Diligentiae Praemium

It is Speech Day tomorrow. Let's hope it does not rain.

The Prizes are of course books. What would you choose? Something which reflects the interest of the moment and the subject for which the prize was awarded, but a volume that can be carried through life. A book to treasure, but one also to use and enjoy. It should be hard back so that it can be embossed.

Not an easy call. The most felicitous of my choices was the Oxford Dictionary of Quotations which I still use from time time, even in these days of Google.

We were given book tokens to take to the bookshop in Hertford. Today Hertford is out of bounds, another sign that with the increase of efficiency of transport the actual distances we are prepared to travel day to day and to allow our children to travel are shrinking. The system is that the value of the prize is docked from the school bill and the parent works with the child to buy the book.

Prizes from Amazon are the acme of individual choice. I have some evidence that once there was no choice. Some time ago in a second hand book shop I picked up a volume called 'Britain Long Ago,' a series of of Anglo Saxon and Norman legends, historical stories and poems edited by EM Wilmon-Buxton. It is stamped with the school crest, and has a label inside signed by Wynne Wilson; but there is no name of the prize winner and I can only surmise that it was never awarded.

The mystery deepens in that the label is dated 1900 (mdcccc), but the book was published in 1908.

Sons of the Morning

I had a note from Simon Watson (Staff 1977 - 1986) telling me that he has published the latest in his sequence Sons of the Morning. The novels follow Johnny Clarke through the adventure of schooling. Volume 1, A Storm of Cherries (published 2006) is set in prep school, Volume 2, Dancing Days, (published 2007) is set in public school; Volume 3, The Last Enchantments (published 2008) is set in Oxford, and Volume 4, A Touch of the Sun (published 2008) is set in India where Johnny’s teaching career begins. Newly published Bring Me My Bow is the fifth book in the sequence. Simon noted that "Haileybury's the next volume." His website, from which the books can be bought, notes that the stories are not autobiographical but draw on his experiences. Simon taught English at Haileybury and was the House Master of Russell Dore when it was a dedicated day boys' House. He left Haileybury to be Head Master of Hurstpierpoint. He also published a children's book, The Partisan in 1975.

Nantucket Shenanigans

Jack Thomas (Staff 1954) - Writes to tell me about his latest venture.

I have just published a book which I hope might interest you and which you might feel inclined to buy. It is called Nantucket Shenanigans.  14 chapters and 204 pages long, it tells the story of two teenagers who have never been abroad before but have the holiday of a lifetime on the magic island of Nantucket, off the coast of Massachusetts.  

Their American aunt Pamela watches in horror as Tom and Annie get into all sorts of scrapes.  Their adventures include a clash with the police, getting themselves shipwrecked, learning about the mysteries of baseball, becoming stranded all night on a remote part of the island and discovering the beauty of the island and its history as well as just having fun with their aunt and her dog, Boone.

But in the last two chapters everything that that has gone before pales into insignificance as Tom and Annie face bravely up to a terrifying ordeal.

But this novel is not just a teenage romantic adventure story, although I feel confident that teenagers would enjoy it.  Adults would assuredly find this book fascinating as it explores the cultural, linguistic and historical differences between the U.S.A. and the U.K. You would also get a guided tour of the beauty, history and glory of Nantucket Island.

To buy my book all you have to do is go onto the internet, type lulu.com; when it comes up, go to Books, type in the word Nantucket.  Choose the copy with a picture of a girl on the beach and press Buy!

The book costs £10 plus £2.99  postage making a grand total for a jolly good read of £12.99.

Jack also says that you can review the book having read it on the same website.