of an acceptable routine. By the end of the first term we felt that the worst was behind us. The new laboratories and classrooms were in commission and lessons were proceeding as if we had been at Handcross for a considerable period. After the very welcome holiday break, which some of us had to use for further moving of furniture and preparation, we came back to school to plunge immediately into the next bout of external examinations, but the auguries were encouraging and we. were particularly cheered when we heard that in our very first term at Handcross we had secured an Oxford scholarship and another Oxford place, University applicants began to be called for interviews and the process of considering the different options with which they returned was making it easier for us to forget that our tribulations had been considerable. Once again meteorological circumstances favoured us, for the middle of the term gave us weather conditions of which we would have been glad even in the summer, and the developing enjoyment of the facilities provided on the school estate made each week seem better than its predecessor. There were still workmen about and plans uncompleted, still too much mud underfoot, and news of legal snags in the formation of the Trust, but by the middle of March the grass was growing, the foundations of the dormitory block rising above floor-level, and the legal complications overcome. Despite innumerable difficulties, we had maintained the long tradition of producing a school play, and concluding the term with such a thoroughly successful production of 'Arms and the Man' seemed the appropriate herald for the developing success of the new school. It seemed certain that we were emerging from our most difficult period and that our confidence was based on a sensible appraisal of the facts. F.E.S. House Reports BALFOUR HOUSE The long run of outstanding success of Balfour House is perhaps over, temporarily. This is not due to any lack of enthusiasm among House members. With few exceptions, every member of the House has given his very best efforts to House competitions. Numerically, the House is the smallest, and it must be among the youngest with very few Sixth Formers to add their weight to our efforts. For the first time in six years we have lost the Football Cup and had to be content with second place. However, for the fifth year we retained the Basketball Cup, and Page 3 Previous Page Next Page Back to Main Page