Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

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8 Kxlay ... in its failure Lo hold on lo things that truly made for its Ik jjiw and ws il-lx ing. . . . 1 he only hope for our getting out of the pn s. Ht dine of iear and suspicion and unrest in the world is the deep s :iriiual conviction among all peoples that there is no salva- tion for mankind excej i by a return to the sense of duty by every human being to God and his fellow men. It would be they of ihcir generation who must try to assure a fine new world when they grew up. He wished them good luck and good fortune wherever they might go. Tribute to R» E. Booker By John W. Cox, C.B.E. It is now more than fifty years since the establishment of Saltus Grammar School. In that length of time the school has had only three headmasters. This has been an important factor in establishing the school on a firm foundation for it has created a sense of stability, continuity and permanence. The school has been even more fortunate in that each of the three headmasters, in accordance with the best traditions of the teaching profession, have always been more concerned over the advancement of the school and the best interests of the pupils than with their own advantage. It is with great regret that the Trustees have received the resignation of Mr. Booker. Their regret will be fully shared by the staff, who have worked with

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7 On this celebration of Empire Day they were gathered together to do homage to an institution which had stood the test for over 500 years, and he believed that the British Empire was the finest institution of its kind the world had ever known. It was not perfect, but history had shown no better. Those of them who were students of history wotild realise that its evolution showed how well it had worked; there was the evolution of self-governing institutions, and from the colony the emergence of the Dominion; then at the call of distress they had seen the sister nations ready to help England and to help each other. The Empire had changed since he was a boy. In those earlier times England had provided practically every- thing in the way of protection; now she herself had lost much of her former strength, but although there had been some re-distribution of strength the Empire as a whole stood as strong as ever. Yet it was doubly important that all stood together. The Empire stood for fair play. Recent events in Palestine furnished a good example of this and of British integrity. Their school here in Bermuda corresponded to the public school in England, and cherished the same public school spirit, that of fair play. In life, as in games, they must strive to play to the rules; it was not so vital to win as to play fair and play cleanly. The same spirit should be carried with them into business: it was better to have less money with a clear conscience than to have more money when it was soiled by sharp practice. Who is the happy warrior, who is he that every man at arms would wish to be? asked the poet Wordsworth. And who is the good citizen they should wish to be? He would like to build him up on these Don ' ts . . . Don ' t moan and grouse all day long. Don ' t let yourself or anyone else down. Don ' t forget the other chap ' s point of view. These epitomised a spirit of unselfishness. Recently he had been privileged to be present at Government House to witness an investiture for a fine action of - unselfishness and of great gallantry. It was the award of the George Medal to Geoffrey Allan Osborne, who on two separate occasions, separated by an interval of about six months, had dashed to the rescue of the crew of his crashed and burning plane, as a result of which he had been badly burned about the hands and face and partially crippled. That was the spirit which counted in the world. If they read their papers they would gather the impression that the world was in a bit of a muddle. Now let him read them the opinion of some very eminent gentlemen expressed at a recent meeting at the Albert Hall, London, of a society called Christian Action . The Society was composed of leading citizens of Western Europe, including the eminent diplomat, Lord Halifax. We all have to acknowledge our share in the great failure of the world

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9 him, by a considerable company of old boys who have passed through the school during his administration and by the scholars now at school. Mr. Booker, instead of proceeding immediately to Oxford during the First World War, like all of the best of his generation, re sponded to the call of duty, and served in France on active service as a subaltern in the Buffs (East Kent Regiment). At the conclusion of the war he went up to Brasenose College, Oxford, and in due course received his degree. After several years of teaching at his old school, St. Andrew ' s, Eastbourne, and at a private school, Mr. Booker decided to seek experience and opportunity on this side of the Atlantic. After serving in Bermuda as a member of the staff of Somers College in Southampton Parish, Mr. Booker joined the staff of the Saltus Grammar School in 1933, and shortly afterwards he was called upon to share with Mr. Freer Cox and Mr. H. J. Hallett the responsibility of the administration of the school, be- cause of the serious illness of the headmaster, Mr. Henry C. Cox. On the resignation through protracted illness of Mr. Cox, Mr. Booker was appointed headmaster with effect from the commence- ment of the Easter term, 1934. W hen seeking a worthy successor to the headmastership which had been filled with such distinction by his two predecessors, it was not difficult for the Trustees to feel assured that Mr. Booker would fill the position with credit and to the advantage of the school. Mr. Booker had already demonstrated that he possessed in good measure a high sense of duty, good learn- ing, enthusiasm, a real love of his chosen profession, a great liking for boys, as well as a fundamental understanding of them. During his administration Mr. Booker ' s enthusiasm and his interest in the school has never flagged. He has worked both in school and out for the improvement and advancement of the school. It was upon Mr. Booker ' s shoulders that the burden fell to carry the school through the difficulties and anxieties of the recent v ar. The Trustees would like to pay their tribute to Mr. Booker for his work in the Imperial Censorship Establishment so willingly undertaken and carried out by him without remuneration and witfiout detriment to the work of the school. The Trustees would also take this opportunity to record their appreciation of Mr. Booker ' s efforts since the cessation of hostilities to make good defects and commence projects for the further advancement and improve- ment of the school which the exigencies of war have inevitably delayed. After fifteen years at the Saltus Grammar School Mr. Booker feels the need for a change and a wish to pursue his vocation in another sphere, and so in furtherance of his plans he has resigned