Saltus Grammar School - Yearbook (Hamilton, Bermuda)

Page 7 text:

5 Empire Day Celebrated Empire Day was celebrated at Saltus Grammar School on Mon- day morning by a service conducted by the Headmaster, Mr. H. J. Hallett, in the School Hall. Vice -Admiral R. V. Symonds-Tayler, naval Commander-in- Chief, was present with the Secretary to the C. in C, Commdr. (S) D. Armstrong; and Mrs. Leon Powell represented the LO.D.E. Prior to the Assembly in the Hall the Commander-in-Chief inspected a Cadet guard-of-honour. In the course of a brief introductory address the Headmaster said that the presence of the Commander-in-Chief at their Empire Day celebrations had become a tradition, which Vice-Admiral Sy- monds-Tayler had kindly consented to maintain. He was also happy to welcome Mrs. Leon Powell, the representative of the I.O.D.E., which had done so much to foster the spirit of the Empire in Bermuda. Vice-Admiral Symonds-Tayler prefaced his message to the boys by a brief reference to the history of Empire Day. He said that it was not until about the middle of the last century that England began to emerge as the centre of this Empire on which the sun never set . The reason for this was to be found largely in the de- velopment of improved communications, which brought the peoples of the Empire closer together and enabled the emigrant to carry the message of Empire to the furthest outposts; but the fact that the Empire came to mean so much to its members throughout the world was due to the personality of Queen Victoria, through which the Crown became a symbol of all that was good; with her too started that wonderful family feeling inspired by the Crown which all of them must have experienced when listening to His Majesty the King broadcasting a message to his people throughout the world. Empire Day itself had been inaugurated forty-seven years ago, in 1902, when Lord Meath suggested that the birthday of Queen Victoria be set aside as a day on which Britons the world over should pay homage to their Empire which had stood the test for three hun- dred years and which was, to use the words of Lord Meath, the finest institution the world has ever seen. On such a day, therefore, his chief message to them was that of Loyalty. They might find it defined in the dictionary as faith- ful in allegiance to King or Country or those over us. Loyalty was not artificial, but a natural thing born in everyone; it was a natural thing which had only to be developed — towards parents, towards King and Country, and towards God.

Page 6 text:

Foreword In this, my first rorewr)rcl in the School Year Book, I wish, first of all, to pay tribtite to the loyalty of my Staff, both those who once were my co-members and those who have joined the Staff since I became Headmaster; and secondly, to thank the bovs and their jjarents for their co-operation in my task of assuming the responsi- bilities of the School. Looking back to this time last year, it was very far from my thoughts that in the short space of eleven months, so many changes would take place on the Staff of the School. With the resignations of Mr, Booker, Mr. Rogers, Mr. Leseur, Mr. Applegate and Mr. Mahoney, we were faced with a difficult problem. However, we have indeed been fortunate in obtaining the services of Mr. Rosser, Mr. Walton, Mr. Hart and Mr. Lethbridge, whom those of you, who have made their acquaintance, will agree are very valuable successors to their predecessors. Also, it was decided that, until the building of the gymnasium was in progress, we should not replace Mr. Mahoney, as the gymnastic periods had never really pro ed satisfactory without a proper gymnasium. As long ago as January 1944, a Fund was started by the Old Boys Association for a School gymnasium to be erected to the mem- ory of those Old Boys who served in the Armed Forces in the first and second World Wars. The amount aimed at was £5,000 and this was attained in 1946. Since then a good deal of discussion has taken place on the plans and the site of the proposed building. Consideration had to be given to other needs of the School, and now I am pleased to say that the Trustees and the Old Boys Com- mittee have approved of plans (a picture of the south elevation appears on another page) which, as well as a gymnasium, will pro- vide a changing-room, a much needed larger laboratory, an extra class room, a lunch room and a new assembly hall. The estimated cost is in the neighbourhood of £50,000!! At present, we have £11,000 at our disposal, so the completed building will have to be accomplished in separate stages, but a start must be made, and I appeal to all Saltus people to back the project in every way. HJ.H. Editorial We went to press this year under abnormal circumstances, since the editor only arrived from England in February and has had to deal with many activities that took place before his arrival. Con- sequently, we should like to thank members of the staff for their advice and assistance, and more especially the numerous contribu- tors. We ho[)e to devote more space to news of Old Boys in next year ' s Year Book and thus offer a more complete record than before.

Page 8 text:

6 It was natural lor tlicni when at school to accxpt tlic advice of their elders, though he would not wish them to Ijeconie mere machines but to think for themselves and to cultivate initiative.. For many people, one manilestation of loyalty, and an admiral)le one, was towards the examide set by sr)me great man, on whose life they would seek tomould their own. In a more general sense loyalty emerged as faithfulness to one ' s fellows: it was a good rule never to say an) thing aboiu anyone which they dare not say to his face. They were familiar with the old adage, Less said, sooner mended , but a better precept was, Nothing said, nothing to mend. Finally, let them remember that it was due to their forefathers that the Empire stood as it stood today, and to see that they did not fail it when their own time came to serve it. Cricket Last s ason ' s cricket was most satisfactory and under the leader- ship of D. A. Gosling the school turned out some very creditable elevens. The First Eleven played five games winning two and losing three. The Junior League played only two matches winning cne and losing the other. The Second Division Vv on its only game against an Old Boys team on Founders Day. Cricket is a game which is suffering locally and it is only natural that such a decline in interest is bound to have its effect on schoolboys. One cannot avoid expressing an opinion here that better results might be obtained, particularly in the batting department, if the early stages of this phase of the game could be taught on some more satisfactory pitch than rough ground or high-bouncing concrete. We are determined, however, that the game shall continue to develop for it is our opinion that the lessons that it has to offer are invaluable in char- acter development of the youth of Bermuda. Jst Eleven S.G.S. First Eleven, 123, vs. Warwick Academy, 76; Won. S.G.S. First Eleven, 127, vs. Cable : Wireless, 128 for 8; Lost. S.G.S. First Eleven, 66, vs. Admiralty House, 85; Lost. S.G.S. First Eleven, 98, vs. Mt. St. Agnes, 60; Won. S.G.S. First Eleven, 71, vs. S.G.S. Old Boys, 127; Lost. Junior League: S.G.S. Junior League, 35 for 6, vs. Warwick Academy, 34; Won. ■ S.Ci.S. Junior League, 46, vs. Warwick Academy, 51; Lost. 2nd Eleven: S.G.S. Second Eleven, 116, vs. S.G.S. Old Boys, 78; Won.