Southgate County School Magazine No. 49 - April 1953

THE FOURTH FORM PARTY

The day dawned at last to find the world shrouded in a soft blanket of white fog, and the cold made one wish to stay in bed and forget the party. Somehow we managed to get through the day and by kind permission of the Headmaster those of the Fourth Form were allowed to leave school early in readiness for the revelry awaiting them in the evening.

The party was presided over by two charming hostesses and a debonair Master of Ceremonies, who watched over the proceedings vigilantly and endeavoured to entertain the members of the Staff who had honoured the proceedings with their presence.

We started promptly at 6.15. On entering the hall my first impression was of the attractive decorations which were rippling in the breeze from the windows. How strangely neat and tidy everybody looked! The first game was Musical Arms, and when you are out it is good to watch the others. After a few more games tea was announced. To qualify for this we had to dance with a partner and this caused a little embarrassment because many people were shy. But they were unable to get past the eagle eye of Mr. Spooner without a partner. There was an abundance of food - sandwiches, cakes, fruit, jelly, ice-cream. Prefects walked round with plates of cakes, but even the boys were too full to eat more. The tea was a great success and everybody appreciated the efforts of the catering staff who had provided us with such a wonderful repast.

After tea we all assembled in the Hall to watch a conjuring act given by Mr. Bray, the School Caretaker. Balls appeared out of thin air and red rabbits became green in a breathtaking performance which delighted us all. Then a band, consisting of trumpets, saxophones, drums and a pianist, played our dance music. Soon everybody was dancing to the Quick-Step. Most people entered for the novelty dances; "Wear your partner's coat inside out and back to front." - Whatever would they think of next?

The biggest laugh of the evening came when Hughes fell over backwards whilst playing Bigamy. How the Hall shook! We were all delighted when Mr. Forrest gave his permission for the party to run on for an extra half-hour. One of the favourite items each year is the Conga, which was led this year by the Head Boy. " No lights!" was the order, and as we groped our way up the stairs there was great excitement in trying to find the way back to the Hall.

But all good things come to an end and at last, tired and happy, we gave our vote of thanks to the Staff, sand Auld Lang Syne, and went home with happy memories of our Fourth Form party.

THELMA WHEELER,
PATRICIA KNIGHT,
P. SMITHER.

This "Report" goes back 48 years, almost to the day, and would appear to hark back to a far more innocent age. What would today’s fourteen and fifteen year olds - at least some of whom would be used to “clubbing” until the small hours - think of a party like this?

No doubt today’s teenagers are much more aware than those of almost half a century ago but I don’t think the writers were quite as naïve as it would appear. I was at this party and I still remember when the Conga reached the top of the stairs on the Boy’s side - in total darkness - and the delay before we decided we’d better link up again and make our way back down the stairs on the Girl’s side to the Hall: the words in the text "grope" and "great excitement" were well chosen .................