The Strathallian
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE STRATHALLIAN THE MAGAZINE OF STRATHALLAN SCHOOL PERTHSHIRE T elepho ne N o .: BRIDGE OF EARN 232 V o l u m e F ive N o v e m b e r , 1 9 4 8 N u m b e r O ne SCHOOL GOVERNORS Elected Governors: GEORGE GILLESPIE BAKER, Esq., O.B.E., B.A., B.C.L. (Strathallaii, 1023-27). DAVID .TAMES BOGIE, Esq., T.D., B.Com., Ph.D., O.A. (Strathallan, 1920-22). JOHN BURNET MAITLAND COWAN, Esq. (Strathallan, 1922-25). ALEXANDER FRASER, Esq., M.B.E., M.C. (Strathallan, 1922-24). WILLIAM G1LMOUR LEBURN, Esq. (Chairman) (Strathallan, 1924-81). GEORGE BELL SMITH, Esq.. T.D. (Strathallan, 1920-26). Nominated Governors: ROBERT HARR, Esq. (Old Boys' Club) (Strathallan, 1921-26). Professor EDGAR PRIMROSE DICKIE, M.C., M.A., D.D. (University of St. Andrews). Professor CHRISTIAN JAMES FOIiDYCE, M.A. (University of Glasgow). Professor WILLIAM STRANG TINDAL, O.B.E., M.A. (University of Edinburgh). Clerks to the Governors: COWAN & J. M. TAYLOR, NELSON & COMPANY, 180 St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, C.2. Treasurers to the Governors: GRAHAM, SMART & ANNAN, C.A., 22 Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, 2. STAFF, 1948-49 Headmaster: A. N. HAMILTON, M.A. (Oxon) (as from 1/1/1949). Second Master: A. .1. SHAW, B.A. (London). .1. R. BURN, I?.Sc. (Sheffield). R. P. COUTTS, M.A. (Oxon). J. C. FAULL, B.Sc. (London). G. H. FORSYTH, M.A., B.Sc. (Glasgow). W. S. HALDANE, B.Sc.. Ph.D. (Edinburgh). 2 Strathallan School Magazine STAFF I c o n tin u e d ) — F. S. LANGSTAFF, M.A. (Dunelm). (J. LANGSTAFF, M.A. (Dunelm). .t. McCo n n e l l , a .r .c .m . K. D. MINTY, M.A. (Oxon). I?. MORDECAI, B.Mus. (Cardiff). E. A. POTTS, M.A. (Oxon). I. P R IT C H A R D , P,.A. (Aberystwyth). I>. SILVER, M.A. (Aberdeen). It. B. I). STEELE, B.Sc. (St. Andrews). SCHOOL AUTHORITY School Captain: I. K. B IR S S (N icol). Vice-Captain: \V. A IX McFADZEAN (Freeland). Prefects: .T. R. M. PHILIP (Freeland). I (! K. ROME (Simpson). .T. R. GILCHRIST (Simpson). House-Prefects: N. G. BROWN (Simpson). K. A. C. BROWN (Simpson). .1. CLARK (Simpson). II. H O W IE (Ruthven). W. B. NAYLOR (Ruthven). Sub-Prefects: C. G. G U T H R IE (N icol). 1. •T. TURNBULL (Nicol). .1. C. SH A W (N icol). 15. E. MARK (Freeland). R. T. S. STEWART (Simpson). D. I. HELL (Ruthven). (■niliroom: K. FROST (Ruthven). L. .1. McCARROLL (Freeland). I. R. N. SIMPSON (Simpson). R. P. TH O M AS (Ruthven). M. .1. THOMAS (Ruthven). 1). A. BIGG ART (Ruthven). D. 1. .1. LAW (Freeland). T. M. TEMPLETON (Nicol). J. DONALD (Ruthven). R. I). HUNTER (Nicol). I. I). S. ANDERSON (Freeland). R. S. H IL L (Simpson). 1. M. WALKER (Ruthven). M. F. CESSFORD (Ruthven). Captain of Rugby N. G. BROWN Vice-Captain of Rugby - II. S. H IL L Captain of Swimming (J. K. ROME Vice-Captain of Swimming K. A. C. BROW N Strathallan School Magazine 3 Anthony Norris Hamilton O u r new Headmaster comes to Strathallan at the ideal age; old enough to bring wisdom and steadiness, and young enough to carry about with him both elasticity of mind and gaiety ot heart. From his School, Kelly College, Tavistock, he went up to Exeter College, Oxford, and took Honours in the School of Modern Ilistory. It was perhaps something of a prophecy that he should win special distinction in Military History, for five years later came a war in which his knowledge and his insight were to be fully employed and exerted. His teaching experience has been gained in Clifton College, to which he was invited at once on leaving Oxford in 1935, and where he served first as assistant master and latterly as housemaster. He is a lover of music, and lectures on the 18th century composers. Dramatic work and amateur painting are among his hobbies. Camping with scores of boys is another of his activities, but whether it should be classified as hobby, holiday or hardship is not for this writer to say. Even to read his athletic record causes one’s muscles to ache. He played rugby and cricket for school and college. He was a university trialist in both games and was prevented only by an injury from playing cricket against Cambridge and thus being awarded his “ Blue.” He has also played cricket for Sussex. In war he was a captain in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders and a company commander in the 101 R.T.R. He held staff appointments of a very special kind in 10th Corps and 8th Army. Subsequently he was invited to record the very real and tangible achievements of the 8th Army by writing the history of its campaigns in Italy. We offer to both Mr. Hamilton and his gracious and charming wife a very warm welcome, certain that under the inspiring leadership of our new Headmaster, Strathallan will prosper and its fortunes be in safe keeping. School Notes T h e Dining-Hall records the inarch of time. Old traditions are growing older and new traditions are being born. New honour-boards have appeared to make room for the lengthen ing lists of School Captains and Sports House Champions. 4 Strathallan School Magazine In their allotted places hang the four recently approved and officially recognised House Shields, the designs for which have been taken from the Arms of the School: Freeland, the wolf’s head ; Nicol, the red crescent; Ruthven, the blue cross ; Simpson, the boar’s head — all these emblems against a gold background with the names of the Houses above, incorporat ing the House colours. (From these same designs cloth badges will be made which will be presented to boys who have deserved well of their House.) Above the Ruthven shield proudly stands the lion rampant, acclaiming the winners of the inter-House academic competition which was inaugurated in the Summer term. The lion has no special loyalty to Ruthven! He will adorn the shield of whichever House wins him by the best all-round performance in the end-of-term examinations. This recognition of scholastic achievement is added to recognition of sporting supremacy, and thus the School asserts that in the building of character, which is, after all, the main aim of education, perseverance and hard work in the classroom may be as important as the determined effort required on the fields of sport, and that to be able to read and comprehend Shakespeare may be an accomplishment not altogether unworthy of him who has learned to play a straight bat. The results of this first inter-House scholastic competition amply justify the statement which appeared in these same notes a year ago — “ Standards of work in the lower and middle part of the School are still not satisfactory.” How ever, we confidently predict an improvement. For the first time in its history, Strathallan has held an entrance examina tion, and in this year of transition more than half the Sep tember intake was from boys who had at the beginning of the Summer term appeared at Strathallan to sit a few simple tests. Considering that Strathallan has previously had no en trance examination and that it has never been the policy of the School to handpick candidates for the various external examinations, we have every right to be moderately proud of our record of results, which compare more than favourably with the average. In the Scottish Senior Leaving Certificate Examination last March, seventeen candidates out of a total of twenty-three secured certificates. In the seven additional papers sat by previous holders of the certificate, six passes were scored. In the Cambridge School Certificate Examina tion (December and .Tidy), eighteen out of a total of twenty- three B-stream candidates were successful in gaining cer tificates. There were seven distinctions. Of the aggregate of twelve papers sat by four candidates in the Cambridge Strathallan School Magazine 5 Higher School Certificate Examination (July), there were eight full passes, three passes on the subsidiary school stan dard and one fail. The one candidate, I. A. Marshall, who sat the C.A. Preliminary Examination in May, was successful. We extend hearty congratulations to the School Dux, J. R. M. Philip, and to the Junior Dux, I>. S. O. Brown. Our congratulations go above all to Cameron R. Whyte, the winner of the School’s supreme individual award : the Houston Medal. This medal is presented every year to the pupil who by his individual activities contributes most to further the interests of the School. Captain of last season’s 1st XV and a useful cricketer, Whyte was promoted to the position of School Cap tain at the end of the Easter term. Throughout his term of office— all too brief a term, it is true— Whyte amply justified the trust which had been put in him. In all he undertook, his outstanding characteristic was dependability and to the whole School he set the example of a good Strathallian. He has now left to take up the study of agriculture, and the whole School wish him every success in the future. We are confident that the new School Captain, Ian R. Birss, will be a worthy successor to Whyte, whom he assisted last term in the Prefects’ room. Birss is a keen Scouter, and we cannot ask for more than that he should serve the School as devotedly as he has heretofore served the School Troop. In the recent past more or less sanguine hopes have been expressed as to the future of our sports.