SIXTY YEARS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 304, 5 October 1946, Page 7

SIXTY YEARS

CELEBRATIONS AT LYNDHURST SCHOOL SUCCESSFUL DIAMOND JUBILEE The diamond jubilee of the Lyndhurst School was successfully cslebrated yesterday, when a large number of past pupils and two exteachers re-visited the school where they had spent a happy period of their lives. Long forgotten incidents were- recalled and many old friendships and acquaintances were renewed as the crowd si rolled through the rooms and around the beautiful grounds. A more ideal environment for the education of young people than the pleasingly situated classrooms in the spacious playground would be difficult to imagine. Although the sky was at times threatening the weather remained fine overhead during the day. The smoothness with which the function was run reflects credit on the jubilee committees which - comprised •the following: Chairman, Mr K. R. Cook; secretaries, Messrs E. S. Ayers and. K. D. Cook (assistant); treasurer, Mr B. R. Chambers; general committee, Misses G. Rowe V. Anderson, K.

Body, J. Marshall and N. Kelly, Messrs C. A. Corbett, C. Body, A. Body, A. Robertson, W. S. Marshall, J. Taylor, C. Chambers, J. B. Ferguson and R. Ayers; social committee, Mesdames L Anderson, L. Molloy, R. Chambers, K. Cook, R. Dunldey, Corbett, E. G. Body and Miss G. Rowe.

Proceedings were opened with the ringing of the school bell by Mrs W. Buchan, who was senior headmistress from 1907 to 1919. After the Union Jack (the one received in exchange from the- Lyndhurst School, Hampshire, England) and the New Zealand Ensign had been hoisted by Mr W. G. Prebble, senior ex-chairman of the school committee, the National Anthem was sung. A wreath was carried from the flagstaff by two senior girls of the school, Shirley Buick and Daphne Reesby, to the Roll of Honour, through a guard of honour formed by pupils of the school. A minute’s silence in respect to the fallen was then observed.

Addresses by Visitors

The crowd then assembled in front of the infant room, on the verandah of which were seated Mrs Buchan, Miss M. Rudd, who was head teacher from 1919 to 1944, Mr C. S. Thompson (chairman of the Canterbury Education Board), Mr G. Edgar, representative of the district on the hoard, Mr K. R. Cook (chairman of the jubilee committee) and Mr R. B. Chambers (chairman of the school committee). The chairman read a number of apologies, including one from Mr R. G. Gerard, M.P. and Mrs W. G. Gallagher, a senior ex-teacher, who is indisposed He also welcomed the ex-pupils ana ex-teachers and 1 visitors, paying tribute- to the committee. Mr Thompson said he regarded it as his duty, when a school celebrated a jubilee, especially a diamond jubilee, to take the flag of the Canterbury Education Board into the district concerned and he was very pleased to be present at Lyndhurst’s celebration. There had been many improvements to the school since his last visit, said Mr Thompson, who had visited the- school on several occasions, but nevei under such happy circumstances as. this time.

The speaker paid a tribute to the type of men working on the school committee*. Like members of the board, theirs was an honorary task, in recognition of which they received little thanks, but soon heard of their mistakes. “But if we have in some way served the children in fitting them for the battle of life we have made a great contribution to the community. Education is not so much to teach a man o'r woman how to make a living as to how to live,” said Mr Thompson. “They should so serve that after their allotted time they will feel that they have left things in the community a little better for having resided in it.”

. Tribute to Miss Rudd ' A high tribute to Miss Rudd was paid by Mr Thompson. “She has a wonderful record. Beloved by the children and respected by the parent#, her influence over a lifetime of work will be felt for many years to come,” said the speaker. In. his opinion parents did not fully realise the influence a good teacher exerted in the life of the community. Miss Rudd and others had played a great part in the life of the school.

In conclusion Mr Thompson said that the people of the district had already done so much for themselves he was sure they would stand behind their school committee in its efforts on behalf of the school. He felt that he had a great responsibility in following in the footsteps of Mr S. Smith, said Mr Edgar, in congratulating the school on its attainment of 60 years’ service to the community. He v\ r as sure all agreed that children and teachers should have thh best possible conditions, and lie would help the committee to the best of his ability. Qualities of Committees

On behalf of the ex-teachers, Miss Rudd congratulated the school on the attainment of* its jubilee under such happy circumstances, with an up-to-date school and grounds and efficient staff. Miss Rudd spoke highly of the qualities of the school committees. Many members had given up valuable time from their farms to attend to school matters. She recalled how one day 25 residents of the district gathered to pick stones off the football field, they did not finish it in one day, so came back the next day to complete the task.

Mention was made by Miss Rudd of the work of the present headmaster (Mr C. A. Corbett). “I hope that some of the children at the school to-day may one day come back to teach at Lyndhurst, but whatever they do the main thing is to do it faithfully,” said Miss Rudd. Reference to the boys who would have been present, but had made the supreme sac-

rifice was made by Miss Rudd before concluding, Thanks to Messrs Thompson and Edgar for ensuring that the school was painted for the jubilee was made by Mr Chambers, in welcoming visitors on behalf of the school committee. “It is a quality of human nature that early associations became in later life more highly prized, and we are drawn together to-day by the bond of a fellowship shared at the Lyndhurst School,” said Mrs Buchan, when invited to speak. It was 39 years since she had first met pupils of the school. During her time, said Mrs Buchan, the number of pupils had grown from 30 to 50 and she vividly recalled the cramped conditions of the original school building. It had been enlarged and Miss Smith (now Mrs Chambers) and Miss Fitzgerald (now Mrs McKendry) had served on the staff. Mrs Buchan concluded by congratulating the school on its success and distinctions gained over the last years and the jubilee committee on its most successful function. “I feel very proud to be associated with the jubilee, and honoured to be next in the line of splendid teachers which has gone ahead of me,” said Mr Corbett, when invited to speak. He was proud to be in charge of such a fine school and wonderful pupils, and | he looked forward to future years of pleasant service in the district.

Roll Call and Photos After lunch the roll call was taken and each decade was photographed. Five pupils of the first decade, 1886 to 1895, answered. They were Mesdames M. Compton. (Methven), W. Gilmour (New Brighton) and Tod (Tinwald), and Messrs S. Thompson (Winclimore) and W. E. Hampton (Methven). Ten pupils of the second decade, 189 G to 1905, were present and increasingly larger numbers in the more recent decades. A handsome jubilee cake was cut during afternoon tea by Mrs Compton, the . oldest surviving pupil of the school. The cake was made by Mrs J. H. Taylor, also a former pupil.