Issue No.15 Autumn
1999
"THE
DORKINIAN” 
NEWSLETTER OF THE ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN
ASSOCIATION
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Contents
Andrew Glass
reacts to Colin Burgess's 'unpotted' history
Membership
Secretary, Rosemary Dale
Janet
Blackburn remembers all the names in the funny photo
Pat Ruthven
views DCGS with gratitude and affection
Robert Miller reporting on Mole Valley today
Fantasy Teams ‑ Mike Dobson's challenge accepted by Brian Stenner
Diane Tullett finds time to give us good news
Ashcombe Dorkinian Association Golf
Old Dorkinian Cricket
Club ‑ celebrates 50 years
including a tribute to Ted Turner
EDITOR`S ODDS and ENDS
This time I start by thanking all of you who contribute items,
especially those who say how much they have enjoyed reading the previous
edition! One such was Gladys Arlett whom
many will remember as a leading light in the Old Dorkinian
Association ‑ our good wishes to you, Gladys. Perhaps I should
send apologies to Diane Tullett for putting
her news in the middle of the sports pages, but the space was just right! Thank
you, Diane, for encouraging your friends in the 1967‑73 group to join us; you are
doing well to remain in contact with 9 of your year on a regular basis. By the
way, were you 1966‑73 as per the Membership list, or 1967‑73 as your
letter implies?
The 'funny' photo submitted by Rosemary Hook for Newsletter 14 provoked interesting responses from Janet Blackburn, Pat Ruthven, and
Roger Cullis. Roger, a non-member who saw the Spring
copy of his brother‑in‑law, David
Earle, (and I suppose we don't mind that too much provided he joins up
eventually!) supplied most of the names,
but didn't know some of the girls(!). David
Earle recognised several of the faces in the 1954 Cricket First XI, but could not put
names to them apart from 'the menacing figure of Norman Jackson, manual ringer
of the bell to signify the end of various periods during the school day' in the
middle of the back row, and Malcolm Tyrell. Who can name them all? I can see
Robin Boxall, Peter Stedman and the late Henry "Ossie" Osborne.
The OD Cricket Club Past v. Present
Fixture on 25th July
was a great occasion, as indicated by Dave
Wilcockson's report of the match and of those present. Dave did a
marvellous job of organising the event, so we must excuse him for not
mentioning that Bert Randall was
also present! What a pity that we did not capture Bob Stevenson on camera to compare him with the photo of the 1930‑31
Old Dorkinian A.F.C. supplied by Peter
Mills. Also in that old photo there is C
W Goffin, who by coincidence gets a mention in Andrew Glass's letter to Colin
Burgess. Andrew refers to Ralph Vaughan Williams who, according to Robert Miller may have a statue erected
in his memory outside the Dorking Halls. One of our local papers recently
recalled that in 1964 there was a storm of protest when plans were published to
demolish 'White Gates' where RVW lived from 1933 to 1953, when he moved to London
and sold the house to Dr. William Cole (Newsletters 1I & 12) who lived
there until 1963. Can anyone tell me the outcome of the protests?
Finally, I feel that I
should occasionally express my thanks to the people who ensure that these
Newsletters go out ‑Robert Miller,
Sheila Sandford, Lionel Rose who join our 'packing‑up' party, and in
particular John Gent who arranges
the printing side of things and Maureen
Meier who provides great hospitality and refreshments.
David
Mountain August
1999
65 Broadhurst,
Ashtead
Surrey KT21
1QD
Tel: 01372
273227 Email:
David.H.Mountain@BTInternet.com
DIARY
ADA Golf ‑ Thursday 30th September at
Clandon Regis (phone Harold Child soon on
01306 885831 if interested)
REUNION/AGM – Saturday 9th October 1999
COPY for next Newsletter to the editor by 1st April
2000, please.
| Top of Page > Recent Newsletters < Earlier Newsletters |
THE CHAIRMAN'S
BIT
Firstly, I have
pleasure in welcoming Gerald Burgess and Geoffrey Quantrell into the Association, I hope they find
their membership both happy and rewarding,
At a recent
Committee Meeting the membership Secretary informed us that our number now
stood at 329. Thus we have not only held our own over previous years but have
actually grown slightly. However, there remain those who have defaulted on
subscription payment for one or even two years, some of whom, we are convinced,
do not wish to leave the Association. If you are in doubt please check with
Rosemary or any other Committee Member. A Bankers Order is the solution to
memory problems!
Without
seeking to be dictatorial on the issue of subscription payments, your Committee
has decided to take a somewhat firmer hand. In future, if a subscription has
not been received for a given year by the end of January, a
"reminder" letter will be sent to the member inviting payment. If
payment has still not been received at the time of issue of the Spring
Newsletter, a covering letter will be included noting that it will be the last Newsletter to be sent to the member unless full payment is subsequently made.
You will no
doubt recall recent discussion on the business of setting up an ADA
"Archive" and my call in the last Newsletter for a caretaker
archivist. Unfortunately no volunteers have come forward so we are still
looking! Similarly disappointing is the response so far to the establishment of
our 20th Century sports teams ‑ a little from the boys,
nothing from the girls! I am sure many of you must have thoughts on this so
please put in your suggestions though the pages of the Newsletter.
Finally, I look forward to meeting you at either or
both of the Reunion Lunch and AGM on 9 October. Let us see if we can make it a
record turnout this year. Those of you who have not been before do not know
what a great day you are missing! See you there!
Mike Dobson
Andrew Glass (1933‑40)
reacts well to Colin Burgess's 'unpotted' history
I was very interested to read your article in The Dorkinian
recently, and to see how our teens activities were
much the same.
For a start we were in the same form at school, and I enclose
a photocopy of a Form photograph that confirms this. No doubt you recall
Charlie Goffin our Form teacher, who specialised in Geography and had once
played football for Norwich. He was also in the choir in which we were both
members at St. Martin's Church in Dorking. I went to see Dr. William Cole in
his home at Hindhead sometime before he died, and we talked about his being
Music Master at our school, and his being our choirmaster. It was interesting
that he was very closely associated with Ralph Vaughan Williams the composer,
and that the choir sang under the baton of the latter at Leith Hill Musical
Festival in the Dorking Halls.
Your relating of Scout activities at the beginning of the war
brought back many memories. Whilst you were in lst Dorking Scout troop, I was in the 19th, but we both
dealt with the evacuees in Dorking Halls, and did duty in the basement of the
Pippbrook offices of Dorking U.D.C.
That latter duty involved listening to the radio all night in
case there was an emergency broadcast. One never came, and listening to nothing
but atmospherics on the radio was mental torture!
You mentioned air raids whilst we were at school, and having
to evacuate the School Certificate examination to go into air raid shelters at
times, but I do not remember this, in fact I thought that they hadn't been
built at that stage. Anyway, I failed my first attempt at Matriculation, or
even Schools Certificate at that time and stayed on for another more successful
result the following year.
We both joined W.T.Henley Telegraph
and Cable Company after school, and you must have been in the mailing department
with my friend Jack Challinor at the time. I went
into the Secretary's Department upstairs, and was moved later to the South
Street/Junction Road offices of the Sales Department.
At that stage our roads seem to have divided as you joined the
R.A.F. and I went into the Army, but nevertheless we seem to have had an
extraordinary similar set of experiences before then.
| Top of Page > Recent Newsletters < Earlier Newsletters |
From the Membership Secretary,
Revd. Rosemary Dale, 5 Water Lane, Wirksworth,
Derbyshire. DE4 4DZ
e‑mail revrdale@aol.com
Our membership now stands at 329, which I am
told is an all‑time high. Is this right? Unfortunately, it may not last: 28
of you have a slip of red paper in your mailing this lime. Is this an invitation
to pay your subscription or to be blotted from the Book of Life.
Please don't opt for being blotted. (Obviously, there is a time‑lag ‑
if you have paid in the last week or two, please ignore this slip or use it for
a shopping list.)
We have sadly received another resignation
since the last Newsletter ‑ I'm glad to say we have very few. The
commonest reason people give for resigning their membership (as distinct from
just omitting to pay their subscription) is that 'nobody/hardly anybody of my
era is a member'. If you look at the year of coming to the school, you will see
that we have indeed a very large gap, from 1972 to the early 80's, with only a
scattering of members. Obviously, these are the people who are now fully
occupied in keeping jobs and families going ‑ at that age and in those
circumstances I had no time or inclination for school nostalgia either! BUT ‑
if you are one of these heroic few, and you have any ideas for improving our
contact with that age‑group, please do make your suggestions. OR ‑
if you organise a reunion of your own year‑group, let the Newsletter have
a report of it, and take the opportunity of trying a little recruitment or arm‑twisting,
The best‑represented decade is ‑
yes, you guessed it! ‑ the 40's. Grand years,
those! And the best year? How could it be any other
than 1943?
Thank you for your letters. Keep them
coming. And if your years‑at‑school are not in file list, please
let me have them ‑ there could, I suppose, be a whole lot more from the
70's that I haven't identified!.
Rosemary
Anne Morley (Mawson, 1946‑50) pays her arrears!
I am particularly keen to remain in
the Association as I will be in UK for approximately four months next year and
hopefully I will be able to attend some gatherings with my brother, Robert Mawson, who is also an old scholar. I have lived in
Australia for 38 years, very happily, but have been able to make about ten
visits "home", albeit fairly brief ones, with little time to do
rather pleasant things like attending something concerned with my old school.
I was actually a 13 + scholarship
girl, and I was among the three who were lucky enough to get through on the
initial intake. The only problem was the school did not really know what to do
with us and we ended up doing our School Certificate course in three Years
instead of five. The problem was with things like French where we really had to
try and catch up on the very initial instruction. One of my teachers was "Froggy" whom I remember with much affection.
Thank you again for chasing me up. I
look forward to perhaps meeting you personally in 2000.
John Gent's School
Update:
ADA To Go On Line on The School's Web Site
For those of you who are computer
buffs, we have been able to get a presence on the School's Web Site which is: http://www.ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk
The intention is to have a few pages
to link the ADA with the School for the mutual benefit of both. Nick Mann whom
we have been dealing with has unfortunately moved on but hopefully we'll be
able to be on line early in the Autumn term.
The New Sports Hall
Latest information is that Lottery
Approval has been given in principle for the new Ł1 million Sports Hall.
However there is 'still a lot to do' to reach finality. Those who wish to
contribute may contact the Treasurer or the School direct.
Another Good OFSTED
Inspection Report for The School
Once again the School has received a
very favourable report following the May 1999 OFSTED Inspection. The Report 4
years ago described the School as being a 'very good school'; the 1999 Report
assessed it as being even better.
In his summary of the Report, the
Headteacher Arthur Webster, writes: ' Only 2% of lessons which were observed
were considered less than satisfactory, 78% were judged good or better and a
quarter fell in the good to excellent category. Compared with most school
inspection reports these figures are very high.'
The School also received
strong commendation for many other aspects of the service it provides including
personal and social education, school ethos and moral education, and pupils
were praised for their polite behaviour, attendance and punctuality.
Arthur Webster is awarded a
particular accolade, being commended for his 'excellent leadership' (that
comment I've taken from the actual Report, not Arthur's summary!)
There are 1383 full‑time
pupils in the school. Interestingly the 17.4 pupils per teacher is reported as being 'above average'.
The School's Magazine
'Accent on Ashcombe'
The latest issue of 'Accent'
(No.3) is only an interim issue but it makes one wonder how the pupils get the
time and energy: there are described exchange visits to France, field visits to
Devon and St. Albans, as well as preparations for the trip to Tanzania.
The School also entered a team of 15
for the Magistrates' Association Court Competition and won, against other local
schools.
Onto sport, the U12 netball team
have won their section and are through to the County Finals, and the U19
netball team won the District tournament, beating Howard of Effingham, and for
the 3rd successive year have reached the County Finals. In rugby,
Simon Love has represented Surrey in the Surrey Schools RFU 15 Group, whilst in
swimming, in the County Secondary School Championships,
Matthew Horvath earned a Surrey badge for first place in the 100m backstroke,
with several other pupils gaining second places in other events.
Several pupils represented the
School in the Surrey Schools Cross‑Country Championships in the U20, U17
and in the U15 groups. Three girls have been selected to ski for Britain in the
Junior National Team, and spent the Spring Term with the British Ski Academy in
France.
Ties and Badges
On a more mundane note (!), Ties and
Badges of the Dorkinian Association are still available (at Ł5.00 each), as are
colour montage photos of the original Old Chemistry Laboratory (at Ł2.00 for A4
size). (Not available in 2007)
John P Gent
johngent@mail.com
| Top of Page > Recent Newsletters < Earlier Newsletters |
Janet Blackburn (Morris, 1949‑56) remembers all the names in the funny photo!
I have enjoyed reading
the Spring edition of the newsletter. It was good to
read the contributions from Monica Everest, Rosemary Dale and from Hebe Morgan
herself with regard to her and Doc's Golden Wedding. Early in December 1998,
whilst staying in Sydney with Maureen Collins, a former fellow DCGS choir
member in the 1950s, I was able to speak briefly on the 'phone to Hebe and Doc
to congratulate them on reaching the big 50 and to thank Doc for setting me on
the path of appreciating and participating in choral music, just as described
by Monica. But I missed out on the Irish ballad "Phaudrig
Crohore." If anyone finds a recording of it, I hope
(s)he will give the details in autumn's newsletter!
Regarding the curious
photograph you printed, sent by Rosemary Hook:‑
it was taken in 1956, not 1957, probably early in the summer term. I have a
copy of the official photograph of the larger group of prefects and sub‑prefects
(including me) which was taken at the same session. I don't have an
unadulterated copy of the photograph of the prefects only ‑ there was no
reason for sub‑prefects to have this ‑ but I suppose the
"doctored" version, created by Peter de Bourcier,
was in demand. Perhaps only he would know how many copies he printed! I wondered
how Rosemary Hook came by a copy as she must have been in the Fourth Form in
1956!
The names of the
prefects on the photo are: Seated, L ‑ R: Pat
Goodwin, Alan Fricker, Julie Holland (Deputy Head
Girl), Alun Jones ("Head" Boy!), Margaret Allan (Head Girl), Roger
Browning (Deputy Head Boy), Rosemary Veillard, Peter
Stedman.
Standing, L ‑ R:
Myrtle Nunnerley, Roger Cullis, Mary Prosser, Anthony
Murray, Margaret Lidgey, Alan Woodward, Janet Wright,
John Bradshaw, Ann Grant.
(Click here to view photo)
I'm glad I wrote the names on the back in 1956!
Pat Ruthven (Goodwin,
1949‑57) remembers
DCGS with gratitude and affection
Thank you for
sending the recent Dorkinian, full of
interesting news and reminiscences. It is as a result of one of the photos in
this issue that I am finally prompted to put finger to keyboard. The photo in
question is the prefects’ photo on page 20, and I was one of the people in the
photo. At this date, 43 years on, I find I am unable to identify everyone, but
you will probably hear from others in the picture and may be able to assemble
the entire cast.
The photo was
actually taken in the summer of 1956 not 1957. It may have been Larry Murray who improved on the official photo,
but I am not certain of this. The "Class of '56" was a great year, full of lively people, and I often
wonder what became of them. As a librarian in later years I tried to find some
of them in published directories, but in the main I had access only to North
American sources.
Talking of
photos, it would be good to know the names of the cricket team on page 12. I recognise
many of the faces, but most of the names have gone.
Which leads me on to your question concerning the Association archives. In view of the importance of the
school as part of the history of Dorking and its people I believe the archives
should be offered to the Dorking Museum or similar. They should be properly
preserved and made generally available into the indefinite future. Deposit with
a private, though willing, member could result in their accidental loss.
Incidentally, where are the official school records?
A few reminiscences of my own. ‑ Like so many others I am
eternally grateful to Doc Morgan for the wonderful musical experiences he
created for us. How many other pupils of that time had the opportunity to sing
the major oratorios, other choral works and the sublime music of Magic Flute and Gluck's Orpheus? All
this with professional soloists and full orchestra! The organization behind it
all must have been phenomenal, and presumably all done by Doc. Thank you, Doc,
for these thrilling experiences which left me with a lifelong love of music.
Our appreciation of classical music was further fostered on a
daily basis by Doc's performance of selected music as we assembled in the hall.
This leads me on to think of the importance of daily Assembly in the life of
the school. Not only was there a firm religious foundation (is this still
allowed?) but Assembly created a cohesive spirit among all members of the
school.
How many of us remember the frisson of excitement generated by
the appearance of the blue proscenium in the hall? It meant that we were
squashed in for Assembly but also that the performance of the school play was
imminent. The play I remember most vividly was A Midsummer Night's Dream performed, I think, in 1951. It was the
first Shakespeare I ever saw, and what an introduction it was! As a pre‑TV
1I ‑year old I was enthralled by the fairy world, costumes, and above all
by the dramatic lighting effects. Maybe I listened to the words too. Roger
Cullis, who was in our form, played Puck, but I don't remember the rest of the
cast.
The school also encouraged interest in drama by occasionally
taking groups of pupils to the theatre in London and Stratford. I feel
especially fortunate to have seen Judi Dench in her
first London stage role, as Ophelia opposite John Neville's Hamlet at the Old
Vic. (That dates all of us!) Then there was the never‑to‑be‑forgotten
trip to see Kismet. That night there was a real "pea‑souper" and the only way our driver could see the road was
if someone ran ahead with a torch, so a team of runners took us all the way to
London in this fashion. We arrived just in time for the finale! Fortunately the
theatre management was very understanding and sent us tickets for a later
performance.
Another trip to London was organised by Mr. Davies, our form
master when I was in the fourth form. He arranged for us to see some of
London's historic places, but unfortunately we were not able to go into the
Houses of Parliament as planned. Such outings were rare and greatly enjoyed.
I was not the sporting type. The sum total of my sporting
activity on behalf of the school consisted in playing in goal for one term for
the under 14 hockey team. I'm not sure whether Miss
Secretan or I was more relieved when they found someone else for the spring
term. But I did enjoy cheering on Ashcombe at the School Sports Day, as well as
watching the annual tennis championship from the roof of the shelters. Was
there not also a Staff Cricket Match? I seem to recall Mr. Woodman as a demon
bowler.
One of the annual end of term treats was the school magazine ‑
if I am not mistaken also known as the Dorkinian. It contained a summary of school events as well as literary
pieces. One that remains in my memory is the song of the "Third Dinner
Line", based on Lonnie Donegan's better‑known
"Rock Island Line". I hope that there is a file of these in existence
somewhere
Some readers of ‘The Dorkinian’ may
have read Janet (Morris) Blackburn's account of the school's first exchange
trip to Germany (in 1955?). As I result of Janet's article I made contact with
her, and we had a marvellous all‑day meeting going over photos and memories.
Her memory for people is much better than mine and she is also much better at
writing letters.
I was one of the lucky few to take part in the exchange to Reinbek, and I got a tremendous amount from it. It was the
first time abroad for most of us, so it was a broadening and enriching
experience. I also learned a lot of German and later went on to read German at
King's College, London. It was considered quite daring to go to Germany so soon
after the War while memories were still very fresh. Like London, Hamburg still
bore the scars of bombing and there were wide‑open spaces that had been
devastated. I have not been back since the 1950s, but I imagine it is much
changed. The father of my host family kept his iron cross and citation in a
place of honour in a china cabinet. Why not? He had served his country, as my
father had served his.
I took Latin to A and S levels, finding it difficult, but
great literature and a window on the ancient world. I remember TED Dryer as an
inspirational teacher who made the ancient world come alive. After reading
Tacitus' Annals it was an amazing
experience in 1980 finally to get to Baiae and see
where Nero had his palace and where he bumped off Agrippina. We also called on
the Sybil at Cumae.
I feel so very fortunate to have attended DCGS. As a result of
receiving an excellent education I was able to go on to university and then to
a career as a professional librarian, mainly at the University of New Brunswick
in Canada where I was head of the reference department. In 1995 the University
was anxious to get rid of its more expensive older staff, so we took early
retirement. We then moved over the border, where Doug is now Chairman of the
Chemical Engineering Department at the University of Maine and I am a
"free agent". I try to get back to England to see family at least
once a year ‑ in fact I managed to get to one of the recent AGMs of the
Association.
In the winter months I serve as a "docent" giving
tours of the university's anthropological museum to visitors and school
children. But my main passion now is ancient Greece. As I mentioned above, I did
Latin to A level and always regretted that the school did not offer Greek.
Throughout my life I felt I did not know enough about ancient Greece to go
there and appreciate what I was seeing. Finally, in 1998 I signed up for a
study course taught by UNB Classics Department which took us to Athens and the
Peloponnese. Every minute was a revelation. We were introduced not only to the
major sites of classical Greek art, architecture, history and religious life,
but also to the preceding Bronze Age sites at Lerna,
Golden Mycenae, Tiryns of the Great Walls, and Sandy Pylos.
Next year's study course goes to Aegean Turkey so I am dusting off my Homer ready
for my visit to Windy Troy. Maybe I'll even dig out the Aeneid, though whether my Latin is up to it, despite TED's
best efforts, is doubtful.
It was a source of great regret to me that I was working on
another continent and not able to get to the 1992 reunion,
and an even greater regret that there are no plans for a similar reunion now
that I am retired. I did, however, read an account of the reunion published in
the Daily Telegraph by a former pupil
who wrote a regular column for the Telegraph.
Unfortunately I lost my copy and I don't remember her name. Does anyone
remember this?
(It was Lesley Garner (1956‑63) ‑
Ed.)
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WHAT' S HAPPENING IN THE
DORKING AREA NOW? Robert Miller reports
Box Hill Farm purchased
by the National Trust
One of the
best known views in Surrey will be protected for future generations to enjoy,
it has been revealed. The National Trust has stepped in to buy Box Hill Farm
which forms the backdrop to Dorking and the vista from the famous viewpoint on
Box Hill itself. The 145 acre farm has been bought from Robert Alexander and
his brother Jim, whose son Donald will run it as a
tenant over the next year, while the Trust develops its long term plans for the
site. These are likely to involve a continuation of appropriate farming with
sheep and cattle to maintain and enhance the farm's landscape and flora. The
public will benefit from the change of ownership as the limited public access
is to be extended with a footpath following the route of the Pilgrims' Way.
Two Statues for Dorking
Two statues, both 9 feet high, a recent gift to the town from
an anonymous donor, may soon be placed opposite the Dorking Halls if the
planning application is successful. One represents the famous architect and
local dignitary Thomas Cubitt who built Osborne House on the Isle of Wight for
Queen Victoria, and Denbies in a similar fashion. His
son George became the first Lord Ashcombe in 1892. The other statue is of the
world renowned composer Ralph Vaughan Williams who will always be associated
locally with the Leith Hill Festival, and whom some will remember as a School
Governor.
The Vicissitudes of the
Star & Garter
Those who travelled by train daily and alighted at Dorking
North Station would most certainly pass the Star & Carter on their way to
School (and some of us liked to think we were brave when we went inside on the
last day of term! ‑ Editor). The hotel was built
around 1867, at the same time as the station (which was redeveloped some 25
years ago by Adrian White, the founder of Biwaters, the current owner of
Denbies, and a Governor of the BBC), and from old photographs they can be seen
to have been of a similar brick construction. In the 1930s the hotel was
enlarged and refaced, and remained unaltered apart from some internal changes
until about 4 years ago when it was completely redecorated in red, white, and
blue with stars and stripes for its internal decor Also in the dining room and
bars were large murals, together with images of the American way of life, and
the hotel was renamed 'The Happy Days'! Needless to say, these changes did not
prove a success in this area! Now under new management it has been thoroughly
revamped to return to its former glory, and is now called 'The Lincoln Arms
Hotel'.
The Unlucky Archway
The historic archway at the bottom entrance to Rose Hill has
once again, for the umpteenth time, been hit by a lorry. Several years ago it
had to be rebuilt after such a collision.
Leatherhead
The Thorndike Theatre has indeed been 'listed' (see comments
in Newsletter 14) so debate continues between those who wish to see greater
efforts made to revive live theatre in Leatherhead and who feel that the
theatre with all its activities should be the 'heart' of the town, and those
who regard the building as a white elephant, and from some external viewpoints
not a very attractive one.
The High Street has been repaved attractively, but here debate
rages over the merits or otherwise of allowing cars and lorries
to drive through. Several small statues have been commissioned and installed,
but we cannot offer you any pictures this time ‑ if the statues are still
there at the start of next year, perhaps we will amuse you with some views, but
the vandals have already struck down two of them. (Leatherhead, unlike Dorking,
does not have CCTV).
Touch
of Belgravia: Denbies with its fine Italian
detail, was built In typical Cubitt style. It was
demolished in 1953.
Many of
its features resembled Osborne House, on the Isle of Wight which Cubitt built for Queen Victoria.
FANTASY TEAMS ‑ Brian Stenner
nominates Tony Winkworth twice!
Thanks for a very interesting and informative Spring Issue of the magazine.
I sat down and read it from cover to cover as soon as it arrived. Well done!
I was particularly intrigued to read Mike Dobson's item on Fantasy Teams. I
remember Nobby Craze, Mike's nomination for the football team. On his arrival
at the school he was selected for the pre‑season trial when the possible
first eleven forward line and the second eleven
defence played against the second eleven forward line and first eleven defence.
I was playing centre forward for the first eleven having been the second eleven
captain the previous year. I scored three goals, all
tap‑ins as I remember, while Nobby also scored a hat-trick which were all absolutely brilliant. Guess who was second eleven captain again?
I would like to make my own nomination for the Fantasy Teams, both football
and cricket. For goalkeeper at soccer and wicket‑keeper at cricket I would
look no further than Tony Winkworth. I harboured ambitions to be a goal‑keeper
while at school but due in part to my being, at that time, altitudinally
challenged (I couldn't touch the cross
bar) and also to the fact that Tony was in my house, Craven, I never had the
opportunity. Later I had a growth spurt and did play for The Old Dorkinians in
goal for several seasons. I made my way up from the third team to the first and
was for a while the regular choice. Then Tony decided to return to his roots
from a team on the south coast playing in the Combination League. He was so
good that there was no question of my
retaining the position of first team keeper. Unfortunately, for me, the keepers
of the second, third and fourth teams wore also the team captains. So from
being first team keeper one week I became the fourth team left wing the next.
It was at that time I decided to take up refereeing!
Tony was absolutely fearless as a goal‑keeper. He had large safe
hands, a keen positional sense and quick reaction& He was solidly built, as
any Impetuous forward who tried to charge him soon found out, and he was
unflappable. All these qualities were in evidence in
his other life as wicketkeeper. As a batsman he operated like a lefthanded Ian Botham,
carting anything on the leg side to the far distance. It may be just the
nostalgia of an aging ex‑player, but I firmly believe that they don't
come any better than Tony Winkworth.
(Brian wrote from Welwyn Garden City, but by the time you read
this he and Janet should be settled in at 8b Bulmer Road, Sudbury, Suffolk CO10
6DE )
Diane Tullett (Woodford, 1966‑73)
finds time to give us
good news.
Congratulations to Diane on the birth of her third child,
Lydia Alys, on 14th January 1999, a sister for Jamey
Gareth (aged 6) and Abbey Lauren (aged 5) who are both at school in Horsham and
loving it. Diane had a long career in the Crown Courts, as a Clerk, and Chief
Clerk, but gave up to have a family.
At DCGS Diane was leader of the orchestra in Doc's day (1972‑73),
and she is delighted to hear that he is still enjoying life in Australia ‑
"isn't he amazing!"
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ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN
ASSOCIATION GOLF Harold
Child, calling all golfers
Milford Golf Club was the venue for the Spring Meeting on
Thursday 27th May. Still with hopes of a first victory, eight ADA
golfers were due for another match against Dorking Golf Club Elders.
Some of our more regular players had to decline the offer to
play for various reasons and due to circumstances beyond our control, one
player was reported to be somewhat delayed by a trip to Europe, "to
witness a World Cup Cricket match". We were fortunate enough to obtain, at
the eleventh hour, the services of a 'ringer' to complete the ADA team.
We were pleased to welcome Peter Stimpson
as a valued addition to the team. Peter assured us that he had not been playing
too well but would give it a go. The results below show just how badly he
played.
The match took the same format again (i.e. Aggregate Stableford) with all members of both teams competing for
their respective individual prizes with an additional prize for the player with
the longest drive on the fairway and nearest the pin on predesignated
holes.
The course was generally in good condition although dry
weather caused some vicious results from apparently well struck balls to the
fairways, the greens were deceptive as some had been recently watered and
others not. The match, whether by good fortune or otherwise, resulted in the
Association's first victory over Dorking Golf Club Elders.
Match Result:‑ Dorking
Elders 221 points Association 229 points
Association
Prizes:>
1st Peter
Stimpson 40
points
Best front 9 Harold Child 20
points
Best back 9 John Campbell 18
points
Association members did not take either the longest drive or
nearest the pin prizes.
Our next meeting will be on Thursday 30th September at Clandon
Regis Golf Club when it is hoped that more members will be available to play.
OLD DORKINIAN CRICKET
CLUB – up to end of July ‑ Dave Wilcockson, Hon. Sec.
After a stuttering start to the season with several games
cancelled due to rain and a shortage of players, the OD's season has blossomed
with the arrival of the warm weather. The batsmen have been scoring freely with
Paul Bradford leading the way with two centuries and five fifties. Andy Leopold
and Tim Hodgson have also hit form since the return from the cricket tour in
June.
To celebrate its 50th anniversary the club arranged an
overseas tour with two matches in Holland and one in Germany. Although the
results were a bit disappointing the weather was good as well as the
hospitality. The team travelled on Eurostar.
A special Past v Present game was
recently played at Meadowbank with the Present side just winning in a high
scoring match. Shane Murray, Phil Stevenson, Richard Way and Anthony Waton scored well for the Past whilst the Present side's
runs came from Tim, Hodgson, David Miller, Mike Treagus,
Gary Poulter and Andy Leopold. The game was umpired
by Alan Fox, Peter Mills and Keith Wilkins. The scorers were Mollie and Alan
Posner and among the spectators were Ian Rutter, Dave
Minto, Michael Heaps, John Newell, Harry Child, David
Mountain, Bert Dawkins, Alick Fowler, John Culton<, Bob Stevenson, and of course Sandy Hughes the
President.
The club's
record to date is:
Played 22 Won 7 Drawn
5 Lost 9 Abandoned 1
Past and
Present Teams, and Umpires – 25th July 1999
One taken
earlier at the ODCC Annual Supper, November 1998
L to R:
Harold Child, David Culton, Andy Leopold, Sandy
Hughes, Andrew Culton, Dave Wilcockson
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OLD DORKINIAN FOOTBALL CLUB Peter Mills, Press Secretary
The ODs are looking forward to the start of their 70th season
when they will continue to field five sides in the Old Boys' League and a
sixth, a Veterans' XI, in the Veterans' Cup Competition together with a
programme of friendlies.
The First XI will continue to compete in Senior Division 1,
but the Reserve XI found the transition between Senior and Intermediate level a
rather testing experience last season and were unable to avoid the bottom four
relegation places in Senior 3. They therefore find themselves back in
Intermediate (South). The Reserves somewhat redeemed themselves by winning the
Dorking Charity Cup with wins against Holmbury St. Mary 8‑2, Capel 8‑0,
and SB Pharmaceuticals 5‑1 in the semi‑final. In the final, played on Dorking's
ground, they triumphed 3‑1 over Mickleham OBs. The Fourth and Fifth teams
were also promoted at the end of last season.
At the Club's Annual Meeting in June, Alec Hodgson was re‑elected
Club Captain and Richard Sharpe as Club Chairman. The David Houldridge Cup for
the Club's top goalscorer was awarded to Tony Pankhurst of the Fourth XI with
38 goals, followed by Rob Phillips 18, Josh Miller 16 and Chris Phillips 14.
Tony also won the League's Goalscoring Trophy competing
against 283 other teams, a rare achievement, and a first for the ODs.
The Club welcomes supporters to their main Saturday fixtures
at Pixham, listed below, to enjoy the play and after‑match hospitality:
09 October 1st v Vaughanians 27 November 2nd v Josephians
16 October 4th v Shene IV 04 December 2nd v Wokingians Res.
23 October 1st v Enfield OG 11
December 3rd v Glyn
OB III
30 October 3rd v
Strandians 18
December 3rd v Josephians Res.
06 November 1st v Suttonians 08 January 2nd v Shene Res.
13 November 1st v Sedopians* 15 January 1st
v
Isleworthians
20 November 2nd v Suttonians Res. 22
January nd v Old St. Mary's
* L.O.B.
Senior Cup
Those who live in the South and wish to follow the fortunes of
our Senior XI are reminded that they can see their results by tuning into ITV
Teletext on Saturday evenings after 7.30pm, or on the Sunday following. (also published in 'The Times' on Monday).
'TED' TURNER
It is with much sadness that we have to report the recent
death of Ted Turner at the age of 91. Ted will be remembered as the congenial
host of The Holly and Laurel public house, South Holmwood, where he became
licensee soon after the end of the Second World War.
As a boy, he was educated at Dorking High School for Boys and
was one of the last three surviving members of the OD Football Club's founding
side in 1930. His renown as a high quality goalkeeper soon spread and he
eventually joined Reigate Priory when they were a power in the land, and where
he enjoyed many successful seasons. On his retirement, Ted purchased a house
overlooking Pixham where he had also been a staunch member of Dorking Cricket
Club, and would be seen supporting both clubs when the weather was kind. Ted
leaves a daughter, Pauline, and three grandchildren.
