50 Years Ago - Spring Term: January – April 1958
From 'The Portmuthian' 50 years ago
Editorial
"I come no more to make you laugh; things now that bear a weighty and a serious brow, sad high and working, full of state and woe . . . We now present." (KING HENRY VIII).
In recent years it has been the unpleasant task of the Editor of this magazine to spend what could be a stimulating editorial in begging the School to produce more original contributions. Pleas in this direction have fallen on stony ground and so the present writer begs to shake such dust from his feet. Moreover, there are facts worthy of note.
Though, as pupils still under tutelage, we see the organisation and military precision of our time-table as through a glass, darkly, the "dullness of our blinded sight" has been enabled, if not with light perpetual, at least with vision enough to discern that a radical alteration of our regiment has taken place. I mean, of course, that School now ends at 16.00 hours. Certain of the older and more sedate members of the School, though aware of the great benefit of ending earlier, were, on the other hand, in two minds as to their being able to sacrifice their lunch-break and siesta by fifteen minutes — this repose from academic sweat being considered an absolute necessity.
Some of the more cynically-minded brethren, however, wondered whether or no the glass through which they saw was so dark. It might be just possible that there was a shady ulterior motive in this move — YES, the C.C.F. did have a quarter of an hour longer —but our so-sadly deflated opinion of the authorities was swiftly re-charged when the Head Master nobly exerted his prerogative and Thursday afternoon was given the privilege of a break !
But to change from the factual to the less certain, there do seem to be certain trends — little sparks of intellectual life flickering once again throughout the School, a School whose social and cultural activities have long appeared moribund. The fact that their passing-bell appears to have been heard by the majority of the School did not put an end to the hopes of the very few enlightened gentlemen who entertained what others would have considered the fantastic idea of a resurgence of cultural life. These idealists have been rewarded, for breath has at last returned to a few of such bodies.
The Modern VII, who have long discussed the decay of our civilisation in England — the majority of its members having settled down to gloat over the process — has at last realised that this disaster can only be averted by action – facta non verba. The buzz of conversation, which is to be heard from their residence in "B" block has now received an exciting stimulus – discussions have now regained a long-lost verve; but as we go to print such racy speech and repartee is only known to the honourable members – it cannot yet be disclosed.
There is, then – and let us be truly thankful for it – a real appearance of spring in the air. Our only hope is that there will be a perennial occurrence of the same intellectual spring; should this not be the case then we may well change our note to tragic, and bewail with Bedford;
"Hung be the heavens with black, yield day to night ! Comets, importing change of times and states, Brandish your crystal tresses in the sky That have consented unto….. death !" (KING HENRY VI, Part I).
School Notes
* This term, we are happy to welcome Mr. P. J. Durand to the staff ; he replaces Mr. L. 3. Asher, who will be remembered by 0.P.s of past years. We also welcome a new member to the Board of Governors; he is Councillor H. Sotnick, who takes the place previously held by Councillor A. L. Blake.
* We offer our congratulations to B. R. Stonebridge, who has been awarded the Allen Exhibition at Christ Church, Oxford; to C. 0. Richie, who has gained an Open Exhibition to the same college; and to the following, who have succeeded in gaining places at Oxford; D. J. Collyer, at Keble College; R. R. Langley, at New College; A. J. Maber, at Magdalen; and I. McReath, at Merton College.
* On March 26th, 27th, 28th and 29th, the School performed William Shakespeare's tragedy Conolanus in the School Hall
* The finals of the competition for the Ernest Edmonds Memorial Prizes for Speech and Reading were held on March 7th in the Upper School Hall. The adjudicator was the Archdeacon of Portsmouth, the Venerable Michael Peck
* During the Term the Sixth Form has enjoyed the privilege of hearing lectures from :- Sir Hilary Blood, K.C.M.G., who spoke on Nation Building within the Commonwealth; Mr. R. P. Bush, from Rhodesia, who talked about the new Central African Federation; Dr. Moni Moulik, a Public Relations Officer from India House, who spoke on India and the Commonwealth ; Mr. Alan Oakman spoke to the whole School on the M.C.C. Tour of South Africa.
Prefects this term have been as follows:
GRANT: K. J. Brewer* (Senior Prefect), J. R. F. Appleton*, D. E. Hands*, D. J. Harper*, B. A. Edney, M. E. Sexton, T. J. Porteous, R. R. C. Stokes.
LATTER: P. F. Spencer*, D. J. Collyer*, I. McReath*, B. R. Stone-bridge, I. Wood, E. G. Davies, P. J. Spragg.
SMITH: J. Endacott*, A. F. Jones*, J. M. Drew, D. H. St. John_
WHITCOMBE : D. A. Warren* (Second Prefect), J. W. Rogers*, C. P. Manville, S. J. Buck, P. C. Edney, D. J. Bridge.
*Denotes School Prefect.
Mr. L. J ASHER
In 1932 Mr. Polwin left the School to take up a post at Folkestone+ and it became necessary to appoint a successor to him. In those days Councillor F. J. Privett was Chairman of the School Governors, and with his usual business acumen and far-sightedness he suggested to the Head Master that the ideal man for the post was Lewis John Asher, who had worked for his building and contracting firm for a number of years. Thus Asher became a schoolmaster and very quickly applied himself to the task of making woodwork a worthwhile School subject, and one which could well be offered at School Certificate standards by the less academically minded boys of the B' and 'C' streams. It was not long before the value of his work became evident, and his cheerful manner, his infectious enthusiasm and his great skill as a craftsman quickly earned for him a following of boys anxious to acquire skill with their hands in the shaping of wood and the elements of draughtsmanship and technical drawing. By the time that War came in 1939, woodwork was firmly established as a main subject in the School curriculum.
It was in the years 1939-1945 during the School's exile to Northwood Park and eventually to Bournemouth that Asher's great contribution to its life became really manifest. He became House Master of Colvin House and there with the able assistance of his wife was responsible for the up-bringing, development and well-being of a large proportion of the 350 boys which the School then contained. He was largely responsible for the umpiring and refereeing of the School games, and also became an officer in the School A.T.C. – work for which his service in the Royal Flying Corps in the first World War made him eminently suitable. Never sparing himself, and always cheerful and helpful, he insisted upon the observance of the highest standards of discipline and conduct in a world where these qualities were often so apt to be derided and neglected.
On the return to Portsmouth in 1945, Asher began to re-create his department of woodwork, and soon was able to leave his subterranean benches for the imposing new "Asher Palace" which was erected in a corner of the playground. There with new equipment and facilities of lighting and heating which he had never enjoyed before – but still alas ! with far too little room – he continued his teaching until he elected to go into retirement at the end of 1957.
"Lew" has left us, but his work remains with us. In almost every part of the School there are evidences of his skill and craftsmanship, and for very many years the Dramatic Society has been wholly dependent upon him for the creation and adaptation of its stage settings. Lockers for masters, duck-boards for Hilsea, waste-paper baskets for the form-rooms – no matter what was required – a word to the ever-helpful Asher and they seemed to be /forthcoming as though by magic !
The sight-screens which he made more than twenty-four years ago for the School Playing Field have stood the buffetings of the years, and provide an excellent reminder of the solidarity and effectiveness of Asher's work. Throughout the years he has always shown a stimulating interest in the games of the School, and right to the end of his school life he was always ready to umpire School cricket matches and House games, although he never really accepted the relinquishment of soccer in favour of rugger. A staunch supporter of the Masters' Cricket Club, he served it faithfully for many years as umpire and scorer, and he was invariably to be found on the U.S. Ground at some time or other during the course of every County game.
Simple in his pleasures, completely natural in everything that he said and did, ever helpful and willing to serve, essentially cheerful in his attitude to life, quite intolerant of shoddy standards of workmanship, "Lew" leaves a place in the School which it will be difficult to fill. Our deep gratitude to him for all that he has done goes with him at this time, as do our very sincere wishes to him and Mrs. Asher for many years of happiness and comfort in their well-deserved retirement.
Contributions
“ OWED TO ENGLAND” (B.R.S. Sc.V11)
Attend all ye who list to hear our noble England's ways
Of getting revenue from you before you spend your pays.
I tell of the thrice-famous rates she thought of long ago,
And of that fleet of taxes, of which you doubtless know;
The road tax and the income tax, and purchase tax are three,
And if you have a drink or smoke it is not duty free;
There's tax on entertainment, on imports, and mark you,
Though death may seem a cheap way out,
there's duty on that too.
(apologies, etc. to Lord Macaulay).
“SNOW” (R.W.W. Sc. V11)
"Snow soon," he said, looking at the sky,
How many people with expectant eye
Watching it, and with what hopes or fears.
"Melt," say some, with memories of other years,
But it stays while youngsters have their fun,
And disappears with the advent of the sun.
© Copyright The Old Portmuthian Club 2010. Last updated on 4 March 2008. 
