50 Years Ago - March 2007
From 'The Portmuthian' 50 years ago
Editorial
Before you express in words the criticisms that inevitably descend upon the heads of your humble Editors because of the verbosity, baldness, misguided pseudo-humour, dullness or lack of rational thought displayed in the Editorial of this magazine, we beg you to consider our position. Last term we viewed with pride, as ever, the appearance of our masterpiece in print : yes, actually in print - the words we ourselves wrote on regulation, dog-eared School paper: but our joy was abruptly shattered by one so-called "compliment" that we received. A certain most worthy member of the School, who had better be nameless, considered our efforts worthy of the following tribute: "I thought your Editorial was much better this term - you didn't try to be funny." It would take at least twenty of Shakespeare's most impassioned lines to do justice to our dismay, which was heightened by the knowledge that it is virtually impossible for the Editors of a School magazine to write anything with a serious and useful purpose.
If, for example, we decide to express our views on current affairs, we are snookered straight away. Not only will the world situation have changed completely during the four weeks that elapse between the date of going to Press and the publication of our magazine, but in addition we have no worthy thoughts whatsoever on world affairs to-day: apart from a vague wish that Mr. and Mrs. Columbus had had a less adventurous family, and that America had remained hidden amid the mists of legend, we are, as Mr. Polly would say, "utterly Dull and Void." If, on the other hand, we discuss whatever aspect of this School first presents itself to our inquiry, we run the risk of appearing repetitive; for that is precisely what we did last term.
Now, however a thought has struck us; would not our readers be entranced if we described or commented upon some sporting event of importance, such as the recent series of Test Matches, or the Final of the Open Singapore Cockroach Racing Championship? But we have now nearly filled the page which the printers, in their optimism, allow for the development of our original ideas, and you must wait in suspense for our conclusions until next term comes round.
Your Editor, March 1957
The Prefects this term have been:
GRANT: B. E. Job*, J. H. B. Sheppard*, K. J.Brewer, J. R. F. Appleton, R. C. A. McAllister, R. L. Simpson, B. A. Edney and M. E. Sexton.
LATTER: A. McCallum*, J. P. Bennett*, B. Renyard, P. F. Spencer, D. K. Haskell and D. W. Tipping.
SMITH: R. D. Tee* (Second Prefect), M. J. Hawkins*, D. C. Lewis*, R. T. Richards and A. F. Tanner.
WHITCOMBE: M. E. Shepherd* (Senior Prefect), A. J. Hayward*, B. A. Wickens, D. C. Ferris, R. M. Gaydon and D. A. Warrell.
* Denotes School Prefect.
Valete
BARTER, C. (G). Ser. VI. Entered Sept. 1947, left April 1957. Rugby 1st XV 1956-57. C.C.F. R.A.F. section, L/cdt.; School shooting "B" VIII. Left for career in the Royal Air Force.
EADES, G. A. (L). Ser. VI. Entered Sept. 1947, left April 1957. Cross-country running VIII. C.C.F. Army section, L/cpl., "Cert. T"; R.N. section, A/B. Left for Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.
GUY, S. G. (S). Mod. L.VI. Entered Sept. 1948, left April 1957. School scouts 1951-54; troop leader 1954. C.C.F. R.A.F. section, L/cdt. Left for career in insurance.
STOCKDALE, D. R. (G). Sc. VII. Entered Sept. 1946, left Dec. 1956. C.C.F. Army section, under-officer, "Cert. T." Left for career in industry.
WILKINSON, K. R. (W). Sc. VIB. Entered Sept. 1948, left July 1956. Cross-country running VIII 1953-56; colours 1954-55. C.C.F. Army section, platoon commander. Left for B.V.Sc. course at Bristol University, or B.Vet.Med. at the Royal Veterinary College.
JAMES WARE
(50 years on it seems relevant to repeat this note made 50 years ago)
In December 1956 was celebrated the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth at Portsmouth of Mr. James Ware, a famous surgeon and eye specialist. He was educated at Portsmouth Grammar School and was apprenticed to the surgeon of the Dockyard. He entered St. Thomas's Hospital, London, as a student in 1773, became a demonstrator in anatomy, and later began practice on his own account as an ophthalmic surgeon. He and Jonathan Wathen elevated ophthalmic surgery from a degraded condition into which it had fallen. James Ware was one of the founders of the Society for the Relief of the Widows and Orphans of Medical Men in London, and he founded a school for the indigent blind. He was a fellow of the Royal Society and of the Society of Antiquaries.
"HOMEWORK"
When I get home at half-past five
Without a thought in mind
Of English or of Latin prep,
I start to get behind.
I read my book an hour or more;
The time creeps round to eight.
At last I gaze up at the clock:
O Lord ! It's getting late.
I grab my English book, and write
A crazy line or two,
That almost rhymes or nearly scans,
And hope that it will do.
It need not last a hundred years,
It need not last a week,
As long as I get over half,
No further praise I seek.
D.C.H. (IVA).
© Copyright The Old Portmuthian Club 2010. Last updated on 4 August 2007. 
