The Gym?

One of the major points he mentioned was the question of having a separate gym building. There were several reasons for this. One was that it seemed uneconomical to build a gym in expensive ferro-concrete, and take up space in the building—and space would not be all that easy to spare. Another was that a wooden building could handle the requirements perhaps better: and the present gym would possibly do in the change over period.

The gym would not be stressed, cater for dances. Using a gym in this way spoilt the floor for sports, and sports also made the floor bad for dances. "I don't dance myself," he noted, perhaps to show how unbiased he was.

The floor of the gym was the basis for a discussion too; to be sprung, or not to be sprung? To be sawdust, or not to be? The clubs don't seem quite to agree here: the Exec, report sits on the fence rather than on the floor. Mr. Piper emerged with a swimming pool under his arm—the Exec, were somewhat surprised at this late stage. This matter, too, seems one which no-one except the Swimming Club and the Rifle Club (for once) agree on.

Few of the other points raised in discussion were of much importance.

The Drama Club were totally at odds with the opinions expressed in the report on a couple of matters. The opinions expressed in the report were their own. Harsh words were hurled at heretics in the theatre lighting fraternity, and even harsher ones at architects who just didn't understand the needs of a theatre. No-one knew how much space it took to drive a nail; perhaps it was about the same amount as it was for Mr. Piper, who wanted to have a bath.

Most self-sacrificing of the evening were the Music Club experts who, offered a separate room of their own, didn't want it. Less official musicians disagreed, pointing out that the college was not suitable for holding musical evenings when they had to finish so early (and anyway, as one darkly muttered "all the blinking piano players in the college are not in the Music Department.")