As I unpacked my trunk at School on Friday 5 May, 1960, after a long train journey from home, the smell of my all woollen cricket sweaters evoked pleasant memories of linseed oil, breaking in cricket bats with Stoker in the library, and the sound of leather on willow on the Maes-y-Llan, I began to muse over what lay in store for us all during our last term at Oswestry School.

I sensed that it was not all going to be balmy summer days, cosy chit-chat and cream teas on the Headmaster's lawn. Far from it, and from the outset the Headmaster nailed his colours to the mast by calling a Prefects' meeting at which he announced that our movements in and out of School grounds had been restricted until further notice. After the holiday break, I had hoped that he would let bygones be bygones, but it seemed to us that he had started where he had left off at the end of the previous term, and it did not bode well for the future. It looked as though he was almost seeking confrontation and, in our opinion, had got off on the wrong foot. 

Extract from my Diary, 6 May.

Some of the Prefects suggested that I should go and seek out the help of Fattie Felton, with whom I got on fairly well in my role as School cricket captain, in the hope that he could influence the Headmaster into taking a less provocative approach in his dealings with us and School House. I readily agreed to do this at the first opportunity.

Diary entry, Saturday 7 May: A spat with 'the moth'.

During the first Saturday afternoon I wandered around the cricket games on the Maes-y-Llan looking for fresh talent amongst the batch of new 'bugs' (boys), and later had a minor confrontation with the Headmaster, noting in my above Diary entry that he did not like me. Sadly, the feeling was mutual.

The following Monday we broke bounds twice, the first time shortly after lunch, almost being caught by Headmaster Frankland as we came out of the record shop in Oswestry, and in the evening Jimmy Sharples and I escaped from school grounds on a mission to meet some nurses we knew in the hospital across the road.

Diary, 9 May: Broke bounds twice in definace of restrictions.

Once again, the topic of damage to School property raised its ugly head during our weekly Prefects' meeting, and Howell was singled out by the Headmaster as the culprit responsible. I recall that we told the Headmaster that we would speak to the boy about it and Frankland seemed placated by that.

Later that day I bumped into Duncan 'Fattie' Felton on the long corridor and asked if we could speak. He led me down to the lower common room where I raised concerns about my lack of form with bat and ball. He reassured me by telling me that lack of form is only temporary, and that he had experienced similar periods when playing minor counties cricket, and told me not to worry about it. I thanked him and brought up the subject of the Old Man, the real reason for buttonholing him in the long corridor, asking if he could help in any way to curb what we Prefects felt was a headlong rush by Major Frankland into trouble with the boys if he continued his confrontational style of running the School. I recall that he was very sympathetic to our cause and he promised to do what he could.

More tyres slashed, and I plead our case with DWG Felton, the Deputy Head.

We played our first match of the season on 14 May, losing by one run with one minute left to play. As an experiment a time limit had been imposed on the match, and I note that in my Diary I was rather scathing about the 10 runs I scored, although it was the third highest score in the team. I ought to have been quite pleased with that as over the next few First XI matches I managed to acquire several ducks, prompting 'Fattie' to tease me about it in front of my teammates, commenting that I was making a collection of them. It was just his way of trying to make me feel more relaxed about it and I responded by joining in the banter with the team. We had already gelled together as a group, and I felt confident about the coming season with a team comprising experience and up and coming young talent.

Extract from my Diary, 14 May: The first match of the season against Whittingon.

Bernard, left, and Ashworth open the batting.

The main focus for our sixth formers was, of course, our GCE A levels, and my French Oral and Dictation exam fell on 16 May. My Diary reminds me that I received a mild slap on the wrist by the examiner for trying to lead the questioner into discussing Austria, a country I had recently visited on a school trip led by John Tilley. Despite the rocky start I did not find it too difficult, and managed to pass.

May 16, my first GCE exam. My effort to be helpful is rebuffed.

Having just received my colours cap from the Old Man, I discussed the team for our next match against Bedstone with 'Fattie', and decided to move Bernard and Trevor Ashworth down the batting order in the hope that they would score some runs. This seemed to work as out of our total of 100, Bernard and Trevor were top scorers with 15, and 14 not-out. I scored a measly zero, the first of a series of ducks to follow.

Come Bedstone's turn to bat they were soon in trouble from our opening bowlers, Jack Greves and Bernard, who, during a fine spell of bowling took 5 for 6 and 3 for 7, getting them out for a total of 18 runs.

Diary extract, May 18: A triumphant day for the team.

Little has been said so far about the fledgling CCF, but on 19 May we spent all day on a field trip, one of few to take place, during which we practiced what our instructors from Park Hall Army Camp had been trying to teach us. As usual this provided the less keen and motivated with the opportunity to generally act the fool, especially since the bursar was in charge of the proceedings, and he called myself and others to task for being a disruptive influence.I must confess that I thoroughly enjoyed the day, although not necessarily for the right reasons.

A fine body of men - members of my platoon.

A day at the races - errrr, the Racecourse!

During the Summer term we would play 12 cricket matches, winning 8 and losing 2 of the remaining 4 by a very narrow margin. Despite personally experiencing a disappointing season, it was gratifying to know that we were leaving behind a young team full of  potential when we left at the end of summer for the outside world.

Before our next match against Cae Glas I had been to see Headmaster Frankland to ask him to award colours to my brother Bernard and Jack, who had performed so well during the opening games of the season. He immediately agreed, and later that day Bernard proved again just how good a bowler he was by taking a match winning 8 wickets for 27 runs, dismissing them almost single handedly for a total of 52. We soon reached their total with 5 wickets standing, chalking up another victory. The jinx struck again, and I was bowled out, third ball, for 2 runs.

Cae Glas are put to the sword by Bernard.

There was still a long way to go in the cricket season, and I was determined that Oswald would build on the successes of Sports Day by winning the Inter House Cricket Cup. Without the benefit of a crystal ball I could not at this point foretell the outcome of sporting events for the year and I have posted below extracts from The Oswestrian noting these details and other items of interest. Oswald were a force to be reckoned with in those days.

Extract from The Oswestrian Magazine summarising School achievements.

Next time - exams are approaching and I am getting fidgety.