by Tony Phelps (1933-41)
Tony Phelps (1933-41) writes:
“I was very pleased to receive Newsletter No 5, and it sparked a number of thoughts in my own brain. At the risk of wasting your time, I am putting some of them to you in this letter.
The School Song
Like the author of the piece on pages 7 – 9, I was puzzled by the references to the School Song in Newsletter No 4 (now explained in no 5).
In my day (1933-41) we had an official song with words by John Drinkwater, and I still have a copy of the song sheet (words and music) that was given to me when I joined the School. I attach the full text which, as I recall, we sang at the Annual Speech Day in the Town Hall. What a pity that it faded from memory.”
Mother of learning, let us be
Good scholars all in serving thee,
Good fellows too; so teach us that our enterprise
May be both merciful and wise,
In all we do.
When Tudor sat upon the throne
That manners maketh man was know
In Oxenford,
And may the Oxford names we bear
Be duly spoken ev’rywhere
For sweet accord.
And be it work, or be it play,
Let us remember ev’ry day
One golden rule –
That whoso keeps his honour bright
By sparing not his upmost might
Honours the school.
Saint Giles, Saint Clement and Saint John
Bless the beds that we lie on
And bend our bows:
City of Oxford Sons, awake.
Sing up to life, her beauty take,
And scorn her blows.
John Drinkwater & Frederic Austin
(Mike Chew’s notes: There is information about John Drinkwater in Newsletter No 5 p12. English composer Frederic Austin was brought up in Birkenhead and became a composition teacher at the Liverpool College of Music. In 1924 he was appointed Artistic Director of the British National Opera Company.)
Ed. For alternative songs see this reminiscence and this one