Headmaster's Notes 04
(1959-60)

In a sense the school magazine comes of age with this issue, since the responsibility of editorship now falls partly on members of the school. The quality of the editorial which the sub-editors have written leaves me in no doubt that the standards we have set ourselves since the first issue, will be maintained.

1959-60 was the first complete year when we had use of the playing field, and now the long-awaited practice wickets and athletics area are completed. Thanks to a summer deficient in sunshine, a fine growth of newly sown grass surrounds the school. At last Mr. Lee and his colleagues can look forward to a season without the frustrations to which they must have grown accustomed.

The celebration in July, 1959, by the "foundation staff", of five years' work together provided evidence of the stability which has meant so much to the school. Two of them left in July, Mr. K. W. James to be headmaster of Christ's College, Finchley, and Dr. P. H. J. H. Gosden to be a lecturer in the Department of Education of the University of Leeds. The school is mindful of the debt it owes to both of them, and we wish them every success in their new appointments. Mr. James is succeeded as Senior Master and Head of the Mathematics Department by Mr. D. L. Owen, B.Sc. (Hons.) University College, London, from St. Clement Danes Grammar School, London: Dr. Gosden is succeeded as Head of the History Department by Mr. J. F. G, Williams, M.A. Keble College, Oxford, from Marling School, Stroud.

The following members of staff also took leave of Saint Nicholas School in July: Mr. A. Appleby has gone as head of the English Department to Durham School ; Mr. J. B. Astbury to Kingswood Grammar School, near Bristol : Mr. N. Bowker to Harlow Technical College, Essex ; Mr. G. M. Demmery to Harrow School of Art, to be in charge of Liberal Studies; Mr. D. Phillips to King Henry VIII School, Coventry, Mr. M. R. Rose left at Easter in order to undertake additional teaching at the Lower School of John Lyon. The good wishes of the school go with them. The school extends a welcome to the following, who joined the staff in September, 1960: Mr. M. B. Chettleborough, B.Sc., London, from Abbotsfield School, to teach Physics: Mr. R. H. Ellard, B.Sc. (Hons.). Bristol, from Badingham College, Surrey, to teach Physics; Nr. S. F. Goodman, B.Sc. (Hons.), London School of Economics, to join the Economics Department: Mr. N. H. Ricketts, B.A..Jesus College, Cambridge, to teach History: Mr. J. S. Roe, B.A., Goldsmith's College, London, to teach English: Mr. J. C. Spurgeon, MA. A.R.C.M., St. John's College, Cambridge, from Rickmansworth Grammar School to take charge of Music : Mr. A J. Tisdall, B.A. (Hons.), King's College, London, from Isleworth Grammar School, to teach English; Mr. J. Tully, B.Sc. (Hons.), Bristol, to teach Mathematics. We also welcome Mrs A. L. Barnes, BA (Hons.). Birmingham, who has joined the staff part-time to teach French, in place of M. Tafani, we have Mille Blayi Mongélous : for the first time we have a German Assistant, Herr Ernst Dworzak, whose services we share with Bishopshalt School.

In July the first small group of boys took "A" Level at the end of the sixth year of their course. The school congratulates D. Clive and J. Gubbay on their State Scholarships and P. Sargeant on his Distinction in History. Clive is now at Imperial College, London, studying Chemistry, and is thus the first member of the school to gain a University place.

During the coming year we shall be thinking about the formation of an Old Boys' Association. Meanwhile it is hoped that as many Old Boys as possible will keep in touch with the school by buying a copy of the magazine. At the same time I should like to remind them that the school is always glad to have news of them.