FAMOUS ATHLETE WELCOMED

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21939, 13 November 1936, Page 4

FAMOUS ATHLETE WELCOMED

ENTHUSIASM IN SOUTH CANTERBURY

VISIT TO TIMARU BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL

Since his arrival in the Dominion Mr J. E. Lovelock has received a no more enthusiastic and certainly a no more vociferous welcome than yesterday when he visited his old school, Timaru Boys’ High School. More than 500 boys thronged the Assembly Hall, besides whom there were present pupils from the Timaru Girls’ High School, the Craighead Diocesan School, and the Timaru Technical College. On the platform were the rector of the school, Mr.A. G. Tait, Mr W. Thomas, a former rector, members of the Board of Governors of the school, and the school staff.

Three rousing cheers were given as Mr Lovelock entered the hall, where he was immediately lifted on a chair and taken round the hall. As he took his. seat on the platform the school band, under Mr H. McClatchy, played a rousing tune. Welcoming Mr Lovelock, the rector said that the visitor had been named Dr. and Mr since his arrival in New Zealand, but at school he would have to conform to its rules and be known as Jack Lovelock. The speaker had no doubt that every boy in the school would be able to pass an examination on Mr Lovelock’s career more easily than several subjects studied at the school. It had been the principle of the school that hard work properly balanced with sports and games was good for boys and Lovelock’s record • showed this principle to be con.ct. “I commend his example to the boys of this school,” concluded the rector. The First Rhodes Scholar

Dr. L. S. Talbot, vice-chairman of the Board of Governors, welcomed Mr Lovelock, not only as a great athlete but also as a Rhodes Scholar. “I am sure that if Mr Cecil Rhodes could be here,” he said, “he would regard Lovelock as the true type of man for whom the scholarship was founded.” Mr Lovelock would be an unusual medical man in that he would be a splendid example of physical fitness himself, said Dr. Talbot. Mr A. J, Allport, president of the Timaru High School Old Boys’ Association. drew attention to the fact that Mr Lovelock was the first Rhodes Scholar the school had produced. He was also an athlete second to none in the world, and he was thirdly a man. Mr Allport said that Lovelock’s name had been perpetuated by old boys, who had presented a cup in commemoration of his record mile at Princeton. It was noteworthy that the first holder of the trophy was V. P. Boot, who had lowered Mr Lovelock’s school record and created an Empire school, boys’ record for the distance. Old boys appreciated Mr Lovelock’s fine gesture In presenting the Olympic Oak to his old school, and provided approval was forthcoming, old boys would erect a brass tablet at the foot of the oak to commemorate the planting of the tree. “Worthy of Emulation”

The Mayor, Mr P. C. Vinnell, said that Mr Lovelock’s achievements as an athlete and scholar were worthy of emulation. He expressed the hope that Mr Lovelock would come back to the Dominion, after his studies, to settle. It would be a pity for such a man to stay abroad. "We have actually had two old boys of international repute, Dr. Harold Williams, the great linguist, and Jack Lovelock,” said Mr, Thomas. Unfortunately Dr. Williams was unable to return before his death, and the present occasion was the first upon which the school had had an opportunity of welcoming back, one upon whom the fierce light of international publicity had shone, and who was admired throughout the world. While in the United States of America the speaker had been assured by an old boy of the school, Mr P. S. Cabot, that Mr Lovelock had done a great deal to bring the athletes of America and Britain together. The head prefect, A. L. Cleland, assured Mr Lovelock that the boys of the school had followed his career with the keenest interest and desired to congratulate him on his performances. A Rousing Reception A hurricane of applause and cheers greeted Mr Lovelock when he rose to respond. He expressed the opinion that too much was being made of his performances in the athletic world. While he appreciated this, he had to say that it was not the most important side of his activities. He congratulated the school on its excellent singing and assured it of his appreciation of the welcome he had been given. Later a civic reception was given to Mr Lovelock, a crowd of about 1500 assembling in front of the municipal buildings, many shops having closedearly to enable their employees to attend. Speaking from the balcony on the first floor of the building, the Mayor, in welcoming the guest, referred to his athletic and scholastic careers and said that while he had been a great advertisement to the Dominion he had, at the same time, never neglected his studies. It was gratifying that he had not lost his head through his successes, and it was to be hoped that on completion of his work abroad he would see fit to return to New Zealand. In a modest reply Mr Lovelock said he regarded the welcome as a tribute to one who had been fortunate enough to be educated at the Timaru Boys’ High School. He appreciated the welcome, particularly as it was given in sunny conditions. BRIEF VISIT TO TEMUKA LARGE ATTENDANCE GREETS RUNNER “A human Phar Lap” was the way in which Mr A. W. Buzan, Mayor of Temuka, described Mr J. E. Lovelock at a special welcome to the great runner held yesterday in Temuka. Mr Lovelock stopped for only a quarter of an hour in the borough where he spent part of his early life, but there was an attendance of more than 500 at a special reception arranged for him at the Post Office. Mr Buzan, in welcoming Lovelock, said that it was most fortunate that Temuka had been included in the itinerary, even if it were only for a short time. Ldvelcypk had at one time been a pupil of the Temuka District High School, and the town was naturally justly proud in his achievements. New Zealand had two young persons who had recently made a name for themselves—Jean Batten and Lovelock. Everybody should realise the amount of tenacity, courage, and hard work which had been required to raise the great runner to the standard he had attained. He welcomed Lovelock, extended the heartiest congratulations, and wished him every success in his future in his medical work. “Even in those .arly days he showed promise. He did a four years’ course In three years,” said Mr A. E. Smith, chairman of the Temuka District High School Committee. Mr Smith also congratulated Lovelock and wished him every success. Mr J. T. Smart, chairman of the Temuka Progress League, said that