School Magazine – COSA Oxford

The Old Bastion

This article dates from a school magazine in the 1920s and complements another one which speaks of the city wall One would think that every Oxford High School boy knew the old bastion which still rears its somewhat stained shattered form on the south side of the school playground; yet, strange to say, we found… Continue reading The Old Bastion

Poem by Ronnie Barker

Alan Trinder has submitted the following poem by Ronnie Barker, which appeared in a school magazine in the late 1940’s. Possibly his first foray into print? It was printed originally as one long text and we have taken the liberty of dividing it up into sense groups, as this makes it easier to read on-screen.… Continue reading Poem by Ronnie Barker

First Eleven Cricket

Extract from the School Magazine for July 1960: Captain: P V Strongitharm; Vice Captain: K Moore; Hon Sec: R Weaver. Played 10 Won 2 Drawn 6 Lost 2…. The best piece of batting was Jefferies’ 54 out of a total of 93 in the Past v Present match….. Moore and Burke have proved an excellent… Continue reading First Eleven Cricket

The School Play

1949 A production of “Journey’s End” by R C Sherriff, produced by Mr George Wright, was performed with the following cast: Captain Hardy – Alan Stokes; Lieutenant Osborne – John Robinson; Private Mason – James Higgins; 2nd Lieutenant Raleigh – Howard Jones; Captain Stanhope – Paul Groves; 2nd Lieutenant Trotter – Michael Sommerlad; 2nd Lieutenant… Continue reading The School Play

School Curiosities

Article from the school magazine Vol LIII ii, March 1961 No 171. The photos are more recent. Today’s view The buttress of the old City wall (in the playground) was at one time lived in and formed part of a row of four cottages on the site of Elm Hall. These were demolished when Wesley… Continue reading School Curiosities

Lord Salter (1890-99)

March 1961 Lord Salter, after whom Salter House was named, was at the School from 1890-99, and was the first Treasurer of the Old Boys Club between 1903 and 1906. He was a Scholar of Brazenose College and took a double first. He became an Honorary Fellow of his own college and Fellow of All… Continue reading Lord Salter (1890-99)

Professor A E Jolliffe (1882-1891)

From the School Magazine, March 1961 Professor A E Jolliffe, after whom Jolliffe House was named, was a distinguished mathematician, having been an Open Scholar at Balliol. He was an Honorary Fellow of both Jesus and Corpus Christi, and in 1920 he became Professor of Mathematics in the Royal Holloway College, University of London. He… Continue reading Professor A E Jolliffe (1882-1891)

Jack Halliday (1923-33)

December 1945 We regret to report the death in an aircraft crash near Rochefort im France of Wing Commander Jack Halliday on his return home to be demobbed after service in India. A well-known figure in Oxford sport, he was captain of our School football and cricket teams, and even before leaving school had found… Continue reading Jack Halliday (1923-33)

A H G Kerry (1896-1908)

December 1945 A H G Kerry (1896-1908), after whom Kerry House took his name, has retired from Eton where he has been House Master for many years. He was captain of the Oxford University Amateur Football Club in 1911-12 and gained an international cap in 1921. (Vol XXXVIII. i, December 1945 No 126) PS from… Continue reading A H G Kerry (1896-1908)

F C (Freddy) Lay

From the school magazine, April 1963 Past President of the Old Oxford Citizens’ Society Frederick Charles Lay (1908-15) was the first Old Boy of the School to be its Headmaster. On leaving school he saw war service in France with the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. He returned in 1919 to Jesus College to take… Continue reading F C (Freddy) Lay