Speech Day 04 (Oct 1959)

AGAIN this year it proved expedient to celebrate Speech Day in two parts: for the Juniors in the afternoon, and the Seniors in the evening. There presided in the afternoon Mr. A. J. Allery, Vice-Chairman of the Governors, and in the evening Councillor W. D. Charles, J.P., Chairman of the Governors, and their easy authority brought both dignity and warmth to the proceedings.

The Headmaster, in his report, was able to recount another year of sound progress in the development of the school towards maturity. Academic standards had been maintained as results at "0" level had shown; out-of-school activities had continued to flourish, and it had been particularly pleasing to hear the School Orchestra. tackling works of increased difficulty with enthusiasm and growing skill, and to see a memorable production of Journey's End: games results had again been thoroughly creditable in spite of the often-stressed lack of facilities. The masters were to be congratulated upon their unflagging service to the school; it was pleasing to see more and more responsibility passed to the boys as they became old enough. Finally, the Headmaster mentioned the new problems a large Sixth Form would bring, and he outlined the principles fundamental to profitable education in the Sixth Form.

Our guest in the afternoon was the Chairman of the Ruislip-Northwood U.D.C., Councillor E. A. Daniell, J.P., whom the school had long known and respected; and his wife honoured us by presenting the prizes and trophies. From the beginning his speech captivated the Juniors; vitality and humour were in abundance, but he was not content merely to entertain his audience, and his sane, well-informed advice obviously had an effect all the more profound for its crispness and its intermingling with humour.

It was our privilege in the evening to entertain the Headmaster of Mill Hill School, Mr. R. Moore, M.A., F.K.C. In his address, Mr. Moore spoke much of tradition - that intangible quality which we as a new school so lacked. With his wise guidance we were allowed to see something of the ideals and the standards which dominate the public school; we began to see tradition not as an outworn relic of the past, but as a vital ever-changing union of all.