SCHOOL MAGAZINE EXTRACTS

After the interest shown in the 1940 school magazine, 'VAC's RAG' we have decided to feature some items from a later school magazine 'THE OAK TREE' which came out in 1962. Val Shearer kindly loaned me her copy some time back and this is the first of several extracts we hope to print

A Game of Netball

On the field the players stand

All alert and well in hand.

Dressed in yellow, blue and green

Many teachers can be seen.

Mrs Jenkins ties her sash

The whistles blown and there’s a dash.

Mr Connelly starts it off

Mrs Zenner begins to cough;

Mr Connolly passes to wing

Mrs Grahame starts to sing,

When Miss Fagin gets the ball,

Off she goes, past them all,

But she’s tackled by Mr Wardle,

Now Miss Dawson doesn’t dawdle.

She then passes to the wing

Who gives the ball a hearty fling,

But again there’s an attack

And the ball is bouncing back.

Now Miss Davis is there, ready

Mrs Armstrong is quite steady,

So between them they succeed

And cry, “A goal is what we need.”

But much too soon it comes again

Though Miss Pattie tries in vain,

Tries to get the ball but fails,

And on toward the net it sails,

But there the keeper, sure and quick

Halts the ball with a clever trick.

The backs work hard and manage to save

The goal – they must be very brave.

But oh! The time is getting on

I must admit it’s quickly gone.

The whistle goes, the game is done

It was enjoyed by everyone;

But hotter work awaits for you

If you play a game with 2G

Dorothy McVittie.

(From a copy of the Oak Tree Magazine circa 1969

Kindly supplied by Keith Cossey.)

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3A Visit The Science Museum

Mob Unleashed

On June 30th 1961 3A boys, accompanied by Mr.Charlton, paid a visit to the Science Museum at Newcastle.

While waiting for the train at Jarrow Station, a certain nitwit was weighed and found himself to be a couple of pounds overweight, whereupon he did 10 laps of the platform to get back to normal.

In the train, all of the 3A boys were crammed in one compartment like sardines, and on the journey many sarcastic comments and facetious remarks were passed. On arrival at Newcastle Central Station the door of the train burst open and the mob rolled out on to the platform in one great heap. Then, in organised chaos we stampeded along the streets, any obstacles being crushed by the thundering feet.

After various unimportant and inexplicable incidents, the mob reached Exhibition Park.

Whilst strolling through the park this sunny day we heard music coming from various boxes in various trees and various people remarked that they were rather small for an orchestra to get into, but the problem was solved when Mr. (scientist) Charlton rapidly explained the basic principles of loudspeakers. Then we passed the ice cream kiosk on our knees, with blistered tongues hanging out as the heat was terrific.

After reaching the museum and having a quiet sunbathe on the steps outside, a bedraggled looking gentleman let us in (he's regretted it ever since). Once inside the mob dispersed into a couple of dozen groups (a couple of dozen times more dangerous).

This day, the working models worked overtime and some objects were viewed from rather awkward angles, against the better judgement of the petrified attendant (who, incidentally, cowered in the corner frantically dialling 999 on a 1066 model telephone).

Before very long, most of 3A discovered a section of the museum which was curtained off and a rather official looking sign gave the complicated message, "Keep Out". The temptation was too much for 3A, and the mob quickly re-assembled inside.

At this point in the proceedings some comedian announced they should be honoured, "as he had stuck his chewing gum on Stephenson's Rocket or some similar contraption.

Then the mob unanimously decided to look for Mr. (scientist) Charlton who, unknown to them, had been wandering around for half an hour looking for them. On finding him the mob retired outside and all the attendants were seen to rejoice behind locked doors. The reason they were so glad to see us go was that, during the course of the visit, some smart Alec had decided, quite innocently, to test an ancient canon and British Railways had been complaining about the hole in the roof of their station ever since (draughts are bad for the station master's rheumatism).

The mob was now free and all police cars in the area were alerted.

We then inspected the gallant vessel "Turbinia", and the mob decided that it was "A life on the ocean wave" for them. There was only one trouble - no ocean, so the next best thing was done when the mob invaded the boating lake, and Mr. (scientist) Charlton hurriedly departed from our charming company. Certain oceanic battles were fought which would have made Sir Francis Drake seasick, and the mob's rendering of "Cruising Down The River" was enough to make any music-lover turn to drink.

Then the fun was spoiled - "Come in number 4" was what did it, and one of the ships had to go into port, whereupon the occupants thereof, promptly pelted the "enemy ships" with large lumps of earth. These tactics proved successful (although few direct hits were scored), for several people got slightly drenched.

After this little escapade, the mob refreshed from the boating lake and, on the signal, invaded the ice-cream kiosk. Tons of ice-cream, millions of iced lollies and gallons of pop were consumed while watching two girls playing tennis (they weren't much good at tennis but …)

However, the mob, which had increased greatly in size owing to the addition of the light refreshments (which proved to be much heavier than usual) then returned home, each his separate way.

The city of Newcastle lay back, mopped its troubled brow with a handkerchief and with a loud "Phew" showed that it was not exactly reluctant to part with the 3A mob.

The End

PLEASE NOTE

No responsibility will be taken by the management if any of the aforesaid incidents have been slightly exaggerated.

A.Wardle and J.McLew 1961

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(If A.Wardle or J.McLew visit this site perhaps they will write some more for us.)

In 1962 the pupils produced a school magazine - 'The Oak Tree'. It was the first of what was intended to be an annual, in-house, publication.

I have recently been loaned a copy; it's fascinating reading and gives a good insight into the era.

There are quite a few contributors some of who have been mentioned on this site. The editors were, I.Gray, P.Winspeare, J.McClew and B.Hall. The magazine starts with an introduction by the head, Mr.Hopwood, then comes a poem from David Boggon of 5T.

Joan Dickenson (5G) writes about her hobby of 'Bark Rubbing' and there are letters on a variety of subjects by several pupils.

Carol Martin (2A) writes about her passion for ice-skating and there is a piece de resistance from A.Wardle and J.McClew describing a hilarious visit to Newcastle Science Museum (and we thought vandalism was a relatively new phenomena!)

A poem, 'Winter', by Malcolm Woolrych of 1G is followed by Mollie Ridley's Speech Day report. Mlle. Ridley (3G) writes part of her review in French.

Jeanette Charlton (4G) provided a poem called, 'The Primroses' and there are also quizzes and crosswords.

Joan Elliott (5C) has a humorous look at life from the point of view of a school desk and David Rowe, who later became a, 'gentleman of the cloth', tells us about 'A Parson's Life'.

There are reports on the football and netball teams, the swimming gala, and sports day. The latter event inspired another poem by David Boggon.

Rosalind Hughes (4C) passed on her expertise at keeping rabbits and guinea pigs and John Short (1G) wrote about Jarrow, making reference to the work that was beginning on the Tyne Tunnel.

Val Shearer and Linda Rossiter, both prefects gave details of a forthcoming school trip to Austria whilst other pupils wrote about Norway and Holy Island.

This is but a few of the articles printed. Interestingly there appears to have been little teacher involvement in the project although, no doubt, a certain amount of censorship was applied.

It is entertaining reading, albeit not always 'politically correct', and 'gay' had an entirely different meaning then.

Perhaps the pupils who were so prolific with the pen in 1962 may care to demonstrate that their talents are undiminished by writing something about Oak Tree (or indeed anything) for the 2004 Edition - i.e. this website!