December loth.-Milner House Play Dress Rehearsal and Doctrine examinations in the evening gave ample excuse for the staff to watch the Varsity match. After supper the 54 Society discussed the merits of the Beatles.
December 11th.-Loughborough 2nd XV defeated the Under 16 XV 26-3.
December 12th.-School examinations began. It was too cold for anything more strenuous than walks. The Choir practised all afternoon for the Carol Concert.
December 13th.-Milner House presented :My Three Angels and were gratified by its reception.
December 14th.-Bowdon House defeated Milner 28-S in the first leg of the House rugby matches. The annual tea for the Officials was at 4.15.
December 15th.-The approach of G.H. and the final exam prompted the Common Room curators to do their worst. St Thomas's were taken on a round trip of the district. Distress calls were received after tea from Alton. The Searchers went off to round up the survivors. Two masters unwittingly exchanged words.
December 16th.-Mr J. Osborne very kindly came to referee the House rugby final. Challoner recovered from a 6-o deficit in the first ten minutes to win 17-6. The support from the sidelines was vociferous and made one wonder why the same amount of enthusiasm could not be shown in school matches.
December 171h.-The final examination this morning. Masters were seen hurtling round the place, carrying Reports and mark sheets, and looking generally harassed. The boys relaxed, packed, pottered and nattered. The Carol Concert began at 6.
December 18th.-The Reading of the Marks was held in the Hall at 12. Benediction was at 2. Cars arrived and departed with
due haste. The remainder were entertained by walks, a film and the inevitable records.
December 19th.-But for two or three stragglers, all departed earl-.
HILaRY TERM
January 16th.-Ramadan begins. So does term. Some old faces have departed, some new faces appeared. J. Godwin was appointed a member of the Big Six in place of I. J. Tod who has left.
January 171h.-Fathers Manion and Piercy apparently spent the Christmas holidays preparing for a flood. Today the product of their industry was solemnly exported to a less obtrusive dry-dock in the cricket pavilion.
January 18th.-A seven mile run for the hardened, presumably to convince them that the Christmas holidays were definitely over.
January 19th.-The hockey season was inaugurated officially under the captaincy of J. Hayward. After supper a film.
January 25th.-Fr Gavin added his presence to the confraternity of hockey players.
January 26th.-The 1st XI lost their first hockey match 4-1, against Bolton's. The runners went out running but some of them came back bleeding.
January 28th.--Fr Stewart showed two German films to the Modern Languages Society.
January 29th.-Car-ferries were provided for the junior soccer team to visit St John's Preparatory School, Alton.
January 30th. - A holiday. Community Mass at 8 o'clock. Hockey and rugger in the morning ; soccer and walks in the afternoon-except for members of the Sixth Form who departed to enjoy tea privileges in Hanley. After tea A Very Important Persona was enjoyed by all.
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