Boston Grammar School Speech Day 1941
From the 1942 issue of 'The Bostonian'
Speech Day was held on December 12th. Alderman Tom Kitwood:T. Kitwood presided, and the Mayor of Boston, Councillor J. G. Wrigley, and the School Governors were also present.
The Chairman began by welcoming the Bishop of Grantham (the Rt. Rev. Rt Rev A. A. Markham) who, in spite of the many claims on his time, had come to present the prizes; we were all honoured by his presence. He then mentioned the State Scholarships gained by Garnham and Dickson, a reflection of the good work of the Headmaster and his staff. He expressed the indebtedness of the Governors to the ladies who had filled vacancies in the staff caused by the calling-up of masters.
The Headmaster associated himself with the Chairman's welcome to the Bishop. He was also very glad to have the Chairman with them once more, with his long experience and unfailing interested in educational matters. He regretted the small number of invitations to Speech Day which it had been possible to send, saying that a new Hall of ample size, and many other extensions, would have been well on their way to completion if it had not been for the war. Fortunately our buildings were intact and there had been little disturbance to normal routine. He then mentioned the various changes in staff, and thanked his colleagues for their loyal support. He was proud of the many successes gained by Old Boys and pupils of the School, but, in commenting on the year's games, he said that difficulties of transport had interfered with inter-school matches. The Old Bostonian Sports Club was unfortunately no longer in existence, but he hoped it would be restarted after the war. Many Old Boys were now in the Forces and he would welcome any information about them; the School list was still incomplete. He had to report the loss of three Old Boys on active service. He emphasised the importance of preserving as far as possible normality in our lives and of keeping our minds from becoming preoccupied with the war. We must also look ahead to the time of reconstruction after the war and on no account must we relax educational standards. He urged parents to keep their boys at school at least until they had gained their School Certificates. He said that we must prepare our boys to play their part as worthy citizens of the new world to which we look forward and which they themselves will help to shape.
The Bishop, after presenting the prizes, partly by way of consolation to those who had not received awards, argued that the really important thing was to have done one's very best. He illustrated his point by reference to the life of Mr. Churchill, who, although he gained no distinction at school and had been refused admission to Oxford University, went on with his own education and became the great man that he is. The Bishop thought that the ordinary common man was the most valuable asset of our country. Since the last war the country had been too much at the mercy of intellectuals who were deficient in character and who had despised the all-important virtues of the common man - steadfastness, courage and patriotism. He warned us of the danger of allowing such people to gain control again after this war, and suggested that in the future there would be less talk of examinations and more respect paid to character, especially the character of the ordinary man who does his best. For character was largely the result of making right choices in the ordinary questions of life. He urged more self-reliance, especially with regard to amusements at home; we should no longer be merely passive recipients, but we ought to be full of interests of our own and take our share in contributing to the general happiness.
The Bishop closed his speech by asking people to remember what Christmas stands for - that there is no Christmas without Christ.
A vote of thanks to the Bishop was proposed by the Mayor, and Mr. W. Kitwood, seconding, commented on the great improvement in the season's cricket. Councillor H. Percy. Clark proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman and congratulated the School on its savings drive. Alderman W. H. Lunn seconded, and amplified the School's gratitude to the Chairman.
Prizes
Parry Gold Medal, R. H. Garnham. Ogle Divinity Prize, J. W. Ryan. Form VI: Science and Mathematics, R. H. Garnham, J. L. Dickson, J. Bates, K. E. Upsall, J. A. Simmons. Literature, J. W. Ryan, P. M. Walmsley. Form UVa1: Form, F. R. Bozeat. Merit, A. D. Penhey, J. A. Tinkler, A. C. J. Jackson, D. E. Norman. Form UVa2: Form, A. E. Wilkinson. Merit, A. Newton, P. R. Woolcock. Form UVb: Form, K. G. Haigh. Form LVa: Form, C. W. Taylor. Merit, J. Dracass, W. N. Chester. Form LVb: Form, R. A. Anker. Merit, W. F. Tomlinson. Art, R. A. Anker. Form UIVa: Form, H. C. Orchard. Merit, J. M. Eno, A. L. Norris. Form UIVb: Form, T. R. Barton. Merit, E. M. Goy. Form LIVa: Form, N. O. Hudson. Merit, G. G. Brooks, G. R. Keal. Form LIVb: Form, M. T. Hopper. Merit, P. H. Casswell. Form IIIa: Form, J. H Jordan. Merit, G. F. Battram, J. N. Gill. Form IIIb: Form, J. S. Reynolds. Merit, C. V. Taylor. Form II: Form, K. A. Bradley. Merit, C. W. Raybon. Form I: Form, B. J. R. Rippin. Merit, W. Q. Lockwood. Nature Study, W. Q. Lockwood.