1963 - Easter - Birkenhead Institute Old Boys

1EDITORIAL."A cold coming we had of it.Just the worst time of the yearFor a journey ....The very dead of winter."THESE sentiments of T. S. Eliot's Magi were also the sentiments ofthe Editor when he came as a complete new-corner to Birkenheadin January. But in spite of the rigours of a record-breaking winter, thespiritual welcome at the B.!. has been warm enough. There is a friendlyspirit in the School which counts for much and which is lacking in verymany sohools. The reason for this may be that it is a small school butcertainly the personal relationships among the boys, especially betweenthe older and the younger ones is good and this is one of the valuablecharacteristics of the best English Grammar Schools.The prospect of editing a school magazine is a daunting one,especially when the school is seventy-four years old, and for this editionat least there has been a policy of no change even though this meansthat the magazine is duller than it ought to be. One cannot become partof a tradition in a few weeks; it takes time to feel one's feet. Of course,there has been no avalanche of articles (there probably never is, for aschool magazine) but an interesting characteristic of much that has beenwritten - and of what has been rejected - is its freshness and vigour,marred unfortunately by its being undiscipline. In this age ofjournalism, it would seem that the traditional school magazine is toostaid and restricted an outlet for what boys want to write and some waymust be found to absorb the considerable amount of ephemeral, slightand topical writing which boys can produce. For the present, this volumeis just a slim and "typical school mag." For its shortcomings weapologise but "stay with us" and we promise something better next time.