A.O.S.A. 2008 ANNUAL REPORT - NEWS OF OLD SCHOLARS

Thanks to William Pine, Jim Slater, Dorothy Newby, Nick Lamb, Mike Adam, Harry Snalam, Diz Dexter, Douglas Horne, Pauline Buchanan; Dick Dennis for all the forwarded e-mail news, the District Secretaries (with particular thanks to Chris Vodden our DS in District 13, who is responsible for the news from rest of the world.) And all OS who sent in news via any method for the Annual Report 2008. I am very grateful to them all. Deadline for the 2009 Annual Report - Christmas 2008, please - Gill Jackson. News’ Editor - Gill Jackson, Phone: 0151 334 7563. e-mail: gill-jackson@beeb.net. Home address: 46 Barrymore Way, Wirral, CH63 0HN

I was very sorry to learn from our Chairman, DIZ DEXTER (1961-65) of the death, on 10th January 2008, following a short illness, of JOHN ‘PUNCH’ DOUGLASS (1923-28), her uncle, at the age of 95. In 2002/03, I had several most enjoyable phone conversations with John while putting together the history of the Douglass Family, some 21 members of which have been Ayton scholars over a period from 1866-1962. John also told me with pride, of the sporting achievements of his own immediate family. He and his brother ARTHUR (1928-31) represented the school at football, both of them playing in goal, while their sister JUDITH BAMBERGER (1923-29) was in the school Hockey team, for which she was awarded her colours. Photos depicting the teams in which John, Arthur and Judith played may be seen on our website.

From her nephew Jim, via email to Dick Dennis, came the sad news that RUTH HARWOOD (pupil 1924-30) teacher, Senior Mistress & Vice-Principal 1942-73; AOSA President 1973-74 & 1990-91) died on 4th January 2008 in the Nursing Home at the Hartrigg Oaks Quaker retirement settlement in York. She was 94 years of age. Her funeral was held in York on 14th January with a Memorial Service for her at Ayton on the same day. (Ruth’s parents were the caretakers of Thirsk Meeting House and she was born in 1913 in the Caretaker’s flat.) A tribute to Ruth appeared on our website, OS sent in to DICK (DENNIS) and to me their own personal memories of this long lived stalwart from their Ayton youth……..“I've (MIKE ADAM) many happy memories as an eight year old, of Ruth as an English teacher. Can also recall Ruth as a hockey player”……. “Ruth was a very strict disciplinarian and a stickler for the open window school of fresh air sleeping. We had many an evening in the dorms of cat and mouse with your aunt, when, on a chilly night, we would shut the windows, only to have her come round before going to bed and open them again. I (GILL JACKSON (HINDS)) suspect, in secret, this amused her as much as it irritated us. She was, later, a wonderful source of News for me for the Mag.”…….. “Ruth was my Form Mistress when I (DICK DENNIS) arrived at Ayton in 1944 as an 8-year old. She was always very firm with us junior school boys and girls but we all held her in great esteem and affection. All who knew Ruth will be very sorry to hear she is no longer with us…Gill Jackson and I thought, back in 2003, that Ruth had not much time left with us, but we were wrong. However, we put the Tribute and Appreciation together from a number of sources, mainly MARY READER’S profile of Ruth prior to her Presidency in 1991. We were so concerned at one time that the finished website page was uploaded in August 2003, pending a word from New Earswick, from my motorhome on the Caravan Club Site Longleat, with the lions roaring in the background! I wonder if Ruth would have appreciated the drama? EVELYN NICHOLSON certainly would. As DIZ (DEXTER) pointed out in an earlier e-mail, Ruth was the last of the Ayton Staff pre-WWII and after, stalwarts. I wonder if there is a Staff Room wherever they are all now congregated? The conversation would be most interesting.”… “On our way up to Ayton last Summer Doris & I (LOU TROTTER) stopped off at Hartrigg Oaks to visit DOROTHY NEWBY in her new bungalow there. Dorothy took us around the centre and Ruth, who was being cared for by nurses, was having tea with one or two other ladies. I had a word with her and reminded her that she was my Form Mistress in 1 Alpha when I first went to Ayton. She did raise a smile but I cannot say whether or not she knew me. She was an Ayton stalwart wasn't she, who will be remembered with affection by many Old Scholars?”……. “Dear Gill, Thank you for letting me know about Ruth. She was very much part of my Ayton experience along with JOHN READER, EVELYN NICHOLSON and BERNARD COATES and the last of the links, I think, with the people who were 'the older generation' to the likes of me and good old RALPH RODWELL.” - NORMAN GRAHAM ……. “Thanks for informing me of this. I (D.S. CHRIS VODDEN)was actually only thinking of her a couple of days ago! In my mind, for some reason, thought of her when I was in her weaving class. I was one of her star pupils when I was in 1st form. I quickly finished the sampler; some used to be on their sampler for three years!!! I got on to the big looms by the end of 1st form. I used to spend a lot of time in the weaving room on Sat and Wed afternoons. She was the only one who had any sympathy for my lack of ability at maths, she must have pulled her hair out in frustration at my total inability at the subject!! I dropped in to see her a few years after I had left school and she was so pleased to see me, was very warm and friendly, wanting to know what I was doing.”… PAULINE BUCHANAN attended Ruth’s funeral and sent this account to her friend MABEL PARKER….. “Hi Mabel. I got to both events, thanks to the kindness of David and Margaret Gray, and put in your contribution to the collection at Ayton. Tribute was paid at both, to Ruth being one of the founding members of York Guild of Weavers and Dyers, and how much the members had gained from the weekends and workshops she organised with specialists to give tuition. I gather that these regularly took place at Ayton School. Several people spoke with admiration of her superb organising skills. It was also acknowledged (with wry smiles) that she was a strict disciplinarian, but also very fair in her judgements. During the Memorial Meeting and the informal chats over tea afterwards, the consensus was that Ruth was a very private person, and that her personal life was left very firmly behind her own front door when she came on duty at school. It was very interesting chatting to her nephew and his wife, where I learned that Ruth had a sister still living in a Nursing Home. During the Meeting, I searched my memory for the quality which most summed up Ruth for me. What I came up with was 'thoroughness'. Whatever she tackled was done to a standard of excellence, for example her weaving and her gardening. (I remember John Reader speaking of Ruth’s alpine garden with awe in his voice.) This made quite an impression on my young mind! I well remember her strictness at school. Ruth could spot an 'economy with the truth' a mile off, and I learned very early on that it was useless to prevaricate when challenged. However, what also lingers in my memory is the sweetness and indeed affection of her welcome on my occasional visits to school reunions. I always left with the feeling that she had been very pleased to see me. There weren't a lot of people there (weekday, bad weather, distance etc), but it was a very nice memorial meeting nonetheless. To my great delight, I met DICK BYE and his sister, JANE CAMPBELL, with their respective partners, and it was lovely to have a chat with them. I also saw MARGARET HERRIMAN (SMITH), ANNE WOOD, MARGARET CUMBOR (former bursar), TIM STRAW, CHRIS & SUZI SCAIFE, DENNIS & MOIRA GOODALL, MARGARET (HUTCHINSON) & IAN COX-WALKER and DOUGLAS HORNE.”

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