The St. Nicholas Parents' Association 03 (1957-58)

ST. NICHOLAS GRAMMAR SCHOOL PARENTS' ASSOCIATION

President THE HEADMASTER
Chairman T. C. STODDART, Esq.
Hon. Secretaries C. S. GOODWIN (Parents), Esq. P. H. J. H. GOSDEN, Esq. (School)
Hon. Treasurer E. J. HILBURN, Esq.

WE started this year with the Social which by tradition inaugurates each season's activities. This serves a dual role of enabling parents to meet old friends and to make new ones, as well as perhaps adding a few pence to our funds. We all enjoyed this function. The next social event on our programme, the Dance, was held at the "Clay Pigeon" in Eastcote. This was a new departure for us as it was the first time we had arranged a gathering away from the School. The consensus of opinion was that this event should continue in the future.

The first of two meetings different in character, but nevertheless interesting, was in January, the instructive talk by Dr. Polak who addressed us on the subject of adolescence. His lecture was helpful and informative to all, and after an interval for refreshments many and varied questions were cleverly answered by the Doctor. Following this meeting, in February, we arranged a Brains Trust with a distinguished panel of Mrs. Marsingall-Thomas, Miss Molly Weir, Mr. Maddocks and the Rev. H. Jordan This was very entertaining. Unfortunately the attendance on this occasion was not as good as it might have been.

The proposed visit to Cambridge had to be abandoned owing to lack of response.

A series of Whist Drives was held during the winter months, and these were quite successful. It is proposed that they should continue during the coming winter, and it is hoped that they will meet with added support.

This brings me to the St. Nicholas Fair and the financial position of the Association. I am happy to report that the finances are in a very good state. Subscriptions and proceeds from Whist Drives and other social events, together with the magnificent total of over £280 net from the most successful Fair held so far, have produced this capital position.

Monies have been expended on the fitting of curtains in the School Hall and in purchasing a very fine tape-recorder and microphone. New books have been added to the Library by the efforts of the Friends of the Library both during the year and at their stall at the Fair. The funds raised at the fair have been allocated to the purchase of various items of sports equipment and a donation of £100 made to inaugurate a Sports Pavilion Fund.

This account is of necessity very brief, but while it mentions the events it should not fail to record the considerable efforts of many willing parents who continue to devote so much of their leisure time on our behalf. In this connection I would like to thank a most loyal Committee who have made my position as Chairman very easy, the Secretary, Mr. Goodwin, and the Treasurer, Mr. Hilburn, for their assistance during the year. I would like to thank Mr. Moore and his assistants, Messrs. Harris and Saunders, for their part in organising this year's St. Nicholas Fair, Mrs. Warren and her group of ladies for their efforts during the winter months in making goods for sale at the Fair, and Mrs. Hilburn and the Catering Committee for noble efforts in tackling and doing so well the difficult job of providing adequate catering facilities at our numerous functions, particularly on Fair Day.

We should like to see a 100 per cent. membership of parents in our Association. Much has been done, much remains to be done, and the more there are of us to do it the more efficiently and easily will the work of the Association be carried out.

T.J.C.S.