We are indebted to Lord Ellenborough for the welcome gift of a number of useful books - reference and fiction - to the School Library, and also for some miscellaneous Sports equipment, and we take this opportunity of expressing our sincere thanks to him for his kindness.
We congratulate the Scouts very heartily on the success of their Parents' evening. We understand that it was greatly appreciated, and on their behalf we thank the parents and friends whose generosity has made Camp appreciably nearer for them.
At the beginning of the present School year, the wood-work room was re-equipped with tools and benches, and it has now been fitted with electric light - a welcome improvement, for which we thank the powers that be.
It is hoped that during the coming summer term ordinary class work may be supplemented by an optional class, one evening a week, when those who wish, may do some individual work, making any article they want, provided it is within their power and that the plans are approved and in accordance with the bye-laws!
Articles that are of use to the boys, may be taken away when completed, provided that they are reasonably well made; the penalty for carelessness is that Mr. Vogel will use your model to light the furnace fire!
Should the optional class come into being, the boys who attend will be expected to pay the cost price of the material used, in return for which they will possess a few pieces of furniture (sic) which may serve as useful presents or to grace the houses of the future!
With a greatly increased grant, for which we thank the Governing body very heartily, we have been able to add some much-needed reference books to the School Library. Lack of space prevents us from giving the titles here, but a full list will be posted up in the School Library at the beginning of next term.
National Savings subscriptions for the term have amounted to £15 12s., and for the half year now closing to £34 11s.
Our hearty congratulations to Mr. S.A. Fox, who has now a little daughter.
We congratulate Trevett, W.I. and Stone, R.F.H. on their appointment as School prefects.
Our congratulations also to Wood, R.K. on passing his London Matriculation examination, and to Pitcher, D.R.H. on passing the Bank Common Entrance examination.
It has hitherto been the policy of this Magazine to refrain, in the interests of its readers, from publishing any advertising matter. We are now instituting a column for advertising our own produce only, for as the old Sanscrit proverb saith:-"It is a dumb chicken that does not boost its own eggs." We are convinced that our public does not want high falutin' phrases and airy promises, so we are merely calling attention to our large stock by publishing a few entirely unsolicited testimonials . There is no deception about these. In fact we are prepared to accept a large sum of money from anyreader who can prove them to be genuine.
SCIENCE. Dear Sir, I once thought all schoolmasters were were clever. Since taking your course my ignorance has been dispelled. (J.R.).
MATHEMATICS. Sir, In one term under you my son has learned to speak Algebra fluently. He has also learned the Stein song, both Ep- and Ein-. (XYZ).
LATIN. Sir, I should hardly have thought such progress possible in this subject. In one year all my regular verbs have become irregular . (J. Caesar).
FRENCH . Monsieur, Je suis tres content . La plume de ma tante est dans le jardin. Le cochon est sur la coche. Tout a vous. (Mlle P.).
HISTORY. Sir, Last Christmas I was a mere Captain in the Army. Thanks to your unsparing efforts I am now a Sergeant Major. (Corpl. M.).
GEOGRAPHY. My Dear Mr-, Thank you so much for your sweet information on the Northern Hemisphere. It makes me glad to feel I live in New Zealand. (Mrs. R., a correspondent member.).
MUSIC. Sir, I wish to thank you for the unutterable pleasure you gave me recently, when I stood in the Wareham Road and listened to the boys singing, I believe, one of Bach's " Chants sans Paroles." (Mr. N.).
GAMES. Sir, Sport is the backbone of our nation. I see from the number of boys who are my personal acquaintances that you are developing the vertebrae well. Carry on with the good work, sir. (Doctor X.).
ENGLISH. Honoured Sir, Not long since I was a journalist. I have got so better in English as I am now a poet. I may soon improve myself if me and you works together much longer. (H.M.L.).
BUSINESS TRAINING. Gentlemen, I have made such good Progress at book-keeping under your tuition that I find now I am unable to obtain books even from the County Library. I tried your method of "double entry." (Conv. 99.). [Convicted of forgery. 12 months. Ed.].
WOODWORK. Sir, My son has made great progress and now no longer frets. We have for sale 300 wall brackets, 24 book cases and 1 rabbit hutch (suit Austin Seven). Yours truly. A chef.
M.L.H.
The Committee decided this year to change the venue of the dinner to the Junction Hotel. The alteration was a great success as the room set at our disposal was comfortably full and the menu excellent.
Our President (Mr. W.F. Hodges) was in the chair and he was supported by the Mayor of Dorchester (Mr. W.J. Fare), Mr. E. L. Ling, the Headmaster and the Club Officials, to say nothing about numerous apologies.
Space will not permit of a full report of the speeches, and it must suffice to state that the toast of the "The School" was proposed by the President in an admirable speech in which he referred to the assistance and help which the Governing body anticipated from the appointment of the Mayor and the Bishop of Sherborne to that august committee.
In reply Mr. R.W. Hill gave a very interesting precis of the activities, hopes and aspirations of the School, and concluded with an appeal to old boys to join the club and show a little enthusiasm for its objects, which would greatly assist the efforts of the School itself.
The toast of "The Chairman" was proposed by the Mayor, who referred in glowing terms to the great part our President had taken in the public affairs of the School and Town, concluding with a poetical effusion which brought the blushes to the Chairman's cheek and restricted his thanks to an embarrassed minimum.
The toast list was interspersed with gramophone selections provided by the courtesy of Messrs. Rogers, and with songs by the Wessex Glee Singers, and Mr. A.G. Shorto. Mr. Hodges again gave us the Club anthem "Vive la Compagnie", and Mr. A.P. Shaw led the company in community singing, the tit-bit of the item being undoubtedly the sympathetic rendering of an old song by a veteran of the Old Boys' Cricket eleven.
A most enjoyable evening ended with "Auld Lang Syne" and an argument with a member of the staff as to the merits or demerits of hockey, the deplorable or admirable state of football in the School and a challenge to the Staff to a Badminton match, which was then accepted but which we gather has since been allowed to drop.
The Annual Winter Dance was held in the Corn Exchange, Dorchester, on Tuesday, 12th March, 1931. It was somewhat unfortunate that it should have been held in Lent, as this detracted to some extent from the attendance.
We are not good at figures, but should estimate that about 160 were present, and as in previous years, the Dance went with a swing to the music of Harry Crocker and his Band. Committeemen, looking very gay with carnations in buttonhole, strove to keep matters going, and the novelties which were distributed during the evening transferred the event into a Carnival scene.
Some comment must be made on the excellent decorations in Old Boys' Colours which had been erected by Mr. A.J. Dalton: the effect was worth all the hard work he put into an unenviable job.
The Club's best thanks are again due to the Ladies' Committee, who rallied round at somewhat short notice and provided the usual tempting refreshments.
From a Social point of view the dance can be written down as an undoubted success, and we hear that the effort is also on the right side financially.