SCHOOL v STAFF HOCKEY MATCH - 1967

[originally published in Phoenix Review 66-67]

The sun shone brightly on the School versus Staff Hockey Match this year. The staff team consisted of the usual energetic crowd. Their strength lay in those dashing stalwarts - Messrs. Curtis, Holbrook, Gaskell, Grant, Barker, Jacob, Levenitscbnig and Cherry. We were left guessing as to who was to be the staff’s goalkeeper but were not altogether surprised that Mr. Crowe, although he had staunchly refused up to the last minute, finally appeared on the field enveloped in a pair of shin pads, presumably to protect his lower limbs, and proved to be a firm favourite throughout the rest of the match. The ladies matched the gentlemen in energy if not in effectiveness, but what they lacked in this field they more than compensated for by adding a touch of glamour to the afternoon. However, one thing worthy of mention is that the female members dared not show their knees. Miss Cracknell and Mrs Cleary really let their hair down - in more ways than one - and at last we were to see Miss Cleary practice what we hear her preach every Tuesday afternoon.

The school team enlivened the scene with their rather unorthodox dress (G. Badowski bore a vague resemblance to a Viking warrior) and as usual the school band, seeming to favour the staff rather than the school team, launched the afternoon’s festivites with much noise and little music. Such was the general state of exuberance that even Oliver was persuaded to join the band as chief cymbal player.

[see accompanying photograph by Peter Durrans of the Staff Team]

The whole match was watched in smug silence from the sidelines by the less enthusiastic (less youthful?) members of staff. Mr. Jacob was undoubtedly one of the stars of the match; there were great cheers whenever he touched the ball. Herr Levenitchnig, who sported a dashing pair of genuine Austrian Lederhosen, was always in the thick of the fray, as were Mr. Barker, Mr. Curtis, and Miss Bracken (and Miss Snow was also present).

At half-time there was no score and we, the reporters, dashed on to the field to inquire after the health of the staff. Results were as follows:

Miss Cleary - “Terrible”.

Mrs. Cleary - “Bruised, battered and muddy”.

Miss Bracken - “Indescribable”.

Herr Levenitchnig - “Very fit”.

Mr. Barker felt he would “never last out the second half” and the non-participator, Mr. Herrera, announced that he was “thrilled to death”.

After a rather more eventful second half, during which Mr. Crowe propped up the staff goal, and Hewitt scored for the school, the staff retired to the pavilion to be fortified with some “light” refreshment. Mr. Crowe, meanwhile, was carried off the field by a delirious mob of pupils, presumably to be sacrificed to the goddess Diana.

Lorna Knight

Lesley Arnold