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

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GROVES’ HOUSE

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the Andrews brothers. Seeds, Coffey, Sauer and Pentland. Mr. Robinson is giving up his housemastership after seven years. proves oude A very good year of solid achievement in academics, sports, music, and extra- curricular activities was enjoyed by Groves’ this year. Quietly and ably led by Bruce Housser, the House developed a good spirit, and in a happy atmosphere pursued a great variety of aaivities with purposeful energy. Unselfish conformity in the sphere of co-operative living was fruitfully wed, by an encouraging number of boys, to a vigorous non-conformity in the sphere of thought and free creativity. There were many examples of initiative and enterprising service. For instance a new group of boys in grades 8 and 9 took over aaive operation of the Ritz, and were backed up by the experienced hands in grade 12 who formed a sort of Board of Direc- tors; the S.C.M. (Music Club) received much of its impetus from Groves’ boys, and over the year so improved its standard of music-making that it was able to present a well-appreciated programme at the school dance in May; the aggressive carpenters of the J.C.R. completed the work of transforming the common rooms, on the semi-private principal, into most attraaive and comfortable rooms; the artistic efforts of David Ross and E avid Gooderham were much in evidence in the beautifully decorated gym at the summer half-term weekend; a number of boys built boats in the hobby shop, Ian Ap- pleton in particular doing a fine piece of work on his smart little run-about; McKechnie machined a beautiful model cannon out of solid brass; Geoff Foster continued excel- lent work in the natural history club; Woodsworth gave an illustrated talk on his trip to Russia and Scandinavia; Charles Russ helped out on the organ at Cliffside and St. George’s Church in Victoria; almost a half of the House sang in the chapel choir and under Mr. Galliford’s superb direction were richly rewarded for their service; a large number of boys performed in the band and guard of the cadet corps; the Dramatic So- ciety brought out the talents of Julian Greenwood, John Martland and Harold Munn in the production of Twelfth Night;’’ three or four boys pursued the gentle art of ang- ling, delighting themselves amid the beauties of nature, wonderfully absorbed in an activity which generally disturbed the fish hardly at all — though occasionally a trout was impelled to co-operate and was brought triumphantly to the breakfast table the next day; Greenwood and Munn won the two reading prizes presented by the Arch- bishop; the greatly improved library was used by quite a number of boys; and num- erous boys took advantage of many trips and outings during the year — to symphony concerts in Duncan, to the Vienna Boys Choir and Virgil Fox recitals in Victoria, to the Ice Capades, to Hurricane Ridge for a weekend of skiing, and to the Dominion Astro- physical Observatory on Saanich Mountain. In the academic competition the House managed to bring back the academic shield after a close struggle with Lake’s. Many boys made fine contributions in this competi- tion, particularly Greenwood. Greenwood, too, during the Lent term won the junior citizenship cup for all-round contribution to school life. In sports the House had a very enjoyable year, winning both the junior rugby and junior cricket cups, the senior marksmanship cup and coming a very close second in the swimming, track and field, and cross country competitions. In addition, David Ross won the individual squash cup. The House contributed its share to the many school teams of the year, including a number of excellent leaders: Ross as vice-captain of the 1st XV, Larsen as captain of rowing, Bruce Johnstone as captain of the junior colts XV, and Sam Davidson as captain of the under fourteen basketball team. Rendering valuable assistance to Housser as House prefects during the year were: David Ross, Rodney Felling, Jon Ardagh, John Martland, John Larsen and Bill Mc- — 19 —

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Kechnie. The House was very sorry to lose Mrs. Duxbury as House matron at the end of the Lent term, but is glad to know that she will still be with the school — for many, many years it is sincerely hoped. At the end of the year Mr. Bullen left, as House master, to broaden his experience in the outside world in the field of engineering, hoping to return to teaching in a few years to renew his association with his friends in the school which has meant so much in his life and for which he still entertains the fond- est hopes. Jl oude The complete record of our successes and failures in the athletic world will be found elsewhere in these pages. Suffice it to say here that although we lost some of our most treasured trophies ( including the rowing cup which he have held for three years ) , we have had in many ways a more successful year than last. Too often in the past we have been low man on the totem pole but this year we have had our share of seconds and thirds. Our greatest disappointment came when we failed to capture the academic shield. We congratulate Groves’ on their success and, at the same time, take pride in the fact that we were but seventeen points behind them out of a total of over twelve hundred. Two years ago we were a poor fourth in this competition, last year a good third. Next year we are resolved to win. Congratulations for a job well done must certainly go to Robert Murdoch, the head of the House, and indeed to all the prefects. In particular we are proud of Ian Reid, the thirteenth Lake’s boy to become head student of this school. Historically speaking, we now rival Groves’ in this respect, but are still the only house to have had head students in five successive years. It has been a year of varied activities — always a good thing. Sundry members of the House got away during the year to visit the Dominion Astrophysical Observa- tory and the Ice Follies” in Victoria and to hear a symphony concert in Duncan. A number of us were in the choir — more than in former years- — and these, together with musical but non-vocal members, enjoyed a memorable evening at St. John’s where the choir performed The Seven Words of Christ from the Cross. ” In the out-of-doors some boys went on the skiing trip to Hurricane Ridge and, of course, the House had a beach party in the summer term. This is on the point of becoming a tradition in Lake’s and we are glad that this is so. Both Mr. Larsen and Mr. Duxbury did us the honour of being our guests. In dramatics we have shown that the House is not lacking in talent. Culter, Fraser, and many others took part in Ici On Parle Francais,” Twelfth Night,” and The Bathroom Door.” We even had members in the S.R.M., among them Janke who tickled the ivories at moments when he was not playing the piano! As far as the fabric of the House is concerned we amused ourselves by painting the passage upstairs and the senior common room, and by buying furniture for both common rooms. The net result was that we ran out of money in spite of the best ef- forts of the praefectorial staff in charge of the pound. Hence the senior common room is still without curtains. To all those leaving the House this year we extend our best wishes for a happy and successful future in the larger world outside. And with that we turn to face the future and all that it may bring with confidence and optimism. —21 —