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]
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| 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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