St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

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casualty of the tour in the early part of the match. I am happy to report that both boys recovered very quickly and indeed the general fitness of the boys and the scarcity of injuries on the tour was remark- able, but Kelly's absence in this game did mean that we played with 1-lf men only for most of it, and we still managed to lose only by one converted try, hve points - 0. The party was very well received by the Press, Radio and TV. Some of you, I believe, did hear interviews by CBC and BBC reporters with some of us over there, while the ITV CCommercial TVl broadcast of the opening moments at Eton-when the boys scored 20 points in 20 minutes- was a tremendous boost. I don't know how the Ameri- can boys felt at being greeted by strangers with Oh yes, we know who you are, you're the Canadians, we saw you on the Telly . But there is no doubt that this small Canadian school of ours did make quite an impact on both Wales and Southern England. The sight-seeing and social side of the tour was, of course, tremen- dous. Each host school, in its own particular way, was most friendly and hospitable and gave us a generous welcome. In addition we were received by H.E. the High Commissioner, the Hon, Lionel Chevrier, at Canada Houseg by the First Secretary of State deputizing for Am- bassador Bruce at the American Embassy: by the Lord Mayor of London at the Mansion House, by the Agent General, Dr. Fisher, who, with lNIrs. Fisher, entertained the friends and relations of the boys at an afternoon party at B.C. House: by Sir Leslie Ford of the Port of London Authority who arranged a sightseeing tour of the docks on the Authority's private yacht and last, but not least, by H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh, who was most friendly and cordial with the boys. On the way home we did some sight-seeing in New York, and here again we were given a welcome by the English Speaking Union who arranged a small party for us. True, we missed two days of school. but I think - and the boys certainly agree -that it was worth it. In basketball we were again the independent school champions and retained the Hocking Shield, while Track and Field have been stronger than I have ever known. In seven successive meets we have emerged triumphant over- among others- Esquimalt High, Cowichan High, Victoria High and Oak Bay High, and on May 29th. the Team won the B.C. Independent School Trophy at Shawnigan Lake. I have spoken much more than usual about sports and my excuse - if excuse is necessarye must be the large part these activities play in the life of the school and the character training of the boys themselves which are an end result, but I must not leave the subject without some reference to the interest developing in fencing and tennis, for which we now employ outside coaches to assist the respective lXIasters-in- charge. I am informed by Mr. lNIodos, a former Hungarian Fencing Champion, that Ashton and Price can be numbered among the best fencers in their age group in Canada, while in tennis lXfIr. Gordon Hartley is Filling a long-felt need and the boys are responding happily and well to him. The swimming pool is busy the year round and I believe that there is now no boy in the whole school who cannot swim. 15

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long since earned retirement or. indeed, demolition. Wlithout endow- ment. therefore. we Hiust appeal for assistance: and to those who feel help -either directly or indirectly- and especially to those who feel they do owe a debt to the school. we beg you to clear that debt in concrete form. The academic results last year were below expectation, owing largely to the time wasted by seniors during study periods and preparation. To combat this we have spent rather more than 353,000.00 converting the Assembly Hall into a Study Hall, which is manned at all times by a Master. thus ensuring that no study or preparation is done in unsuper- vised lodges or Library, and that complete quiet can prevail. Also that the procrastination. which is the customary disease of young people, putting off until tomorrow the study which should be done today, is cut to a minimum. The general improvement has already been most marked and will undoubtedly show up in the June exams. In general the MA sets are all goodg the MBU sets not too bad, and only the 'Cv sets are giving anxiety. Not all boys by any means are geared to an academic lifeg they may have many other properties, and qualities of physique, of personal charm and integrity of character to a better than average degree- but the fact remains that some boys are not equipped to learn as quickly as others, and constant prodding and pressure is essential to make any progress at all. This coercion is applied steadily by the Masters concerned with varying degrees of success, and the amount of progress achieved must be measured in the light of all these factors. IVhile some boys will require more time than others to reach their goal, there are none who are not moving steadily- if in some cases slowly- towards it. Speaking of improvements to the Assembly Hall brings to mind the fact that we have at the same time started improvements to the recrea- tion rooms for the senior boys. The Studies are no longer fearsome holes -though untidiness at times is a problem. The senior lounge is comfortable and next year the classroom now opposite the lounge will be available to equip as a recreation room. If anyone knows of a billiard table for sale, I'd be glad to hear of it! Improvements are, of course, also being planned for Harvey House. Indeed, one of the outcomes of the new Science-Classroom block addition will be much improved recreational facilities for the boys. The object is not to increase enrol- ment but to increase efficiency and facilities in general. The sporting activities have again been very successful this year. In rugger the six senior XVls played a total of 50 matches, winning 47 of them, losing only one and drawing two. This is indeed a tribute to the quality of the coaching right through the school. The First XV then went to England and, in a period of seven days, won four matches - a fact that the British newspapers lauded as a tribute to Canadian fitness and energy. VVe would probably have won the fifth and last match also, but our luck ran out. In the first place through an error, we arrived on the wrong day- two days early - and had to sandwich the game between watching the Boat Race and being Lord Thomson's guests at the Sunday Timm: Crofton hurt his knee on the morning of the match and could not play. while Kelly became our first game 14

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while that notable athlete, Mr. Ed Kelter, is coaching the divers with great success. There is no doubt that the general level of performance in all major sports has risen considerably of late, owing principally to the unselfnsh and time-consuming coaching by all the Masters concerned. The Cadet Corps continues to maintain its high standard and on Inspection Day it gave its customary impressive display. I hope that last night many of you were able to see the Sunset Ceremony which is becoming an accepted part of our Speech Day celebrations and a very pleasing part, too. The Cadet Corps Flag and the Glockenspiel, presented by the Parents' Auxiliaries, added greatly to the occasion. It is remarkable what a difference these gifts can make, just as the hurdles are doing for the .Athletic Programme and the books to the Library. IYell done the Parents' Auxiliaries. Another, though different. field wherein the movement is up, is in Music. The general level of singing in Chapel is improving all the time. Once again we had a choir singing with distinction in the local music festival and the Music Rooms are becoming more and more busy - especially during the winter months - as the boys are discover- ing the possibilities of the music world. It is my sincere hope that one day the school will have its own orchestra and it will certainly not be Mr. Ansdell's fault if this does not materialize ere long. For some years now the annual turnover of teaching staff has been far below nonnal for a school of this type. This year, however, we say good-bye with great regret to four Masters. Mr. Inglis, who came to us three years ago, after three years at his school in Scotland, now wants to see another part of Canada and is going to St. Andrew's, Aurora. Incidentally, in reverse procedure, Mr. R. C. Pollard is coming from the East, after three years at Bishop's College School. Mr. Parsons was all set to extend his contract for at least another year when he noticed an advertisement by the Nautical College at Pangbourne-on- Thames, where he did his teacher training, for just the post he coveted. X'Vho can blame him, and I-most regretfully-but most whole- heartedly, supported his application. Mr. Mugridge has been awarded a Research Scholarship by the L'niversity of California, and he will be leaving to further his academic studies there. Mr. Prowse already holds his KIaster's Degree from the Ifniversity of Cambridge, but has de- cided, very wisely I think, to go to the University of Sussex for a year to add the diploma of education to his already considerable qualin- cations. To these four young men, for two of whom this has been their first teaching post, I cannot do other than thank them for all they have done. Each in his own way has given of his best and each will carry with him the respect and the affectionate regard of both his colleagues and pupils. In one other Held it has not been a happy year and indeed a great deal of time, money, thought and effort have been wasted, but in every business or corporation or institution there are inevitably from time to time difficult periods -the wonder is that here, in this ivory tower in which we live. we have had so few. Perhaps the best comment I can 16