Retirement: Mr. John Nix

Since Mr. Ping's retirement in 1955 Mr. Nix has held the post of Second Master in St. Olave's and has shown therein his marked capacity for organisation. His meticulous attention to detail has been of the greatest usefulness in the ever-changing post-war demands on the School curriculum and timetable, and he was always at his best in foreseeing and thus avoiding minor snags and pitfalls. He has ever given freely and unstintingly of his time for the good of the School of which he has long been so much a part.

He will be greatly missed, and leaves with the united thanks and good wishes of everyone concerned with the welfare of St. Olave's and St. Peter's. Our sorrow and regret at his departure are tempered by the satisfaction that he is remaining geographically among us; perhaps we may say as a senior and symbolic guardian of our riverside fields! * * *

AN APPRECIATION

MAJOR-GENERAL J. C. LATTER, C.B.E., M.C.,

From the Revd. Geofirey Mountain, M.A., (O.P.).

John Cecil Latter, who first represented Leeds University on the

Board of School Governors and was later a co-opted Governor, died at his home, Riverside Cottage, Naburn, on July 7th, aged 76. Active almost to the end, his splendid physique enabled him to live a full life in many spheres.

Born at Folkestone and educated at Cheltenham College and Trinity

College, Oxford, he served in the First World War in the 2/5 Lancashire

Fusiliers, and was awarded the Military Cross. He was intensely proud of his regiment and later wrote an important work, the History of the

Lancashire Fusiliers 1914-18.

After the war he was in the Diplomatic Service for two years and then took up a permanent commission in the Regular Army, becoming

Deputy Military Secretary at the War Office in 1940 and then was transferred to a similar post in the Middle East in 1943. For this he was awarded the C.B.E. In 1945-7 he was Deputy Director of the

Territorial Army and Cadet Force and retired from the Army as an honorary major-general in 1947.

John Latter then immersed himself in a variety of public interests.

He was a Founder of the Leeds Music Festival; he did much to promote the work of the Northern Gardeners' Association; he was a director of the Red Cross and in 1952 was Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding.

Although a bachelor, he was always concerned for the welfare of young people. Students at school and university, army cadets—these were his "family". In his army days he had edited and largely written a Cadet Training Manual and until 1955 was Chairman of the Combined 10 Cadet Force Association. From 1948-52 he was secretary of Leeds University Appointments Board and for many years was President of

Leeds University Boat Club. It is significant that one of his last appearances as a Governor of St. Peter's was to attend the launching of a new school boat.

But despite his high rank John Latter never lost the common touch.

He was respected, indeed loved, by the men who served under him. His efforts were tireless to help widows and families of soldiers killed on active service. "Outward trappings", unless meaningful, meant nothing 5

to him and it was typical of him that he was one of the first officers to abolish compulsory church service parades.

Those of us who visited him at his cottage at Naburn will remember him essentially as a simple man of great kindness and courtesy, who drew inspiration from his lovely garden and his records, especially those of Mahler. The School has lost a Governor who was a proud soldier, a scholar of no mean repute, an untiring public servant—and above all—a good friend.

COMMEMORATION, 1972

The Cricket Match against the Old Peterites started on Friday, July 14th, and the following day the Speeches and Presentation of Prizes were presided over by the Chairman of the Governors, the Very Revd. the Dean of York. The Prizes were presented by The Rt. Hon. Lord Boyle of Handsworth, MA., LL.D., The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds. In the evening, Mr. J. Dronfield, O.B.E., J.P., MA., unveiled the portrait of the late Mr. K. H. Rhodes, commissioned by the Old Peterite Club and painted by Mr. Mick Arnup.

On Sunday, July 14th, the Revd. T. C. Willis (O.P.) preached the Commemoration Sermon.

SPEECHES AND PRESENTATION OF PRIZES -41

The occasion was honoured by the presence of The Rt. Hon. The Lord Mayor of York and the'Lady Mayoress, Councillor and Mrs. H. V. Boulton, and the Sheriff of York and his Lady, Councillor and Mrs. W. Richardson.

The ceremony began with the following Welcome to Lord Boyle by R. Sharpe: Salvete omnes,

Tribus annis prioribus tres viros, illustrissimum quemque et clarissimum in rebus litterarum et domi et externis, ad hanc contionem salutavimus. Quis non iam recordatur quanta cum eloquentia noster Anglicae Professor Linguae nos tanti referre admonuerit ut nostrum quisque suum revera ingenium et disciplinam sibi coluerit, quam facete et decore nobis indulserit Collegii Reginae praepositus, qualis fuerit auctoritas et doctrina Magistro Emmanuelis Collegii? Quid loqui in animo habet nobis praesens hospes? Id est quod mihi animum maxime excitet. Nam, ut ita dicam, sunt ventri meo quoque papiliones. nape ad salutandum festino, Edwardum Boyle, virum praeclarissimum et nobilissimum, Universitatis Leeds iam Vice-Cancellarium, non ob eloquentiam, industriam, benevolentiam, solum omnibus fama notissimum gentibus, sed quod etiam ei actum per vitam est totam, eo gratiorem et nobis iucundiorem. Qualem ei vitam! Nam ab iuvene se reipublicae totum dedit, et viginti abhinc annos quasi infans olim terribilis optimatium primum in cursus honorum gradum ascendit, ex quo usque ad summum imperii fastigium, concilium interius, curator disciplinae et scientiae pervenit maxima cum laude. Iam vero, quamvis in populi comitiis non candidatus nomen deferat, populo tamen ante oculos et 6