CCHS

It was announced in the School Magazine 1953-54 that it had been decided to award a senior and a Junior prize for the best entry in prose or verse on any subject.  The entries both at North Hill and at Grey Friars were rather slow in coming in but the standard of entries from North Hill as quite high and Jennifer Diner won the prize for her poem “Thoughts of Feared Winter” - below.  Entries from Grey Friars, although more numerous, were rather low in quality and it was felt that no entry “quite justified a prize”! 

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Thoughts of Feared Winter 

 

Thoughts of feared winter in the eloquent leaves, 

Of early-summering mind awake my death.  

Have I endured the joy of being born 

In Spring’s first shoot of fire and thudding blood: 

Through the furled bud my finger-tips all shown – 

Uncurled my green philosophies in faith – 

Only that age may wear my love asleep? 

 

No, says the zephyr frost-wind, no my delight, 

Though you lose leaves and sunlight, shadow and sky, 

Think not I take your glory but to death, 

For, outward ecstasy unrobed, you know 

The steadfast structure of what lies beneath, 

And see the grave hearts of your love to rise, 

Strong unclothed boughs, strong arms of black starlight. 

 

Jennifer Dines (Upper V 22 – York House) 

 

York House, (motto – Nihil nisi optimum:  Nothing but the Best) - recorded that they “were third on the list for the House Shield, a position that might have been improved if there had been less order marks”! 

 

Remember those penalties for various misdemeanours?

 

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