Issue No. 3 Autumn 1993
"THE
DORKINIAN” 
Contents
Membership Secretary’s Comments
School Life in the 1960s - Anna Hoyle
Frances Carder – ‘Overseas Secretary’
Change in Age of Transfer in 1994- Headteacher
Dear 'Dorkinians'
Our third newsletter coincides with notice of the AGM on
Monday 15th November at the School at 8pm. A separate note is enclosed covering
this year's agenda and the minutes of last year's inaugural meeting. The
business part of the meeting should be fairly short ‑but that does not
mean anyone will be gagged! ‑ so please treat
this occasion as an opportunity to meet old friends.
The Committee has met regularly over our first year. We are
still to some extent feeling our way and we are disappointed that total
membership has not yet reached even 150. We do not know why there should be so
much less support for the Association than there was for the Reunion, so we
plan to circularise all those whose names appeared on the Reunion Lists in the
hope of obtaining some useful feedback.
Next year's Committee will need at least two new faces as both
Hilda Burden and Chris Tottman, who have both been
vitally important to the establishment of the Association, are standing down.
Offers please urgently! Hilda has been our secretary and Chris explains his
role in the article which follows. Perhaps the job which Chris does should be shared,
especially if the membership grows as we would like it to?
There have not been many spontaneous contributions since the
last Newsletter; perhaps members will open up as they see others doing so?
I am grateful to the Headteacher, Arthur Webster, for his news
about developments at the School.
The School Concert on Thursday June 10th was a very enjoyable
occasion, put on for our benefit and attended by a small but appreciative audience. Anna Hoyle, one of our
Committee members, was one of the performers and I am delighted that she has
given us her article on School Life in the 1990s. After the formal concert we
replayed extracts from some old records of Messiah and Magic Flute ‑
Roderick McLeod was kind enough to send his recordings by post from Orkney, a
really friendly gesture.
David Mountain (Chairman)
0372 273227
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S
COMMENTS ‑ from Chris Tottman
What an exciting time it has been, setting up the mechanism to
provide a network for our former classmates. In the past year I have heard from
many former pupils, whose school years span the complete range from the
inception of the Schools at the Ashcombe site.
As our facilities expand it would of course be pleasing to
hear from yet more of our classmates and so I ask you to promote the
Association to those people you know have not yet responded. I have included an
up to date membership list, which I hope contains some address amendments as
sent to me. As you may see, this list is by no means an exhaustive one ‑
but it does at least include my address! (This list has not been included here –
webmaster)
It is with great sadness that I must withdraw from this
enjoyable role of Membership Secretary. I'm afraid that I am unable to put into
the post the energy or time it deserves. My career is taking me to Tanzania for
three months next year, and indeed my global roving has already begun with a
couple of weeks' business in Amsterdam.
I wish to thank all of those who have been so supportive and
encouraging in this role the brilliant committee who
got all of this off the ground, and of course to you all, Members, for the
lovely letters you have written and all of those offers of help which have not
been forgotten! If I have not yet replied to your particular enquiry, I'm sorry
‑ be patient, and I will as soon as possible
THE ASHCOMBE SCHOOL ‑ School Life in the 1990s ‑ from Anna Hoyle
No doubt many things have changed at The Ashcombe since
Dorking Grammar and Mowbray days, however there is
still a strong sense of community spirit and activity outside the school
curriculum. In fact, there is something for practically everyone to get
involved with, whether their interests lie with sport, music, drama, or
something else.
The annual charities week, now going into its third year, is a
brilliant opportunity for the school to go slightly crazy for a week, and in
doing so raise thousands of pounds for charity. A comrnittee
of sixth formers and staff plan lots of wacky fundraising events for a week in
March; these include "dunking your favourite member of staff and an
"auction of slaves", as well as themed fancy dress for the whole
sixth form. The dual purpose of this is to help the Royal Marsden Hospital,
and the school's Romania charity. For two years a team of sixth formers, staff
and other volunteers have travelled to Romania with much‑needed supplies
bought or collected by the school. This year they undertook a clean water
project in conjunction with Biwaters.
Music is flourishing at The Ashcombe with a wide range of
activities to suit all tastes; Senior Orchestra, Sinfonietta, Ashcombe Choir,
Recorders, and even a Composers' Club! The Music Department are currently
preparing for the Annual Carol Service to be held on Thursday 16th December at
St. Martin's Church, starting at 7.30pm., (please come if you can ‑ if
it's as good as it was last year you'll be in for a treat, and if last year's
practice is repeated there will be coffee afterwards in the church hall ‑editor)
Many pupils are members of orchestras at county or even national level. New
keyboards, a drum‑kit and a stereo recorder, all bought by fundraising
efforts, aid the teaching in the classroom.
The famous annual musical continues its fine tradition;
rehearsals are currently underway for the November production of "Fiddler
on the roof'. Straight plays are also produced; this year the sixth form put on
a production of the Greek tragedy "Antigone".
Sport is well represented, especially in the enthusiastic
lower half of the school. The annual "Festival of Sport" allows the
Houses of Stuart, Tudor, Windsor, and York to compete at Football, Hockey,
Rugby, Netball, and many other sports. Athletes have to wait until July for the
Annual Sports Day, as well as the Swimming Gala. There are many school teams
regularly competing in inter‑school tournaments or competitions.
Other lunchtime or sixth form activities include Debating,
Amnesty International, Christian Union and the very popular CDT Club. All in
all there is something for everyone at school today.
NEWS OF DORKINIANS
David G Harding
We are sad to have to report the sudden death on 20th June
1993 of David Harding, the former Hon. Treasurer of the Old Dorkinian
Association and a Vice President of the O.D. Football Club.
David was born in 1924 and attended the School from 1937 to
1942. He married Joyce (nee Willis) who also attended the School. After leaving
school he joined the Army where he reached the rank of Acting Captain.
Following demobilisation in 1947 he commenced his banking career with the
Bank of Montreal. He later joined M. Samuel and Co. Ltd., after qualifying as
an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Bankers. Elected a Fellow of the C.I.B. in
1975, David was subsequently appointed assistant director of Hill Samuel Ltd.
and a director of Hill Samuel Securities Ltd; at his retirement in 1986 he was a director of Hill Samuel Registrars
Ltd.
After his retirement David soon involved himself in local
affairs, becoming membership secretary of the Dorking Preservation Society.
Under his efficient guidance membership steadily increased. He was a key member
of the successful 60th Anniversary School Reunion Committee, and was also a
keen supporter of the O.D. Football Club, often to be seen on the touchline at
Pixham on Saturday afternoons.
To those who knew David as a personal friend his presence will
be sadly missed, and we wish to convey our sincere condolences to Joyce and
their family.
PAM
Norman Piper
We are also sorry to hear of
the recent death of Norman Piper who was born in 1915 and attended the Boys
High School, Dene Street, and D. C. G. S.
Norman was one of the founder members of the O.D. Football and
Cricket Clubs, and remained a vice‑president of both until his death.
After becoming a qualified engineer Norman served in the R.A.F. in various
locations in the Second World War before starting a new career in 1952 at GCHQ,
Cheltenham. Norman gave 40 years' voluntary work for the disabled, and was a
prime mover in the formation of the South Western Association for the Disabled,
covering seven counties. He was chairman until 1986 by which time 96 clubs had
been formed under his guidance. In 1991 he received the Cheltenham Medal of
Honour as a tribute to his work for the disabled
Frances Carder ‑ "Overseas Secretary"
Frances, who received a mention in Newsletter #2, has kindly
agreed to give us further notes about herself and her school connections, as
someone who started at the Dorking High School for Girls and transferred to D.C.G.S. when it opened, leaving in 1936. Academically, Frances says she was
average in most subjects, a bit better in Chemistry; so bad in Art that the
rest of her class need not fear coming bottom! Clearly, Frances enjoyed her
Sports, being a member of the Hockey and Girls' Cricket Teams (unfair? boys
were not allowed to play tennis in my days ‑ editor), and was good at
swimming and sprinting and an expert at obstacle races. The things people
remember! Frances joined the O.D.A. in 1948 and has taken a keen interest in
its affairs ever since, specialising in establishing and maintaining contacts
with overseas members. She obviously enjoys writing letters and helping people
going abroad for the first time, and now meeting some of her correspondents in
her travels. She would be delighted to have more names and addresses for her
Christmas card list ‑ she also sends First Day Covers on special
occasions!
As a postscript, Frances asks if anyone could confirm that it
was Frank Snushall, whose death was
reported in the previous Newsletter,
who was removed from the position of Organist at St. Martin's Church because Mr.(later
Dr.) Cole found him practising "Rhapsody in Blue"?!
Heather Salisbury (1976 - 1980)
Heather is trying to arrange a 'get‑together' with some
old friends, and would be grateful for details of the last known whereabouts of
Lucinda Bolt, Gregory Bowden, Andrew Grieve, Josephine Johnson, Douglas Showell, and Graham. Thorburn. If you can help, please write to her at Flat 6, 16 Grovehill Road, Redhill, RHI 6PJ
Perhaps it would be worth mentioning here that the School does not
hold addresses of former pupils, and the only realistic way to maintain such
records is through persuading people to become members of the Dorkinian
Association.
Hilda Burden has just
become a grandmother and is busier than ever! Congratulations!
OLD DORKINIAN CRICKET CLUB ‑ from Dave Wilcockson
The 1993 season was reasonably successful, with 11 of the 35
games won, 15 drawn, and 9 lost. Only 3 matches were ruled out by rain although
many were played in damp, cloudy conditions. Michael Haigh
finished top of the batting and bowling averages, but the highest aggregates
were achieved by David Woods (530 runs) and Dave Wilcockson (69 wickets) (Dave 1953‑60
‑ what stamina! ‑ editor)
During the season we heard from several ex‑0.D. cricketers including
Tony Winkworth from New Zealand, David Boxall from Australia, and Alan Fox from Wales. Alan umpired during the Women's World Cup in July and appeared at the West Indies v Ireland match at Pixham Lane.
On a sadder note, one of our oldest vice‑presidents
Norman Piper recently died in Cheltenham. He played in the first few seasons of
our Club and at one time held the record for the highest individual score with
64.
OLD DORKINIAN FOOTBALL CLUB from Peter Mills
The O.D.s have
opened the season with six sides competing in the Old Boys' League for the
first time, indicating the increasing strength of the Club. The Senior XI, however, are going
through a rebuilding period having lost eight of last season's successful side.
Paul Abbott, Tom Lunn and Martyn
Skinner have joined the Dorking Town Club, Keith Irvine has returned to Cobham,
Barry Atkins is away at Loughborough University, and our goalkeeper David
Williams has joined the Fire Brigade and become unavailable! Undaunted,
however, they opened the season brightly with victories against John Fisher
O.B. away 4‑1, and Old Alpertonians home 2‑0,
but then lost to Old Highburians away 4‑0 and
Chorleywood Danes O.B. 6‑3 ‑at home! The sixth XI have made the best start of all the sides with impressive
victories over Old Sedcopians V 4‑1 away and
Old Thorntonians V 5‑2 away.
The Club are delighted that
they have been able to revive fixtures with the School. A mid‑week match
was arranged recently at Pixham Lane when an Old Dorkinian XI faced the School
and the match ended in an honourable 2‑2 draw.
The Club would welcome supporters to their Saturday fixtures
at Pixham: ‑ the main forthcoming home matches are as follows:
30 October 1st XI v
Phoenix OB 11 December
1st XI v Old Addey
6 November
1st v Old Manorians 18 December
2nd v Old Sinjuns
13 November 2nd v Old St. Mary's 8 January 2nd
v Shene
O. G.
20
November 1st v Old Aloysians 15 January
1st
v O.Hamptonians
27 November
3rd v Glyn O.B. 22
January 2nd
v O.Wokingians
4 December 1st v Old Highburians 29
January 3rd
v Shene O.G.
The Headteacher reports on the 1994
change in the Age of Transfer:
THE ASHCOMBE SCHOOL LINK
SUMMER TERM 1993
Dear Parents and Friends,
Confirmation has just been received
that the Secretary of State has approved the County's 1994 change in the Age of
Transfer proposals insofar as they affect this school. This is somewhat of a
relief as word was expected in March. What will be the effect of this approval
upon the school?
Firstly, of course, it means that
from September 1994 11
year old pupils will be admitted to The Ashcombe school and we will have complete
responsibility for Key Stage 3 of the National Curriculum. Teaching eleven year
olds will be a new experience for only a minority of our staff. Given that 11‑16
or 11‑18 secondary schools are the norm throughout most of the country,
many Ashcombe teachers will simply be reacquainting themselves with this
particular age group. However, a considerable amount of staff training and
planning is being arranged to ensure that all is ready for this new year and in this we are working closely with our middle
school colleagues.
Of course, the school will grow in
size. At first this will be a considerable increase to about 1400 as we
currently have some very large year groups in the school. Over a period of
years this is expected to reduce somewhat as our admission number will reduce
from September 1994. This reduction does concern us because it could be more
difficult for pupils from some of our traditional feeder middle schools to find
places at The Ashcombe. The basic rules of arithmetic finally decide admission
policy and we can give no open promise that places will be available for all
who wish to come. However, we would hope that all parents interested in sending
children to The Ashcombe would continue to come and discuss the situation with
us regardless of where they live.
Within 'Link' we give details of the
building extensions which are being planned to meet our increased accommodation
requirements with the new year of pupils. As 1 have
mentioned on previous occasions adequate accommodation provision for a large
comprehensive school was never made available when The Ashcombe was founded in
1976. Governors have thus been very determined that the opportunity provided by
a change in the Age of Transfer should be used to rationalise the school's
entire accommodation provision. Thanks to the professional advice of a number
of parents who have given us tremendous support we have been able to negotiate
an extremely good building programme with the LEA which addresses the pressing
needs for the school to improve or extend facilities for science, music, drama,
technology and art and which, in addition will provide us with a much larger
assembly hall. Given that the new buildings must be completed by this time next
year we anticipate considerable hassle and disruption over the next twelve
months. However, the consequence should be that in the future the standard of
accommodation provision not just for the new Year 7
but for all Ashcombe pupils should be very considerably enhanced. The prospects
of a new age group of pupils and of some fine new accommodation facilities are
both very exciting.
Another proposed building programme
which has recently been mentioned in the local press after it had been
discussed by the Recreation Committee of The Mole Valley District Council, is
the scheme to place a dual use sports hall on The Ashcombe site. Much depends
upon the amount of charitable support which we can attract for this proposal
and we are still a long way from finding the half million pounds or so which
such a project would require. However, there is considerable enthusiasm for
such a facility to be built in Dorking which would benefit both The Ashcombe
pupils and the wider community. Both the County Council and the Sports Council
have endorsed the proposal and although Mole Valley District Council are still investigating an alternative proposal, it too has
expressed much interest. In my earlier career I worked for nearly twelve years
in community schools where facilities were shared and where the school was a
focus for the wider community. Indeed in the school in which I was a deputy
head a considerable number of former pupils used the school as the venue for
their wedding receptions!
Ashcombe governors are very
sympathetic to the idea of greater community involvement in the life of The
Ashcombe School. Certainly the provision of a dual use sports hall would make a
fine focus for the development of this aspect of school life.
Yours
sincerely,
A. Webster
A.F. Webster
Headteacher