"THE DORKINIAN” 
NEWSLETTER OFTHE ASHCOMBE DORKINIAN ASSOCIATION
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The Chairman's Bits ‑ John Gent
Opening of Dorking County School (DCS) in 1931
Wartime Memories ‑ Hebe Morgan
Sheila Fisher (nee Youdale) ‑ 1947-52
Fuchsias fascinate Maureen Meier
Remembering Louise McFadyen 1949-57
Remembering Miss Rigby ‑ Gillian Evans (nee Hayter)
Old Dorkinian Cricket Club ‑ Dave Wilcockson
Old Dorkinian Football Club ‑ Peter Mills
Editor's Oddsand Ends
Forthose of you who found No. 10 too lengthy (not that anyone said as much), somerelief this time ‑ but if there is more than you can take you can beselective and do not have to read every item as I do (with pleasure, ofcourse!) However, any reduction in the size of the Newsletter is probably madeup by the accompanying AGM 'paper' ‑ and in this connection please notethat if you are coming to the AGM onSaturday l l th October and wish to stay for lunch (at the White Horse) theblue form, cheque, and s.a.e. must reach SheilaSandford by 12th September.
Ourhardworking Chairman John Gent hasdone his bit ‑ but is he teasing us in modifying the heading to his partof our Newsletter?
Golfhas become a regular ADA event, thanks to HaroldChild's efforts. Recently I tried to persuade Barbara Booth (Wareham) to join us but she declined on the groundsthat she was playing in her county squad on the relevant day!
May I use Editor's privilege to mention that my sister Janet Burgess has recently moved to 530 Lakeshore Road, Cobourg, Ontario K9A 1S5. She is settling in despite being invaded by various animals and insects; she is also expecting to become a grandmother for the second time in December.
When I read Gillian Evans' appreciation of Miss Rigby I initially wondered why she remembered the occasion when Miss Rigby and Frank Hayter paddled in the sea, until I recalled that I met Dr. Trefor Jones on the beach at Middleton on Sea in 1948 and was embarrassed to see him in just swimming trunks. We did not expect our teachers to be ordinary humans, perhaps! I dread to think what he felt about my intrusion on his privacy!
Congratulations to Anthony Lockwood (one of our younger Committee Members) on his award winning designs at Chelsea and Hampton Court ‑ "Wine Outback" showed a garden created as a retreat, a place of peace and tranquillity set in the outback of Australia.
(Noaward to the Editor for his photocopied photograph!)
TheADA Bursary of £250 has been awardedthis year to Laura Timms, the DeputyHead Girl, for her academic achievements, and active participation in the lifeof the School and the wider community. We congratulate Laura on her award, andon obtaining A grades in all her A‑levels ‑ English, History,French and General Studies. We wish her well reading English at King's College,Cambridge, this autumn, and hope to hear from her this time next year!
Mythanks to all contributors, and in the words of Radio 4's Feedback: "Keepit coming”.
The Chairman'sBit
I make no apologies for the blatant and quiteobvious historical, even nostalgic slant to my contribution to this Autumn'sNewsletter. But hopefully there will be something which appeals to most of you and gives interest to all. We are lucky tohave been given access to a few archives which up to now have been kept at the school. I was surprised that there weren't that many, which makes what wehave reproduced here even more poignant. Unfortunately they will be movedshortly to Woking for 'safe keeping'.
TheBeginnings!
We have reproduced a reduced copy of the spreadgiven by the Advertiser to the opening of the Dorking County School in 1931.You will see that even then there was an article entitled 'Old Dorking ‑A Tour of the Town a Century Ago'. Click here to see
We have also reproduced a copy of the menu of the 1st
WartimeMemories (courtesyof Hebe Morgan)
Hebe wrote an article which was aired in the 1972Dorking County Grammar School Annual Magazine
Where Are TheyNow?
I hope you will be able to read the names in thelist of 5th Formerstaken from the Dorking Grammar School (yes, the word 'County' was missing!)'School Report', for the years 1958 to 1974. It should enable you to piecetogether a list of your particular year. I'd welcome copies of other years sothat we can print them in future issues of the Dorkinian. (Click here to see the lists)
The ChemistryLab., R.I.P.
By the time you read this, the Old ChemistryLaboratory will unfortunately be no more. On the invitation of the Headmaster,Mr Webster, we took some photographs before the refurbishment started and thesewill be available for viewing and possible purchase at the Reunion. I did lookbut there wasn't any graffiti worth photographing! Although it is progress theother new labs don't have the character which was so evident
The 1997Reunion/AGM
This year we are emphasising that it is a Reunionwith the AGM rather than the other way about. It will be held on Saturday 11th
FRIDAY. DECEMBER 25th, 1931
DORKING ANDLEATHERHEAD ADVERTISER. EPSOM DISTRICT TIMES AND COUNTY POST
HAPPY ENTERTAINMENT BY THE
SCHOLARS.
HIGH STANDARD OBTAINED.
FORMAL OPENING BY RIGHT HON. H, A. L. FISHER.
The proceedings onSaturday afternoon began with the singing of the National Anthem. Prayer byBishop GoldingBird (Assistant Bishop of Guildford and Archdeacon of Dorking)followed.
A STRIKING EULOGY.
MAINTAINING THE CONNECTION.
Alderman Leman proposed a vote of thanks to Mr. Fisher andBishop Golding‑Bird. He referred to the linking of the two old schools inthe new school. He hoped that the connection with the old schools would be verydefinitely continued. He noticed earlier that afternoon …….
SHRUB HILL HOUSE.
THE DAYS OF THE STAGE COACH.
DORKING WEEKLYNOTES.
Dorking's new Secondary School, known as the Dorking CountySchool, was formally opened on Saturday by the Rt. Hon. H. A. L. Fisher, aformer President of the Board of Education. He and others gave some soundadvice about the way the school should build a tradition worthy of itself andworthy of the schools which it has replaced ‑the High School for Boys andthe High School for Girls ‑both of which did wonderful work in spite ofexceptional difficulties. Dorking has secured its County School just in timebefore the national crisis compelled a review of the position with a view tocheaper construction. There is nothing cheap and shoddy at the Dorking School.It is a worthy monument to the importance of education. The well designed anddignified buildings; are themselves an educational influence. Several of thespeakers at Saturday's opening ceremony referred to the co‑educationsystem under which the school is organised. None criticised the system. but Mr.Fisher, and one or two others spoke of the co‑education system as beingexperimental. Co‑education is of course experimental in secondary schoolsbut not in elementary schools. And children are born into coeducational familylife and life after school days is co-educational.
A noticeable feature of entertainments organised in Dorking oflate years has been the higher standard demanded by local audiences. This fact has, apparentl , not escaped the notice of"“outsiders," for writing in theConcert Notes of the December 13th issueof the “Sunday Referee” “Claudin” says- "Much praise is due to the Dickenstown of Dorking for having embarked during the last few years on the very saneand sound policy of booking professional artistes and bands for its concerts,dances, and other social functions. Previous to that local talent was reliedupon, but the organisers realised, in common with many other places outsideLondon, that it is better from the point of view of enjoyment and artisticsuccess to spend more money and engage people whose profession it is toentertain the public. It is a far‑sighted policy, .and I am sure willresult in good financial as well as artistic results. Much of it is due to theinitiative of the Chairman of tile Dorking Branch of the British Legion, whowas the pioneer of the happy thought in this respect. In addition, some of theinfluential people in Dorking have recently erected a very modern building, calledthe New Halls, which comprises three halls of varying sizes suitable for allfunctions and equipped with up‑to‑date lighting, platforms. andcomfortable dressing‑rooms. I congratulate Dorking, ant] hope other townswill follow its excellent example."
In preparing the programme for the forthcomingproduction of "Ruddigore", the Dorking andDistrict Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society have generously allotted an advertising space in which to draw the public's attention to the great Carnival Week which is to be held in Dorking next June for the benefit of the Hospital.
Old Dorkinian Association -
Old Dorkinian Association. 1st Annual Dinner AT THE WHITE HORSE HOTEL DORKING, On Saturday, December 2nd. 1933 President: R. G. COLLINS. Vice‑President: S. W. SCRIVENER Past‑Presidents of the Dorking High School Old Boys' Association. 1906 J. F. JAAL 1923 S. STRONG. 1907 J. P. ALEXANDER 1924 C. J.IVERY 1908 J. E. JAY 1925 J. BUCK. O.B.E. M.A. 1909 H. L. MOORE 1926 H. COOKE 1910 F. SANDERS 1927 G. E. COLLINS 1911 H. O. BECKETT 1928 D.G.RIX 1912 A. G. ASKEW 1929 A. G. PIPER 1913 A. B. CHALLACOMBE 1930 G. A. CLIFTON 1914 A. E. PIPER 1931 J. E. BRADLEY 1922 J. C. EDE. J.P. C.C. 1932 R. 8. SCRACG
. Artistes. JACK GRIFFITH. BILL PRIMMER. R. S. SCRAGG. K. C. WELLER Menu. APPETISERS CREAM OF TOMATO GRILLED HALIBUT PARSLEY BUTTER ROAST SIRLOIN OF SCOTCH BEEF HORSERADISH SAUCE OR ROAST SURREY CHICKEN AND SAUSAGE BREAD SAUCE. BRUSSEL SPROUTS BRAISED CELERY POTATO CROQ UETTES FRUIT SALAD WITH ICF CREAM CHEESE COFFEE
1914‑1919. "Tranquil you lie, your knightly virtues proved, Your memory hallowed in the land you loved.’" ARTHUR, E. J BOORER, S. G. COLLINS, B. P. COUSIN, A. N. CURROR, W, E. F. DENHAM, D. H. EVELEIGH, F. J. FARINDON, R. T. FURNIVAL, L. T. GARDINER, S. HARMAN, R. J. JEAL, W. JEROME, G. KAY, W. H. LIPSCOMB, A. NICKLIN, H. T. NICKLIN, P. R. PIERCE, J. PULLEN, O.J.. REEVES, S. E. THOMSON, A. M. VERRELLS, H. N. VIALLS, E. WITHERS, O. WOODMAN, F. Toast List. The King - THE PRESIDENT. SILENCE. The School. Proposed by the VICE-‑PRESIDENT. Response: THE HEADMASTER, MR. A. J. RIVETT, B.A., B.Sc. The Old Dorkinian Association. Proposed by H. M. GORDON CLARK, ESQ. Response: THE PRESIDENT. The Guests. Proposed by MR. G. CLIFTON. Response: MR. E. W. WALKER. The Artistes ‑ MR. J.W.G. BLACKMAN
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I was one of the favoured few whostarted at what was then Dorking County School in the October following thebeginning of the Second World War. October because the school was onlypermitted to have on the premises asmany people as there were air‑raidshelters for, and it took time to build them.
It doesn't surprise me that the shelters have stood the testof time so well. One of my earliest recollections, as a ten‑year‑old,is of watching the concrete being poured in by workmen. I was yet to discoverthat I was expected to go and sit in them when the siren started to wail. Andsit in them we did!
One could be glad of the interruption in a boring lesson; buttrying to balance a congealing dinner on one's knee while the pudding waited inthe dining room was not so funny. All the same ‑ and such is theadaptability of the human race ‑ it is interesting to remember that,through intensive practice, it eventually became a matter of
Going to school in war‑time offers plenty ofopportunity, later on, for reminiscence. Paper, for instance, was notonly in short supply; bringing it or the raw materials to Britain cost lives,and the quality declined as the years wore on. Though wenever (as was threatened from time to time) had to return to the days of slatesand squeaky pencils.
School dinners were there to be eaten! The plate was put infront of you, and not liking it was no excuse. I've often wondered since whythe meat fat sometimes had green dye marking in it; rumour had it that it meant'unfit for human consumption', but school dinners always take it on the chin,anyway. The fact is that the scraps from a table of perhaps thirty pupils wouldbarely fill one plate.‑ if it did there was a visit from a senior memberof staff, and on the whole it was easier to eat it and keep quiet.
War means staff changes. The young men go off to fight, andsome of the young women too; the average age of the staff goes up as morepeople come out of retirement, and you are left with a shifting population.From memory, there were over sixty staff changes during the war years; not theideal way to run a school, though I don't think it did us much harm in the longrun.
My first form, in the gentle and disciplined hands of MissBurton ('Burton’s Babies', all of us!), was a strange hotch‑potchof nationalities. We talk today about immigrant children and the problems theycreate; our class was a mixture of local youngsters, evacuees from London, andrefugees (mainly Jewish) from Germany. The latter group had a hard struggle tocope with the language; and, looking back it can't have been too easy for theteaching staff, either. With the ignorance of extreme youth, it never occurredto us that these foreign children had just been through a totally shatteringexperience; and I have no recollection that we did anything more dramatic thanshake down together into a situation which seemed completely normal to us.
I wonder if others who were at D.G.S. in 1940 would agree thatone of the most stirring episodes was the retreat from Dunkirk?I can remember the extreme excitement as hospital trains full of heavilybandaged men and attendant nurses came from the Kent coast, past the playingfields on the Deepdene line. Each time one went by, every class on that side ofthe building rushed to the windows to wave and cheer ‑ and quite a lot ofit was heart‑felt emotion, even if some was sheer opportunism!
There were other things too. Endless convoys of tanks rumblingdown Ashcombe Road at certain times during the war; dog‑fights overheadduring the Battle of Britain; the girl who brought a real banana to school andlet us look at it; school certificate exams held in a basement in the townduring the 'doodle‑bug' period in 1944. And the solemnity of theannouncements in Assembly when some past member of the school was reportedkilled in action ‑ unknown to us little ones, but sadly missed by thestaff and pupils who remembered them working and playing in the school sorecently. Our sixth‑formers could be school‑boys on Friday anduniformed members of the forces by the following week.
Gas masks! What proportion of them, I wonder, would have beenany use at all if the expected gas attacks had materialised? All the same, youhad to carry the wretched things, and if you came to school without your gasmask ... well, you simply had to go home again and get it, at least in theearly days. Oneupmanship was in having a better gas mask case than anyone else;and total horror for the staff must have been the regular testing sessions.
Wars are disruptive things; but we got our 6/7/8 schoolcertificate subjects in due course, and went on to get our 2/3/4 highercertificate subjects. And some of us went into the forces, and some to artschools and universities, and some to teacher training (or married the musicmaster!) And some of have seen our own children go to D.G.S., though insomewhat different circumstances than the ones we knew. Whether it was born ofwar‑time cameraderie or not, most of us have a very soft spot for the oldplace.
SheilaFisher (nee Youdale) 1947‑1952
Two things activated me into writing to The Dorkinian, one was the letter from David Earl and the other was the news of Miss Rigby's death at the grand oldage of 91.
I will start with Miss Rigby. I now live in the village of Winscombe in Somerset, 4 miles from Cheddar Gorge and Sidcot School, where Miss Rigby started her teaching career, is just up the hill at the top of the village on the A38. That set me thinking about school life in general and, in particular, the part that Miss Rigby played in my school life at Dorking Grammar. I remember her as a strict disciplinarian but with a sense of fair play and a kindness that showed through if anyone had personal problems, eg serious illness or bereavement.
Do you remember indoor and outdoor shoes? On one occasion, when going to change myshoes on going home, I found, to my dismay, that my outdoor shoes were not in my locker. I panicked and was then informed by a smirking prefect that they would be in Miss Rigby's office. Off I went with sinking heart to find dozens of pairs of shoes littering the floor in her room.I stammered out that I was sent to find my shoes to be given a long lecture on the seriousness of not having my name inside the said shoes and would I findthem, mark them and bring them back the next day for inspection. Finding themwas easier said than done with several pairs of similar lace up shoes to choosefrom.
On another occasion I went to school on a rainy day wearing a rain hat instead of the regulation school hat. It was not raining when I went home and found that I had forgotten to take my school hat with me. Walking home over the 14 stepbridge (sadly no longer there now) and down the Rec I was overtaken by Miss Rigby who demanded to know why I was not wearing a hat. I explained the situation and to my dismay, and the merriment of my friends (who didn't dare snigger at the time) I was told to wear my rain hat home. Luckily I lived just at the bottom of the Rec so didn't have far to go.
David Earl's letter reminded me, too, that life was not all a bed of roses. I presume you, David, are the son of Mr Earl, my old headmaster at Powell Corderoy (I am a few years older than you, of course). Do you remember having to wait at table in your third to fifth years? I always seemed to get second dinners, waiting on the staff table, when Trefor Jones and Miss Rigby had their meal. The first time I did it, being knee‑high to a grasshopper, it was very difficult handing a full glass jug of water over the heads of the seated staff onto the table. The inevitable happened, of course,the jug tipped slightly and cold water ran down Miss Moore's back.
Onemore coincidence I must tell you about. When we moved to Winscombe 14 years ago, I was talking to our new next door neighbour and inevitably we touched on where we had lived before. It transpired that she, too, was an old Dorking Grammar girl although she started after I had left. Nevertheless most of the same staff were there when she was and it made for a good introduction. She came from Shere and here name is Rita Hinton (nee Freeland) her sister Wendy also went to the school. I cannot persuade her to become a Dorkinian but if anyone recognises her and would like to get in touch,please let me know. *
Having started reminiscing, I could go on and on but I think that is enough for starters. I hope these few anecdotes bring back happy (or otherwise) memories for some of you.
*Havingjust perused my 1995 Membership List I have spotted Rita's name on it!
I thought it about time I put 'pen to paper' as my first proper contribution to "The Dorkinian".
I'd like to tell you about the terrific weather, the healthy lifestyle and the friendly people in this great country, but you'd only get bored, so I’ll save it for another time. I've also made a bit of a promise to tell you about our camping trips across the Nullarbor, across to Sydney and to Darwin, from Perth, but it would take several pages. I'll indulge, like most of your contributors, in a bit of nostalgia ‑ but I won't try to gloss over the truth! I was inspired by. David Earle's
I can't honestly say I enjoyed my time at Dorking. Probably my own fault really. If I'd played sport, like Andy Lobb, I could have got away with murder, as he did in Brute's class, instead of being accused of 'scribbling' in a maths exercise book, which I was 'illegally' using for rough work because I was so anxious to hand in a decent copy for homework. I remember his saying: "You're a rebel Gent!". No, I did not get on with Brute. He was of the 'old school', you see, with entrenched 'teacher' attitudes I've successfully been able to overcome since becoming a TAFE (Technical and Further Education) 'co‑ordinating' lecturer in electronics and computing subjects to the Australian Navy.
Of course, school did have its fun times, and those are the ones we try to remember. Like little 'Nobby' Clark doing his demos at the front of the chem lab, wondering why the bunsen went out. "They're working on the gas line again, Sir". Not really. We were madly blowing down the gas pipes with rubber tubes left under the benches. Like Doc Morgan wondering why his classes couldn't simply appreciate theMusic as he could, instead of taking every opportunity his back was turned to throw chair stoppers at one another. Or like gazing in awe at 'pop' Shepherd telling 'rat' Howard the reason for laminated cores of transformers. Actually 'rat' (horrible nickname, and quite ill‑deserved‑ he wasn't too bad, despite his dislike for slide‑rules!) was really good at getting over words he couldn't spell. He'd dictate as he wrote, and just end with a wiggly line on the board. When asked, he'd simply say: 'Well, if you weren't listening, I'm not going to repeat it!" On the subject of nick‑names, one of the more innocuous was 'Fred' Ashby. He was one of the best teachers, with his "gather raoondnaoow chaps" (what was that: a Gloucestershire accent?), but I wonder if it was his nickname, which he hated being repeated by students, that caused the altercation with one of them. Mr. Johnston (who should have been placed in quite a different institution) asked the student why he was outside his door. "I've just struck Mr. Ashby, Sir"."Well," said Mr. Johnston uncharacteristically, "you'd better go and cool off then!"
SO what have I done since leaving Dorking? Not much really. I went on to get a degree in Australia, where I emigrated as a '£10 Pom' in 1969, (the second best decision I ever made ‑the first was getting married to my wife, Terry) and later got my Graduate Diploma in Education. I have been a Technical Support Manager at Fujitsu, whereI started learning Japanese, National Service Manager for Photo & Video at Canon in Sydney, and various other sales/sales manager positions before 'following my Father's footsteps', and becoming a teacher. My wife and I are building a house in Perth, where our winters are similar to English summers, and I’m sorry to tell you, don't miss England at all. I've been on TV with a device I invented for Cerebral Palsy sufferers, so I've had my 'fifteen minutes of fame'.
If anybody would like me to write about life in Oz, a trip across the Nullarbor etc. please let me know. And no, I don't follow 'the cricket' ‑ I'd rather watch my nails grow. Apart from beating Jet Thatcher in the school cross‑country, I had, and still have, very little interest in sport, which sets me right apart from 99% of this country.
Once again ten members of the Association met together at Dorking Golf Club on 13th May 1997 for the association's spring golf day. The venue was particularly suitable as Dorking Golf Club arecelebrating their centenary year.
We were able to welcome Don Broyd in addition to most of our regularplayers, although some were taking early holidays or for other reasons wereunable to attend.
The day followed its usual format and the weather was kind enough to make us linger long enough on the verandah after the evening meal, to ensure sufficient stories were told. The story of the day being about one of our players, who shall remain nameless, who had excelled himself during the round by launching his golf ball at the greenkeeper's tractor, successfully breaking the windscreen.
Results for the Stableford competition were:
The autumn meeting will take place on Thursday 9th October at Fernfell Golfand Country Club, Cranleigh but entries have already closed.
If you are interested in joining future events and require information,please call Harold Child on 01306 885831.
I have always had a fascination with fuchsias ever since I lived in Cornwall as a child, I usedto pop their flowers as I walked past gardens to watch their ballerina‑likeskirts open. It was not, however, until 1980 that I actually joined the Dorking & District Fuchsia Group (incidentally the oldest local society in England), and became thoroughly hooked. Since then I have grown, shown and hybridised these lovely plants, and when our Editor visited me some weeks ago he asked if I would write an article for the magazine ‑ so here it is! For those who enjoy gardening I hope it will be interesting, for those who do not ‑ my apologies.
Fuchsias are basically garden shrubs, and while some (over 150) are hardy, the majority are half‑hardy and need the shelter of a greenhouse (preferably heated to just above freezing), during the winter. The hardy varieties need little or no help in the garden provided they come through their first winter. Bought plants should not be planted out until the 3rd week of May and then may be planted at the front or back of a border, depending on their ultimate height. At the time of planting, fuchsias should be planted about 3 inches below the level of the soil so that they have more chance of making a solid root system during the summer and therefore be more able to withstand any possible severe winter conditions. For the first season they should be kept well‑watered to build up a strong root system ‑ thereafter they should need little attention. They are happiest planted in semi‑shade as their delicate flowers tend to scorch in full sun but, provided they are given plenty of water, they willtolerate sunny conditions. Variegated‑leafed plants are best planted where they will see a reasonable amount of sun to keep the variegation at its best.
Half‑hardy plants can also be planted in the garden but must be dug up and brought into the greenhouse for the winter. They are at their best if planted on their own in troughs, largepots, urns, half or full baskets. They look best if more than one plant of the same variety is planted together; for example, in a 14 inch hanging basket, instead of the more usual selection of some trailing geraniums, petunias, helichrysum, topped by a single fuchsia, ‑ how much more eye‑catching is a basket of one variety giving a lovely display all the same colour. Kept fed, watered and 'dead‑headed', the basket will remain in flower for many weeks and can be taken into the greenhouse for safe‑keeping during the winter. The number of plants in a container will obviously vary but as general guide here are my suggestions:
This also applies to troughs, urns,etc., the more plants that will grow happily in container, the better will be the display.
Fuchsia growers mostly use a fertiliser made by Chempak ‑ normally their`No. 3'. This comes in the form of blue granules in a blue box and is diluted (very economically), and used by fuchsia growers at half strength throughout the growing season. Obviously, a rooted cutting will need very little water but as the plants are potted‑upinto ever larger pots, their root systems will need more and more feed. Chempak No. 3 is a balanced fertiliser and will keep fuchsias green and flowering during the summer. Fertilisers like "Tomorite" and "Phostrogen"are intended to ripen plants quickly and to harden them off, consequently as fuchsias grow flowers at the end of their branches, if these branches are encouraged to harden too quickly, the flowering time of the plant will slow down and eventually stop far too early. Feeding with "No. 3" ensures softer growth right up to the first frosts which in a mild autumn might be as late as November.
Half‑hardy fuchsias can be left out until the frosts have removed their leaves ‑ thereby saving you the trouble of taking them off ‑ and are then taken into the greenhouse having first cut the plants back by half and removed any remaining leaves. This ensures that no bugs are taken into the greenhouse where they can thrive in the warmth and multiply to give you considerable trouble in the spring. The plants should be kept damp during the winter, not allowing them to dry out or be over‑watered, as advocated by some I could name, and, of course, frost free ‑ just above 32 degrees is usually sufficient More fuchsias are lost by over or under‑watering than through frost
Growing fuchsias well is an enormoussubject to cover and I am not able to do it
I hope this article will be of interest to some of you. I have touched on only a fraction of what we 'nuttyfuchsia people' do but if anyone would like any more information, you could either ring me (01372‑457407), or get in touch with the Hon. Secretary ofthe British Fuchsia Society Peter Darnley (01562‑66688), or the Hon. Assistant Secretary, Carol Gubler (01252‑29731),or go to your nearest Fuchsia Show and see for yourself! Shows are held throughout the country during July, August and early September, details areusually given in the popular gardening magazines.
Louise Cooper (nee McFadyen)‑ 1949‑57
A few weeks ago we received the sadnews from Sue Shorthouse (Hayes, 1951‑56) thatLouise had died in February this year. You may recall that we published a"Potted History" from Louise in Newsletter 9 last September illustratingthe very busy and rewarding life she had lived, and was still managing despitebeing quite unwell at the time. If anyone would like a copy of her articleplease contact the Editor.
Dr. William Cole
Many members will have read with sadness recent reports in the national press of the death at the age of 87 of Dr. William Cole. For those who missed the news here is a memory from Peter Mills.
Dr. Cole was appointed music master at Dorking County School when it opened in 1931, and retained this post until he left in the early years of the war to join the Air Ministry where he was involved in aircraft production.
His arrival at the school coincided with his appointment as organist and choirmaster at St. Martin's Church, and the school provided a fertile recruiting ground for members of the choir. Boys were expected to attend practice 3 times a week! ‑ Mondays and Wednesdays between 5 and 6pm, and on Fridays with the male voices between 7.30 and 9pm!
Dr. Cole initiated an honorarium for each boy of two shillings and sixpence (12.5p) a quarter, and five shillings(25p) for the two top boys; the same amounts were put into a savings account on behalf of each boy. The highlight of the year was the annual outing to an opera in London.
Dr. Cole maintained an enduring friendship with Ralph Vaughan Williams, who was one of the original school governors, and together they founded the Dorking and Leith Hill Musical Festival. Up to the date of his death Dr. Cole was still serving on the committee.
Dr. Cole went on to achieve an outstanding musical career and directed the People's Palace Choral Society between 1947 and 1963, and was appointed Master of the Music at the Queen's Chapel of the Savoy between 1947 and 1994. He served for 37 years on the Council of the Royal College of Organists, and was its President
He taught at the Royal Academy of Music where he held the Chair of Harmony and Composition from 1945‑62.When he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Music he was the only member of the Royal Academy of Music to hold that distinction.
He was also Secretary of the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music from 1962 to 1974.
Many pre‑war pupils of our school will have cause to be grateful to Dr. Cole for nurturing their interest in the world of music which will have sustained them in the succeeding years.
Win Rigby Remembered
In retrospect she was a schoolmistress of the old school. My first encounter with her strong disciplinarian principles occurred when I arrived at school one summer morning minus my yellow Ashcombe tie. Possibly reported by an eagle‑eyed prefect I stood in trepidation outside her door awaiting admonishment. As a first year pupil I was shaking with fear and needless to say, I never forgot my house tie again. Many of you will relate to similar feelings! As a prefect and subsequently deputy head girl I recall that school behaviour and prefect duties were under her jurisdiction i.e. cloakroom,corridor, hall and dining room rotas ‑ certainly no running was allowed. Staircases were supervised to ensure pupils walked up the correct side.
Win expected high standards from all girls. In the post-war years (of austerity) she was always elegantly dressed. Her artistic talents were in evidence whether it was in her dress or the furnishings and decor ofher homes.
During her time at Dorking she took leave of absence to add to her art qualifications. As well as Deputy Head she was responsible for teaching advanced level art in the VIth forms. I am personally very grateful that she instructed me in the art of calligraphy which I was to use extensively in my career as an infant teacher.
Win's hobbies outside school included dressmaking, embroidery, fine art, visits to the ballet, walking, and the countryside in general. My parents, Frank and May Hayter, enjoyed her company on several holidays to the Italian Dolomites and Austria where she found much pleasure walking in the mountains surrounded by alpine flowers. Easter was the time she accompanied
Following her retirement she bought a bungalow at Church Stretton in Shropshire where she had marvellous views ofher beloved 'Long Mynd'. Her last years were frustrating for her as she suffered crippling bone disease.
A woman of high principles and a fine artist', she had many friends amongst the senior staff. There is no doubt that those of us of that era will have appreciated the character building influence of Win Rigby.
With two‑thirds of the season gone thecricket team are having an average year with 8 wins, 8 defeats and 7 draws,plus 5 more games lost to the weather. The outstanding feature so far has beenthe batting of Tim Hodgson who has hit 3 centuries against Godalming, WokingRemnants and Wimbledon Unt. and has scored over 800 runs in total.
Theannual tour took place in July in Shropshire where the weather was hot andsunny all week. The team was based in Shrewsbury and played at Frankton, Wem and Iscoyd. Although allthree games were lost, two were close and in the match at Wema dropped catch proved very expensive.
Also in July on another hot day the annualsix‑a‑side tournament was held at Meadowbank. Starting at 10 a.m. andcontinuing until 8 p.m. the winners were Horsham Trinity who defeated the OldDorkinian side in the final; the other teams competing were Newdigate and OldRutlishians. Alan Fox and Dennis Wyatt of Horsham Trinity again did a umpiringwhich was probably more tiring than playing!
A summary of the results are as follows:
Frensham
ReigatePriory 122‑5 dec v ODs 116‑7
ODs
ODs 107
ODs 175‑6dec (G.Poulter 92) v Giltec 121
ODs
Whyteleafe138
ODs 206‑9 dec (B.Woods 63, A.Leopold 53, P.Bradford 50) vOckley 187‑9
ODs
0Ds 172‑6dec (A.Culton 50*) v OldCats 129‑7
ODs 101 v
ODs 116
ODs 187‑6dec (G.Poulter 52) vChadwick 136
ODs 185‑4dec (A.Leopold 5l *, D.Miller 50*) v Reigate Priory 94
ODs 163‑4dec (T.Hodgson 77*) v Woodmansterne133‑5
The ODs are looking forward to the start of their 68th season,and will again be fielding five sides in the Old Boys' League, and a sixth, aVeterans' XI, in the Jack Perry Veterans' Cup
After their superb efforts last season the top three sideshave all gained promotion: the Senior XI, as champions of Senior 3, up toSenior 2, the highest level they have reached since the league was reorganisedsome 15 years ago; theReserves move up to Intermediate (South), last occupied by the Senior XI only 3seasons ago, and the Third XI to Division 3 (South) after scoring a club record97 goals in a season (106 if cup matches are included!)
At the Club's Annual Meeting in June Alec Hodgson was re‑elected Club Captain, and Richard Sharpe ClubChairman. The David Houldridge Cup for the Club's top goalscorer was awarded toSimon Wickham with 32 (followed by Rob Phillips with 26, also from the 3rd XI
The Club has been honoured by being invited to host the matchbetween the Old Boys' League representative side against the London Financial Leagueat Pixham, on Wednesday 21st
The Club welcomes supporters to their main Saturday fixturesat Pixham, listed below, to enjoy the play and the after‑matchhospitality.
* L.O.B. Cup
Those who five in the South and wish to follow the Senior XI's fortunes are reminded that they can see their resultsby tuning in to Ceefax TV on Saturday evenings after7.30pm, or on Sunday following.