SCHOOL NOTES During his twenty-seven years in the School Denis was involved in a wide range of other activities. In addition to his teaching duties in St. Peter's, he also taught in St. Olave's School for a number of years. Some of his activities included: taking charge of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Expeditions, sailing instruction on the River Ouse, giving climbing instruction to members of the C.C.F. in the Lake District, accompanying mountaineering expeditions in Britain and running skiing holidays in France, Austria and Switzerland. Finally, throughout most of his career, Denis was a rugby coach. During his career Denis saw language teaching develop through C.S.E. to 16+ and G.C.S.E. He resisted moves to minimise and even eliminate literature from Vlth form syllabuses. He approved the increased weighting given to oral and comprehension work at all levels, but is proud to have adhered to the principles of rigour and accuracy in the face of what he refers to as 'first' and 'approximation' tendencies. In connection with his teaching, Denis produced (and acted in) a number of French plays — classical and Theatre of the Absurd. He instigated the re-modelling of Rooms G, SI and S2 for language teaching — Room G was irreverently labelled 'Hirst's Padded Cell' by a colleague! Denis was secretary of the Senior Common Room for some five years and, as his successor in that onerous post, I am very pleased to have the opportunity to wish Denis and Joyce many happy years of retirement on behalf of their colleagues and friends in St. Peter's School. K. G. Coulthard
DENIS HIRST
Denis joined the School in September, 1964, having taught for seven years in the state system, sandwiching two years in administration (Assistant Education Officer) between the two spells of teaching. He is a Leeds University languages graduate and also holds a P.G.C.E. from the same university, with a specialisation in Advanced Physical Education. This latter piece of information will surprise no one who knows Denis, who describes himself as 'a fitness fanatic'. Whilst at Leeds he represented the university at rugby and was also chosen to play rugby for the Universities Athletics Union. It was Denis' intention to retire at the end of the Summer Term; unfortunately a heart attack supervened during the Easter holidays and he was unable to be with us during his final term. However, it was good to see him at a number of functions towards the end of the Summer Term and we hope that his recovery continues steadily over the next few months. Denis was first appointed to teach French and Latin. Five years later, in September, 1969 he took over as Head of Modern Languages, having served for a year as the School's first Assistant Careers Master and during his three-year attachment to the Grove as Assistant Housemaster. In April, 1985 he was appointed Housemaster of The Rise. In his wry way Denis says that he greatly valued taking over the House in April, as it gave him and Joyce a term's run-in before being fully launched into the routine of a full year; as he says his enforced early retirement gives the same advantage to their successors!
DAVID CROOK David joined the staff of St. Peter's in September 1985 and in his five years here he played a full and active role. In the formroom he was a first-class French teacher both with the sixth form and with the younger age group, with the bright and the less bright pupils. He organised trips to the Loire Valley and accompanied ski trips. He ran the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and co-ordinated the School's Clubs and Societies. As a games coach he ran Under 15 and Under 14 rugger teams and helped with the squash and Under 15 cricket. After being an assistant in The Rise he took over as Housemaster of Clifton, a House which he ran with a mixture of firmness, understanding and good humour. David was a much-liked, respected and fully involved member of the Common Room. He will be greatly missed; our loss is very much Durham's gain. Our thanks and very best wishes to him and also to Debbie, whom he married in August. D. Kirby 10
