Summer Times is the Journal of the Old Scarborians Association

ously embarrassing stuff, particularly as I
have some of the original photographs to
prove it!
Summer Times itself (and I hope it continues
biannually, albeit that I concede myself heav‐
ily outvoted on any change of name) also stirs
up memories. Even now I must confess that I
cannot hear William Blake’s “Jerusalem”
without thinking of Speech Day at Queen
Street and being bored by some self‐
important local worthy exalting us to “play
the game” followed by the ritualistic singing,
orchestrated by Mr Costain, and perfunctory
applause from the proud parents of those
who were awarded the school prizes.
It was also at Westwood that I first discov‐
ered that apparently I was a ”philistine” – in
fact I did go home and look up what this
meant after having been accused by Harry
Wilson of failing to take any serious interest
in Advanced Level French poetry, though my
interest in Shakespeare arising from the
School Play perhaps partly redeemed this.
Regrettably my subsequent years in the South
of England have done little to improve my
northern lack of culture!
So far as School Plays are concerned I recall
vividly Donald Hellmuth’s over‐the‐top Mac‐
beth in 1957, also recalled recently by Adrian
Casey, whose own performance, coupled
with the other two witches could also per‐
haps be described as an over‐theatrical tour
de force! For a brief period of time I could
claim to remember the whole play, and
lengthy quotations still occasionally spring to
mind, but are in little demand when currently
drafting legal documents for my real job!
Even the Latin which Jack Ellis sought labori‐
ously to teach us, which was then needed for
admission to a Law Course, has almost disap‐
peared within the legal profession.
Back however to philosophy – albeit perhaps
rather pretentiously – should we look back? I
like to think that we are not so much dwell‐
ing in the past but recognising that we are
54
partly what we are today because of the for‐
mative effect of the School, and the Associa‐
tion is a recognition and reflection of that,
and perhaps also an opportunity for belated
appreciation of the enduring influence of the
School.
GRAHAM SCHOOL APPEAL
I am informed by Bill Stuart, the Head of
Science at the Graham School, that the
£50,000 has been raised and the proposal for
the school to become a Specialist Science
School has been submitted.
He also expressed his thanks to the members
of the Old Scarborians Association who
pledged help for the appeal.
Peter Robson
Secretary
THE CHUCKLING
MOUNTAINEER
By Gerald Hinchliffe
(1947-55)
Harry Marsden—Joey the
boss – loved mountains.
They were his friends and
his inspiration for most of
his life. He was irresistibly
attracted by their grandeur,
their wildness, and their
never failing challenge. In a serious mood he
once spoke to me of how moving he found
the overwhelming silence and spirituality of
desolate valleys and hills. In reality and in his
reading he absorbed them all.
It is not surprising, therefore, that this pas‐
sion was apparent in his educational philoso‐
phy. Not surprising that most of his holidays
were spent on school camps in France, Swit‐
zerland, the Lake District, Scotland and else‐
where. No lolling on beaches, no loitering in
skittle alleys, his students were out almost
every day attacking accessible mountain
peaks, exploring remote valleys, or setting