Extracts from "The Tower"

Mr. F. N. Hogg,  B.Sc.

IN September 1959 Mr. Hogg became Head of the Department of Mathematics in Northampton Trinity High School. He was widely experienced when he came to us for he had been in turn a Lecturer in Mathematics in a College of Technology, a Physics Master in a Grammar School and a Senior Lecturer in Physics in a Training College.

Mr. Hogg was a perfectionist and an excellent teacher who had endless patience in trying to present what might seem to be a difficult subject in an interesting way. He had a great sense of fun but he could also be a strict disciplinarian who expected good behaviour and was seldom disappointed. The school came first in Mr. Hogg's life. He kept before him at all times the interests and the welfare of his pupils and nothing was too much trouble when they needed help.

Mr. Hogg showed a deep understanding of young people and their problems. His advice was always sound and he had the knack of the gifted teacher sometimes being able to find unsuspected talent. He was a good colleague, a loyal friend, a man of modesty and integrity. He will be missed greatly by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Congratulations

The following engagements of Old Scholars have been announced:

Valerie Clark (1958-63) to Bob Bierton (1958-63).

Pat Wright (1959-64) to Allen Brittle

We offer our congratulations to the following Old Scholars on the occasion of their marriages, and wish them every happiness:

Peter Tyrer (1955-59) to Miss Pat Hannah

Diane Addington (1957-6 1) to Derek Harte

Pamela Tarrant (1954-59) to John Hopper

Kaye Stanbury (1959-61) to Jim Harrison (1955-61)

We also offer congratulations to Leslie Northover (1953-60) Honorary Secretary of the Trinity O.B.R.F.C. on the occasion of his marriage to Miss Beryl Unwin.

Our congratulations also go to the following couples:

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Worrall (nee Joy Magauran) 1951-58, on the birth of a son, Simon, on May 16th, 1965; and to Mr.and Mrs. Bill Curl (nee Meryl Allatson), both members of the school from 1959-61, on the birth of a son, Jonathan.

The Prefect's Room

THIS report would not be complete without a description of the Prefects' Room. This small hovel consists of a few luxurious armchairs, (the emphasis on a few), a sink, a gas ring, and one radio which stands proud and erect in a corner. At this point, we wish strenuously to deny the rumour that this radio is used to transmit and propagate Welsh Nationalism to the heart of Wales - the Staff Room.

Recently a record-player (which occasionally works), and a television (that never works), have been installed.

It is in this place that the prefect can find solace after an exhausting day keeping the hordes in order. It is here that he can find time for sequestration, whilst listening to the soothing music of “Radio London”.

Before concluding this report, we would like to confirm that although frequently misunderstood and abused, the fraternity will continue . . . . ! ! ! !

J.H., G.T., R.P.J.

Released from the Tower......

IN three months time I will be going back to France, my home country. If I try to anticipate this moment, and to write down what I will remember of the time I spent as a French 'assistante' in an English school, I find that what particularly sticks in my mind is the concern for the individual which I found, and yet at the same time the importance given to social activities, with a readiness and ability to participate in them.

I have the impression, (and I hope it is not only an impression), that a pupil in England is really a person, whom teachers care for, more than they would in my country, where he tends to be something of a mere number among others. Perhaps the smaller classes, here, explain this difference to some extent, for in France, it is quite common to have at least thirty children in a form. But if the staff gave me this impression of being really interested in their pupils, I will not omit to say how startled and happily surprised I was to notice the commitment of most of the pupils to different communal activities, whether on a grand-scale like 'lolanthe', or on a small scale like a jumble sale.

I would also like to say how much the importance given to members of the upper forms struck my continental conception of education. The existence of prefects, responsible for the younger children, is something which ought to be exported across the Channel.  Yet, even though national characteristics do not mean much to me, I wonder, whether English self-discipline, as seen in your orderly bus-stop queues, would be consistent with French ways of behaviour.  Your prefects are respected, but we have in our schools, a special body of persons - 'les pions' - who do all the 'dirty work', hate their jobs, and, in return, are hated by everyone else.

These variations proceed from basic differences in the educational systems. In France everything comes from Paris and goes to Paris! The English, however, work on a more local basis, and if this is true geographically, it is also true within the individual school, for in France the headmaster is everything, and heads of departments do not exist.

Although I would have many more things to add, I must restrict myself. If these lines are ever read, they are to be taken as a personal point of view only. This is because in France, I was only a pupil, and as such, saw things from the other side of the fence, which divides pupils from teachers. On the other side of the Channel this fence stands much higher than it does here, and in fact, I have sometimes wondered whether it exists at all in English schools.

HOW MANY FILM TITLES CAN YOU SPOT?

LORD Jim crossed the bridge over the river Kwai and boarded the train, the 3.10 from Yuma and got off at a town like Alice.  He knew that this was no summer holiday and that the tall stranger would be at Peyton Place. It was time for action but he must have the right approach.  Dr. Syn assured him that he had gone to the tea-house of the August moon to meet Susan Slade, the actress who was the toast of New Orleans. Just my luck, he thought, talk about chase a crooked shadow!

On Friday at 11, he reached the house of darkness and tried to find this very important person but it was a shot in the dark, he had followed the wrong man. He searched all Saturday night and Sunday morning and it was almost the end of his time limit, when, running wild, he arrived on the waterfront. But it was again the case of the one that got away.

Jumping into his yellow Rolls Royce, Lord Jim drove swiftly towards the North West Frontier. After having breakfast at Tiffany's, he continued the incredible journey East of Eden. Storming into the inn of the sixth happiness he was confronted by a woman in a dressing gown.

" Don't bother to knock," she cried.

" Enough of this charade," he answered, "Is this your idea of a wonderful life?"

" No, no!" she cried. " 1 was kidnapped. It was the man from Rio. He had orders to kill me."

At that moment a giant of a man rushed into the room." He is the one," she cried.

The men walked out into Sunset Boulevard, but, as Lord Jim was the fastest gun on earth, Young Cassidy was put down on the ipcress file as "The man who knew too much", and Susan Slade spent a peaceful summer holiday sailing the South Pacific.