OLD PETERITE NEWS again his great love of cricket shows through, and he was elected a member of the Authentics at an early stage. With such varied skills and talents he must have found it somewhat difficult to decide what career to follow, but eventually he decided to follow in the footsteps of his Headmaster father and teacher mother, the education service thereby gaining a great deal. Not surprisingly he became a games master, but also quickly showed himself to be adept at other forms of teaching and administration. It was pleasing that at Glenhow School, near Saltburn, he was serving under another O.P. — P. H. Sykes, whom he was eventually to succeed as Headmaster. In the meantime he had had the good fortune to meet and marry Sally on a trip to Norway — surely one of the best holiday souvenirs anyone could have brought back. In 1966 he returned to St. Olave's School to teach maths and games and to become the first Housemaster of the new Fairfax House, a very astute move by John Dronfield. It was quickly seen just how well he fitted into the scene as a colleague, always keen, willing and observant. All these qualities showed, with others, when he was appointed Master-in-Charge of St. Olave's to succeed Tudor Howat. John quickly settled into his new responsibilities, and soon it became difficult to imagine St. Olave's without him. His career as a builder became apparent in the careful planning and organisation of School matters. He served under five Headmasters of St. Peter's and to each one of them, varied though they were, he gave loyalty, strength and wisdom, never being afraid to "stick his neck out" if he thought that the best interests of St. Olave's were not being served. During his time he had to face many problems, some of them apparent, others which no-one ever knew about, yet at all times he never complained or felt sorry for himself. He was generally the first member of staff to arrive at the beginning of the School day, and could always be found there long after most people had gone home.
JOHN RAYSON
If the records of the City of York are studied, amongst the list of Freemen of the City for many hundreds of years the name of Ray son will appear frequently, generally as carpenter or builder. Although John Rayson still displays the skills of his forebears as an enthusiastic D.I.Y. expert, building would not normally be expected of him. And yet, what a splendid builder he has been — not only in the physical sense as evidenced in the planning of the new and superb Chilman Building but, more importantly, in the mental and spiritual sense of building traditions, high standards and character. John's first association with the School began in 1942 as a day boarder, transferring as a full boarder in The Rise in 1944. He certainly seems to have had a busy life, winning form prizes, boxing, fencing, shooting, becoming sergeant in the J.T.C., then drum-major, chapel monitor, school monitor and Editor of "The Peterite". But out of all these activities it was his cricketing skills that play a large part in the records. First awarded 1st XI colours in 1944 he received them again in 1945, 46 and 47. He was Vice-Captain of Cricket in 1945, and Captain in 1946 and 47. In 1946 he was presented with a bat by Norman Yardley, played a second time for Yorkshire Public Schools against Lancashire, captained the Yorkshire Under 18 team v Sussex, and it was said of him "He has all the shots in the bag, and a great future may well lie ahead of him". During these years he also played for the Colts XV and the 2nd XV and was awarded his colours in 1945/46. A successful career followed at Brasenose College after his military service. At Oxford he appears to have been the first O.P. to read agriculture. Once again he seems to have led a very busy and happy life — and once
He was always completely approachable and, no matter now small the problem might have seemed, even the youngest Olavite was assured of his attention over a lost raincoat or a missed parent. Indeed the pupil or parent he was dealing with was always the focus of his full attention. In matters of discipline he was firm but fair, sympathetic and understanding, and when action was necessary his first reaction was always "Justice has been done — now, what can I do to help?", and always he gave the finest form of discipline — that is by example. Whether in his great love of games, his keen support of so many School activities, his singing in the choir (and even being persuaded to dress up and take part in School productions, and undress to have wet sponges thrown at him during the School summer fetes), his dignified help as a special minister in services of Holy Communion, all 80
