S. M. Toyne

a Captain of the Yorkshire Cricket XI, a tennis International, together with 'blues' in cricket, hockey, rowing, boxing, athletics, and squash rackets, all bear ample testimony to the broad foundations on which the training of successive generations at S. Peter's has been based.

Mr. Toyne, during his Headmastership, has often said in his Commemoration Day Speeches that the smaller Public School has .2 distinct advantage over those whose greater numbers render them more unwieldy. He meant that more intimate contacts were possible, not only between Masters and Boys, but between Head Master and his Assistant Staff. No one could have taken greater :advantage of these opportunities than Mr. Toyne has done. Even luring the War when the demands of the City and County were at least as great as those of the School, he never failed to maintain with Staff and Boys that close touch which has been a feature of -his regime. There cannot be a school anywhere in the country where this family spirit is developed to a higher degree. This <close touch which Mr. Toyne promoted and fostered was many sided. No interest of the School has been too insignificant for his :support and encouragement. Peterites of his time will remember with pleasure those Saturday evenings in Big Hall, gymnasium or "Bay' when some form of activity was organised and shared by the Head ; or those pre-Belisha journeys in the car; the skating <expeditions and river picnics. And yet he never failed to maintain a close grip upon the discipline and more serious life of the School.

His highly developed sense of humour made it possible for -him always to take the long view. At the same time the advice which he gave was always sound, and if punishment was necessary the delinquent was assured of justice, and left him with the knowledge that 'bygones were bygones.'

One has only to glance down the records of the School as they have appeared in this magazine to see how all embracing were Mr. Toyne's activities. Here was a Head Master who successfully taught history and gained University Scholarships for his pupils ; a Head Master who played and coached at all games, building excellent teams and shaping brilliant individuals ; a Head Master who acted and produced plays (of which a summary :appears elsewhere in this number), and whose directing hand -helped in every School activity.

Mr. Toyne will be missed in all phases of the School life with -which he had become identified so closely. The gratitude of all Peterites will be coupled with sincere good wishes for a complete recovery of good health which means so much to him.

TOYNE.

Mrs.. Coyne

The approaching departure of Mrs. Toyne from St. Peter's Will fill many with a great feeling of personal loss. Present Peterites, Old l'eterites, parents, and Staff alike will all miss her kindness and friendliness. From 1913 to the present she has always maintained a close personal touch with all the activities of the School, and with all its individual members. Many generations of Old Boys will recall with gratitude how, on their arrival at School as new boys, she hastened to make them feel at home, and those who were in the School House will remember with pleasure the evenings in her drawing room, playing games and charades. Others will remember her kindness and thoughtful attentions to them when they were ill.

Old Peterites she was always glad to see—each year at the House Supper, in her annual speech, she used to give a sincere invitation to them—and she was always ready to show a real interest in their doings and to welcome them and their wives.

At all School functions—Commemoration Days, cricket, football, hockey and rowing alike—she was always present, and her ready charm and tact made her a perfect hostess. In the Athletic Sports she took a special interest, and many winners of the Victor Ludorum will be proud to have won the cup presented by her.

In the Dramatic side of the School life Mrs. Toyne played a great part. Herself a talented actress, she contributed greatly to the success of the many School plays in which she took part, while ber constant readiness to denude her own house to furnish the stage made easy the life of a stage manager. But it was not only her acting and her production which helped to make the plays successful; it was largely her interest and hospitality during the rehearsals which made the performance of the plays such good fun to all who took part in them. Lately, too, she has founded and has been President of " The Curtain," a society for reading plays, during the year.

In short, in all branches of the life of the School Mrs. Toyne has shown a constant and sincere interest, and it is with the greatest regret that we now say good-bye to her. All who have passed through the School from 1913 to 1936 unite in saying

Thank you."