Chronicle for 1945
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il KEARSNEY COLLEGE CHRONICLE '• '■♦ # # # >1 ^pe ■r ■ ■ v.» .* JULY, 1945 Kearsney College Chronicle Vol. 2 No. 1 JULY, 1945 EDITORIAL There are many things which the Editor might write about at this stage. 5o many, indeed, that he is almost tempted to put away the pen f,"2,Chronicle. Althoughwith it thishad issuenot beenwe embark anticipated, upon Volumethis is IIour of firstthe Peace is^e, too Volume I covered our first five and a half years at bottia s Hill, and almost exactly covered the War period. Readers know that during these War years the Editor, sharing our common pride in the endurance and sacrifice of our Old Boys, made a special point of reproducing selections of letters from the battle fronts. In this way present and past boys have been able to follow the part Kearsney has played in the conduct of the War. We have watched our boys in Abyssinia, Madagascar, Egypt, Tunisia, Italy, and on the high seas. We rejoice at their success, we grieve at their sufferings, we reverently mourn for those who have died. Now, with joyous anticipation we await their return, and we assure every one of them that there is a warm welcome waiting for them at Kearsney. The section "Extracts from Letters" will thus gradually disappear But every item of news that comes to our notice will be faithfully recorded, and the Old Boys' Section will still hold an important place in the Maga- Since 1940 Life Membership has risen from approximately 40 to ', sod this increased enthusiasm during such difficult years promises well for the future of the Club. Of Peace, it would be an anti-climax for the Editor to add anything further to, what has already been uttered throughout the world. We can only offer up a prayer of deep thanksgiving to Cod that throughout years of such unparalleled destruction and misery, we here have not seen so much as the fringe of it. Looking back, we realise that the school has come a long way in the past six years. We have increased in numbers, repute, have developed our grounds beyond recognition, but have added little to our buildings. Who dare say what the Editorial will have to record at the end of Volume II, five years hence? An appeal is going forth from our office in Durban, on behalf of the three Methodist schools of the country, to Methodists all over the country, a Peace appeal, a Thanksgiving appeal for funds to put our schools straight financially and so ensure their proper future development. We have many building plans here, but no money, except for the Chapel. If all goes well, the next five years may find our hopes realised. It is possible, if everybody helps. 1 n ■•iWi-M y SCHOOL NOTES First Term: January 31st to March 28th. Second Term: April 17th to June 28th. V-E Day was celebrated by a two-day holiday, in which almost the whole school went away home or to friends. Mr. C. A. Burger, B.A., has joined the Staff this year, and both ir» the classroom and on the sports field h.as played a keen and active part. We wish him a long and a happy association with the school. At the beginning of June Mr. ]. H. Hopkins, M.A., rejoined our ranks, after five years of active service in Abyssinia and on all the Mediterranean fronts, including Anzio. We are delighted to have him back again. His homecoming, however, was tragic in the extreme, and we offer to him, and to his brothers Crofton and Paddy, our sincerest sympathy, on the loss of both their parents within a week. Mr., and Mrs. " Hoppy" were well-known to many of us, and deeply respected. While this magazine was at the printer's, we learned with deep sorrow of the death of Dr. E. W, Dyer. Not only was Dr. Dyer one of the most highly respected leaders in Natal Methodism, being Senior Circuit Steward for Durban, and holding other offices, but he was for long years one of the most active and interested members of our Board of Governors. Above all, he was a Christian gentleman and a close friend of many of us at the school. We share very really in the sorrow of his wife and family and offer them our deep sympathy. Miss Eraser was absent from part of the second term, having capitu lated to the necessity for an appendix operation. She returned before half term, suffering no ill after-effects. In her absence, her work was taken by Mrs. Oram. Mr. Reece also ended the half year in a most uncomfort able state, with a severely poisoned thumb, which put him to bed for a considerable time. He spent a week of the holidays in hospital, receiving penicillin, to try to save an amputation. ~ Of past masters, we record that Mr. Swanepoel passed his M.A. (Stellenbosch) and is now teaching at Lawson Brown School, P.E. He is collecting data for a D.Litt. thesis in 1948, and is journalist for two news papers. Mr. van Zyl is at Michaelhouse. We were glad to have our former Matron, Sister Edwards, at the school for a long week-end. She is still actively at work at the Kearsney Hospital. We welcome Miss M. Campbell to the school. She is capably looking after Mr. Reece's home and children. On June 3rd we were privileged to have our morning service conducted by the President of the Conference, Rev. W. H. Whalley. He spoke convincingly on the vital need of a personal first-hand faith. Mr. Whalley referred, too, to the splendid name achieved by Kearsney throughout the country, wherever he had been. On the evening of June 3rd the school choir led the singing and provided several anthems at a combined service in the Pinetown Public Hall. Apparently we were the main attraction for the large crowd! We extend our thanks to Mr. P. Hind, an Old Boy, who arranged, at his own expense, to have the dining hall repainted at Easter. A great improvement. Interest in the swimming bath declined as winter approached. We have no Spartans who break the ice for their morning dip. Mr. Medworth was honoured by being put in charge of the Combined Natal Schools' Athletic side which competed in the inter-provincial athletic tournament at Bethlehem at Easter. We are sorry to have to say farewell, after two and a half years, to Rev. B. Sewell. Since Japanese bombers, and then an enemy torpedo, directed his footsteps to our circuit, we have enjoyed his services, classes, teaching and music, and shall miss his interesting personality. To him and Mrs. Sewell, and his three children, who are now all returning to England, we extend our sincerest good wishes for all that the future may hold in store. We hope they will always remember us with affection. The Prefects' dance was held on the night of June 28th, the day the school broke up. Willing hands turned the dining hall into a fairy land, and dancing continued till midnight. The girl partners were accom modated at Finningley, about 15 of them sleeping there for the night. To their disappointment, the boys were all turned over to GillinghamI Our thanks to all who helped to make the evening a success, not forgetting Mrs. Robertson for her enormous tray of delicacies for supper. The following boys left us at the end of last year, the year of their arrival being placed in brackets:— E. Anderson (42), I. R. Balcomb (36), G. ]. Barnes (40), T. Calder (40), E. G. Cole (40), C. J. Davey (38), D. E. Damp (41), R. E. j. Fielding (41), G. M. Garbutt (38), V. C. Cevers (41), G. M. Gillies (42), A. H. Henochsberg (38), G. C. Harrison (41), L. E. L. Hallam (42), M. D. S. Isralls (41), B. F. Isralls (43), T. D. Jacobs (38), W. M. Jacobs (39), E. N. A. Jackson (39), I. F. Jackson (41), R. J. Lee (41), M. G. Lawson (42), T. J. Lloyd (43), D. McDonald (38), R. C. McLeod (41), K. C. Nelson (41), J. T. Preece (43), J. M. Ray (42), N. W. N. Stark (39), C. H. Stein (40), P. W. Slayen (41), G. R. T. Smythe (42), I. V. Bruton-Simmonds (43), R. D. Thorpe (43), B. R. Thorpe (44), W. Wilker (41), R. W. Whiteley (41), D. Whyte (42), B. G. Woodhead (43), I. J. Woodhead (43), M. E. Walsh (44). The following left at the end of June: R. H. W. Bevin (40), C. K. Miles-Cadman (39), P. McLeroth (44), K. E. Rapson (43), H. D. Pennefather (39). D. B. Grant (43) and D. H. Jay (43) left at Easter. We welcome the following new boys: K. Adam (Kokstad), M. K. Anderson (P.M.B.), G. M. Anderson (Durban), J. J. S. Alexander (Hill Crest), W. S. Brass (Bloemfontein), J. H. Boyd (Pinetown), M. A. Black burn (Merrivale), E. Browning (Greytown), D. I. and J. M. Cowie (India), D. R. Carruthers-Smith (Selukwe), D. P. Campbell (Idutywa), R. Christian sen (Magut), E. C. K. Dowse (Red Hill), L. N. du Toit (Germiston), H. H. Ellett (Port Shepstone), D. J. Franklin (Port Shepstone), D. W. Gray (Loskop), G. J. Goodwin (Esperanza), M. S. Hobson (Mount Frere), T. M. Jones (Van Ryn), B. G. Jackson (P.M.B.), R. A. O. Johnson (Eshowe), S; L. M. Johnson (Ixopo), W. R. Johnson (Northdene), A. R. King (Matatiele), I D. E. Lloyd (St. Michaels-on-Sea), I.