The Annals of the Old Ealonians Association

The Annals were begun by the late Alan A. Wylie (sometime Vice-Chairman of the Association), and continued by G.E. Barker.

It is planned to publish the earlier chapters here soon, and later chapters as they are published in the Old Ealonians Association Newsletter.

Chapter 6: Rise and Decline 1948 - 1963

In early 1952, the OEA Committee was thinking of the various clubs and invited OEs to suggest any new outdoor-sport activities.  The Badminton Club reported increased support, despite an increased subscription.  The Football Section was running three league elevens; the 1st and 2nd XI's were well placed but the 3rd XI was not so successful.  Familiar names (but regrettably no longer with us) included Newcombe ('played with competence - a valuable acquisition from the school') and R.A. Rose ('a centre-forward always prominent').  The Swimming Club had been on a trip by motor coach to Hayling Island, where an Aqua-show was put on at one of the larger holiday camps.

The Table Tennis Club had joined the 3rd Division of the West London Table Tennis League, but all their matches were played 'away', owing to the inadequacy of the Club's amenities!  The most consistent players for the Club were R. Page (41-46), K. Reeve (41-48) and P. Coombes (43-48).

Gordon Batho (40-47), then Editor of the Acorn, put forward a strong suggestion for an OE Arts Club, which could be based in the Ealonian Room.  An unusual activity for an OE was described: Frank Boynett (15-19) won the shield - the premier award - at the October 1951 Convention of the International Brotherhood of Magicians.  He was an active member of the Magic Circle.

As 1952 pursued its course, the development of a Vocational Guidance Council, under Alan Wylie's leadership (he who began this history), demonstrated the valuable service the OEA could provide to pupils needing help in their choice of a future career.  Among its activities was also an attempt to secure closer co-operation between the OEA itself and its affiliated Clubs.  An EGM of the Association was held in October 1952 to discuss these matters.

The devoted classics master, Mr A.E. Watts, contributed to the Acorn at that time a few comments on the Association's motto: Vires Acquirit Eundo, which he roughly translated as 'gathering strength as it goes along'.  This suggested to Mr Watts the course of a river, which is admirably applied to a society of Old Boys, which flows like a river in time, increased by regular accessions.

At this time, the late Bill Humphreys (30-35), whose death is reported elsewhere on the website, contributed an article to the Acorn ofAutumn 1952, describing life in Gibraltar, seemingly as an insurance assessor for claims arising from an explosion in the harbour of an ammunition lighter.  There is a delightful photograph of him 'living the leisured life in Malaga'!

In Autumn 1952, the Badminton Club reported an improved level of play, and the introduction of a second weekly meeting night.  Also, ladies were now admitted to membership, and they proved to be enthusiastic players and supporters.  Play arrangements were on Mondays and Thursdays in the School hall.

In mid-July the Annual Cricket Match against the School took place at Cayton with 1st and 2nd elevens.  The First Eleven drew their match against the School.  Drane (43-49) bowled well for the OEs.  The Second Eleven scored 76 on an easy-paced wicket, and then, perhaps surprisingly, bowled out the School for 28 runs!

In the Old Boys' League, the Football 1st Eleven were the most successful team, and finished third in Division I.  The 2nd and 3rd Elevens both finished sixth in their respective divisions.  Apart from football, nearly 40 members and friends enjoyed two social activities - a Ladies Night and an outing to Littlehampton.

As for School Rowing, the OEs started the year with four members of the previous year's First VIII, in addition to the cox, but even after completing the eight we had enough oarsmen left to produce a second eight for the first time in the Club's history.  Unfortunately, it was placed in a league higher than its performances justified, and it came as something of a relief when a season of unbroken defeats (not quite: one of our opponents scratched!) ended with relegation.  Better things were hoped for in 1953.

The First Eight were coached by the captain of Twickenham Rowing Club, and had a successful season, finishing second in League Four of the Schools' Competition.

An Old Ealonian at Helsinki:

Raymond Parker (31-37) was selected for the 10.000 metres kayak pairs race at the Olympic Games held in Helsinki in 1952.  Before the teams left this country, they attended a reception at Buckingham Palace, where they met the Royal Family, and, of course, they saw the Duke of Edinburgh again when he went to Helsinki.  Raymond was impressed most at Helsinki by the fact that other teams had been engaged in full-time training for several months, whereas the British team's preparation had been relatively scanty.

OE Swimming had, in the summer season of 1952, its most succesful period since the Club was reformed in 1945.  Amongst other activities, a river handicap and outing was held over a new course at Bourne End.  The old course at Henley had been abandoned because of the growing opposition of fishermen to our frolics!  The previous year's visit to Hayling Island was repeated in June 1952.

Table Tennis continued but without the hoped for better table, and play was not possible in the West London TT League, which OEA had entered in the previous season.  Hence, only friendly matches were played

An Extraordinary General Meeting was held in October to consider alterations to the Association's rules.

A lengthy list of academic honours was given in Autumn of 1952, including those of B.G. Andrews (42-49), K.L. Brown (41-48), H.I. Connick (38-45), K.A. Duke (42-49), G.A. Goodhew (40-47), A.J. Mansfield (40-47), I.C. Percival (42-49), J.J. Smith (39-46), and A.J. Wenham (42-49).

Other brevities recorded by the Acorn in Autumn 1952 included the appointment of Mr G.H. Bantock (on the staff 1937-1943) as Lecturer in Education at UC Leicester; Dr Colin Burns (39-46) as Lecturer in French at University of Nottingham; A.J. Trott (37-44) appointed Senior English Master at King Edward's School, Birmingham at the early age of 26; and W.S.J. Wilkinson (18-22) elected Junior Vice-President of the National Association of Furniture Warehousemen and Removers Ltd.

In February 1953, an Old Boys' Dinner was held at Oddeninos Restaurant in London, and the Headmaster, A. Sainsbury Hicks writing in March of the year described it as one of the most enjoyable OEA Dinners that he had attended.  However,he commented on the relatively small attandance and the age of those present with very few young OEs.  [Ed. - little changes !].

Events in the period late-52 and early-53 included a concert by the London Society of Magicians (Oct 52), the Ex-trordinary GM (Oct 52), the School Speech day in the Town hall (Nov 52), the Annual Dance (Nov 52), the School Play [The Tempest] (Dec 52), the Carol Service in the Parish Church, Ealing (Dec 52), the Christmas Supper (Dec 52) and the Annual Dinner (Feb 53) referred to above.

The Acorn for Spring 53 included interesting article on Farming by G.E. Wickens (42-45) [who had taken up farming after a degree course in Agriculture] and a lengthy article, full of interest, on Swiss Holidays 1924-1952 by R.F. Stubbs (20-25).

Clubs were still very active in early 1953, and reports came from the Badminton Club, the Football Club (with two Elevens in action), the Table Tennis Club and the very active Swimming Club.  Brevities included the detail that J. Chapman (45-50) had just departed for service 'in Persian waters' with the Royal Navy; Peter Cook (44-49) was training with the RAF in Canada; and Sgt Brian Edmondson (46-51) had just gained his pilot's licence at the age of 17, and was making his career with the RAF.

(To be continued)