The Staff

in extenso in the body of the magazine. But perhaps we may be excused a reference to the Shooting VIII. Our visit to Bisley in July for the Public Schools' Competition was only the second of its kind, since 1955 was the first year in which it was found possible to overcome the many serious difficulties which had hitherto stood in our way. (That the effort is well worth while is, we think, beyond a doubt. Among other things there is much to be said for leaving our northern fastnesses and making contact with the public schools of the south.) Appreciating as they did their own inexperience and the traditionally high standard of the competition for the Ashburton Shield, the Shooting VIII did not expect to set the Thames on fire in their early ventures. It is all the more gratifying that the VIII graduated from 84th place in 1955 to 37th in 1956 (incidentally beating all other north of England schools) and that one member of the team, J. R. Peverley, who gained 16th place in the "Schools' Hundred Competition" with a score of 67 out of a possible 70, was awarded a badge.

CANON PArrESON

At the end of last term we said goodbye to Canon C. Patteson, who had been the School Chaplain since September, 1947. During this period of nine years we have been very conscious of Canon Patteson's enthusiastic ministry in the School, and there are few boys who have not been considerably influenced by his teaching. Canon Patteson combined all that is best in both the Parish Priest and the Schoolmaster, and everyone connected with the School will feel that we have lost a friend and guide.

We are glad to know that Canon Patteson, in becoming Vicar of Howden and Rural Dean, will not be far away, and we hope to see his familiar figure from time to time both in the School and on our playing fields.

MR. R. BENNETT

We congratulate Mr. R. Bennett on his appointment as Head Master of Rutherford Grammar School, Newcastle, from the beginning of this term. We are very sorry on the other hand that this means his severing his connection with St. Peter's School, where he

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has been senior Mathematics Master since 1949. Apart from his outstanding ability as a teacher and organiser, Mr. Bennett will be remembered for his enthusiastic work in the Scout Troop, and many boys will recall pleasant camps and hikes in his company.

We hope Mr. and Mrs. Bennett and their family will settle happily in Newcastle.

MR. V. B. GREGORY

Mr. V. B. Gregory, whose marriage on 31st July to Miss Sheila Gladwin we record in our Old Peterite News, left us at the end of the Summer Term to begin new work in industry. He has taken up a post in London with the British Iron & Steel Federation.

Mr. Gregory, who was a boy at the School from 1939 to 1946, returned in the capacity of Master in 1953 when he joined the Science Staff. In the comparatively short time that he was on the Staff Mr. Gregory showed convincingly that he had all the qualities which go to make a good schoolmaster. Apart from his work in the classroom, he proved an able and understanding assistant Housemaster in School House, and his enthusiasm for rowing, of which he is himself an outstanding exponent, was an invaluable asset to Mr. Howat in the coaching and organisation of the School rowing. His imperturbable good humour and attractive personality endeared him to all of us, and he will be greatly missed. We wish him well, both in the married state and in his new profession.

NEW MEMBERS

The following new members joined the Staff at the beginning of the Christmas Term :

The Rev. N. H. Kemp-Welch, M.A., King's College, Cambridge, who takes Canon Patteson's place as School Chaplain; Mr. G. D. Craine, B.A., St. John's College, Oxford, who joins the Science Staff; Mr. R. M. N. Montgomery, B.A., Trinity College, Cambridge, who replaces Mr. Bennett on the Mathematics Staff; and Mr. M. J. Ockenden, B.A., St. Edmund's Hall, Oxford, who is to take Modern Languages.

We welcome them all and wish them happiness in their work at St. Peter's.

BIRTHS

COULTHARD.—On 21st July, 1956, to Margaret, wife of K. G. Coulthard, a daughter.