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

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LAKE’S HOUSE — 22 —

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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 —

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opemun d J4c We came back at the beginning of the year to find that Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins had taken over from Mr. and Mrs. Curtis who had left to found a prep school, Cliff side,” on the other side of the lake. The most important single aspect of the year was the conversion of the third floor into a Junior House under the leadership of Mr. Grey. This house was for new boys (grade 7) who were to spend a year here before moving to their parent houses. Junior House boys shared our dining room, locker rooms and so on, but they had their own reading and hobby rooms. Copeman ' s House itself had many other new features: numbers were up to sixty-five and, for the first time since the war, all available space was used. Grade 1 1 had their own study, and Mr. Higgs’ room was converted into a sick-bay — this, of course, was after he had left the House to get married! We had our own matron living in. Miss Langford from England, and she, together with Mrs. Hartl, looked after the health of the House. No longer was there a lack of hot water; a new boiler was installed and, at the cost of straining the budget by using so much coal, there was steaming water all day long. Mr. Hartl continued to render sterling service to the House. We had our domestic troubles; Kim and Jack left at Easter and were replaced by an assortment of strange people none of whom stayed long. In the end Bill came up from the Main School and at once the situation improved. Around the outside of the House divisions were taken over by Mr. Dinter and supervised by the prefects. The eventual plan, as envisaged as the moment, will im- prove the surroundings out of all recognition. The steps up the hill from the main drive have already been clamshelled and a path has been driven through to the main entrance; this is the first part of a scheme to make a lawn and formal garden at the front of the House. The Dell, (which is to be grassed and planted with suitable shade” ) , has been dug, de-stoned and rock planted at the north end. Roses have been transplanted to the masters’ entrance. A games area to the north of the House (which will eventually be graded and levelled ) has been cleared. The efforts of some so-called loggers to fell a tree across the power lines were thwarted just in time! The eyesore at the back of the House will be filled in to the surrounding level and trellises will be built to hide the coal heap, garbage and so on. All in all we are an accomplished band of amateur gardeners; we even have our swarm of bees, prompted by a swarmer” which Robin Curtis effectively dealt with — but why no honey?! New back steps were con- structed as well as much needed fire-escapes which Columbia dormitory used to ad- vantage. Michael Fall finished the bicycle sheds behind the garage, while the general appearance of the House was improved by the reshingling which took place during the summer. In the world of sport we did well in most things. The houses produced much closer finishes than usual, which is good. We won the under sixteen basketball, the junior diving, the cross country and both the rowing events, but lost to the eventual winners of the rugger in the first round and were beaten in the final of the cricket. In track we were without the services of our star, Geoff Wright. In academics we were, regrettably, left in the cold, although individuals did well. The prefects had a great deal to do this year, what with the general running of the House, work divisions and evening and weekend duty, but they did their work well. The Club in the basement was in full swing all year; Whetham and Tatum built a model railway while Saunders was responsible for all the radio interference and Donaghey carved beautiful South Sea Island heads. We lose three of our most able boys this year; McAvity and the Johnson brothers leave us for pastures new. At the year’s end the general pattern of the House was clear: the Junior House was a success, the added facilities for senior boys who wanted to study were used to their fullest, the general improvement to the grounds and the living rooms were acknowl- edged by most and, of course, the House motto, Vix Ea Nostra Voco, rings just as loud and as clear as always. — 23 —