School Notes

However long the history of St. Peter's may continue there will be no brighter period than these 25 years of victory of the things of the spirit, for material resources were almost nil, but spiritual resources of vision and faith and courage were abundant, incarnated in the Head Master. But it is not only in bricks and mortar that we admire and are grateful to John Dronfield, the Head Master.

It is his vision steadily pursued for what this type of school should be that its numbers should be in the region of round about 400, which he fondly imagines is the number of boys over which the Head Master can keep direct control. And I understand that he's done that : 400 boys, kept under direct control of the Head Master, speaks volumes for the energy, the time and self-sacrifice given to it. We are indeed grateful that we have been given these 25-27 years now—a Head Master of that calibre of soul and character, vision and faith.

So may I inflict a doggerel on the proceedings, but it amuses me and I think is not entirely inept:— Somebody said, "It couldn't be done", But he with a chuckle replied Perhaps that was so, but he would be one Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried. So he buckled right in with a trace of a grin On his face; if he worried he hid it. He started to sing as he tackled the thing That couldn't be done—and he did it!

I am honoured and have the greatest pleasure in declaring the House open.

On Saturday, 31st October, Dronfield House was officially opened by the Bishop of Durham, Dr. M. H. Harland, O.P. Dr. Harland's Speech appears later in this issue. * * *

We welcome to the Staff Mr. B. Allen, Durham University, to teach Biology; Mr. G. M. Austin, St. John's College, Cambridge, to teach Russian and German, and Mr. D. Hirst, Leeds University, to teach French and Latin. We are also most grateful to Mrs. Mair for taking the Russian for the term after Mr. Dunstan left and before Mr. Austin came. * * *

We congratulate the following on their open awards gained as a result of the December examinations : —D. A. Burnell, an Exhibition in Mathematics at Trinity Hall, Cambridge; R. Scaife, a Scholarship in Mathematics at Queen's College, Oxford; M. V. Smith, an Exhibition in Science at Peterhouse, Cambridge. * * *

The School was fortunate to have three most interesting lectures this term. Mr. A. Stephen Jeffreys, Registrar of Lancaster University, gave a talk on the new university he is helping to establish. Commodore D. GunCuninghame lectured on "The Merchant Navy", giving a realistic and 3

helpful account of its inner workings. And Dr. C. Northcote Parkinson, O.P., gave a detailed history of Guy Fawkes on 4th November, and a talk the next day on economics to the Senior boys. * * *

Work has quickly progressed on the new Swimming Baths, and the walls are now almost at their full height. * * *

A successful production of "H.M.S. Pinafore" was staged on 3rd, 4th and 5th December. A report appears below. * * *

On 16th November, York Symphony Orchestra gave a concert in the Memorial Hall, with Mr. Waine as one of the conduotors, and several boys playing their instruments. * * *

C. A. Wood is to be congratulated on winning the Yorkshire Junior Fencing Championship, and reaching the Quarter-Finals of the UnderTwenties Championship of Great Britain. * * *

Mr. Maw again took a Winter Sports party to Switzerland, and Mr. Craine assisted. Inside information comes later. * * *

Mr. and Mrs. Maw are to be congratulated on the birth of a third daughter, on 17th January.

Throughout the Christmas term forty-two boys paid weekly visits to thirty-one elderly or handicapped people. A further group of boys have been collecting for the York branch of Oxfam. * * *

Mr. P. H. Yeld, O.P., has presented the Library with the programmes of the Amateur Dramatic Club from 1877 to 1900, complete but for the years 1878, 1885 and 1895. Shakespeare was easily favourite: these are lines from the 1879 programme: "Greatest of the world's great poets, whom the myriad-tongued acclaim

Of the ages trumpets loudest on the noisy ways of fame." But it was unashamedly the lighter spirited Shakespeare: "Not as earthy do we spurn it—are not we too sons of earth?"

In 1877 it appears that the Head Master's wife, assisted by the "whole strength of the company", sang the song in the "Casket" scene in the Merchant of Venice. Many Yelds appear in the casts, Mr. P. H. Yeld being first mentioned in 1894 as Puck in "A Midsummer Night's Dream". * * *

Has any Old Peterite a copy of the School 'Song which he could give to the School? It was written by an Old Peterite, Bishop Brown, and called "Carmen Saeculare". The Reverend F. J. Mann quoted a verse from it in his Commemoration Sermon, in 1964. 4