Junior Plays In the Spring Term of 1944, Kings of Nomania, a fantasy-morality, was produced as a Junior play. The cast was between twenty and thirty and was drawn from first and second forms. The 'setting' was non-realistic, and two 'heralds' explained the primitive furniture which represented alternately a street, a palace, a prison, and so on this, and some of the 'effects' was in the manner of such Chinese plays as Lady Precious Strewn. The stage manager and his assistants were juniors, but the lighting, very simple, was arranged by the Physics master and carried out by the Science Sixth. The producer, a member of the Staff, has considerable help from other members of staff in costume 'adapting', make-up, and in training off-stage singers for the carols which added greatly to the effect. The performance was characterised by naturalness and enjoyment of the actors rather than 'polish', and was rather under-rehearsed, but there were some surprisingly good performances, and the general theme came out fairly well. In the Summer of 1945, Form 2G gave the Fairy and Bottom scenes from A Midsummer Night's Dream. The producer chose this form, rather than casting front the whole junior school, because she was teaching them regularly and it made rehearsals much less difficult. They were reading the play in class at the time and that was a great advantage, both ways. All the fairies were played by girls, including Oberon and Puck, and the workmen by boys. The form provided the stage manager and his assistants, and with branches of trees (willows chiefly) tied on to the backs of chairs, and a pile of boxes covered with green curtains, we made a bower for Titania. The enthusiasm of the whole form (every one had something to do) was enormous, and the school seemed to enjoy the production. It suffered from lack of rehearsal in the actual costumes, and to an audience, especially in that the children tended to speak too quickly in their excitement. The 'play-scene' was really very good, as by then they had really begun to play to the audience. The Sporting Spirit The literary Society was debating such topics as 'Co-education, as experienced at this school, is the ideal form of education.' and they felt that the Staff should have been pleased at the overwhelming support for the education system of the school: and 'The practice of pitying to see games played by people paid to play them, is it deterrent to the traditional sporting spirit of England, and in every way to be deplored.' The motion suffered heavy defeat, despite the strong defence of Miss Harland and Roy Knight. Association Football The football in the school makes demands upon the energy and the potential organising ability of the boys themselves. From the election of officials by the school Sports Committee to the final playing of Practice, House and School matches, all activities are contributed to and organised by the boys under the supervision of a member of the Staff. This involves the selection of practice and representative teams for the school and the refereeing of practice games; the organisation of all House football; the arrangement and confirmation of School matches; constant Field Work including the maintenance of the marking out of two school pitches and the erection and removal of goal posts each season: this is a larger task than it appears to be; the care of equipment and preparation for its use in all school games it is generally necessary to blow up twelve to fifteen footballs each week. With the present short supply and execrable quality of bladders and laces, this is a formidable task. Four school teams play on Saturday mornings: 1st Xl, 2nd XI, Under 14 XI, and Under 13 Xl. Matches with schools of comparable age range includes regular home and away fixtures with Drayton Manor, Ealing, Southall, Acton, Wembley, Preston Manor, Kingsbury and Pinner Secondary Grammar Schools, Southall Technical College and Ealing Modern School. The results of these matches are recorded in an annual report to the Sports Committee. (Mr Hayter, who helped so much in the organisation of the football was to leave in 1947 to become an HMI.) School Athletics and Cross Country During the past eighteen months very strong efforts have been made, under the adverse conditions resulting from War (such as tracks not being available, etc.) to build up a strong Athletic and Cross Country section. (A short time later the Cross Country Team came 1st over 9 other schools in a race over 3 1/2 miles in Petersham, Surrey with Ellis coming 1st.) Apart front school cross-country activities a local track has been planned and mapped and has been used for official inter-school challenges, as well as a number of unofficial competitions. The inter-school competition was over 7 miles three schools competed and it resulted in a win for Grecnford County School on points. A second competition took place at Pinner County School in which four schools competed. In this competition Greenford was third on points. The school is affiliated to the Middlesex Secondary Grammar Schools Athletic Association and normally enters for all competitions arranged by this Association; but owing to the War only unofficial activities have taken place. Apart from School Athletics day, an inter-school triangular match took place last year between this school, Bishopshalt and Southall County at Bishopshalt. This year plans are afoot for an inter-school competition on a group basis with a finals meeting at the White City. And Purely For Pleasure Under the very able leadership of Mr James, and his successor, Mr Woods, the dance committee successfully organised several popular dances. Probably much of the success of the more recent dances has been due to the excellent performance of Kenny Raymond and his music, and the support of the MC., S. Shindler. The refreshments have been in the form of an American supper. At the last dance, by the way, there were a few ices, although, unfortunately, there were not enough to go round. (Such luxuries in these post-war rationed years would not have lasted long!) Perhaps the dance which drew most people to the floor was the 'Hokey-Cokey', as this can be mastered by most people. The old-fashioned dances, too (particularly the polka) seemed to be popular with the majority. (So the Hokey-Cokey was modern then!) 'We held Iwo dances in the Winter Term, at half-term and Christmas, and it was hoped that we should do the same in the Spring Term. To the great disappointment of the 4th, 5th and 6th Forms, it was impossible to hold a dance at mid-Term owing to the fuel shortage, but we appreciated and enjoyed the next dance at the end of term even more.' page 41