Staff Notes 02 (1957)

WE should like to congratulate Mr. K. W. James upon his appointment last September as Senior Master. Mr. James continues to be Head of the Mathematics Department.

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To those of our colleagues who joined the staff last year We extend a belated - but nevertheless hearty - welcome.

Mr. A. Appleby, B.A.(Hons.) (Oxon.) went up to Exeter College and later Durham University after serving in the 14th/20th Hussars. Rapidly entering the swim of school life by means of the tuck shop, he was soon busy with a number of activities, including his own Christmas pantomime. He has always been occupied with several tasks at the same time as his College record indicates he was Captain of Rugby and Cricket, and Editor of the College Magazine.

Mr. L. W. Baker, BA (Hons.) Birmingham), came to us from the Army who, at the last moment. were alarmingly reluctant to let him go. He took a short service commission after completing his education at Birmingham University. A keen cricketer and a useful pianist, he still finds time for church affairs and Sunday School teaching.

 Mr. J. G. M. Demmery, M.A. (Oxon.) joined the school after teaching at Beale Grammar School. As an "amateur" musician, he has always been outstandingly successful - at Oxford he produced for the Opera Club, but his spare time is by no means confined to music. A new house entirely surrounded by flint and weeds has given him practice with a pick axe. In this way he limbers up for conducting.

Mr. D. Phillips, B.A.(Hons.) (Oxon.) was educated at Berkhamsted School and Christ Church College. Since coming to St. Nicholas he has revealed astonishing versatility which has brought him success in such varied pursuits as those of "Wardrobe master'' and tuck shop manager. In more intellectual fields, he has a variety of interests which reflect both his academic achievement he was a Prizeman at Christ Church and his concern as a historian with contemporary society.

Mr. B. D. Ridge (Diploma in Mathematics, St. Luke's College), is another of the members of staff educated in a Middlesex school. He served with R.E.M.E. after leaving Hampton Grammar School where he seems to have developed his interest in that most absorbing of sports - sailing. He has joined Mr. James to make School Chess a monopoly of the Maths Department. In fact his only illogical activity in the writer's view, is a positive delight in cross-country running.

Mr. B. R. Tilbrook, A.T.C. (London), completed his education at Hornsey College. The school is now full of evidence of Mr. Tilbrook's gifts as an artist, but perhaps less well known is the creative genius of his chip shots approaching the green. Like many artists, he does not confine himself to one field, hence his knowledge of the contemporary theatre and concert hall.

Mr. W. J. Thomas, B.Sc. (University of Wales), is another who joined the school direct from the Army. He was educated at University College, Cardiff where he represented the University of Wales as a prop forward, having previously won a Welsh Schoolboy Cap. Rugby and games are not his only interests however. It is a poor Welshman who shows no liking and gift for music and Mr. Thomas in this, as in other virtues, is typical of his countrymen.