Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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8 Tost-War by the Headmaster I notice that the last time I wrote for the Saltus Year Book ' I expressed the opinion that our time of hardest work and most difificulties to be overcome might arrive in the transition or post- war period. It now seems to me that what I then wrote has proved to be correct, and that we are not yet nearly out of the wood. Plans have already been made for additions to the buildings of the school, notably the provision of a Physics Laboratory and a Gym- nasium; valued members of the teaching staff are leaving, or have already left us. In these days of shortage of materials, high cost of labour and difficult travelling conditions, it may be well imagined much thought and consideration have taken place and that prompt and definite action is the next step to be taken. By the time that this article is in print it is very probable that I shall be on my way to England to recruit young men of the type I have been so fortunate as always to have here on the staff. I earnestly hope that I shall be successful in finding able teachers of a kind that can assist those tried and valuable gentlemen and ladies who will still be with us. The emoluments of schoolmasters are not large, but the profession is in many ways a pleasant one and Bermuda, I feel, should not be without its attractions as a place in which to live after hardships suffered in Europe and elsewhere. Later in this issue our thanks are expressed briefly to those who have helped us throughout the war period and who now have to move on to other work. Also published for the first time in this copy of the Saltus Year Book is a Roll of Service of Saltus men. No doubt this Roll will not be found complete in every detail, but it is the intention of those responsible to publish a separate and really complete list of all who served, when complete particulars are available. The school is proud of the war record of her Old Boys and the Gym- nasium to be erected will be a memorial to those who gave their lives in the late war and in the 1914-18 struggle. I need hardly, I think, write that the spirit of Saltus has sur- vived war-time difficulties unimpaired, and I h ave no doubt what- ever that it will lead us to a new peak of eminence if all do their duty and contribute what they can. R. E. E. B. Staff Notes At the end of this term the school will be losing the valuable services of Major W. B. Welch, who has helped us here since 1940 and throughout the war period. Bringing his great experience and infinite human kindness to the school, Major Welch has endeared

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7 Old Boys News Fit. Lt. E. G. Nicholl, Fit. Lt. Francis Gosling and F 0. J. R. Gibbons have had their portraits painted at the request of the Air Ministry for inclusion in a gallery of ' Famous Flyers. ' H. St. G. Butterfield has been elected Mayor of Hamilton. A. D. Spurling has been appointed Chairman of the Board of Immigration. H. F. Watlington is now a member of the Board of Immigra- tion. Capt. A. Gosling married Beatrice Jones in England. DeF. Trimingham married Pamela Trowbridge in the U.S. H. C. E. Masters m.arried Valerie Jeanne Harnett in the U.S. Lieut. John Trimingham, B.M.A., acted as A.D.C. to the Governor for a few weeks during the winter in the absence from the island of Fit. Lt. Litchfield. 2nd Lieut. N. R. Nugent is now serving in the Royal Gwalior Rifles on the North West Frontier of India. Benson Thompson is now Chief Petty Officer on H.M.S. Conway. A. J. Motyer has been awarded the Rhodes Scholarship for 1945, and is going to Christ Church College, Oxford, where he was preceded by his late uncle, also a Rhodes Scholar. T. Covel has been awarded an Agricultural Scholarship. T. I. Crawford has passed his final exams at McGill Univer- sity, and is now qualified to practise as a doctor. R. L. Barnard is now an instructor in the McGill O.T.C. Just about Christmas we were glad to see two Old Boys whom we have not seen for some time. F. G. Lines, who is a petroleum geologist with the Dominion Oil Co. of Canada, was back on his first visit home since he left, more than seven years ago. O. H. Darrell was here on a few weeks leave. He is now a lieutenant in the Navy, and is hoping for his discharge some time this summer. P. N. Spurling is now released from the U.S. Army and is studying at Pennsylvania State University. His brother, D. L. Spurling is now serving in the U.S. Forces. Many of the Old Boys who have been serving overseas are now returning. It would be hopeless to try to give a list of those who are back, because more are arriving almost daily, and a list would be out of date before it could be published. We should like them to know that they are always welcome, if they care to visit the School.

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9 himself to all at Saltus and he will be very much missed v hen he leaves us to visit his family in Great Britain, and perhaps, to live there. Mr. R. R. Thompson, at one time Head Prefect of this school and since 1943 a member of the Staff is also leaving to take up once again his course for a Degree at the Uni- versity of Toronto. His valuable work on the teaching staff and in the Bursary will long be remembered here. Earlier in the year, also, we lost the assistance, after fourteen years of service, of Mr. Harry Richardson; his vast fund of geographical knowledge has been missed by the pupils of Saltus. Mr. Hugh Masters, whose place as a teacher of Spanish was temporarily taken by Major Mason, was another valuable member of the Staff who left the school during the past twelve months. His enthusiasm and cheer- fulness were sadly missed here, but I am glad to say that from time to time he has come to fill in and to resume his old activities. He is now returning to Williams College in Massachusetts. This term the school was fortunate enough to secure the services of Major R. C. FitzGibbon, who has had a remarkable war record and whose scholastic career was brilliant ... at one time he gained, aged fourteen, a School Certificate with a Credit or better in all eight subjects offered : he has also been educated at Oxford and in France and Germany. To the newcomers, whoever they may be, we ex- tend a most hearty welcome and to those who have served and have left, or are leaving, our grateful thanks and heartiest best wishes. R. E E. B. Visit of the Acting Governor His Excellency the Acting Governor, the Hon. William Addis, visited Saltus Grammar School on a tour of inspection on Tuesday Nov. 6th. Accompanied by his A.D.C., Lieut. J. B. Trimingham, B.V.E., His Excellency was met at the school gate by the Head- master, Mr. R. E. E. Booker, and the Head Prefect. His Excellency first inspected the Cadet guard-of-honour, drawn up at the flag-staff, and then made the tour of the class- rooms to see the boys at work. Following the inspection the school adjourned to the Assembly Hall, where His Excellency delivered an address. The programme had provided for a physical training display on the playing field, but this was cancelled owing to the inclement weather. At the conclusion of the proceedings the staff were pre- sented to His Excellency at the Headmaster ' s House. In the course of his address to the boys. His Excellency said that the question of his future career loomed large in a boy ' s thoughts from an early age. It was a burning question in the nursery, with a predilection, perhaps, in favour of the profession