THE SCHOOL MAGAZINE

Summer 1956

SPORTING ACTIVITIES

On presenting a survey of out-of-school sporting activities for 1955 we can all feel justifiably proud of our School and of the honours gained by the boys and girls of Downhills. Once again we have a very fine collection of cups and shields with which to adorn the platform on special occasions.

I am often asked why this School has such a distinguished record in recent years in all sporting spheres. There is no single answer to this question as success in any form depends on a variety of contributory factors including team spirit, talent, luck and hard work, to name but a few. In recent years we have had our full quota of boys and girls who have been keen enough to devote many hours of their leisure time to achieve success add honour for themselves and the School. This is probably the main factor in our successes and all credit is due to the pupils who have been so unstinting in their efforts.

I feel I would be doing less than my duty, however, to let this opportunity go by without drawing attention to the serpent now rearing its head in this sporting Garden of Eden. This villain of the piece is named Apathy alias "Televisionitis" alias "The Flicks," For some time it has become increasingly obvious that fewer and fewer people are prepared to fight their way into the School teams.

As an indication of what I mean by apathy may I quote the following specific case, only this month (February) this School was accorded the honour of representing the whole of Tottenham in the London Schools' Football Championship at Rowland Hill School, not half a mile away. You may think that this would be a signal for a horde of children in Downhills' uniforms to spur on their team in what was a very exciting game. I was assured after the match that spectators had, in fact, found it very exciting - all four of them (two girls and two boys). We lost 2-1 to Hackney and how different the result might have been had there been support from the "line." Perhaps this lack of interest is a family trait, for I can remember only one occasion on which as many as three fathers turned out to watch their sons' progress!

Cricket.

The fine summer spell enabled the inter-school league and cup competition to be concluded, and we acquitted ourselves very well in the league by finishing joint-runners-up with Crowland School behind the winners, Rowland Hill. The team played well throughout the season and was ably captained by Ronald Lane, who led the team to victory in the Cup Final with an exciting win over Rowland Hill. B. Howett and R. Lane represented Tottenham Boys in their representative game.

Football.

The senior team got off to a disastrous start by losing three of the first four games. This robbed us of eventual victory in the League Championship because we were unable to make up the deficit even though we were then undefeated for the remainder of the season, including a grand double over Rowland Hill, hitherto undefeated, at the end of the season. R. Lane, B. Levy and B. Howett played for Tottenham Boys in representative games, including the final of the Middlesex Championship on Queens Park Rangers' ground.

Swimming.

The annual Schools' Championship was held at the Municipal Baths, and a very high standard of performance was seen. We eventually won the Boys' Championship for the fourth time in five years by a very narrow margin over Crowland Road School. In the Middlesex Championship, Colin Mason gave a very creditable display by winning the Middlesex Breast-Stroke Championship This was a particularly fine performance as Middlesex is a very strong swimming county and the event is open to all schools in the county, including many large grammar schools.

Athletics.

The Annual Inter-District School Sports at Harringay was a great success, and a very high standard of performance was seen. Once again the boys excelled themselves and gained their fourth Championship in the past five years. This time they won by an even greater margin and with a record total of points. In twenty events we supplied no fewer than fourteen firsts or seconds and, perhaps even more laudable, in no event did we fail to reach the final - the hallmark of teamwork. Winners included A. Hellyer, who broke the existing long jump record with a jump of 14ft. 11ins. - no mean feat for a boy of 12 years, and M. Franklin who ran a superbly judged race to win the 880 yards (under 15) in a record time of 2 mins 15 secs. This latter was indeed a remarkable performance for a boy of 14 years on an uneven track (used for stock-car racing) and without the benefit of "spikes." His time, incidentally, beat the record of 1954 set up by Brian Peck, by no less than 15 seconds. Other winners were as follows:

High Jump -15 - R. Lane.
440 yards -15 - D. Minter.
220 yards -15 - K. Crawford.
220 yards -14 - F. Wyllie.
220 yards 13 - A. Hellyer.
100 yards -13 - R. Rawlins.
Junior Relay -13 - Hellyer, Rawlins, Allitt.

Looking ahead, 1956 sees us again in the thick of the fray and looking forward to even further success. In football we have already distinguished ourselves by winning the Inter-Schools Cup.

THE COUNCIL FOR EDUCATION IN WORLD CITIZENSHIP

The School is affiliated to this body, which is a junior branch of the United Nations Organisation. Its object is to teach young people to understand the modern world, and to this end it organises day conferences dealing with a particular topic.

The Council issues a News Letter, a Current Affairs Roundabout, and a News Sheet, all monthly. Feeling that inter-national understanding can best be promoted by "catching them young," the Council organises week-end conferences for the youth of all nations and makes up parties for visits abroad where the young people can mix and learn to understand their contemporaries from other nations. We have not taken a very active part in the work of this body recently, but it is hoped to do so in the near future.

BOOK REVIEW

"It is a happy community." This short sentence concludes "Three Dozen Years," the title Mr. H. C. Davis has given to his history of the School. Any person visiting the School is immediately aware of the fact that Downhills is first of all a community from which serious discord is absent. Until last November. few people knew of the development of this spirit of Co-operation and, in spite of the relative youth of the School, the traditions which exist.

History is made in the past, and Mr. Davis' decision, and ambition, to write on the more recent past is an achievement in itself. Reflection upon our lives and discussion of events shared with others makes us realise that each one of us is an individual and sees things from a different viewpoint. Many people who read this book must remember the events mentioned in it, and the distinct lack of controversy over major items of interest emphasises the thought and commendable work that has gone into it and the sifting of information to establish its accuracy.

Facts in "Three Dozen Years" are presented in a lively manner and written in an interesting style with a touch of humour inserted at intervals which captures and holds the attention of the reader. On completing the reading of it, I was left with a feeling of regret that the book only took us up to the present life of the School, and I hope that the author will add, during my lifetime, a further chapter to it. Time does not stand still, and it is pleasant to think that, even as we read, history is being made in the School. I can only end by echoing the words of the Headmaster in his preface, "I commend this book to all past and present Downhills boys and girls, and to their parents," adding, "and to all future pupils as well."

Note - you can read all of "Three Dozen Years" on this site. Click here

THE OLD SCHOLARS' ASSOCIATION

The Old Scholars' Association had two successful re-unions during the year. On Friday, September 30th, about eighty of the senior members met at the Euston Tavern for a School Birthday Re-union and Dance. The Euston Tavern was chosen as it was felt it was fairly central, and the charge of 12s. 6d. per head included a buffet which was generally agreed as being first rate. The evening was a great success and many acquaintances and old friendships were renewed.

In response to popular request the Birthday Re-union this Autumn for senior members (those who left school prior to 1953) will take the form of a dinner and dance held at the Euston Tavern on Saturday, 29th September. The inclusive charge is being kept as low as possible at 20/- per head and applications for tickets should be made to me now. We can only reserve accommodation for the first one hundred applicants.

The Junior Section of the Association had a very enjoyable reunion dance at the school hall on Friday, November 18th. Over 120 were present, and it was nice to see so many familiar faces. An excellent buffet was organized by Miss Preston. We were pleased that Mr. F. W. Baker and Mr. D. A. Deighton were able to be present and they both looked very well indeed.

During the year an effort was made to form a football and cricket section, but although many expressed interest, only a few signed to join. The idea has therefore been selved for the present until there is more support.

I shall welcome news of Old Students for inclusion in future editions of the magazine. So keep in touch!

F. E. HOSKINS.

PARENT-TEACHER ASSOCIATION

The Association has had a full and varied year. The first function in September was an evening set aside for first year parents to meet members of the Staff and Committee, and was, as usual, well attended. At the Annual General Meeting the following officers were elected: Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Martinez; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. Mendham; Hon. Secretary, Mr. Davis; Hon. Auditors, Messrs. Wilton and Rickwood. The following were elected on to the Committee: Mrs. Smith, Messrs. Maslen, Eastty, Gardner, and Pail.

In the previous year a full programme of lectures was held, in addition to a successful Jumble Sale and a showing of the film taken on the School journey to Kanderstag, which was enjoyed by those who saw it but was not financially successful owing to poor attendance. The association bought a backcloth for the School, football stockings for the senior eleven and paid the travelling expenses of the fourth year girls to the Ideal Home Exhibition.

This year there has been an Exhibition of the History of the School and a talk by Mr. Davis to launch his book, "Three Dozen Years." The Annual social coincided with a cold spell, but those members who came enjoyed themselves. A full programme is arranged for the rest of the year.