The Peterite
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THE PETERITE Vol. LVII OCTOBER, 1965 No. 370 EDITORIAL The Minister of State for Education and Science, Mr. Prentice, spoke recently of the Government's intention "to put an end to the public school system as one of the dividing forces of our country", the disruptive element being apparently "the social mystique that surrounds them". The Head- master of Rugby, Dr. Hamilton, described this the next day as "an almost pathetically ingenuous view". And so it is; but then there are naive people who genuinely believe that they do exist for the perpetuation of privilege, or hope that an assured future can be bought—a sort of insurance against the complete fall of any potential declining Capt. Grimes. The only thing that is in fact being bought is a particular type of education based on particular beliefs, values and methods which an independent status allows to be exploited. Another common criticism of residential schools is that they tend to focus attention on themselves instead of fostering awareness in surrounding society. If true, then this parochialism is certainly bad; however, what seems generally to be forgotten is that the roots of responsible participation are excellently learnt in the microcosm of a boarding-school. (Not that there is a monopoly here : more illustrations can be given than the Bench of Bishops or a Conservative Cabinet.) Furthermore, most boarding schools provide practical opportunities during term-time, with activities like social service. People from public schools have been traditionally looked to for vocational and professional leaders, and if our present general standard of education makes this less true, there are still plenty of jobs which now, more than ever, need as able volunteers as possible. It is unfortunate but true that we in our prosperity on the whole consider volunteers fools, blame any threat to our peace of mind or affluence on "them", and are frankly incredulous of the idea of self-sacrifice or even restraint. There is a kind of privet-hedge mentality about the suburbanism which typifies much of our modern society : nothing much can disturb us behind it, but then nothing much can grow in the shadow of it either. Meanwhile it is a fact that V.S.O. has been very short of trained volunteers this summer; and numbers of clubs, committees, councils, charities, even political parties, need not just the well-intentioned, but the well-educated, to make some offering of their time and energy and skill. It has to be giving without counting the cost and putting it on an expense account. After all, we are in a privileged position; and if we don't—who does? So far as this concerns those still at school, it amounts to a need for willingness to share in and lead activities—from those who don't do so much already. 1 CONTENTS PAGE Editorial 1 School News 2 Speech Day : (i) Headmaster's Report 5 (ii) Lord James's Speech 10 Examination Results ... 15 Salvete 17 Valete 17 House Notes 23 The Chapel 28 The Choir 31 The Baird Cup 32 The Debating Society 33 The Biological Society 34 Ornithological Expedition 35 The Young Farmers' Club ... 35 Walking Group 36 The British Ship Adoption Society ... 36 C.C.F. 37 Scout Group ... 39 Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme 42 Cricket ... 43 The Boat Club 56 61 Shooting 62 Fencing 62 Tennis ... 63 Swimming 66 Rugby ... 67 The Oxford Cup Hockey Fixtures, 1966 67 68 Old Peterite News ... Illustrations: The New Swimming Baths ... ... facing page 32 The Unveiling of "St. Peter's School"... facing page 33 The 1st XI Cricket Team ... ... facing page 48 49 P. F. Nettleton and W. R. Pickersgill ... facing page SCHOOL NOTES Four members of the staff left at the end of the Summer Term: Mr. K. G. Chilman and Mr. F. J. Wiseman both retired, and Mr. P. M. Lanning returned to Someset; and Mrs. S. S. Hutton completed her year as assistant in Mathematics. We thank them all for their contributions to the School, and extend our best wishes for the future. MR. K. G. CHILMAN In the long history of our School there have undoubtedly been many occasions when the passing from active service of a distinguished servant has had to be registered. We would suggest that there has never been a more outstanding example of this than the departure of Kenneth Chilman, who in July, at his own request, retired from the St. Olave's Staff. Kenneth Chilman first came to the forerunner of the present St. Olave's in 1907, transferring in due course to St. Peter's and leaving in 1916 to join the Army and fight in the first world war. He returned to join the teaching staff in 1919, and after four years went to Hertford College, Oxford, for one year under the ex-Service scheme operating at that time. It is interesting to reflect that Kenneth Rhodes, newly graduated at Oxford at that time, returned to St. Peter's in 1923 as a master to replace Chilman. We are very glad to be able to record that Kenneth Chilman returned to 'St. Peter's in 1924, having collected a Hockey Blue on the way to add to his twenty-odd International Caps, and from that time onwards he has inspired many generations of Peterites and Olavites both in and out of the classroom with his sincerity and single-minded devotion for the School from which he has obtained and to which he has given so much in so rich a measure. During the past ten to fifteen years, the staffs of St. Olave's and St. Peter's have become more separate and distinct. Yet Mr. Chilman has still taken a keen interest in the activities of both Schools. His attractive tenor voice has continued to enrich the Senior School Choir, and his paternal interest in his ex-Olavites has ever been a comfort and support to them in the wider fields of St. Peter's and beyond. During the second world war Mr. Chilman had a varied and dis- tinguished career, ending as a "full" Colonel, and there is no doubt that his work in the Territorial Army between the wars was of the greatest value, particularly in his command of the York Battery of the Royal Artillery. Those of us at St. Peter's who remember the Munich Year (1938) will never forget Chilman's practical pioneering on the Air Raid shelters which were constructed so zealously at that time—but happily never used. The retirement of K.G.C. veritably marks the end of an epoch. We all join in praise and thankfulness for the long, unselfish and devoted service of one who never had any other thought than the good of the School. May his retirement be long and happy, and may he and his wife, who has been his constant supporter over these long years, continue to be our regular visitors and supporters. 2 MR. F. J. WISEMAN After twenty-one years on the staff, Mr. F. J. Wiseman retired in July. His main sphere of work was, of course, in the teaching of Classics, and he became Senior Classics Master in 1959. But in his time he shared in a wide range of school activities—indeed, his first introduction to the School was assisting at a "Dig for Victory" 'School farming camp at Coulton in 1944. He was for a time, Housemaster of The Rise and he was master-in-charge of the Chess Club and Film Society. A somewhat unexpected service was the calculation of Work Cup points, a duty that has now devolved upon the Mathematics staff. Mr. Wiseman's main games interest in the School was cricket, and during much of his time here he coached the Second XI. He was primarily a bowler, but those of us less addicted to the mystique of cricket perhaps enjoyed his batting most, though he modestly claims never to have made more than 17 (including two sixes and a four) on the School Ground. He was greatly interested in the City of York and for years was responsible for the "Local History" option, which opened a new field of interest to many sixth-formers. His interest has not ended, it is good to know, and he is at present writing a history of the School since it came to its present buildings in 1844. He is not without experience of authorship, having written "Roman Spain" in 1955, and this new venture will certainly be of very great interest. We wish him and Mrs. Wiseman a long and happy retirement, and hope to see them again in York from time to time. MR. P. M. LANNING Mr. Lanning came on to the staff of St. Olave's in September, 1951, and in September, 1952, became Housemaster of Alcuin House where he remained for ten years. In 1962 he transferred to St. 'Peter's, where he became House Tutor in The Grove for a year and then, when Dronfield House started in September, 1964, he became its first Assistant Housemaster. In St. Peter's he devoted much time and energy to helping with the Duke of Edinburgh's Scheme, in which he was invaluable. He will be remembered in St. 'Peter's for his lively interest in the boys as people, his ready helpfulness and his cheerful and distinctive laugh. On 1st June, the new swimming baths came into use, and, apart from proving an obvious immediate attraction, have already done much to improve the standard of the School's swimming. On 22nd June the Annual Inspection of the C.C.F.