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Speech Day 03 (Nov 1958)

With thanks to Steve Bacon

SPEECH DAY 12TH NOVEMBER, 1958

By Mr D. C. Owen

OWING to the increased size of the school it was necessary to hold two ceremonies on Speech Day this year. In the afternoon a Junior Speech Day took place and in the evening another ceremony was held for the Senior School.

At the Junior Speech Day Mr. Sidney Walton. C.B.E. M.A.. B.Litt., presented the prizes and was the guest speaker. The Vice-Chairman of North-West Middlesex Divisional Executive fo Education, Mr. John Miles, M.A., LL.B., presided on both occasions.

The Headmaster reviewed the past academic year as one of encouraging progress. The General Certificate of Education results at Ordinary Level had been most promising and the school was establishing a reputation for academic ability in Middlesex. The school had a Sixth Form for the first time and confidently looked forward to an increase in the number of older boys who would remain at school to do a Sixth Form course. The report showed that other extra-curricular activities had not been neglected and that considerable progress had been made in dramatics, the orchestra, the choir and games.

After the presentation of prizes, Mr. Walton delivered his address which he enlivened by displaying a violin of superb craftsmanship that had been made for him in this country. In his address he pointed out that academic achievement was not the only aim in life. Just as much pleasure and sense of achievement was to be gained from the production of a fine piece of craftsmanship as from success in examinations. A full life entailed pride in the presentation of work just as much as in the ability to do well.

Councillor T. G. Cross proposed the vote of thanks to Mr. Walton and this was seconded by R. Rosser of IIA.

JUNIOR SPEECH DAY PRIZES, 1957-8

FORM PRIZES:

IIA: R. Davies, J. Mason, M. Dunn, J. Dean, R. Rosser.

IIB: J. Samways, C. Heaven,

IIC: J. Usher.

IID: I. Clusky.

Forms I: D. Wallis, J. Hooper, M. Parker, R. Wright, B. Lejeune, N. Dyson, D. Paget, J. Breslaw.

Art Prize: M. Osborne.

Handicraft Prize: R. Wright.

At the ceremony in the evening the guest speaker was Mr. H. A. Rée, D.S.O., O.B.E., B.A., the Headmaster of Watford Grammar School, and Mrs. Rée distributed the prizes and trophies.

Mr. Rée opened his witty and yet serious address by remarking that he felt he was able to speak freely as he was outside the boundaries of Hertfordshire County Council. He took as his theme the inadvisability of attempting to replace the established tradition of grammar school education by a system that was untried as yet. To experiment was wise but to reject an accepted belief for an unexplored theory was folly. Mr. Rée went on to point out the advantages that could be obtained from a grammar school education and laid particular stress on the variety of opportunity that was available. It was essential to gain as wide an experience as possible to understand the modern world effectively, and the object of the grammar school was to produce the all-rounder rather than the specialist. For that reason the grammar school must aim to produce an arts man able to read "The New Scientist" and a scientist able to appreciate Shakespeare.

The Chairman of Ruislip-Northwood Urban District Council, Councillor E. A. Daniell, M.I.P.A., J.P., proposed the vote of thanks to Mr. Rée and this was seconded by Councillor W. D. Charles, J.P. The School Orchestra and Choir provided two enjoyable interludes at each ceremony. The Orchestra played the "Allegro and Minuet" from the Firework Music by Handel and "Cibil" by Lully. The Choir sang "From the St. Nicholas Cantata" by Benjamin Britten and Who's dat a-calling" and "Li'l Liza Jane " arranged by Stanford Robinson.

PRIZES

FORM PRIZES:

V English Language: D. W. Higgs.

Geography: R. Burden.

History: P. W. Sargeant.

French: D. W. Higgs.

Mathematics: D. Clive.

Physics: D. Clive.

IVA J. A. Heaps, R. L. Isaacs.

IVB B. Evans.

IIIA J. R. Paten, I. Few, J. H. Wright, P. A. Wallis, D. Lloyd.

IIIB H. J. Snook.

IIIC P. J. Lawson, W. G Miller.

IIID C. D. Edwards.

Art Prize: R. Nicholson,

Staff Art Prize: B. Maddams.

Prizes for Progress in Art: C. Tickner, R. White.

Handicraft Prize: R. Williams.

Staff Handicraft Prize: R. Thompson.

Prizes for Progress in Handicraft: R. Finer, J. Munnings.

Speech Contest Prize: D. Rooke.

Prize for Service to Drama: C. Goodwin.

The Marsingal-Thomas Geography Prize: I. Cartwright.

The Cross Music Prize: A. Hymas.

The Northwood Rotary Club Prize for Service: B. Maddams.

D.C.O

1958-59 School Magazine

Suggestions:

The Future of the School
(1956 Summer Magazine)

The Old Boys' Association
(1961-62 Magazine)

The Headmaster
(1956 Summer Magazine)

Music
(1973-74 Magazine)

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