Commemoration Days

4 1 9

Commemoration 3Days.

There were a large number of parents and others present to see lir. 0. Paley-Scott, K.C., an Old Peterite, give away prizes in the big hall.

Prizegiving this year was held on Friday evening instead of on Saturday morning, as in recent years. In reverting to the old custom, it was seen that many parents, who would have found Saturday morning very inconvenient, would be able to attend.

Mr. Scott caused much amusement when, in referring to the unsuccessful boys, the ones who had not won prizes, he declared that they were in the majority, and, according to the institutions of England, the majority was always right. He said that they might draw consolation from this fact.

Speaking of the controversy on whether a classical or a modern education was the better, he said that it really did not matter what a boy was taught so long as he was taught to work hard and to use his brains. " Probably," he said, " the best thing is to teach him the thing he likes, because he will have less difficulty, and it will do him more good in the long run."

Mr. Scott concluded by saying that the public school spirit in games was the best thing possible.

Mr. Toyne then gave his report of the school year :- " Mr. Dean, Mr. Paley-Scott, Ladies and Gentlemen, my first duty to-night is the painful one of recording the vacant places on our Governing Body. No sooner did we welcome Canon Barker as a New Governor than he left York to take up an important post in London. We sympathise with the late Chancellor in his present illness, but I should like to bear witness to his unfailing devotion and interest in this school during his long term of office. Shortly before his retirement Chancellor Austen told me that he had never missed a Govenors' Meeting, a Prizegiving or the Christmas Theatricals at this school. A fine example of a Christian gentleman who invariably placed duty before self. Lastly, we have to mourn, in common with many other public bodies, the death of Sir John Hunt—one of the last of his kind thoughts, or may I say acts, was a gift of £20 to this school on the occassion of his last birthday, which synchronised with a meeting of the Govenors. I regret that none of the inewly elected members of the body have been able to come this evening.

Now let me turn to the school itself. The world, England and St. Peter's have been passing through an anxious time of depression but I trust fiat England and the world can follow the example of this school and look forward with confidence to the future. Next term

we can look forward to a substantial rise in numbers of about 18 to20 boys. The senior school will reflect this rise, while preparatory school, already at the highest point it has ever attained, will remain at its high water mark. This is extremely satisfactory and is, I think, a testimony to our record and reputation and will have been attained without resorting to the extensive advertisement and, I regret to say, unseemly and unsavoury methods in vogue in some schools. It is, to me, a matter of congratulation that we do not have to distribute coupons and gifts to bolster up our sales and circulations.

Much is said by those in charge of Day Schools about the future of the large Day Schools, though I am not impressed with the growing practice of forcing parents to sign a 4 year contract of entering their sons, so that if the boy changes his school before that time he would have to pay up some damages. It certainly appears to be a sign of weakness when they fear boys going to other schools to such an extent.

Much has been said, and always will be said, in favour ofBoarding Schools, but I am not at all sure that the school of the future is not the school which admits both Boarders and Day boys.

These schools must perforce be near towns, but must possess suitable grounds. Proximity to towns has many advantages. In the first place, it should help to keep the staff human and prevent its. becoming a class which has lost contact with the realities of life.

Secondly, the school near the town usually has the best health record. This is not fiction, it is fact. The schools in the country are those which get the disastrous epidemics, not those near the towns. Our Own health record is so remarkable that the Sister in the Sanatorium left us from sheer boredom in March, because there had been nothing to do for two years or more.

The health record is bound to react on the game record, and I am proud to say that this year has been an' annas mirabilis.' Our hockey team went through the term unbeaten and there were five Peterites playing in the Public School Side which defeated the County Association on this ground five days later.

In cricket, we have had a wonderful season with only two defeats, one at the hands of an immensely powerful .M.C.G. side-- an excellent, and the M.C.C. members agreed that it was the besf's match of their tour.

To Yardley we owe the distinction of having won the Drysdale, Cup for. Public Schools Squash Racquets in London. This was a great achievement and particularly gratifying to me personally as the cup was given in memory of Dr. Drysdale, who went in the British side against America with me in 1924. This team of veterans has promised to come and play against the School in October, to show appreciation of his achievement.

To turn to the all important question of work, I have no liesitation in saying that the general level in the post-Certificate sets has been steadily improving.

You will notice that the Prize List contains almost the greatest possible number of names—only one boy gaining more than one prize.

At the moment, there are 25 boys holding certificates, and I do not think that I shall be far wrong in saying that by September 1st the number will be at least doubled."

The Headmaster then dealt with the employment ,scheme, which is to be found on another page. " Before closing," he said, "I must briefly record a few out,standing achievements, some already in the programme.

The O.T.C. received an excellent report from the War Office :and great credit is due to officers and men.

Since the completion of the Range, more shooting has been possible and a definitely better standard has been attained.

There was no official camp last year,but an instructive week-end 1- billet was held at Pickering so that the contingent will not go to camp at Strensall without camp experience. In the Junior . department, w Scouts and Cubs have carried on with increased zeal, while a week-end camp was held for Scouts in the Senior School.

We mutst congratulate Our prize-giver on " Taking Silk." O.P's. have heard him with delight, speak before dinner, and after dinner ; witnesses under cross examination have answered his questions with mixed feelings, but to-night we shall be entertained in hearing him undertake what I consider one of the hardest of tasks, making a prize-giver's speech—giving other people's prizes to unknown recipients.

I should like to thank the Old Peterites Club for its continued support of the School. Its increased Exhibition is most welcome :in these days of financial stress.

I must make especial reference to what I believe is an almost unique honour. C. Hill, the holder of the Brackenbury, was awarded the Lothian Prize Essay by the Vice Chancellor of Oxford :in his second year as an undergraduate. The runners up were a. Bachelor of Arts and an LL.B. Also it may be noted that we have two professors on the Staff at Reading University.

We conclude.on a lighter note, with honours achieved in sport -.this year.

International Rugby Cap for England, Army Cap, Hampshire Middlesex and Trials, Rugby Yorkshire Rugby Cap Yorkshire Cricket Captain Oxford Freshmen's Match C. L. Troop. J B. D. Chapman. J. D. Burrows. A. B. Sellars. J A Brittain.

Yorkshire Golf Champion G. Marwood.

Yorkshire Champion and International at Lawn Tennis H. S. Burrows. Yorkshire and North of England Hockey H. G. Coates. Drysdale Cup for Public Schools, Squash Racquets, and North of England Champion N W. D. Yardley.

Finally, I should like to thank the staff for their loyal and harmonious work. At a boarding school or a school with boaders. and day-boys, so much depends on how the leisure time of the masters is spent in guiding and helping in the school activities and life. Unfortunately, much of this work is taken for granted; but if it were not done it would soon be noticed. It is invidious to pick out certain forms of these activities, but I should like to record my especial appreciation of the work done for the quite remarkable Triennial Scientific Exhibition which was held last term."

The following is a list of prize-winners :- The Archbishop's Prize for Classics—D. Lupton. The Dean of York's Prize for Mathematics—M. P. L. Wall. Stephenson Memorial Prize for Greek—J. W. Stead. Whitehead Memorial Divinity Prize, Senior—J. H. Crook. „ Junior—P. Heywood. The Headmaster's Prize for European History—J. M. Atkinson. The Headmaster's Prize for Latin Prose, Senior—W. Toulmin. ff T „ Junior—J. W. Stead. Modern Languages Prize, French—N. A. Huddlestone. P1 „ German—J. C. 0. Stansfield.

Old Peterite Club Elocution Prizes :- St. Peter's—Senior—J. N. Emery. —Junior—J. B. Dixon. St. Olave's—Senior—E. N. Dickinson. —Junior—M. D. Whitehorn. B.M.A. Medal for Science—H. E. T. Summers. Art—Senior—A. D. Thornton. —Junior—C. E. C. Windram, P. L. Seville. Music—J. M. Atkinson.

Order for the Oxford Cup :— (1) School House. (2) Grove. (3) Day Boys. (4) Rise

Saturday dawned bright and sunny and, except for a rather . heavy shower during the lunch hour, remained so all day.

The cricket match with the Old Peterites was only a one-day match this year, instead of being held on the Friday afternoon, and on the Saturday. The cricket match began at 11 a.m., and at 12 noon, during the cricket, the boat races between Past and Present were held. In the afternoon affairs were not in the least held up by the rain, and the cricket continued until the tea interval, at 4 o'clock, during which a squad., under Sgt.-Major Puddick, gave a gymnastic display. Cricket continued after this, while at 4-45 p.m. the Aquatic Sports were held, and a display of diving, organised by Mr. Rhodes, followed.

The cricket match ended in a win for the School after a particularly brilliant innings by Yardley, who retired when only twenty-three runs short of his thousand for the season. An account of the match is given elsewhere.

The Gym. Squad. was again very good and great credit is due to Sgt.-Major Puddick who spends a great deal of his spare time in training the squad., and always manages to produce an original display.

The Art Exhibition was successful, as were the Aquatic Sports. The Silver Tankard for the boat races was again won by the School ; the 2nd IV and 3rd IV winning, and the 1st IV losing after a very good race.

The Headmaster and Mrs. Tovnc held an " At Home " and the Old Peterites had their annual dinner in the evening.

During the afternoon the York British Legion Military Band, gave a selection of music.

On Sunday, the Archdeacon of York preached a very impressive service, his first to the School. The Chapel was artistically decorated by Mrs. Toyne and her noble body of helpers_ We take this opportunity of thanking donors of flowers.

Commemoration Pays, 1934.

Prize giving and Speeches will be held on Friday, July 27th. Saturday will he devoted to Festivities and the Service will be on the Sunday morning following., The President of the Board of Education, Lord Irwin, K.G., G.C.S.I., has kindly consented to give away the prizes.