I
happened to notice that somewhere
it claims that the Founder's Day
service has been held in Prescot
Parish Church since time
immemorial. Regret, INCORRECT.
Until
the unfortunate Briggs had
been on the scene for a year or
so, the day had been celebrated
thus:
1.
Special Assembly in the Hall
(gym)
2. Football Match,
Alphas+Kappas v
Lambdas+Omegas
with
the following rules: Four goals
at each end of a double-size
pitch, two goalies in each goal
and eight balls in play. Two
masters behind each goal to keep
count of the score. Typical
score: Alphas and Kappas 270 and
Lambdas and Omegas 350!
3. Having played 30 mins each way
with no interval, we were free to
go home for the rest of the day.
The
Founder's Day Match, firmly in
the memory of everyone who took
part, was reputedly also a
commemoration of the famous
(infamous ?) occurrence after
Agincourt when the victorious
English kicked the heads of the
defeated French "about ye
field."
Briggs
was a very different Head from
Charlie Richardson. I remember
them both as does Geoff Dixon.
Charlie knew everything about
boys and loved them whereas
Briggs knew everything about law
and order and nothing about boys.
Like
myself, John Webster, who later
became Brigade Major of an
infantry brigade, had experience
of both Heads. He affirms that
Charlie would have made the more
successful staff officer. Geoff
Dixon records that he would not
have missed his time under the
eccentric Charlie at any price.
You
will appreciate that Briggs had
little time for the zany humour
of the crazy match but would
rather march through the town to
church wearing cap and gown at
the head of The School.
My
time at school ended when Briggs
had been there one year. I
believe that, having once
witnessed us enjoying
ourselves,Briggs scrapped the fun
and instituted the formal
religious service in 1939.
Personally, I have always felt
there was room for both!
[Pat
Baillie]
|
| I
used to love this day. The
younger half of the school played
on two football pitches side by
side and the older half played on
two other pitches side by side.
Alpha and Kappa houses would play
Lambda and Omega house. The whole
school running around four
football pitches chasing about 20
footballs. The only rule was to
kick as many balls through the
opposition's goals as possible.
At
assembly next morning the
headmaster Mr Briggs would
solemnly announce the score -
Alpha and Kappa 169 goals, Lambda
and Omega 192 goals.
All
in all a great afternoon of fun. [Robert
Gilston]
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