TRINITY Newc/etfet COLLEGE A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Vol. 1 No. 2
NOVEMBER, 1967
APPEAL LAUNCHED From the Acting Warden Few people with any connection with Trinity will be unaware that an important appeal was launched at a highly successful dinner held in the Hall of the College in June. Important decisions have been made about the future expansion of the College and it was with this in mind that the Warden and Council decided to go ahead with an appeal to Old Boys and Friends of the D.O.C. for $150,000. Over 150 men sat down to Dinner, presided over by Sir Edmund Herring. The Warden's speech setting out the aims and needs of the College has been printed and appears as an inset with this edition of the Trinity College Newsletter. The very generous response that has come from people already contacted gives us every confidence that the goal will be reached. That so many have been already contacted is due almost entirely to the hard work of Mr. Nick Turnbull, who with a small band of men gave up a very large amount of their time to the organisation of the appeal and to the actual visiting. I am very happy to express the thanks of the College to Mr. Turnbull, an old boy who has shown a very practical interest in the welfare of his alma mater. Despite all the man hours that have gone into this appeal there are still a large number of people to be contacted, and in one way or another it is hoped to do this in the near future. The Trinity College Appeal is an on-going thing that will hold the interest of the members of the College for all time. With the confidence from the knowledge of the unwavering support of its members, Trinity will continue to uphold its standards and to produce the community leaders for which it has become justly famous.
•••• ■.
TITIS YEAR IN COLLEGE By An Ageing Student. This year has been a very good year—I don't remember a better. We won the football, at last, even though we gave two of our men, Ainsworth and Mitchell, to the Geelong League side. Not really generous of us, though; it wasn't certa'n that we could use them and it seemed a pity for them not to have a Grand Final. Rowing and tennis we also won and in other sports we were only slightly less successful. More and more every year I have been told that students of THIS year must work hard if they are to succeed. We have a great number of earnest members at College these days, so for them, if not for you, I shall pen a short chronicle of matters intellectual, artistic and dramatic. Being a biblical man, I shall put the last first. After a very successful production in 1966 of "A Man For All Seasons," audiences, and more especially the College, have come to expect a pleasing standard of College Play at Trinity; this year, again, they were not disappo'nted. "The Hostage" was a great success, playing to full houses on each of four nights, with many sitting comfortably and happily in the aisles on the final night—joining with quiet abandon in the last rousing chorus as the curtain fell. It is a play which demands a highly competent producer and a very able cast. The University Drama Awards reflected with nice abundance that these demands were well met. David Kendall, for the second year in succession, received the award for the best University Production; Gus Worby, also for the second time, was acknowledged best actor; and Wilfred Last emerged from strange experiences as the Best Supporting Actor.
Perhaps the most pleasing feature of the production was the variety of audience which it attracted; no longer must we seek unwell relatives and kind friends to fill up the long theatre rows; people arrived for the experience of being "merely" entertained and stayed to cheer with honest gusto. Gone are the condescending appreciatives of the play as "very good, considering it was a College Play." Instead, Trinity has established a new standard where it is important and necessary that every aspect of the production is note- and praise-worthy. Do come next year. We borrowed a large number of celebrated and, in many cases, I thought, excellent paintings by Australian artists (someone told me the pictures were insured for $40,000) as an as it were backdrop for this year's College Concert. The performances of our instrumentalists and singers were of a very high standard. All who attended enjoyed the occasion, many regarding it as the event of the year. Intellectually, we had if not a feast, at least enough. The Dialectic Society arranged debates, films and speakers who included Wigram Allen essayists essaying to a discriminating audience, including judges Professor Geoffrey Leeper and Mr. Robin Boyd. There was a series of discussions focused on fairly modern Existentialist writers which was well attended by the earnest. This may all sound depressing; please remember that we won the football, the tennis and the rowing. I shall probably remain, AN AGEING STUDENT.
CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN SPEAKS On behalf of all Committee men who have worked so ably making personal approaches, I want to thank those old Trinity men, parents and friends who have welcomed our calls, listened so attentively to our story and contributed so generously to the College. I'm sure you will be interested to know we are growing. So far 494 people have indicated that they will contribute $110,000 in gifts over the five-year period. Of this promised amount some $38,000 is in hand. This means that the College is already in a position to undertake some of the work planned for the next few years. Old Boys and friends who have not as yet been approached will surely see that their generous support will mean that all the plans that have been put before them on paper will soon be before them in bricks and mortar. I have no doubt these folk will respond in same generous fashion as did the people already visited and that we shall reach our target and ensure the continuing success of the Appeal. N. H. TURNBULL, Campaign Chairman.
NEWSLETTER
Page 2
November, 1967
The Uni®n ®f the Knight b F.F F. Ki by F 9ht PERIOD TWO
Id+" e ' o ' d?b`, periods due to the fact tfiât 'ÿ:s atti ' ' t'ffèrctw' {'' ce 'these periods an .1885-i9 yee~I}~ 1~42;~' r94~°~ ~ lb tlié' ~ résënt'tiítté: Before the first war ended, steps were taken to revive the activities of the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys. These activities had ceased, as we know, in April, 1915. A new Warden, Mr. (as he then was) J. C. V. Behan, had been appointed in 1918. On 4th June in that year, fifteen former students of Trinity gave a dinner at Menzies Hotel to welcome him. Dr. R. R. Stawell was in the chair. Most of them had been prominent in the affairs of the Society before the War and some had returned from active service. A committee was formed to revive the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys. Dr. Stawell was President and Dr. E. R. White Hon. Secretary. The other members were Dr. W. Kent Hughes, O'Dell Crowther, Rev. L. Arnold and H. L. Wilkinson. This Committee, at its first meeting, resolved that it should be provisional and that the Secretary be instructed to obtain the books of the Society. It subsequently co-opted Dr. Frank Andrew and two old committeemen, Will Lewers and H. I. Graham. Not only was this provvisional committee charged with the onerous task of reviving the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys but also of organising that Society's effort to raise money for the College Building Fund. Their effort met with success and some personal account of those responsible should be of interest. White was a double blue (cricket and tennis); he had a disguished war record and commanded the 2nd Light Horse Field Ambulance. Kent Hughes was the athletic champion of the Medical School in 1883. He had been a major in the A.A.M.C., and had served in Russia in 1917 as chief surgeon of the Anglo-Russian Hospital. He was a brother of E. S. Hughes. O'Dell Crowther was a solicitor; during this time he kept the committee informed of the state of College finances. Arnold was the Chaplain of Melbourne Grammar School and with the Rev. H. Finnis composed the College song which was reproduced in the Fleur-de-Lys of 1966. Probably Finnis was responsible for the music. Andrew was a nose and throat specialist, and Wilkinson, a mining engineer, who had been prominent as a student in the Dialectic Society. The Warden and provisional committee invited all local members to a re-union in College. As a result a Dinner and Annual Meeting was held there on August 19th, 1918. Dr. Stawell was in the chair. After the Dinner the Annual Meeting was held. In the following year the meeting preceded the dinner. a practice followed ever since. Dr. Stawell was elected President. There were four Vice-Presidents: Bishop Green. Donald Mackinnon. Canon Hughes and Russel Clarke, and a very large committee. Two resolutions were passed. "That the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys be revived." and "That all old Trinity students make a united effort to place the College on a sound financial basis." Russel Clarke. M.A., was elected President in 1919. He became a member of the Legislative Council and the College Council. The members of the committee were not elected necessarily because they were very important persons, but because each one could assist personally in giving effect to the foregoing resolutions through contact with friends in his own profession and of his particular years of residence. An executive committee was formed and met frequently during the financial year. An appeal circular was drawn up. considered and approved. It appears from the card index that it was sent out in October and November. Fortunately many obsolete cards have not been destroyed. The committee had obvious difficulties in finding addresses. Many residents and ex-students had not returned from the war. Others were scattered over Australia from Perth to Thursday Island. To a lesser extent others were scattered throughout the world—
if not from China to Peru, at least from New Zealand to Great Britain. It is noteworthy that many of these old cards had the names of committee members on the back of them. Presumably these members were charged with the duty of personal approach. In October, 1919, the Warden reported to the committee an anonymous gift of £ 16,000, subject to a further £10,000 being contributed by the end of the year. It was decided to send a circular letter to former students inviting them and other friends of the College to help raise this further sum. On December 13th the Warden reported that £9.000 of the £10.000 s.l\.- that I`-,.. ~~~,.• . tc, Ieff u5 fo, ~ leui„, 'iltcre
'wear
JUTTODIE 1967." had been promised as a result of the recent appeal. The committee decided to make a personal canvass to raise the necessary £1,000. This short record is not designed to give a complete history of this appeal. It is merely an appreciation of the amount of work contributed by members of the committee responsible. There was one unfortunate incident in connection with the November circular. Dr. Leeper wrote to the committee complaining that from it certain unfriendly inferences might be made with regard to his control and care of the College as Warden. The minutes continue. "proposed Dr. Stawell, seconded W. Lewers," followed by a blank space. It is unfortunate that the resolution was never recorded. Such a resolution from these two gentlemen would have been kind and considerate. They were aware that the finances of the College had posed a problem during the war. that the inflow had been affected by it. and that some sixty students, mostly resident, had enlisted. They probably did not know that. but for an accident, no appeal might have been necessary. A wealthy widower had left a large part of his considerable fortune to Trinity. In his later years he was a frequent visitor to the College. Dr. Leeper detailed one of his most trusted resident students to see that no harm befell this worthy guest. Unfortunately, one dark and stormy night. he walked out of Bishops' porch. indignantly refusing all offers of assistance. He slipped and broke his leg. While in hospital he became engaged and subsequently remarried. Some 40 years afterwards a venerable archdeacon told this story. He had good reason to remember the incident because he had been the unfortunate trusted student. In 1918 two members of the Council were appointed as direct representatives of the Union of Fleur-de-Lys. They were elected every three years in the first instance by the committee. There appears to have been some doubt as to its power to do so because in 1921 the following resolution was passed at the Annual General Meeting: "That the committee he empowered to appoint two representatives to the College Council." Some attempts were made to increase this representation. At the 1929 meeting, no less a person than Bishop Stephen. who was then Acting Warden, "deplored the fact that the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys was only represented directly by two members of the
College Council." The committee asked its nominees to express its views. These efforts were not successful. In fact, by the new constitution of 1949 our representation was reduced to one member. The first two appointed were Canon E. S. Hughes and O'Dell Crowther. Hughes acted until 1925 and Crowther until 1932. Their respective places were filled by Drs. E. R. White and Arthur Sherwin. The latter retired in 1934. He was succeeded by W. S. Sproule. who resigned in 1949, when our representation was reduced. White remained sole representative until his death in 1958. except while he was absent during the war, when his place was filled temporarily by W. M. Mottle. Sherwin was a rowing blue who had seen active service both in the 1st A.I.F. and the Balkan Wars. Sproule was also a rowing blue and had served in the 1st A.I.F. At the time of his appointment he was Crown Prosecutor. Later he became a County Court Judge. From 1920 onwards there was a much smaller committee and it is often referred to in the minutes as the "executive committee." There were two Vice-Presidents until 1939, when it was decided to abolish the office and make the retiring President Deputy Chairman. Already it had been resolved in 1922. that he be made an ex-officio member of the committee. In the same year it had been resolved also that at least one member of the committee should be a man who had left College within three years of his election. It cannot be said that every resolution ever passed at an Annual General Meeting was followed strictly until rescinded. Many have been forgotten but the three-year rule has been followed in so far as it was possible to do so. In this second period, that is the period between the two World Wars, there were six honorary secretaries. When Dr. E. R. White retired in 1920, he was succeeded by Dr. F. Blois Lawton. These two very busy medical practitioners could not find time to serve for long periods. but it is largely due to their efforts that the early committees succeeded in their object of reviving the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys. Lawton died in 1961. The other four secretaries are still living. In 1923, F. F. Knight, the author of record, was elected. On his retirement in 1929 no one seemed anxious to fill the position but eventually Dr. Clive Fitts was persuaded to do so for one year. He became Consulting Physician to the Royal Melbourne and the Royal Women's Hospitals, and was knighted in 1963. W. H. Moule followed him and held office until 1938. His service on the College Council has been mentioned already. He was a Melbourne solicitor who has now retired and lives in Southport. The sixth secretary was F. D. Cumbrae-Stewart. a barrister, who held office until he joined the 2nd A.I.F. He became Parliamentary Draughtsman in Hobart and still lives there. Each of the other five has served a term as President.
Perhaps one of the most important innovations during the period under review was the introduction of Life Membership subscriptions. Pursuant to a recommendation of the committee, a meeting of 1924 approved "a proposal to institute Life Membership of £5.5.0 commencing 1925-6." The original policy was to use the shillings to cover current expenses and to invest the pounds in Commonwealth Bonds. usually in units of £100 face value, but no resolution compelled the committee to do this. Successive financial statements showed surpluses but some of these included capital. In 1931 the secretary was at pains to point out that the capital funds represented by Life Membership subscriptions were down nearly £20. This caused no great concern. On the contrary, members directed the committee to enquire into the possibility of donating a further £25 from accumulated funds towards a
November, 1967
practice eight without prejudicing the financial position. The committee did not receive this direction with great enthusiasm, and several meetings were convened to discuss it. Eventually it was agreed to make the money available because it had been found that one of its members had promised it at a Valedictory Dinner. The secretary was asked to find the money out of revenue if possible. 1931 was one of the depression years but there were funds available. In 1935, the student body asked for a donation of £27 towards oars for the new racing eight. The committee decided that it could not make the donation and that "it was not a good thing for the secretary to attempt to canvass the members." In earlier years two cups had been given to the Social Club. The object of these gifts was to encourage College representatives, who participated in Inter-Collegiate contests. The first was for cricket (best batting average) and the second for athletics. On present day values these donations may seem paltry, but £10 then could buy a much bigger and better cup than $20 can now. In 1927 ten guineas was donated towards the publication of the "Fleur-de-Lys." This was supplemented by £15.10.0 collected at the dinner by Dr. Crisp. Of this, half was donated by seven members of the 1900 crew who were present. Usually the committee frowned on collections at dinners because they would be embarrassing to some and might reduce the attendance. On this occasion, however, all drinks, including champagne, had been provided by a senior member at his own expense. The 1918 Dinner and Annual Meeting have been mentioned already. From that time these functions were held regularly until 1941. There was no attempt to hold them on Trinity Monday. In fact, the first four dinners were held in August or later. June 22nd was chosen for the Jubilee Dinner in 1922 and the next two were held in that month. Thereafter, until the outbreak of the 2nd World War, they were held in late April or early May, the committee's original plan being to choose the Saturday following the InterCollegiate boat race. After 1919 only three dinners were held in College. In 1920 there were too many students in residence. In 1922 the College Council paid for the Jubilee Dinner which was held at Scotts Hotel, because in addition to the present students there were many other guests. All other dinners were held at the Windsor Hotel, except in 1934 (College). 1935 (Wentworth Cafe), 1936 (Victoria Palace), 1937 (Federal Hotel) and 1941 (Public Schools Club). From 1920 onwards the Annual Meeting preceded the Dinner. Normally it did not take long; the minutes of the previous meeting were taken as read and office-bearers elected; but at times there was other business. The first minute of presentation of accounts was in 1924, but no doubt this was normal procedure at all previous meetings. When clerical assistance became available, copies were circulated and read by a few only. The sole recorded discussion on them was initiated by the secretary in 1931. It is not possible to give accurate details of the members who attended each dinner because, frequently, some present failed to sign the book and occasionally the same signature appears twice. The lowest attendance was 33 in 1920 and the highest 73 in 1929. From 1922 to 1940 the average was roughly 55. The Warden was always invited and, after 1921, Dr. Leeper during his life. At other times the Sub-Warden, Dean and Chaplain were guests. The Student body was always represented by the Senior student or President of the Fleur-deLys Club. For many years members of the 'tudents committee were asked and this was done for recruiting purposes. In 1921 resident tutors were invited but subsequently it was decided that, as they were eligible for membership. they could pay their subscriptions and attend the dinner on the same terms as other members. The cost of the dinner was usually 15/- a head. At first this did not include liquor except aperitifs at the Annual Meeting, but in 1927 a member donated £450 to the Society. He did not wish his name to be mentioned outside those present at the dinner. His object was to provide champagne at every dinner. The money was invested in
NEWSLETTER Bonds and though the annual interest may not be sufficient to achieve that object at the present time, it paid for all liquor consumed for many years and still defrays part of the cost of the dinner. It could not be expected that any 50 men could keep a secret and the donation became known as the "Wallace Collection.' although it had nothing to do with the fine arts. In the circumstances, there is no breach of confidence in disclosing the name of the benefactor. He was J. Alston Wallace. a Riverina grazier. He had rowed for the College for several years, including 1900. Since 1924 the toast list has followed a regular pattern. After the loyal toast that of the College has been proposed by the President. The Warden (or someone representing him in his absence) has responded, supported by the Senior Student. The toast of the Union of the Fleur-de-Lys has been proposed and responded to by members previously selected by the committee or by the secretary. Speeches were not usually restricted to those relevant to these toasts. For instance, in 1935 it is recorded that "speeches were made by the President, the Warden and numerous other members." There is evidence of objection
"JUTTODIE 1967."
to the time occupied by speech-making. The Warden was accustomed to give a conscientious and detailed account of the College activities for the year. In 1925 he was asked to give this part of his address at the Annual Meeting. He did this from then onwards. In 1928 the committee recommended to the Annual Meeting that all speeches be restricted to five minutes, but a resolution was carried that "speeches at the dinner be limited as follows: The Wardens to five minutes, others to three minutes." This resolution does not appear to have been rescinded, but it is safe to say that few have taken any notice of it, either at that particular dinner or at any subsequent one. On this occasion there were seven speakers and the meeting broke up at 10 o'clock. In the following year there were eight speakers and the meeting broke up half an hour later. Though the Annual Dinner remained the highlight of all activities, the committee did not try to organise official visits to the College. This posed problems as the number of financial members increased. All of them were entitled to circulars but it was time-taking and expensive to notify everyone of some function in which few would be able to take part. Between 1921 and 1925 tennis matches and a cricket match were arranged against College teams. The Jubilee tennis match of 1922 was abandoned because of bad weather. A challenge to a golf match by the Ormond Old Students Association was possibly the genesis of the present Annual Old Collegians Golf Day. In addition to these sporting activities there were several official visits to the College and some Union luncheons were held there. One of these was in honour of Trinity men elected to Parliament. The committee took a keen interest in the internal affairs of the College. From time to time representations were made both to the Colleee authorities and to the student body. In 1921 the President and secretary were appointed representatives to the celebrations committee and the suggestion that the "preacher at the Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul's Cathedral be a Trinity Bishop" was adopted. Bishop Green preached the sermon. It will be remembered that he was one of the foundation members in 1885. The first criticism came in 1926 when there was a proposal before the College Council to abolish the buttery. The committee carried the following resolution: "We give as an expression of opinion of the committee
Page
that it is not desirable that a change of the nature proposed should take place unless the Warden and authorities consider it necessary for the proper control of the College." Late in 1933. the committee tried to mediate in a dispute between the student body and the College authorities. The Warden had dissolved the students club. A sub-committee was appointed to interview him "with a view to obtaining suspension of his decree of dissolution pending the meeting of the College Council." Meetings took place but the decree remained and early in the new year the committee decided to take no further action. However, another sub-committee did meet representatives of the student body to discuss the formation of a new constitution for the students club. The Common Room was renovated in 1932. This made it necessary to find a new home for the photographs of Trinity men killed in the 19141918 war. As a matter of courtesy the student body referred this question to the committee. Discussions took place. at intervals. until early in 1936, when a solution, satisfactory to everyone. was found and "the secretary was authorised to make a contribution of up to £10 on behalf of the Society." The first Annual Meeting after the outbreak of hostilities was held on May 10th. 1940. Resolutions were passed that the committee be elected to hold office until successors were appointed and that members who had left Australia on war service were to remain memhers without paying further subscriptions until their return. Another meeting was held in 1941. There was one addition to the committee but the following year it was decided to hold no meeting and collect no subscriptions. The decision of the 194( meeting to keep the Union of the Fleur-deLys in existence was not only wise hut necessary. It was wise because it minimised the difficulties of returning to full activity at the end of the war and necessary because, in the year ended 31/3/40. there was £709.0.71 in the capital account; of this £680 face value) was invested in Commonwealth Loans. The committee did its best to leave nothing to chance. It .resolved that W. F. Whitney King be appointed acting secretary to act whenever F. D. Cumhrae-Stewart was on war service, and further that the President should have power to appoint a secretary if both were absent. It was not long before these two and many members of the committee were on war service. T he unfortunate Moule, who had been appointed President and one of the representatives on the College Council was obliged to undertake in addition the duties of secretary. The committee did not meet again before 1946 but an Annual Meeting and Dinner was held in April, 1941, at the Public Schools Club. Between the wars the Union of the Fleur-deLys had carried on its activities without a break. Its membership . and influence had increased and it had accumulated some funds. Its committee had the foresight to ensure that a wartime nucleus organisation was maintained with the object of assuring a smooth return to normal as soon as hostilities should cease. To be continued.
ACADEMIC MATTERS Continued from page 4 An applicant's place on the list may have a bearing on his selection in marginal cases and late entries are at a strong disadvantage, but the College does not have a cricket club attitude towards the waiting list. The principal considerations in selection other than academic record are the candidate's place of residence and any previous association of his family with the College. Applicants who do not have a permanent home in Melbourne and applicants with near relatives whose names are on the College roll receive some priority. A person who is not selected in a year may transfer his application to a succeeding year and a candidate who is offered a place and who for a proper reason does not wish to accept it will be given priority in a later year. In a formal sense, however, places cannot be reserved for a later year.
NEWSLETTER
Page4
ACADEMIC MATTERS 1966 Results The College achieved outstanding results in the University examinations in 1966. The number of first-class honours and prizes has never been exceeded, and the failure rate of 7.5% was the lowest on record. Trinity presented 203 resident students and 62 non-residents for examination. They obtained 54 scholarships, prizes and exhibitions, 92 first-class and 140 second-class honours. These figures were not only considerably better than the average for the University but were the best obtained by a resident College. Mr. R. G. Larkins capped a brilliant record in the medical course by taking first place in final honours and winning fourteen of the fifteen prizes awarded for the year. The other prize went to Mr. P. B. Greenberg, also of Trinity. Mr. A. J. R. Prentice, who obtained firstclass honours in physics in 1965, was awarded the 1851 Exhibition Science Research Scholarship for 1967. Mr. Riggall conducted College tutorials in physics before his departure in August for Oxford. To take up his scholarship he resigned a University Travelling Scholarship and a British Commonwealth Post-Graduate Travelling Scholarship.
Scholarships Since the completion of Cowan Building in 1965 there have been 204 resident student places in the College. In a normal year from 60 to 65 freshmen are taken. Absolute priority in selection is given to College Scholars. Scholarships are awarded on the results of the College Entrance Scholarship Examinations or of the University Annual Examinations. Results obtained at the matriculation Examinations are often taken into account in assessing candidates for Entrance Scholarships. Entrance and Senior Scholarships are designated Major and Minor. The basic value of a Major Scholarship is $100 per annum and of a Minor Scholarship $20 per annum. Scholars are not required to pay the enrolment fee of $20. Scholars are eligible to apply for a College Bursary to supplement the basic award. Bursaries are awarded, if sufficient funds are available, to enable scholars to come into College who for financial reasons are not in a position to accept the Scholarship offered. The funds for Bursaries are provided partly from endowments and partly from the College's general funds. Theological Studentships are awarded from endowed funds for students who have been accepted as candidates for holy orders and a limited number of Graduate Scholarships are awarded from Council funds to graduates pursuing higher degrees. In 1967 College awarded 2 Graduate Scholarships, 6 Theological Studentships, 19 Major Scholarships, 36 Minor Scholarships, 12 Non-resident Exhibitions and 3 Bursaries (to College Commoners). Endowment income provided $5,072 and the balance of $6,050 was found from Council funds.
November, 1967
GENTLEMEN, THE OVERSEER by our own correspondent. "Get out of my office, tripehound," ordered our ruthless editor, "and get me a story about Syd Wynne." We remembered our first fearful encounters with The Overseer and answered tremulously, "Sir, the Newsletter is written for Trinity men. All Trinity men know stories about Syd." "Tell them some true stories," he said as he opened the door and threw us down the stairs. We withdrew. The Overseer. Syd is the man who does things. He began doing things at Trinity in 1919 when he built the temporary Wooden Wing with which, in one way or another, many of us have been associated. Upon its completion he left the College and became a Master Builder. Finding—what we all now know—that Trinity could scarcely keep going without him, he returned in 1925 pleased, and not surprised, that the temporary building had become a permanent part of the College's ornamentia. Some will say that the following letter explains why Syd left us for five years. For ourselves, we doubt it. There is something inexorable about the man. We think that the absence of a formal appointment would neither encourage nor discourage him to stay or leave. 8th October, 1965. S. WYNNE, Esq., TRINITY COLLEGE. Dear Mr. Wynne, I am pleased to be able to inform you that at its meeting on 3rd March, 1920, the College Council resolved to appoint you as "a permanent employee of the College at £5 per week to keep the property of the Council in thorough order, and to be responsible for all repairs (other than paperhanging and sanitary plumbing) that may be found necessary." I regret the forty-five years' delay in notifying you of the appointment, which I assume must have been due in the first instance to the secretarial difficulties of the last Warden but one. May I say, retrospectively, that we look forward to a long and fruitful association? Yours sincerely, Dr. ROBIN L. SHARWOOD,
Warden.
What matters is that Syd did come back. We are unable to trace the terms of his reappointment; some say that he returned formally to the office of Matron and though Syd and we do not believe this, we cannot authoritatively deny it. Whatever, it was of course known what he would do. He has been doing it ever since. In the widest sense he has been building. The Behan Building, he told us, cost £43,000 furnished, the money coming from an Appeal
which raised £20,000 and the sale of houses on the other side of Royal Parade. He built the Vatican and the Summerhouse from chips he acquired from stones used both for Newman College and for the spire of St. Paul's Cathedral. We were not surprised that he thus played an early part in the ecumenical movement. Twice he extended the Dining Hall; he built the Squash Court for £600 and in 1933 the Warden's Lodge (now the Deanery). After the Second World War he built Memorial (Jeopardy), the present Warden's Lodge, the Cowan Building and then added to the Behan Building. Syd is not just a great builder. He has had at least a hand in almost all College matters of any importance. Much of the gardens are the result of his planning. He supervises the domestic staff, as well as successive students, tutors, Deans and Wardens. We asked him: "How do you manage Wardens?" "By knowing as much as they do." "Have students changed much?" "Fundamentally, students haven't changed at all. Every year one replaces another as a leaf of a tree replaces another leaf. Perhaps students work harder now, but they are the same students—a little more streamlined, but the same." "Is the College too big?" "No. I heard people say it was when we grew from 65 to 80." Others better fitted than us will chronicle more about this remarkable and inimitable man. They will tell of Syd Wynne the planner, the initiator, the moderniser, the innovator, the observer, the controller, the philosopher, the terror and the friend of students, and the builder of many things. We confidently look forward to continuing our long and fruitful accrnriatinn
Selection of Students The paramount consideration in the selection of freshmen is academic quality as demonstrated by examination performance and school record. Confidential reports are obtained from the schools and examination results are assessed in their light. The names of applicants are placed on a waiting list after payment of a registration fee. Continued on page 3
"Fundamentally, students haven't changed at all."
My gift to the TRINITY COLLEGE APPEAL will be YEARLY $
APPEAL STILL OPEN
for five years being a
TOTAL of $
on the understanding
that I may vary the amount if necessary. Signature
Date
Mailing address First contribution in the month(s) of commencing 196
Please send reminders.
Cheques should be made payable to the Trinity College Appeal.
The Follow-on Committee has now taken over responsibility for the Appeal and is continuing approaches where possible. If by any chance you have not yet been contacted, either personally or by mail, or if you have mislaid your gift card, 'please use this form to make your gift. You may also use it if you wish to make an additional gift to the College. Cut out this form and send it to the Warden.