Issue No.7 Autumn 1995

 

 

"THE DORKINIAN”

 

 

 

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Contents

 

Editor’s notes

Diary

Membership Secretary’s Report

Mr Bradshaw's Strawberry Tea 11th June 1995

     A Norman Conquest ‑ Frances Carder

     An appreciation from Bedford ‑ Mike Dobson

     An appreciation from Bristol ‑ Michael Rogers

     An appreciation from Brockenhurst ‑ Peter & Margaret Rogers

Memories of Room 'N' ‑ Rob Worsfold

Old Dorkinian Cricket Club ‑ Dave Wilcockson

Old Dorkinian Football Club ‑ Peter Mills

Golf Day

School Ofsted Inspection May 1995

School Business Conference July 1995

Dorkinian Association Bursary

Ashcombe School ‑ structure at Sept. 1995

 

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Dear 'Dorkinians',

 

With this edition of our newsletter we include a separate set of papers relating to our "All Day AGM on Saturday 14th October, which will copy the format launched so successfully last year. Again you have the choice of 'Lunch and AGM, Dinner', or both (with a tour of the School conducted, immediately after the AGM, by the Headteacher, Arthur Webster, for those who have not seen the impressive new developments). Dress for the Dinner will be informal.

 

As I come to the end of my 3 year term as Chairman (the maximum so wisely prescribed by our Constitution% I feel considerable pleasure at the progress we have made and can recall several successes! However, I am all too well aware how much our progress has depended on the efforts of just a few, and I am very concerned that the reluctance of members to come forward to help run the Association might lead us into the situation which caused the collapse of the ODA in 1979. I have a copy of the minutes of the Special General Meeting of the ODA, on 4th January 1979, which make it clear that there was no one to run the Association, and there was little interest and support coming from the School (at least we now enjoy very positive support from the Headteacher, and we are building some bridges with the School). While on the topic of the ODA I should mention that the funds were dispersed in several appropriate directions, as instructed by the Meeting, so regretfully our new Association has no means of recovery to enable former fully paid‑up Life Members of the ODA to have similar status in the new body.

 

We were delighted that Norman Bradshaw accepted our invitation to be the guest of honour at the "Strawberry Tea" on 11th June ‑ a report appears later, and also a few of the many letters of appreciation which arrived on our desks.

 

My thanks once again to all you contributors, and especially to Sheila Sandford, our Membership Secretary, whose input is indispensable.

 

David Mountain September 1995.

 

 

DIARY

 

1      OD Football Club ‑ Dinner Dance, Saturday 7th October ‑ see ODFC report.

2        “ALL DAY AGM" ‑ Saturday 14th October ‑ the format will follow last year's, with a buffet lunch, the AGM at 2pm, Dinner (provisionally set for 6.30pm), and various ideas for passing the time between the end of the AGM and Dinner. Full details are given in the formal AGM papers issued with this Newsletter.

 

 

 

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY'S REPORT

 

I am sorry to tell you that, unfortunately, some 70 members have neglected to renew their membership subscriptions for 1995.

 

Your committee was feeling considerably encouraged this time last year when membership stood at 325 so this deficit is a great disappointment to us.

 

With hindsight, perhaps we sent you too many pieces of paper with the Autumn Newsletter. This year I shall try different tactics, and send membership renewal reminders to you at a later date.(this will no doubt provoke comments about the cost of postage but, if this Association is to survive, I think it is worth a try.)

 

On the plus side, the Strawberry Tea, at which our guest of honour was Mr. Norman Bradshaw, 90 years young, resulted in the recruitment of seventeen new members and, overall in 1995, we have gained 36 new members.

 

A sub‑committee was set up to look at possible ways of recruiting new members ‑ but I still think word of mouth is the best method and rely upon all of you to help keep the Association alive by introducing new members.

 

I am indebted to one of our members who is currently writing a computer programme for me to make it easier for me to keep tabs on you all.

 

Concerning the Membership List for 1995, I must apologise for the errors and because they are rather numerous, I now intend to wait until the beginning of 1996 and issue a new list with corrections and inclusion of new members. In the meantime, a separate list is enclosed of our new members for 1995.

 

Finally, some GOOD NEWS! Mr. Bradshaw is hoping to be present on October 14th at the 'All Day AGM' so any who were unable to attend the Strawberry Tea will have a second chance to offer him congratulations on attaining 90 years. Please make sure I receive your blue form and cheque by 30th September!

 

Sheila Sandford,

73, Copthorne Road, Leatherhead,

Surrey, KT22 7EE.

 

 

 

 

Norman Bradshaw's STRAWBERRY TEA! 11th June 1995

 

About 50 members and guests attended our annual tea party at which this year Norman Bradshaw was the Guest of Honour, enabling us to celebrate his having reached the grand age of 90 on the previous Sunday! We were also able to express our gratitude to him, somewhat belatedly you might think! Norman was presented (see photograph) with an inscribed whisky tumbler (his initials, and the DCGS 'badge' with his years 1931 to 1968), an appropriate bottle, and a collection, in book form, of thankful memories from over 20 of his former pupils. We were in turn treated to a spritely and entertaining 'thank you' speech, with an impressive display of memory ‑ luckily not of our misdemeanours!

 

We were also delighted that Rosa Baigent, Miss Barter, Miss Coney, Miss Macaulay, Mrs Taylor (nee Secretan), and Miss Keenor (who succeeded NWB in 1968 as Head of Maths) were all present and in good form, as well as many others who helped to make it a very enjoyable afternoon despite the poor weather ‑ yes, it did rain on odd occasions during this past summer!

 

The other photograph shows, from left to right, Maureen Meier, Sheila Sandford and Sheila Bowers posing in front of a print‑out supplied by John Gent, during a brief sunny spell.

 

The following four appreciations are typical examples of those submitted by members.

 

 

 

 

A NORMAN CONQUEST

 

The Article about Norman Bradshaw prompted me to submit this follow‑up.

 

I was one of the Girls transferred to the County Grammar School when the Boy’s and Girls' High Schools.were merged in 1931.

 

For the first two years I was taught Mathematics by Mr.Rivett, the Head Master, but then Norman Bradshaw took over.

 

In those days, the School‑Leaving Exams (Matriculation) had an Exam. in Arithmetic which included Trigonometry.

 

Apart from Art, Arithmetic was my worst subject, so I didn't expect to pass the exam but, due to the brilliance of 'Brutus', I did.

 

Mathematics meant nothing to me unless I could see a practical, everyday use for it and 'Brutus' and (I think) Charlie Goffin, whose mime of the way to catch an eel with the hands was unforgettable, proved the use of 'Trig.'.

 

I understand that, then, Mr. Ashby, the Woodwork Master, was a Part‑Time1

 

Teacher, working also in a Building Firm, so Theodolite was borrowed from that Firm and, with it, we were taught to measure angles and calculate the height of the fence posts of the Playing Fields, Box Hill and the Church Spire, a problematic calculation because the base of the Church was below School level while the top of the Spire was above it.

 

I'm not sure how Charlie Goffin fitted into the scheme but however it was, the whole thing gave me a love of Trigonometry.

 

Algebra was practical, too, because it enabled me to calculate the length of Wallpaper, left on a partly‑used roll, without unrolling it.

 

I found little practical use for Geometry except for recognising the shapes of crystals which, at one time, I had to grow in the course of my work. and the knowledge of angles when I used my watch as a compass.

 

Although I was far from brilliant, I thank Norman Bradshaw for the Mathematical knowledge I did acquire.

 

 

 

MIKE DOBSON writes from Ravensden, Bedford

 

Following University and National Service (serving a meteorologist in the RAF), I joined the Ministry of supply a research scientist at the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Bedford ‑ and so began a lifetime of employment as a Government Scientist. There followed a period of some sixteen years of hands‑on research, including qualifying as a pilot, with specialisms in aircraft and propulsion aerodynamics, and I can claim small contributions to many of the aircraft currently in service, like Concorde, Tornado, Jaguar and Harrier.

 

In 1981, after nine years with the Ministry of Defence HQ in London, managing Government sponsored research in industry, I was posted back to RAE Bedford as Director and Chief Scientist of the Establishment with a staff of 1200 people, an airfield with some 25 research aircraft, and wind tunnels and laboratories valued at several hundred million pounds! Also, as Head of the RAE Flight Systems Department I *was responsible for a further 100 scientists at the Farnborough Establishment. There I finished a career which had allowed me to travel throughout Europe and the United States on various collaborative projects, and I called it a day in 1991, although I have run a small and quite successful consultancy business since then.

 

Throughout all this time I have managed to pursue two main hobbies, both of which were inspired at school, music (particularly singing) and drama (Thanks NB and DMM). Tennis has remained my lifelong sport.

 

Thus I can claim not only to have had a successful career but also a very happy life with a loving wife and two married daughters (but no grandchildren as yet!). I have been fortunate to have done the job I always really wanted to do and to pursue my chosen hobbies and, in retrospect, once cannot escape the fact that the whole opportunity have enjoyed was considerably and significantly influenced by three factors in my early life.

 

Firstly that I attended DCGS, secondly that I was blessed with parents who enabled me to attend DCGS, and thirdly, that I was guided and helped in so many respects by so many people ‑ but particularly by Norman Bradshaw while at DCGS. NWB was at once my Maths Master, my Form Master, my Scout Master and my friend. I have never properly thanked either my father or him for all they gave me; it is too late for my father but I am very grateful for the opportunity to say, here and now, THANKS BRUTE!

 

Mike Dobson 1942‑50

 

 

 

 

 

PROFESSOR MICHAEL ROGERS writes from Bristol

 

It was only in my last three years at DCGS that I was taught by you since, of course, the Second World War claimed your services until 1945. But I always remember what a gifted mathematics teacher you were and, indeed, you played a major part in my decision to take up mathematics as a career.

 

I also have many happy memories of Scout camps and other activities which you used to organise for us all, although at the time I am sure few of us realised the tremendous amount of time and effort which you must have put into this aspect of school life.

 

After leaving school in 1948, I spent six years at King's College, London getting a BSc and then a PhD in applied mathematics. This was followed by three years at the University of Illinois (in the Department of Astronomy) and then a stint at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham. Since then I have been at the University of Bristol, first as a Lecturer in the Department of Mathematics and, since 1966, as Professor of Computer Science; I retire this year. I am very much looking forward to a retirement as long and happy as yours, Brutus.

 

Many congratulations on your ninetieth birthday (or, alternatively, as we say in the trade, on entering your nineteenth quinquennium!) and THANK YOU Brutus for all you did for me.

 

 

Michael Rogers    1940‑48

 

 

 

PETER AND MARGARET (nee Walters) ROGERS write from Brockenhurst

 

11.

 

Twenty eight moves with the Queen's Navee!

 

Fondly we remember those halcyon Dorking days

Scout camps, Gang Shows, choir and school plays,

Cricket, cricket teas ‑ the "Dom Sci" room,

Table tennis, Bridge fours and sixth form years,

We were like a ship's company with Brutus at the helm

Long before we dreamt of the Queen's Navee.

 

Spliced at Mickleham in the year of fifty‑eight,

Followed the ship in a newly married state,

Astro navigation and maths for the men,

Third Frigate Squadron and the Far East then.

Home again to Scotland an settled down with wife

Apprentice training ‑ our only quiet life.

A brief spell in Ghana at the Military Academy.

Returned home to study a course of meteorology

Fir cones, seaweed, snapping shrimps and thermoclines

The silent world of oceanography and our submarines,

All in the service of the Queens Navee.

 

Four aircraft carriers and more spells at sea,

Oscar, Victorious, Ark Royal and Bulwark too.

Three sons, Alan, John and Christopher intermittently

Wife busy teaching, wherever we may be

In Cornwall, Portsmouth, London or south Oxhey,

Post revolutionary Portugal, three years of joy,

NATO North Atlantic Travel Organisation – Ship Ahoy!

Canada, the States, Italy, France and Germany

Advising and negotiating for the Queen's Navee.

 

Seaweed abandoned for computers and technology

Appointed Head of the Naval School of Meteorology

A final fling with NATO at S.H.A.P.E. in Belgium

 

Exercise planning where work was intense

But also offered Super Holidays At Public Expense!

All whilst on duty with the Queen's Navee.

 

Came ashore at Brockenhurst and anchored at last,

In the City's commercial world now the navy is past.

Weather forecasts for mariners, engineers, oil men,

And film crews too, wherever they may be –

Bight of Benin, Sine' or the South China Sea,

Satellite communication and electronic mail

Speed the forecasts onwards, giving time to remember

All that's gone before, and the Queen's Navee!

 

 

 

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Year: 1948

 

Scene: Scouting party climbing mountain in Lake District

 

Scout to Scoutmaster: "Gosh Brute, I hope I'll be as fit as you when I’m your age!"

 

 

 

Year: 1995

 

Scene Strawberry Tea Celebration for your 90th birthday

 

The sentiment is the same!

 

"Congratulations and very best wishes"

 

 

 

Margaret and Peter Rogers

1946‑52 1944‑51

 

 

 

Rob Worsfold entertains us again!

 

Room N, sometime during 1964 or 1965

 

Of all the classrooms I was given to, inhabit during my time at Dorking, Room N was probably the one I liked least of all. It never seemed to shake off a temporary rather shabby characteristics, an afterthought tacked on to the main building. Even the door was distinctly inferior quality to the original more solid glass-paned means of entrance to Rooms A to M.

 

Being a ‘W’ meant that not only was I likely to be last on the register but my desk was squeezed at the back in one corner so it was all too easy to catch the .back of my head on the handles of one of the two prefabricated cupboards at the rear of the classroom. One of these cupboards achieved fame for forty minutes when a member of Form 3-1 (it wasn’t me) managed, for reasons unknown, to spend an entire lesson concealed inside. He even sneezed at one point but miraculously escaped detection.

 

Room N was situated, of course, right on top of Room Q and we all know what that means. My memory links those days with Mozart and I’m sure I could have told you as much about Papageno as any other subject I was supposed to be studying, but I’m not at all sure that being situated at the top of the Music Room worked wonders for my concentration and I did experience a sense of deja‑vu the other day when the motor mower was attacking the lawn outside my classroom window just as I had settled my Year Six juniors to twenty minutes of uninterrupted sustained silent reading.

 

Back to Room N. For English we had Mr Woolard and H.G. Wells. We had finished ‘The History of Mr Polly’ and now someone had finally caught up with the Invisible Man and was prodding him somewhat dangerously with a spade. "Stand back ‑ he's hurt I tell you. Stand back…..”. "

Strains from below.: “O happy Papageno…...”

We moved on. Now it was Mr Dye for Latin, and the not‑to‑be –forgotten Paterson and MacNaughton. After a brief look at the Word Study we settled to some translation. “Beware the Ides of March, for your danger is very great….. Er, "cave Ides Marces……..".

Never‑ mind cross‑country run next. Beyond the confines of Room N, we took our exercise where now the vines grow, to return forty-five minutes later with a sharpened appetite and aching calf muscles. I actually got cramp once during a French lesson and received a very odd look from Mr Williams.

 

Geography. Mr Galbraith was talking about the Tennessee Valley Authority. “TVA, TVA”, he repeated to the point where some of us began to wonder if he had shares in the TVA, such was his enthusiasm for the subject. I listened eagerly, remembering earlier days when Mr Galbraith’s account of Cherry-Garrard’s bone chilling expedition to find an Emperor Penguin penguin’s egg got me really hooked on Polar exploration. This time it was not to be; I have never become hooked on the Tennessee Valley Authority.

 

It was time to finish. Mr Galbraith’s fingertips rested on the desk as he surveyed Form 3-1 as if trying to analyse how much we had absorbed during the lesson.

“Any Problems? " Difficulties?"

From below: "Breath……."

All in all I was not sorry to leave Room N. In September 1965 I was moved next door to Room M where I stayed for two years with Mr Bedwell as my form master. For me, it was the beginning of happier and more productive times.

 

 

 

OLD DORKINIAN CRICKET CLUB - Dave Wilcockson, Hon. Secretary

 

During the hottest summer since 1976 the batsmen have been in the ascendancy with Tim Hodgson and Andrew Leopold leading the way. Tim has scared over 800 runs and Andrew is close to reaching a thousand with two centuries of 171 and 135. The bowlers have sweated away on the hard pitches with Dave Wilcockson again taking most wickets with 70 so far. Results have been quite good, probably the best win being at North Holmwood when requiring nearly 200, the target was reached in the last over thanks to an all round team display.

 

In June the club went on a five day tour to Devon which coincided with the start of the very warn weather. The standard of the opposition was high but good performances were put up at Sandford and Paignton. The touring side was captained by Mike Haigh and the tour organised by Andrew Leopold.

 

The second six‑a‑side tournament sponsored by Denbies was in July when several 'old' Dorkinian cricketers were spotted at Meadowbank. Those who played were David Everett, John Culton, Richard Way and Clive Huggins and among the spectators were Don Cooper, Sandy Hughes and Peter Mills. The tournament was again won by Old Tiffinians with Downsiders the runners up but ODs first VI were only denied a place in the final by ODs second VI!

 

In July and August the club were forced to play most of their home games away because of a fire at Meadowbank which destroyed the heavy roller and damaged the pavilion. It is hoped to find a new roller shortly and with a normal summer next year the pitch should be back to normal.

 

 

 

 

 

 

OLD DORKINIAN FOOTBALL CLUB

 

Peter Mills, Hon. Secretary.

 

The ODs are looking forward to the start of their 66th season with the Senior XI returning to Senior Division 3 of the Old Boys' League following their championship winning performance last season.

 

This season the Club will be fielding 5 sides in the League, and a sixth, a Veterans! XI, under the captaincy of Paul Etheridge, in the Jack Perry Veterans' Cup Competition.

 

In the AFA Senior Cup the Senior XI have been drawn away to Hale End Athletic of the Southern Olympian League, while in the Surrey AFA Senior Cup they are at home to Old Carthusians, Old Boys of Charterhouse School who compete in the Arthurian League. In the Old Boys' Senior Cup the ODs have been drawn away to Old Aloysians, a Premier Division side.

 

The Club will be celebrating their 65th Anniversary with a Dinner Dance to be held at the Surrey Hills Hotel at Beare Green on Saturday 7th October 1995, tickets £20 single, £35 double. We invite you to celebrate with us this historic occasion for which tickets may be obtained from the Club Secretary, Peter Mills (01737 843022), by Friday 29th September at the latest. It is hoped that Bob Stevenson and Ted Turner, the only surviving members of the original 1930 side, will be able to be with us.

 

The Club would be pleased to welcome supporters to their main Saturday fixtures at Pixham, shown below, and to enjoy the after match hospitality.

 

30 September 2nd v Uysses* 25 November 1st v Glyn OB

07 October 1st v John Fisher 02 December 2nd v Isleworthians

14 October 1st v Carthusians** 09 December 2nd v Josephians

21 October 2nd v Suttonians1 16 December 2nd v Thorntonians

04 November 1st v Reigatians 23 December 4th v Reigatians

11 November 1st v Salvatorians 06 January 3rd v Guildfordians

 

 

* AFA Cup (I) ** SAFA (S) Cup

 

 

 

 

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ADDENDUM TO NEWSLETTER 7

 

 

GOLF DAY

 

There has been modest support for our golfing day at the Dorking Club, kindly organised by Harold Child. If you were not involved this year but would like to be included next time please contact Harold at 'Marama', Roman Road, Dorking, RH4 3ET (or on 01306 88583 1), as soon as possible ‑ i.e. don't wait for the next reminder as we need to do the planning now!

 

 

THE ASHCOMBE SCHOOL ‑ OFSTED, Inspection May 1995

 

We congratulate the Headteacher, his staff and the pupils on the results of the recent OFSTED inspection, and quote the Main Findings as follows:

 

"The Ashcombe School is a very good school, where pupils are encouraged to achieve high standards and to value each other within a caring ethos. The school has undergone a great deal of development recently and is well placed to face the challenges of the next five years".

 

We understand that the accolade 'very good school' is used infrequently in OFSTED reports, so we are obviously delighted for the School to be described in such terms. The full report is available at a cost of £2 from the School Office, or a copy of the Summary may be obtained from David Mountain ‑ provided an s.a.e. is enclosed.

 

 

The Ashcombe School Business Conference 3rd to 7th July 1995.

 

We took the first step in an initiative originating with John Gent when Lionel Rose and David Mountain attended one day of this 'careers week', advising and supervising Year 10 pupils on interviewing techniques, etc. We emphasised that the Dorkinian Association was keen to offer help with careers advice, and we were building up a panel of advisers.

 

 

Dorkinian Association Bursary

 

As a means of promoting the Association with school leavers (and, we hope, reducing the average age of our membership!) and as an acknowledgment of all the help which the School gives the Association with production of newsletters and the provision of accommodation, and in other respects, the Association has established a Bursary of £250 to be awarded each year to a pupil to be selected by a panel from the Association with help from a member of stag. The requirements were comprehensive, perhaps a bit daunting but essentially we were looking for someone who would be a credit to the School and for whom the award would be a significant help in some aspect of his or her future education. The winner will be expected to tell us how the award has helped, so we look forward to an article sometime next year.

 

We had three very good candidates ‑ Michael Fekete, Lizzie Gow, and Claire Taylor who were interviewed by Maureen Farley, John Gent, and David Mountain, assisted by Mrs E Roberts, Head of Sixth Form, who provided information but did not participate in the decision. Our vote narrowly went to Claire.