Admittedly, the antiquated heating system was struggling to meet all the needs of boarders, but we all laid the blame at the door of JF 'Perdy'  Tilly who, when supervising junior bathnights which he did most nights, insisted on wastefully filling to the brim with hot water the three freestanding bathtubs. This inevitably led to there being insufficient hot water later in the evening for the seniors, and we complained to JFT about it. It made little difference so I took it upon myself to ask 'Stoker' Lewis, the Senior Housemaster, to sort it out and an entry in my Diary confirms an immediate  improvement in the situation.

Diary entry 22 January: Hot water at last!

Despite the vagaries of the weather during Lent Term, the League and House football matches were keenly contested, and as a result of more competition with other schools the general standard of athletics began to improve. We (Oswald) won the House Cup for football by beating Burnaby 14-3, and Holbache 9-4, and I decided to include a very young John Woolrich in both matches to give him experience playing against older boys. This was the only Cup Oswald House failed to win the last year, so it was celebrations all round in School House.

House Match results, taken from The Oswestrian.

Diary comments 3 February: Oswald vs Burnaby

As reported in The Oswestrian: Oswald vs Holbache.

24 February: An interesting entry including the House Match result.

Whereas the snow and rain of Lent term caused havoc with the football schedule this was not the case with athletics, and Oswestry School took more part in inter-schools competition than ever before, including the County Schools Cross Country Championship. By the end of term it was pleasing to note that five of the six boys awarded School Athletics Colours were members of Oswald House. RA Hughes was Captain of Burnaby. This would seem to justify our somewhat rigorous training programme initiative, led successfully by senior members of school House, some of whom are pictured below leading the way around the Maes-y-Llan during a training session. Eric Lloyd looks on, far right in the photo.

Athletics colours: Oswald members do rather well, almost a clean sweep!

Team Oswald training on the Maes-y-Llan. (L-R) D Pickup, John Woolrich, Jeremy Parslew and my brother Bernard Pickup.

However, it was inevitable that during the course of the fitness training there would be those not so keen to give their whole hearted support. This manifested itself in some boys using a well known short cut during the Triangle, across fields between Broomhall Lane and the Trefonen Road. 

Every so often I would position myself on Trefonen Road where I knew boys would emerge from the short cut before heading back to school. Perched on Stoker's bicycle, clipboard and pen in my hand, I would jest with miscreants as I wrote down their names, explaining that I would speak to them about it later. The punishment for this blatant transgression would be another run later that evening with me leading them all around the course like a shepherd leading his sheep. Whilst I did not make many friends using this slightly devious tactic, I do not think I made any enemies amongst the School House fraternity, as they all realised I had a job to do as House Captain of Athletics.

The first cross-country match of the season was held in wintry conditions on Wednesday 10 February against the 'cabbages', our slightly derogatory name for Oswestry Boys' High School. As reported in The Oswestrian and my Diary, Tony RA Hughes, my classmate and friend, came home first, but we lost the race as a team with some notable successes, one of which was second place in the intermediate section which went to young John Woolrich, a junior boy in School House.

RA Hughes leading the race half-way around the course.

Tony, about to cross the finishing line outside the Old Boys' High School.

Report of cross country against the Old Boys' High School in the Oswestrian.

This proved to be personally disappointing as, unforgivably, I managed to lose one of my shoes and a sock in the thick mud, running most of the race barefooted. A long stretch of the course was along country lanes and tracks, at the end of which my bloodied foot was not a pretty sight. Nevertheless, I had still managed to come 12th overall, and could hardly believe my ears when Frankland's right hand man, Captain Womack, accused me of not trying hard enough. At the time I was sorely tempted to punch him in the face, but thought better of it and aired my grievance later that day in the pages of my Diary where I used a good old Lancashire phrase in venting my frustration.

Diary entry for 10 February: Disappointment at losing a shoe during the race.

Diary entry 11 February: I express my anger in words rather than physical deeds.

Just three days later on 13 February, for the first time in its history the School took part in the Shropshire County Schools Championship Steeplechase at Corvedale and, because of the injury to my foot, disappointingly, RA Hughes our school Captain of Athletics, refused to allow me to compete, Nevertheless, rather stubbornly, and against medical advice, I decided to take part in our own domestic steeplechase, as noted in my Diary, and I was delighted to hear that Oswestry School did rather well at Corvedale. 

Diary entry 13 February.

The Oswestrian report of the County Schools Cross Country.

The last of our inter-school running matches took place at Wellington School on 17 February, and this time I insisted on taking part if considered fit enough. I explained to Tony Hughes that my foot was now fine and that I had not experienced any problems during our domestic steeplechase, in which I came first, so he agreed to include me in the squad. 

It had been snowing heavily for the past few days, and as we arrived at Wellington School a layer of snow nine inches deep covered the four and a half mile course. As we studied the snow-covered cross country route I relished the prospect of competing against the other two schools, Wellington and Oswestry Boys High School, the results for which can be seen below.

My personal Diary recollections.

As reported in The Oswestrian.

As I turned the pages of my Diary looking for more items of interest, the entry below caught my eye, reminding me that on 31 January, 1960, I had visited Robert Allen, a Schoolhouse junior, and fellow Lancastrian, who was recuperating in the nearby hospital following an appendix operation.

Diary entry for 31 January, 1960.

In a casual throw-away line, I noted in my Diary that ten year-old Ian Wood, another School House boy, was also in bed coincidently with suspected appendicitis. Little did I realise at the time that this was a portent of much more serious trouble to come for the youngster. Just two years later at 3 am one night in 1962, Bruce Morgan, the Prefect supervising the Junior dormitory, was awoken by the anguished weeping of twelve year-old Ian Wood who was experiencing excruciating pain. Immediately suspecting appendicitis the quick witted Bruce rushed Ian into hospital across the road where surgeons performed an emergency operation for acute appendicitis, thereby averting a possible tragedy. Sadly, Bruce Morgan never received the recognition he deserved for his prompt actions that night.

In the next episode, Valentine's Day takes centre stage at School House and for me personally, thanks to a sweet young girl who was slightly older than me, the Day contained a truly memorable WOW factor!