Staff Notes 03 (1957-58)

THE members of staff and the school offer their congratulations to the Headmaster who, on 1st August, 1958, had conferred upon him by London University the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.

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In September, 1957. the following gentlemen joined the staff: we bid them welcome.

Mr. J. B. Astbury [B.A. (Hons.), Universięy of Durham) is yet another missionary from the North-country come to civilize the South. He played tennis and soccer for the Durham Colleges and his zeal for badminton has meant aching limbs and creaking sinews for the rest of the staff; both parents and the school side spent much energy chasing his lusly clouts through the covers. Despite his amiability he hates golf balls which he sprays, with malicious glee, over the remoter and rougher parts of Haste Hill.

Mr. E. Charlton (Shoreditch Training College) came to specialize in metal work and soon convinced Mahoney that it was unwise to pick up metal which had been heated in the forge. He was not content, however, to confine himself to his domain of clanging, banging industry for he soon showed himself as a very capable rugger and cricket player. while his lusty and tuneful cornet has been a real asset to the Brass Group.

Mr. D. J. Holness [Diploma in Physical Education, Loughborough College] joined Mr. Lee in the P.E. department. In a rugeer school he is trying to live down the fact that he kept goal for his college soccer team; and he also hurled the javelin considerable distances. He soon took charge of our White Elephants but his shining hour of glory—the envy of his colleagues came when he won third prize in the Ruislip-Northwood allotments competition.

Mr. J. M. Jefford [B.Sc. (Hons.), University of Manchester] arrived to swell the ranks of the maths department and soon had us all intrigued by his elaborate working models (which sometimes did). His cheerful efficiency in managing the first School Concert won him praise and the task of treasuring the Pupils' Fund, and his efforts in the galley, on the River Thames Cruise were satisfying both dietetically and esthetically.

Mr. R. S. Komatsu [B.Sc. (Hons.), University of Southampton] took charge of school chemistry after teaching at St. Clement Danes.  The quiet and industrious atmosphere in his laboratory owes something, perhaps, to the fact that he boxed and fenced for the University of Southampton. His arrangement of the fencing sequences added colour and excitement to "Henry IV" and he threatens to found a fencing club in the near future.

Mr. P. Newton [B.Sc. (Hons.). London University] journeyed from Yorkshire, a legendary land in the frozen north, to teach geography in the school. Fresh from the army he was soon embroiled in a variety of tasks: stage-managing the school play, founding a Geographical Society and initiating the Under 12 team into the subtleties of front-row forward play. We congratulate him on his marriage last August.

Mr. H. W. Winter [M.A. (Oxon.)] taught at The Downs, near Malvern, before he came to St. Nicholas. Although he was a Classical Scholar of Pembroke College his interests are by no means continued to the Ancient World and, a keen viola player, he soon found himself in loco parentis to the school trio. His leisure time seems to be divided between playing the more virtuous parts in amateur theatricals and being exercised by his two vast Labradors.