ‑ Brutus. Not because he is still with us and will
probably read this, not because of his teaching (1=O!!), but for his Scouting.
I do not know how I came to join the scouts,
the 19th Dorking, but it is something that I have never regretted.
The self confidence it promoted, the
comradeship and the Friday evening meets, the skills that we learnt (even if
Dick Arthur did knock me down in the Boxing Ring!) It was all very good fun.
The week end and annual camps, Brutus
repairing my foot when someone inadvertently glanced a sheath knife off a tree
and into my big toe, the Scout Jamboree in Holland where I was left behind
because I contracted a spot of tonsillitis and rather than go into hospital
went to stay with some relatives in Amsterdam for a couple of weeks. The
Windsor "Kings Scout" Parades … I could go on and on.
The most obvious benefit to this Scouting
thing was when I was in the Army. On a tank Commanders course one had to know
Semaphore and Morse Code and as I knew it I was a sort of quasi instructor,
much less work!
In the desert it helped me in so many ways
that if I went into them all it would bore everyone stiff (as I probably am
doing already). One final point however, for about three months prior to my
joining my Regiment, I was given a Warrant for the 10th Dorking Scout Troop‑then
an Air Scout Troop ‑When I left them my Aircraft Recognition was great!!.
I could go on and on but doubtless it would
only be of interest to a few {if any!) of your readers.
The trouble of getting older is that one
finds it very difficult to actually get down to anything and finally when one
does get down to it (such as writing a letter) one finds it rather difficult to
stop.
Stopping however I am, so with kind regards
to you.
Arthur Lowndes (1931‑36), with photographs
Having seen the contribution by my old friend Frank Kerr and the two cricket XI's in
the Spring 2000 issue, I thought I might drop a line recalling times past. I
therefore enclose two photographs of the 1936 football and cricket teams.
Having written the names of the football team on the back at the time(!), I can
list them:
Standing:
Sanders, Barton, Lowndes, Black, Turner, Williams, Rattenbury.
Sitting:
Alderton, Baple, Maynard, Somerville, Lowman.
I can still remember the names of the
cricketers, except one:
Standing: Tich Maynard, Sanders, Fish Whiting,
Worsfold, Black, Bob Williams,
the unknown, and
Alan Pyrn.
Sitting: Tony Lowman, myself, Keith Somerville,
Ossie Rattenbury, and Peter
Davis.
Here are some brief notes on some of
the boys as far as I can recall. The outstanding member for service in the
armed forces has to be Keith Somerville who joined the RAF in 1937, served
throughout the war and became a Group Captain. He was awarded the DSO, DFC and
bar, and AFC, a collection of "gongs" which I am sure exceeded any
other old boy of the school.
Tony Lowman was best man at my
wedding and, as Frank says, we still meet from time to time. He was also a
pilot in the RAF serving as an instructor in Canada and later in Bomber
Command.
Another very close friend of mine
was Roy Baple sitting second left in the football team. He went to Singapore
and was lost after the notorious surrender to the Japanese. His father was the
Headmaster of Powell Corderoy School and spent years after the war trying to
find out what happened to his son, unsuccessfully as far as I know.
Bob Williams who features in the
back row of both photos spent most of the war in India and the Far East and
followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a school headmaster.
Seated on the far right of the
cricket team is Peter Davis who was one of the best cricketers produced by the
School before the war. He captained Dorking, and as far as I know still lives
there.
Finally may I refer to the
photograph on page 8 of Issue No. 13 of "Possibly the best cricket team
the School has ever produced" which included Tony Ansell mentioned by
Frank Kerr, but also "John L Teede". In fact I think this was Rupert
Teede, as John was too young to be in this team. Rupert was a near contemporary
of mine and I remember that he became a paratrooper and, sadly, was killed at
Arnhem.
I always look forward to reading
news of old pupils of the early thirties.
RALPH MANN (1937‑40) is retiring for the third time!
We plan to retire to Hook Norton in
the autumn .... This will be my third retirement. I retired from full‑time
teaching in 1982, when I was ordained. I retired from full‑time ministry
in 1997, only to have the bishop prevail on me to take on this so‑called
'part-time' work which has in fact proved to be much more demanding than my
last full‑time benefice.
It's years and years since I last
visited Dorking (to preach at St. Paul's Church), but I have happy and vivid
memories of the school in those exciting years 1937‑40, and of Fanny
Burton, Miss Alldsworth, Miss Willcox, not to speak of Mr. Ashby who failed to
teach me woodwork, Mr. Williams whose French was more intelligible than his
native Welsh, Miss Huntley, Mr. Cole, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Newman, and the remote
and inaccessible Mr. Rivers. I have a class group photograph of 3A in 1940.
They were happy days, and Dorking County School was educationally miles ahead
of the public boarding school to which my father had me transferred in 1940,
which was still living in the nineteenth century.
p.s.
Ralph wrote the above to us in April, since when he has confirmed that
he will be
retiring at the end of August, and
from 1st September his new address will be:
2, Whittons
Close, Hook Norton, Banbury, Oxon OX15 5QG
WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE DORKING AREA NOW? Robert Miller reports
Landmark Builder
Immortalised in Bronze
One of Dorking's heroes was
immortalised in May when a new bronze statue (pictured below) of the builder
Thomas Cubitt was unveiled outside the Mole Valley Council Offices at
Pippbrook, Reigate Road, Dorking.
Thomas Cubitt built the Denbies
Mansion (now demolished) on the summit of Ranmore, but died before it was
finished in 1855. He was also famed for his major public works, including
several London landmarks and Osborne House, the palace on the Isle of Wight
much favoured by Queen Victoria.
The statue is one of two, the other
being in Pimlico in south London. They were completed in 1994 by the sculptor
W. Fawke. The one in Dorking was purchased by Adrian White, the present owner
of the Denbies Estate, and generously donated to the town.
