PARIS VISIT EASTER 1966
Accompanied by Mr. D. A. Smith, Mr. G. D, Spittlehouse, Mr. B. Jackson, Mrs.
Jackson and Miss M. Jackson, forty-five boys were seen to leave Sheffield on a
col;d, -wet morning en route for Paris. They were to be joined a couple of days
later by Mr. T. F. Johnson, who came out by plane. Travel for the main party was
by coach to Folkestone, boat to Calais and finally by train to Paris and the
Institution Gay.
The usual sights were given a "going over"
by the company. These included, on the first afternoon, the Colonial Museum with
its vicious crocodiles and exotic fish, and the Zoo. The Are de Triomphe was
visited and it was generally agreed that the view of the whole of Paris to be
had from the top was glorious. The Avenues des Champs Elysées (and seven other
major roads) lead up to the Are de Triomphe. Some found it a serious problem to
cross this thoroughfare, owing to its five lanes each way of speeding traffic.
The Sacré-Coeur was visited on the second
day and proved to be very interesting, with its view of Paris from the dome, and
its magnificent marble walls, permanently cleaned by, the rain. Behind the Sacré-Coeur
is the Place du Tertre, the heart of Parisian street artistry. This is where Mr.
Johnson bought a valuable picture from a painter friend; the picture remained on
display in his room for the rest of the holiday.
The river trip on the Seine (and the visit
through the wine cellars under the Eiffel Tower) had to be brought forward from
the end of the holiday to the third day, but nevertheless was thoroughly
enjoyed. We saw many notable sights from the river, including Notre-Dame and the
Palais du Louvre, while a Hostess continually briefed us in three languages.
About the middle of the week we made our
way out of, Paris on a luxury coach to visit Orly airport and later
Fontainebleau. Orly is the main airport of Paris, and is very modern and
efficiently run. The party had great pleasure in going round its vast and
luxurious main building, with a magnificent view from the terrace of the jets
taking off and landing. After the short run to Fontainebleau, we had a picnic
lunch in the forest, and then set off on a tour of the castle and its grounds.
The grounds included a large lake, with massive fish in it growing up to two
feet in length.
Most of the evenings were free and were
mainly spent in visiting Paris or in the nearby cafés. One of the main events of
the stay was the scaling of the Eiffel Tower (by lift). Once more a glorious
view was obtained from the summit. We were told that the tower had taken two
years, two months and two days to build - a remarkable feat for such a small
building.
On the final day we visited Notre Dame and
Sainte-Chapelle. We were very impressed by the magnificent stained glass windows
of the Sainte-Chapelle, which showed up beautifully even though it was a very
dull day. The Church was erected by Saint Louis to house the so-called original
crown of thorns that was placed on the head of Christ. From here we walked to
Notre-Dame and were able to climb right to the top of the building, even to the
top of the flagpole if we felt that way inclined. (but no-one did). We also saw
the huge bell, and were told that it produced an f sharp note on ringing.
After a riotous shopping expedition we
rounded off the holiday by seeing the illuminations by coach. These were very
beautiful although many people were asleep before the coach returned to Madame
Gay's residence. It was agreed that everyone had enjoyed a splendid holiday. P. BOWNS 4A
FRENCH EXCHANGE WITH THE
LYCEE LALANDE, BOURG The journey to Bourg went well and without a mishap. As we left Sheffield at
3.44 in the morning, most of us managed to get some sleep on the train. The
Channel was calm for the crossing and French Railways offered a very comfortable
trip from Paris to Bourg.
We arrived in Bourg at about 10.30 p.m. and met our correspondents for the first
time, each of us returning to the boy's house to meet his family and have a good
night's sleep.
Immediately we experienced a new way of
life, new customs and the utmost politeness. Nothing much happened on the first
Sunday, which most of us spent getting used to the family or going out in the
car.
On the Monday we went to the Lycée Lalande,
the school, with our French boys and found things very different again. The
French boys at the school were very friendly and polite and we hope this
attitude can be shown to the French when they come here.
On Monday night we were agreeably surprised by attending a civic reception at
the school. The Headmaster, Deputy Lord Mayor, and an Inspector from the Academy
were present and all made speeches welcoming us to Bourg. Mr. Fox from City
Grammar School replied in French on behalf of the English. Afterwards we had a
better chance to meet everyone when we attended a buffet supper. This reception
was another example of the politeness and generosity of the French in going to
such trouble in organising the occasion.
While we were at the school the Union Jack
was flying alongside the Tricolour outside the school. To celebrate the end of
term some of us played football with the French in their games lesson. We
narrowly lost 5-4. We then broke up for the Easter holidays and visited many
places of local interest and places further away. Some of us visited the
beautiful Eglise de Brou - an old church built in 1506; and on the first Friday
a visit for all of us was organised round a lorry assembly factory, the Usine
Berlioz. Most of us went with our respective families to places further afield
like Geneva, Lyons, Cannes, Mont Blanc and Aix les Bains and took some
interesting photographs.
The weather for most of these three weeks
was perfect - hot sunny days. The only really bad day was when it rained and
snowed all day.
We were agreeably impressed by the
politeness and generosity of the French families and thoroughly enjoyed
ourselves, while we improved our spoken French immensely. It was an expedition
which was a total success and it is greatly to be hoped that next year more than
the four who went this year will take part in the exchange. It is more than a
holiday; as well as enjoying ourselves, all the time we were broadening our
outlook and learning some French.
The journey home was spoiled by a bad time
from Bourg to Paris, because the French Railways had double-booked the seats and
we had to squash ten into a compartment. We then had a very good tour round
Paris on a very sunny Friday morning, taking pictures of such sights as the
Eiffel Tower and the Are de Triomphe.
We arrived in Sheffield at 12.45 a.m.,
tired but satisfied after a highly successful expedition. Altogether there were
four from Firth Park and eleven from City Grammar. Surely this can be improved
upon next year. It is too valuable to miss. J HAMMERTON 5A
NIGHT The sun sank slowly in the west,
The moon rose in the sky;
The day had come to have her rest
And night was drawing nigh.
The moon turned to a brilliant white
And stars began to shine;
The sea was bathed in bright moonlight
That glistened on the brine.
It shone on houses and on trees,
It shone down on the ground,
Shining brightly as if to please
And casting shadows all around.
This would go on throughout the night
To the first crack of dawn;
Then we get the wondrous sight
Of a new day being born.
The whole cycle starts anew,
Streaks of light are breaking through;
Leave the sun to do the rest,
Pushing darkness to the west.
S. FORSTER IW
SCRIPTURE UNION WHIT HOLIDAY 1966
Cliff College, Near Calver
On Wednesday, June Ist 1966, about thirty boys from Firth Park Grammar School
and Philip Mason from Southey Green School, assembled in the yard at Firth Park.
The leaders of the party were Mr. D. A. Smith, Mr. G. Spittlehouse and Miss
Marjorie Jackson. The boys helped to carry table tennis and snooker tables out
of room two into the yard to be packed into the huge Procter's lorry that called
to transport us to Cliff College. Mr. Spittlehouse and the girls who helped us
to cook, travelled in style in a Volkswagen.
On arriving at Cliff, we were shown our
quarter - large prefabricated huts. Then, after a packed lunch, we had a wide
game in the hills, and then came back to the college to play five-a-side
football and table tennis. After a hearty tea and some more games, we settled
down for an Evening Session of choruses and Bible Study. Then the group prepared
for bed about, 10.30 p.m.
At five o'clock the next morning, after a
somewhat restless night, Mr. Smith threw out two of the party who refused to get
to sleep, and they went for a long walk in the early dawn. Breakfast was at 8.30
a.m. after a period of quiet for personal prayers, and this was followed by our
first Morning Session of study. After this we split up for various games. The
afternoon was given up to a hike to Hathersage. The bolder ones among us went to
the outdoor baths there. Afterwards, some came back by train, and others walked.
A special five-a-side football competition
was held on the Friday, and the winners turned out to be Price Pathetic, who
beat Das' Dolts in the final. In the afternoon, the table tennis competitions
was completed with Keith Mountain the winner, and Michael Birdsall, a
first-year, the runner-up. Mr. Spittlehouse won the American Table-tennis
tournament later on.
After supper one night. the group set off
on a hazardous midnight hike. We first made our way to Baslow, and then to
Chatsworth Park. At midnight precisely we entered the Church yard there and saw
the grave of President Kennedy's sister. A plaque now marks the spot where
President Kennedy stood. Mr. Smith set a cracking pace up a long hill in the
moonlight, and half-way up the hill the moanings began: "My feet!" "How much
longer" "Where does he reckon he's taking us" etc. etc. At the top of the hill
we set off back to the main road, Baslow and finally Cliff where we arrived just
before two o'clock, and had a hearty feast in the kitchen.
The next morning the lorry came to take us
back to Firth Park. We were sorry to part after a very happy holiday. R. SMITH 4A
A FIRST YEAR'S IMPRESSION OF THE
SCRIPTURE UNION Run by Sixth Formers, this is a very friendly organisation and it will help
its members with their problems. The second years are very friendly to the new
first year members.
The programme is usually the same, with choruses first, a Bible quiz second,
prayers third, a talk, then finally Scripture Union general notices.
They also organise a lot of activities, like hikes, film shows and camps. The
main camp is on the Isle of Anglesey; there is also a house-warming party every
year. Every year round about March there is a service for the blind at the
Mappin Institute for the Blind. Main interest is taken by the boys in the
football matches which are arranged by Mr. Johnson.
Another favourite of the boys is the Sausage Sizzle in November. Here they have
fireworks and you bake potatoes and cook sausages on big sticks on a big
bonfire. And this rounds off a good impression made on a first year by the
Scripture Union.
J. ALLSEBROOK IW
SCOUTS The Scout camp was held at Yeo Farm, Chagford, on the edge of Dartmoor.
Scouting at King Edward's Hospital has continued on Saturday afternoons
throughout the year and we sang Christmas carols in all the wards on Dec. 20th.
CONGRATULATIONS To Derek Dalton on an even more spectacular "Bob-a-Job)" Garden Party. In
1965, he raised £26. In 1966, his Garden Party produced the amazing sum of
£38/10/-. At a special Scout meeting in October, attended by the District
Commissioner, the Kitchen unit with piped water (financed by Derek's efforts)
was officially installed. Well done, Derek! And very many thanks from us all.
To three Senior Scouts who won their Queen's Scout Badge in Dec. 1966 Peter
Holden, John Spain and Michael Stone. John Spain was selected to attend the St.
George's Day Service at Windsor Castle in April '67.
To the new 1st. Class Scouts - David Addy, Paul Bowns, Geoff Cook, John Hudson,
John Hammerton, Brian Tingle and Michael Wall.
ISLE OF MAN
From our Special Correspondent at the Disaster Area at Port Erin
EASTER 1966
It has been reported that the "English Invaders" who recently landed on the
quiet shores of our beloved Isle have now thankfully left! All is now quiet once
more.
During their stay here they could be seen on many a route march and it is said
that they conquered such places as Peel, Ramsey, Castletown and Laxey.
Probably the most courageous of their
exploits was the ascent of Snaefell in what can only be described as Arctic
conditions. A force 8 blizzard blinding them, these gallant few struggled up the
dreaded south face to the summit, where they took refuge in the "GENTS" of a
deserted cafe. Another walk which they were seen on was presumably more
enjoyable as many of the party were seen sliding down a snow slope at a place
called South Barrule on their backs, stomachs, and various other parts of the
anatomy. These hurtling projectiles seemed to be used as targets for a barrage
of snowballs thrown by the others. Even one of the older members of the party
partook of this sliding sport and made a grand total of 3 descents.
The beautiful castle at Castletown was
saved from these morons because it was closed to sightseers, since death-watch
beetle was attacking the Queen's Chamber.
WERE THEY DRUIDS?
One evening they were observed participating in strange druid rites at Fleshwick
Bay the day before their departure. They were seen grouped around a large fire,
eating raw, or almost raw, potatoes and shouting strange incantations at the
encroaching tide which threatened to extinguish the fire. Some of the most
adventurous tried to prove that Canute could have succeeded had he had more
will-power, but all their exhortations failed. Some of the more technically
minded failed also, their dam, made out of boulders, collapsing when the first
wave hit it. While all this was happening, another group were fashioning
arrowheads out of any old bits of stone they found lying about. One actually
made a spear, but fortunately for the local inhabitants it disintegrated in
mid-air the first time it was thrown.
In an interview before they left some of the boys said
they would like to put the guide book right. The guidebook of Ward Lock says
"snow and ice are unknown in the Isle of Man". They wish to disagree most
heartily. They also asked me to express their thanks to the organiser of the
trip, Mr. Holmes, and to all the members of the staff who made the holiday so
enjoyable. A BILLING 4A
R DENTON 4A
PETER AND THE WOLF "Ah, 3.55. Nearly time to go home," thought Peter.
Peter, say the Second Law of Fluid Pressure. And close your book!" said Peter's
Physics Master.
"Yes, sir," said Peter. "The Second Law of Fluid Pressure states that the
pressure is the same in all directions at the same depth in the same fluid."
'Well done, Peter," said the Physics Master. The school bell interrupted him but
he just carried on working. He is a very well organised man and he doesn't say
"dismiss" till everyone settles down. "Dismiss," he said. Peter is usually the
first out and indeed he was that day. He rushed out, after putting his stool
under the bench, picked up his coat and rushed down the lane. He caught the 4.00
bus home. He arrived home at 4.05, changed and did his homework.
"Finished, Mum!" shouted Peter after an hour's work.
He rushed upstairs, got out his tent and his camping gear and his burner. He set
off for "His House". He left his home and went along Southey Green Road, up Elm
Lane and to the bus stop at Sheffield Lane Top and caught a bus to Ecclesfield.
He bought a five penny half to Ecclesfield Old Cinema House.
When he left the bus he started to walk up Whitley Lane. He reached the house,
went in and made a cup of tea. It was now about 9.00 and he was tired so he took
out his sleeping bag and went to sleep in the old living room.
Saturday came and Peter got up. He made a cup of tea and breakfast.
When he had finished breakfast he dressed and made ready to start exploring the
house and surrounding area. He covered a square mile before he said disgustedly,
"I'd better get back for dinner!"
He had just finished dinner when he heard a strange sound and he saw a long
black shadow spanning the room, but when he looked he could see nothing but
strangely enough the shadow was still there. Peter was clever and usually could
work things out, but there was no logical reason for the shadow. He tried to be
calm but really he was absolutely terrified. He carried on his exploration
regardless of his fright.
When darkness set in a wolf was heard howling round the house. There was a
broken window in the hall and the wolf entered the house by means of this
window. When Peter saw the wolf he rushed into the kitchen and locked the
battered door. He then searched for some weapon to try and kill the wolf. He
found a dagger and a handless saucepan. He would throw the saucepan to distract
the wolf's attention so he could stab it to death. He threw the pan; the wolf
turned and Peter drove the full blade-length in between the wolf's shoulders.
The wolf was unmistakably dead. He took to his heels from the house for the main
road. Luckily he had already rolled up, his sleeping bag and packed his
equipment, so he picked up his equipment and took the short cut.
He ran into some campers in a field. The leader came out
and explained that he was on the right road for the main road. He caught the
right bus for the city centre and from the city caught a 98 bus home,
On Saturday night Peter spent an hour telling the story
to his parents. When he went to bed he found that his club membership card was
missing.
He went to bed and forgot about it until the next day
about 10.00 in the morning when a man came enquiring for Peter. He drove up in a
Rolls Royce and told Peter that he owned the old mansion and he had found a
wolf, which had killed two flocks of sheep and for whose death 3 reward was out
at £1,000, and Peter's membership card. Peter accepted the cheque gratefully. He
went to town and bought some equipment for his new and more peaceful hobby:
PHOTOGRAPHY. K. GRESHAM 3X
The Fight
The boxer belted
He fell to the floor
He fought fairly well
The bell rang
his burly opponent;
flat on his face,
but was felled again.
for the end of the round.
He arose and acted
In came his opponent
The bell rang again
Into the ring.
very tired;
and he clobbered him
and the seconds ran
They carried the clobbered man.
He was belted and bashed
Poor old Pete
till he was bewildered.
was beaten on points.
THE FASCINATION OF ANTIQUE SILVER
The collection of antique silver is not, as the majority believe, an expensive
hobby. The pieces that can be collected range from a few shillings to hundreds
of thousands of pounds in value. It is pieces of the latter value that are
discussed in books on Antique Silver, but in this short essay I propose to talk
of silver in layman's words and the silver one sees in everyday life.
There are many kinds of silver, but the kind I am
talking of is not "electroplate" or "German silver", which are more or less
worthless, being nickel, but sterling silver, which is tested and assayed in
government offices; but first let me say a word or two about "Sheffield plate".
In 1742, a Sheffield engraver was working a piece of
silver in a vice and using a penny to bend it with. The silver fused onto the
copper and the idea was used a lot in the nineteenth and early twentieth
century. This was the modest beginning of "Sheffield plate", which is now nearly
as expensive as sterling silver.
As I said earlier, the price of good silver need not go too high. Good specimens
can be obtained in the ten shilling to five pound range, or may even be obtained
for next to nothing as in the case of one woman who went to a church sale in the
Dobcroft Road area and bought, among other things, a small jewel case for
sixpence. After a few days she opened the case and found an old silver cigarette
case stamped in Sheffield. This she sold for fifteen pounds. Just one striking
example of bargain hunting.
Smaller pieces are of the most desirable quality and for about five pounds one
can obtain a pair of silver candlesticks or a small fruit dish, and most of the
pieces can be put to good use; as can the small propelling pencils, with quality
far superior to that of ordinary pencils; and other small items such as an
intriguing model of a little boy on a chamber pot. The whole model was hinged
and, when opened, had a hole in which a cigar end was placed. When the model was
closed the hole closed, thus piercing the cigar, ready for smoking.
These smaller pieces usually have the stamp of Birmingham, an anchor, but
funnily enough most of them were made outside Birmingham. Many people collect
these smaller pieces, known as "chatelaine pieces" due to the fact that they
were hung on chains, round a woman's waist, hooked onto these chains by a small
ring. The woman would use these little gadgets round the house. Small boxes with
a striking edge for matches would be used for lighting the fire, or by men for
pipes and cigarettes. Boxes were made for cashews (little tablets to remove bad
breath), needlecases, thimblecases, and even little boxes for grating nutmegs.
Bodkins were used for threading elastic through lady's dresses and are a sort of
blunt silver needle.
However, the finest pieces of workmanship in this field are little boxes called
vinaigrettes. These are small engraved boxes in which there is a pierced grille
under which a pad of aromatic vinegar was laid, for the lady who kept fainting.
(Victorian ladies were very fond of fainting. It was the done thing).
Many people interested in the cheap yet fine variety of
silver collect caddy spoons, representing various objects: shovels, buckets,
rowing boats, and jockey's caps, to quote but a few. The price can range from a
few shillings to hundreds of pounds, which would be the cost of a spoon made by
the Batemans or by the De Lamières, the most famous silversmiths of the
nineteenth century.
So what appears on the surface to be a dull hobby can be interpreted as a
fascinating yet inexpensive investment, especially as the scrap value for silver
stands at 9/4½ per ounce. S. ELLMER 5M
THE CHEST Two navvies were digging side by side in a trench six feet deep by three
feet wide. This was needed to lay a cable in from the new powerhouse. They were
not exactly on good terms, for the "certain winner" which Tim Connelly had told
Mike Murgotroyne would win had fallen at the first fence, losing Mike's money
into the bargain.
Now they were working on a piece of waste ground through
which the ,:able had to run from one road to another.
"Oh, it's no use. I'm fed up!" Mike suddenly exclaimed, throwing down his spade
so hard that the blade cut down at least a foot. A crunching sound was heard.
The two men stared at each other and then without a word began digging. Very
soon they had uncovered a small chest. Connelly then began to attack the lid of
the chest as though it was his worst enemy. After watching for some minutes,
Mike took over with a scathing comment about Connelly's strength. He failed too.
Then he picked up the box and shook it. To be exact, it did not rattle, there
were no bumping noises, but somehow something seemed to indicate to the two men
that it was not empty.
"What are we going to dog" was the question they posed
simultaneously.
"Take it 'ome," was the reply Mike gave, as he beard the foreman's whistle
signal the end of the day's labour.
Mike and Tim walked home in the dusk to the dingy boarding house kept by an old
woman and two Alsatians. After an excuse for a meal, they went upstairs and
began to try to prise the lid off. After several hours' fruitless toil, Mike
angrily opened the window and threw the chest out with a shout of "Good
riddance". However, a few minutes later one of the other boarders came up to
their room. Under his arm was the chest.
"I was just going across the yard when this object er - - fell from ye' window,
it did - - 1 wouldn't know, now, but with the er - - saying that came with it I
only hope ye was referrin' to the box." With that he threw the chest on the
table and stalked out.
The next morning the two men left for work, leaving the
chest in their room. That day they were asked to go with a lorry driver to fetch
some more lanterns and Road-up signs. However, on the way the lorry crashed and
all the men were taken to hospital and kept in for a few days.
Meanwhile the landlady had detected a dreadful smell
from behind the locked door of our friends' room. The smell steadily became
worse and someone thought it smelled like something decaying. It was impossible
to live with it and at last a passing policeman was called in. He took one sniff
and ran to a telephone box. A few minutes later a squad car arrived outside the
boarding house. The police ran in and were directed upstairs. Expressing their
disgust, they proceeded to batter the door down. Once inside they rushed to the
source of the smell - the chest, which at once was rushed to police
headquarters.
Meanwhile one of the other navvies was asking a simple
question: "Has anyone seen my sandwich box? It's an imitation chest that opens
from the side. I put it in the trench a bit ago, but I think one of the walls
must have fallen in and buried it." S. HOWSON 4A
A DAY'S ANGLING A day's angling doesn't begin in the rod about eight in the morning. It
consists of getting up at about one to two hours before dawn (depending upon how
far you have to travel), having breakfast (if at this time you can), checking
that you have all your gear and setting off.
Most people go by coach, because it is much more economical, especially if you
have to go a long way in a big car, when there is a possibility of a traffic
jam. Once you have started. it is just a question of how much sleep you can
catch up on. Almost every angler does this, because he has a long day's angling
ahead of him and every little bit of sleep helps.
On arriving at the destination, you have to find a suitable spot to fish
(assuming the coach has stopped somewhere near the fishing grounds), and then
get all your gear out and get all set to cast in. For an experienced angler this
job can take some time, because of currents which will affect the float; but an
inexperienced angler can cast in without worrying about this, as there is all
day and "plenty of fish in the sea for everybody". The angler will then have a
cup of tea or something to keep him warm and probably a bite to eat if he has
not had his breakfast.
Once cast in, the keen angler will have to concentrate
on the float, currents, etc., if he wants to have a big catch and most people
would like that. The less keen will sit back and let the fish attach itself to
the hook. If the angler is going with this in mind then he had better take all
the "mod. cons.", that is, things to sit on, and most of all a portable wireless
or transistor. Many people say these are a menace, but to men who have gone away
for a restful day they are a boon.
After settling down to catch fish, it is just a matter
of waiting till you have a bite and then of striking at the proper time. If you
know how to strike then even when fishing is at its worst you will always be
able to catch something no matter how trivial it is.
When the day gets started, when intelligent people are
just rising about midday, the angler will "knock off" for dinner, which usually
consists of a few picked sandwiches and a flask of tea or coffee.
After dinner the angler will settle down and fish again
till he is ready to go home. He will have to have a good look at his catch,
weigh it, and throw it back wherever it came from, sea or river. Once he has
done this and picked up all his litter if he has dropped any, he will be ready
to set off back to the coach.
Anglers usually sleep on the way back and after a
collection for the driver they depart from the coach and head for home. On
arriving there, they are so tired that after tea they will fall asleep in front
of the fire, after a very interesting but tiring day. A. E. FISHER 5M
AN ENGLISH COPPER He walks in 'the dark grey moss of early morning fog
Brought in from 'the sea up the River Thames;
All around is silence
Broken only by the horns of boats on the river.
All night he has been walking,
Pounding his lonely beat;
The only sound that accompanies him
Is the pounding of his feet.
He meets the children on their way to school,
The housewives doing their shopping;
Walking round and round and round
But never ever stopping.
M.PALMER 4M
