Fosterian Magazine 1995 - Old Fosterians and Lord Digby's Old Girls

Placing of wreaths on Memorial Boards. Poppy wreaths carned by KateFarley and Robin Ackroyd O.F. (senior pupils), accompanied by the PresidentO.F.A. S. McKay Esq. and the Chairman O.F.A., K. Topp Esq.Prayer.Father forgive the hatred which divides nation from nation, race from race,class from class. May it be our resolve to save succeeding generations from thescourge of war, which twice in this century has brought untold sorrow tomankind. May our resolve be a recognition of those who made the 'SupremeSacrifice', laying down their lives for our freedom. Amen.Next year's Memorial Service will be held on or about 11 November. Anymembers wishing to attend should contact the Secretary near the date.K.F.T.SIXTH FORM: GRYPHON SCHOOLIt is pleasing, again, to report on some splendid 'A' level results. Those studentswho are actual members of the Association are noted by their School dates, theothers may be encouraged to join the Association.Overall percentages at A level for the Gryphon School were grades A to B48.5%, grades A to C - 62.1 % and the overall pass rate 92.2 %.'A' level results I destinations following school.Richard Bendell: (88 - 92). lD and 2E. - West of England UniversityBournemouth, French and German.Dudley Bond: (88 - 92). lC and 3D. - Def entry. Portsmouth University,Physical educationlleisure management. Application Officer RAF.Philip Burningham: 2D and IE. - Plymouth University. MechanicalEngineering.Justin Butcher: (89 - 92) IC, 2D, IE. Officer entry RAF.Robert Gully: 3A and 2B.- Surrey University Civil Engineering.Angus Jones: 4A and Ie. - St. George's Hospital, London. Pre-clinicalMedicine.Benjamin Rawles: lC and 2E. Glamorgam University.CombinedigeneralArts.Jonathan Taylor. (88 -92). 2B and lD. -Communication Studies.Glamorgan University.Benjamin Waterfall. 3A and 2B. - Nottingham University. Pre-clinicalMedicine.10Matthew Weinel (88 - 92). lA and 3B. - Birmingham University. ElectronicEngineering.The Association extends its congratulations and good wishes for their futures.The GCSE examinations produced very good results and we record the OldPo sterian members at that age level.Stephen Brooking: 3A*', 5A, 2B.: Gareth Chaffey, 4A, 3B, 3C.: JamieCheeseman: 2B, 5C, lD, 2E.: Philllip Dawson: 6A*,4A.: Andrew Helson: 2A,6B, 2C,: Peter Landrick: 2B, 3C, 3D,: Anthony Pugh: 2A*, 4A,lB,3C,: WilliamRanner: 2A, 4B, 3C, ID,: Robert Smith: 3A, 4B, lC, 2D,: Timothy Walley: 3A,7B,: Barry Welch: 2A*, 4A, 3B,IC,: Michael Woods: 4A, 2C, 3D.The Rinancial Times table of national examination results placed TheGryphon School 5th for all mixed comprehensive schools. A most creditableposition for future prospects. Well done.MINISTRY OF EDUCATIONINSPECTION NOVEMBER 1959As a follow-up to the article in the 1994 Magazine on the Board of EducationInspection of 1929 some points from that of November 1959 may be of interest.The numbers in the school had risen from 84 to 182 and those of boarders from18 to 23 (although in 1949 it had been 36). There were now 31 pupils over 16,compared with two in 1929, and a Sixth Form of 21. The school had, of course,moved in 1939 to Tinneys Lane but the Inspectors reported that there was "adecided shortage of ordinary class-room teaching space" and that it was a veryunsatisfactory arrangement that a substantial number of classes had to be takenin the Library and the Assembly Hall; they also stressed the need for anadditional laboratory. As for furniture, some was in need of repair and therese·emed to be a shortage of chairs "judging by the number of occasions whenboys were seen carrying chairs about"! The only recent substantial piece ofbuilding had been the new kitchen and this had made it possible to introducefamily service "which would work even better if the new dining tables were notquite so narrow". The report speaks of the "attractive qualities of the room inwhich the library is housed" but says, "The total of 3,000 books gives asomewhatt misleading impression .... since it includes quite a number of classtext books and many obsolescent works." Annual expenditure on the libraryover the last three years had averaged £130 - considerably more than the £5 of1929!Tribute is paid to Mr. Lush, who had retired the previous April. He had, saysthe report, "served the school for thirty years during which time it has gainedthe respect of the local community and the affection of its old boys". It alsosays, "It is pleasing to be able to record that there is no definite weaknessamongst the teaching staff' and relations between the staff and boys appear to11