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

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in the School, we make it our main purpose in the athletic sphere to teach the boys to play whatever it is in a sporting way, remembering that the game itself — not the winning of it — is the important thing. To go on to other aspects of school life, we are continuing to aim high in our music and drama. Our choir was one of three choirs in the province select- ed to produce for the radio an hour of carols on Christmas afternoon; and in April the choir presented Haydn ' s Imperial Mass first at Fairbridge and then in St. James ' Church, Vancouver. Anyone who heard this, I think will agree that the performance of Mr. Galliford and the boys was an inspiration indeed. More- over, two of our boys, Julian Greenwood and Charles Russ, achieved most not- able distinction in their organ recitals in Victoria in April; while Julian Green- wood also won the recent public speaking contest for all high school students in B.C. Also our Operatic Society, under the very able direction of Mr. Grey, put on The Mikado in November; and the Dramatic Society put on Shake- speare ' s Henry IV - Part I in May. Thus you will see it is our purpose to aim for the highest possible standards in all fields and to achieve an all round education for our boys. In other spheres, probably the most notable achievement has been that of the Sea Cadets. To have witnessed the way in which our Cadets worked for the Inspection under the blazing heat which preceded it, would have made one proud of the perseverance, and the determination to do their best for ' the School, which was shown by the boys. Those of you who witnessed their precision and smartness at the annual Inspection will recognize the general spirit and co- operation which there must be in the corps to produce such a result, and in The Headmaster and School Prefects. Standing (l-r): G. Archbold, P. Brierley, J. Larsen, D. Arndt. Sitting (l-r): F. Angus, C. Pentland, The Headmaster, . Brierley, D. Ross.

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our games a distinct attitude of enthusiasm as well as good sportsmanship pre- vailed. To begin with the rugger, I must say we are very fortunate at Shawnigan to have seven first-class coaches — in fact, one at every level; and the boys are now being well taught right from the beginning. The main result is that our 1st XV has been playing outstanding rugby on schoolboy standards for a couple of years now. In fact, over these two seasons this team was undefeated in 24 consecutive school matches — and was finally defeated in England by Oundle 9-3. Realizing that Oundle has been undefeated in England this year and is considered at present as the best schoolboy team in that country, we were extremely pleased with the show the boys put up on that day. I might add that two days later they started another winning streak by beating Harrow 24-10. With reference to this trip which the boys made to England over the Easter holidays, it is my opinion that it was an unqualified success. We went, of course, for two reasons: first, we h oped to do sufficiently well to encourage more rugby in the schools of B.C., and second, we felt and feel that it is important in education to expose the boys as much as possible to standards, in every field, which are better than their own. I realize that some of you, on asking your sons how they enjoyed the trip, have received little more than a fine or it was neat, but I can assure you that over there their eyes popped and their response was spontaneous — and I can assure you the seeds of inspiration were sown, their horizons were broadened, their idea of standards improved and, in fact, from an educational standpoint, I think that possibly they got as much from those two weeks as from the rest of the year put together. The standard of cricket in the School has again been very good right down the line. This is due partly to the tremendous job Mr. Brierley has done on the development of true pitches. As a result of this and the good coaching of the several masters involved, there has been an unbelievable improvement in at- titude and standard in this sport over the past two years. I should like to con- gratulate John Brierley, who is the Captain of Cricket, on his selection as a member of the Canadian Under 21 Cricket team which is travelling to England at the beginning of next week. With reference to the Rowing in the School, 1 am pleased to record a splendid attitude by the boys in this Club. This is an expensive sport and the boys volunteered much help towards the maintenance of our equipment — for example the new roof on the shell house was put on entirely by the boys, and they have also helped with the fibre-glassing of two shells and with much other general refurbishing. As to performance, the highlight of the season took place in Seattle when our Senior Four rowed against the best schoolboy crews in Washington and, by winning, established themselves as the fastest school crew in the Pacific Northwest. With regard to our other sports, our Track and Field team was unde- feated, winning the Mid-Island Track meet and the Independent Schools Track meet; our Senior Basketball team managed to defeat both St. George ' s and University School; and our Cross Country team, competing against all the main high schools in the province, came fourth in B.C. In addition to these sports the boys have continued enthusiastically to pursue tennis, squash, swimming, sailing and gymnastics. Time, however, does not permit me to go into the details of all our games, but I can assure you that we make a special effort to teach our boys, particularly at their present age, to enjoy many games. More- over, while I have listed our results to you since they are indicative of the spirit

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this connection I would express my congratulations to Mr. Barker and Mr. Whitelaw lor their work to this end. Adding to all these activities the enthusiasm there has been for shooting, woodwork, model building, Scouts and the Debating Society, you will see that the boys at Shawnigan have much opportunity for their varied interests to be developed. At this point in my report, as I finish the outline of our activities and results, I would like to express my most sincere gratitude to the staff at Shawni- gan who have made all these activities and results possible. 1 cannot imagine in a school of this size, which has a staff of over 50, a group of people who are better qualified, or more co-operative, or more dedicated to the interests of the School. For this, believe me, I am deeply grateful. Inevitably, some are leaving — as has always been the case in a country school. Mr. Archbold, who has been Senior Master for four years, has accepted a position on the Faculty of Victoria College. We shall miss him sorely for his pure, scholarly approach, for his ever ready willingness to help anyone who had a problem and for his quiet and sympathetic humanity. However, this new position will be a great opportunity for him; we respect his reasons for accepting the challenge and extend to his family and himself our grateful thanks and all best wishes for the future. I am able to announce at this time that his replacement as Senior Master will be his brother, Mr. Seymour Archbold. Mr. Seymour Archbold is extremely well qualified — having an M.A. from the University of Alberta, an M.Sc. from the University of Toronto, having been Senior Master at an independent school in the East, having had a great deal of experience in organizing as a senior administrative officer in the Civil Service, having played rugby and rowed for the University of Toronto — and 1 feel we are most fortunate that he is joining us. Retiring this June is Mr. Duxbury. As a matter of fact, he retired officially a few years ago and we have just been most fortunate to have his services for these two years. His leaving will be a great loss to the School, the interests of which he has always so well and so loyally served. I am quite certain that new- comers to the Shawnigan scene, and possibly many who have been here some time, do not realize that this unassuming man is one of the two or three who could be named whose courage and loyalty during Shawnigan ' s lowest ebb, the late forties and early fifties, saved the School, so that it was able to rise again and become what it is today. To us who have worked with him in this profession for nearly fifteen years, he has always been a great inspiration — not only as a teacher who has a thorough grasp of his subject but as a gentleman in the finest sense of the word. Not only will we miss you, Mr. Duxbury, but also will every other member of the staff and every boy in the School, and we extend to you our best wishes for a happy retirement. Also leaving are Mr. Hopson, who originally came from England for four years and, having been here that length of time, is now returning home; and Mr. Birchall, who originally came from England for two years and, having stayed three, is now moving on for further experience. To both of them we extend our grateful thanks for all they have done for the School, and our sincere good wishes for continued success in the future. Our fifth and last change this year is Mr. Mackenzie, who only came lor a year in the first place. If any of you do not already know it, Mr. Mackenzie is going to be the Headmaster of the new Brentwood College which will be s