Selwyn House School - Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR 1964-1965 31 We were fortunate in receiving as a gift from Mr. Frank Johnson practically complete issues of the National Geographic Magazine from 1952 to the end of 1963. As we are getting the indexes for these, the magazines should be a big help to the boys in some of their proiects. Some of the other generous donors have been Dr. Redmond, who donated the autobiography of Dr Alton Goldbloom, Mrs. Markland and Colonel Brine. Fines from overdue books have also purchased some books. We are all very pleased that the Library is actually being used as a Reading and Study Room by the boys. It has always been planned that the Library would be a pleasant, attractive room where reading for pleasure or study could be quietly carried on. E. Pick, Librarian European Tours 1964 It is hoped that the following brief outline may give our readers the urge to see for themselves, not only how the world outside Canada lives, but also something of the beauty and venerable tradition of the lands of our ancestors. Tour 'semi-de-luxe', lasting from 1st July to 9th August, was made by Tommy Bourne and Ulrich Scheel will contrast this with his version, both, we think, of great value. Bourne flew with a group of 14 boys of his own age group by B.O.A.C. to London, England, where they were met by the tour director and his assistant, with two buses which became their main form of transportation throughout the tour. From London to Oxford via Windsor Castle and St. George's Chapel made an impressive start. A visit to one of England's famous public schools which was quite fantastic and a visit to some of the Oxford colleges, the oldest of which dated back to 1249. From Oxford to Henley Regatta and the exclusiveness of the steward's enclosure, Stratford-on-Avon of Shakespearean fame and Blenheim Castle the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Next to Coventry Cathedral, im- pressive in its resurgence from the ruins of Nazi bombings. To Bath, a spa in Roman days, and Salisbury Cathedral back to London. London's St. Pauls Cathe- dral, Madame Tussauds, Fleet Street, the Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace, theatres and then by D.C.8 to Paris. ln Paris we saw the Arc de Triomphe, Cleopatra's Needle, Napoleon's Tomb - so much to see and so little time in which to see it! After three days in Paris, on by bus to Chartres and its magnificent Cathedral - Mont St. Michele - St. Malo and so 200 miles on to Pornichet and thro' the chateau district via Tours to Chennonceaux and on to Switzerland. St. Bernard and Zermatt with beautiful scenery and a glimpse ofthe Matterhorn and to Lausanne. Back into France via Diion and Fontainbleau, Versailles and Bourget airport to Copenhagen in Den- mark. Two days in Copenhagen and then, by ferry, to Ribe and to Odense the home of Hans Christian Andersen. Next to Oslo where we saw the ski iump and the history of skiis from about 2000 B.C., and some traditional dancing. From Oslo via Sandyfjord and Lyselil to Goteborg and Elsinore of Hamlet fame and finally a 3866 mile flight back from Copenhagen to Montreal. This is just an outline of a fabulous iourney which would take pages to relate in any detail. T.B.

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30 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE fe-A L-RX Q x: UTM f I JJ. ikeviwy Literary Competition Entry to literary competition in the senior school this year was voluntary and the response was disappointing. The middle and junior schools on the other hand, showed keeness. Unfortunately the standard of the work did not match the enthusiasm. All entries betrayed either careless revision or a total absence of polishing, and choice of theme was, too often, dull or unsuitable. Apart from obvious class exercises, the favourite theme this year appears to be aimless or incredible antics in outer space, and successful crime. Verse was erratic and faltering and no poetry is awarded this year. The short story prize is awarded to Scheel, whose command of a foreign tongue is impressive. The essay prize goes to Allison, with Roden's highly com- mended. The winning contribution from the junior school, which excelled those of the middle school, was from Hale. House points for meritorious effort are awarded to: Coristine l, Dorland l, Schindler, Tratt l, Hamovitch, Wingham, O'Hearn and Kaplan. Photographic Competition The entries for this competition were of very poor quality, lacking in artistic effort, originality and school interest. However a prize was awarded to R. Mac- Dougall, and commendations to S. Miller and M. Wollock. On the other hand our thanks and commendation are due to Bruce Barker for his many photographic efforts on behalf of this magazine. MEIGHEN ESSAY The essays submitted for this competition were again, assessed by the judges to be of high standard. Space does not permit the reproducing of these essays in this magazine, but our congratulations go to Bruce Gill, the winner and to Jody Allison and Rodney Devitt who were adjudged second and third respectively. THE LIBRARY This has been another good year for the Library. The Junior School has been thoroughly enjoying their new Library shelves and bookcases. These cases with their glass doors do display the books to good advantage. As the boys pass by, they seemingly choose books for their next Library period. They know exactly where each of their favourite books are dis- played. Also, all the new books purchased by the School have stirred up even more interest with the result that the circulation of books in the Junior School is very large and the boys are very enthusiastic. The Senior Library is functioning very well. A great many very fine books have been purchased by the School and we have had some valuable donations.

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32 SELWYN HOUSE SCHOOL MAGAZINE On June llth my parents, my sister and I took off from Dorval with an S.A.S. DC 8C and seven hours later arrived at Kastrup Airport, Copenhagen. It was great to be back, however, everything seemed to have remained the same, the people, the miserable weather and the slow service for which Danish waiters are so well known. We had rented a wonderful little house, about half an hour drive out of Copenhagen and only a few minutes from the sea, that is to say, the stretch of water between Denmark and Sweden, Oresund. The first few days were spent visiting relatives and looking up old friends as well as getting used to the climate - the latter, about which ousted Premier Kruschev who was visiting Scandinavia at that time, had a few harsh words, and no wonder - it rained most of the two months we were there. A week after our arrival I contacted one of my father's motoring friends to ask him about possible summer employment - preferable working on either motorcycles or cars, cars it was to be. Two days later I was interviewed, and accepted as an assistant to the mechanics at a large Fiat Automotive Repair Plant. ln my six weeks of work there I learnt a great deal about engines as well as people. It was not that I worked exclusively on cars - most of the time I spent hauling crates of fifty beer bottles - mechanics' thirsts are insatiable - and for two weeks I was assigned to looking after the plant's household, that is to say, brewing coffee, washing dishes and keeping at least thirty bottles of beer on ice. The mechanic to whom I was assigned, proved to be a regular great guy and we soon made the best of friends. He told me he had iust completed the obligatory eighteen months of service in the army and I told him I was from Canada, and in no time we were exchanging experiences. I practically talked him into emigrating to Canada. While working on cars - everything from the tiny Fiat 800 to a specially built Fiat Maserati sports car, we had many a hair-raising experience. One day while working on a rusty old HOOD, changing out the exhaust system, I was nearly burnt alive. The muffler and the pipe which leads up to the engine had become inse- parable by several years of rust which had formed at their iunction. We tried everything from rust-dissolving liquid to hammers, but the muffler wouldn't budge an inch. At last we resorted to use the acetylene torch, he was to heat up the pipe so it would expand while I was to wrench away at the muffler to get it off. As there wasn't much room in which to work I had to hold my hands uncomfortably close to the torch. When l complained that the metal was be- coming rather hot - he asked an apprentice to bring me a water-soaked rag to wind around my hand. I got the rag all right, but little did I know that someone had gone and mistaken water for oil, with the result that soon my hand was one flaming inferno - luckily I escaped with no burns, Another day when working in the pit putting in a new clutch disc some idiot tripped over an oil tray and sent it flying - resulting in my face and hair be- coming one indistinguishable black mass. What a laugh everybody had. The only thing I disliked about the job was the Friday afternoon mop-up operations, when one had to first sweep, then wash, and last but not least rinse with petrol some 5,000 square feet of garage floor. All covered with oil slicks. The petrol had to be used in great quantities and the fumes became rather nauseating at times, but one gradually got used to them - however, I shall never forget the Friday when a Spaniard not being able to read the Danish 'No Smoking' sign, entered the garage and lit up a cigarette - he was