Shawnigan Lake School - Yearbook (Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia Canada)

Page 17 text:

Wotf Cd flotes The Wolf Cubs had an enjoyable though uneventful year. Slightly higher membership gave two even Sixes, and competition was keen for both work and games, resulting in a good all-round standard. The Wigwam in the woods was completed, but in spite of high hopes the hot weather came too late into the examination period to enable the Cubs to sleep out. Mr. T Bounce Uhe Dramatic S ocieti The Society produced two main shows during the 1955-56 season and each showed an improved standard over that of the previous year. On the Old Boys ' week-end in November, the Society staged H.M.S. Pinafore by Gilbert and Sullivan. It was the first time that a full length operetta had been staged by the school, and it seemed to be extremely popular both with the audience and the participants. Particularly successful in their roles were Murray McAlpine as Captain Corceran; John Armstrong as Sir Joseph; John Mackenzie as Josephine and W. Muller as a Portsmouth Bumboat Woman. In March the Society produced its annual spring presentation, which consisted of four one- act plays. The first was a play put on by Copeman ' s House called Dream House. It was well directed by Mr. Curtis and the boys obviously enjoyed doing it. The second was Milne ' s The Ugly Duckling. This proved to be an excellent comedy and was very well directed by Mr. Orpen. T. Burrows, as the King, and C. Pentland as the Chancellor, performed particularly well in their roles and demonstrated a good deal of dramatic ability. The beautiful but very dumb maid, Dulcibella, was portrayed admirably by B. Varcoe. One of the finest contributions to the success of the production was made by P. Culter as the Prince. Others who took part were W. Muller, M. Nuttall-Smith and D. Ross. The third play was The Monkey ' s Paw by W. W. Jacobs. This was very difficult to put across because of the fact that it depends for its success almost entirely upon atmosphere. However, a very fine effort was made and all who took part are to be congratulated. These are A. Vincent as Mr. White, C. Malkin as Mrs. White, S. Ryland as Herbert, C. Kyles as Sergeant-Major Morris and R. McKechnie as Mr. Samson. The final play was another attempt by the staff to frustrate any efforts the Dramatic Society were making to achieve success. It was the farce, Box and Cox, by J. M. Morton. Mr. Box and Mr. Cox were played by Mr. Knibb and Mr. Larsen and the cockney landlady, Mrs. Bouncer, was executed by Mr. Hyde Lay. Page Fifteen

Page 16 text:

Following the precedent of the previous year, the Guard and the Band on the evening of June 1st performed the Sunset Ceremony on the lawn before the Parliament Buildings at Victoria. Though the time available for practising for this ceremony was very limited, the Cadets selected drilled conscientiously in their spare time and as a result performing again almost faultlessly, were rated by the Officers from other units who judged the Sunset Ceremonies above most of the other Cadet Corps who turned out. During the performance A. B. Greenwood was awarded a swagger stick for being the smartest Cadet on parade. Immediately after the Sunset Ceremony the Guard and Band went for the week-end to H.M.C.S. Naden, where the various Corps on the Island had sent representatives. The activities began on Saturday morning with an inspection of all the Cadets by Commodore P. Budge, R.C.N. For this inspection and march-past Cougar had been asked to Mount the Guard, commanded by Lieutenant Archbold, whicli was complimented by the Inspecting Officer, as was the Band, who performed like veterans. In the sports, rifle shooting, whaler racing, track and field events, and tug-of-war pull, Cougar won everything except the shooting. The whaler race was close and exciting but the final pull against Alberni in the tug-of-war was won unexpectedly quick ' y because of some clever strategy suggested by Sub-Lieutenant Hyde-Lay. Three trophies came to Shawnigan as a result of these victories during the Sea Cadets ' week-end. No account of the events of the year, however, would be complete without an expression of the Corps ' gratitude to C.P.O. Birch, who soon earned the admiration of all and who gave us invaluable help and advice, and to Mr. A. Higgs who gave unstintingly of his time in the perfecting of the band. Both were always ready to make the long drive from Victoria to bring us their able assistance at crucial moments. As the final event of the year, presentations were made to both C.P.O. Birch and Mr. Higgs when, after the prize-giving on Speech Day, the P.O. ' s of the Corps gathered at Lieutenant and Mrs. Archbold s home for a buffet dinner and the presentations. Thus ended a most successful year in which the Cadets of R.C.S.C.C. Cougar proved they had the qualities of Champions. Amongst the graduating Cadets who have done well are Crisp, pursuing a career in the services and now attending H.M.C.S. Venture, where, we hear, he is thoroughly enjoying life; and McKechnie, studying at U.B.C., where he won a Navy League Scholarship. Our heartiest congratulations are extended to them both. cout ewd A small Troop of ten boys somewhat restricted activities during the year. Several hikes were held and one week-end camp at Cherry Point. All boys were invested and several almost qualified for 2nd class badges. A start was made on a small conservation project in June and we hope to complete it in the fall. Page Fourteen

Page 18 text:

f- ancaKe Cy reaze The Annual Pancake Greaze took place in the gymnasium as usual on Shrove Tuesday, February 14th. As soon as Tom had thrown the pancake after the blowing of the whistle, the struggle was on. It lasted the traditional three minutes, long enough for Vandersluys and Cromie, repre- senting the Upper Fourth, to seize the lion ' s share and to emerge victorious. Those who represented their forms are listed below: Upper Vlth — Smith and Money. Remove A — Armstrong II and Phillips. Lower Vlth — Stainer and Vincent. Remove B — Appleton and Ross. Upper Vth — Benson and Brown. Form III — Fox and La Sette. Upper I Vth — Cromie and Vandersluys. Form II — Curtis I, Robson and Taylor. Lower IVth — Mead-Robins and Pratt. ik ti ft SJhe cJLibrary During the year the Library saw many changes and improvements as new books and magazines were added to the shelves and furniture, another table and eight chairs, was placed in the Library. This made it possible for more boys to read a wider range of books or to work there with the reference works that are now available. For these improvements the school is most grateful to those parents in Vancouver who contributed to the fund which paid for a large number of the books and the periodicals and who sent the table and the chairs to make the Library more comfortable. Over two hundred new books, fiction and non -fiction, and reference works, dictionaries and encyclopaedias, have been bought to bring the books on the shelves more up-to-date. The Illustrated London News, The Spectator, The National Geographic, the week-end edition of The New York Times, Life, Time, Maclean ' s, Punch and Sports Illustrated are among the most popular papers and magazines which now arrive regularly. As a result of increasing the number of books that boys enjoy reading it has become possible to encourage many more boys to take an interest in reading for pleasure and to use the Library for research. Without a doubt the wide use of the Library by the majority in the school will result in general improvement in the reading and the writing of English at all levels. The intangible benefits, moreover, accruing from the habit of reading, which defy measurement in material terms, are undoubtedly of first importance in the development of a philosophy of living. Mr. Archbold, the Librarian, had as his assistant during the year Bortles I, Lundell, Ryland, Scott-Moncrieff, Stainer, Stewart and Vincent, all of whom helped in keeping the Library neat and presentable. Page Sixteen