Trinity College School - Record Yearbook (Port Hope, Ontario Canada)

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Trinity College School Record VOL. 37 ' TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL, PORT HOPE,OCT.,l933. No.1 The Rev. Dr. Oswald Rigby, lVI.A., LI...D. We deeply regret to have to record the death of the Rev. Dr. Oswald Rigby on July 26th. last. Dr. Rigby, it will be recalled, celebrated his fiftieth year in Holy Orders only a few months before his death. He was Headmaster of the School from 1903 to 1913. With his passing, the School loses a faithful and loyal friend. The article which we print now in tribute to his memory has been written for us by Professor Bridger, who was a. master at T.C.S. in Dr. Rigby's time. A FEW REIVIINISCENCES My first remembrances of Dr. Rigby go back to the early part of the year 1907, before I had left the Old Country for Canada, when I received from him a very cordial letter of welcome to Trinity College School. My welcome on arrival at Port Hope was no less cordial than the terms of the letter, and during the six years in which I was privileged to work under him as an assistant-master, I found him always the same, cordial, genial and affable to all who worked for him or with him. He had been appointed Headmaster in 1903 when the number of boys at the School was well under 1003 before he left in 1913 the number had increased to an average of 135, reaching one year 147, a large number for those days. The reputation in which the School was held at that time may be evidenced by a sentence from a letter written in 1907 by the first Lord Strathcona: Trinity College School is an admirable institution which has turned out many and useful men. Dr. Rigby took over the School when it was burdened with a large debtg this debt by skilful management he greatly reduced, yet he was by no means sparing in the matter of improvements which he considered vital to the successful running of a school. Under his watchful care the inherent beauty of the Chapel, now alas no more, was enhanced by many additions, the hospital was complete-

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The Rev. Oswald Rigby, IVLA., LL.D Headmaster 1903-1913.

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Q TRINITY COLLEGE SCHOOL RECORD ly remodelled and equipped for both ordinary and isolation cases, and extensive purchases of adjoining property more than doubled the extent of the grounds and playing fields. Furthermore, what appealed most of all to the boys, was the fact that, during his regime, a covered skating rink was erected by the Old Boys of the School. But Dr. Rigby will not be remembered chiefly for the material improvements to the buildings and grounds, which took place in his time, but rather for his endearing personality. His deep at- tachment to the School and all that concerned its physical develop- ment was far surpassed by his interest in the human element under his control. Each individual boy and master was treated with an affection which was unmistakable and an understanding which was rare, both at the School and, also, after he had left. This Christmas, for the first time since Dr. Rigby left the School in 1913, I shall not receive the customary little card of good wishes and there will be many other Old Boys and Masters in a like case. When a bad epidemic struck the School the Head's house was at once used as an overiiow hospital, and all who were ill were watched over with tender solicitude by their Headmaster. In times of sorrow or bereavement as well as in times of sickness every boy knew that this same house was a place of refuge and consola- tion. His sympathy, his understanding and his accessibility will always remain in the memories of his Old Boys and Masters. In the words of Sir Thomas Browne he was of a constitution which sympathised with all things. Dr. Rigby went to school himself at Liverpool College. From there he proceeded to St. John's College, Cambridge, where he ob- tained his M.A. His life in Canada was divided between Trinity College, Toronto, of which he was one of the most successful deans, Trinity College School, and the parish of St. Markis, Port Hope, where he spent the last twenty years of his life with his two sisters, Miss Edith Rigby and Miss Ada Rigby, the latter had also been for many years very closely identified with the School. He seem- ed to be very happy in Port Hope as he could of course keep in close touch with his old School and with its past and present mem- bers. No School function seemed to be complete without his presence, and no Old Boy nor Master missed the opportunity of a renewal of friendship, or at least a word with him. His name is perpetuated in the Rigby House and his memory in the hearts of all who knew him.