RETIREMENT OF HEADMASTER

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23109, 27 August 1940, Page 6

RETIREMENT OF HEADMASTER

MR G. J. LANCASTER LONG SERVICE WITH BOYS’ HIGH SCHOOL Mr G. J. Lancaster, for 20 years headmaster of the Christchurch Boys' High School, plans to retire from that position at the end of the present school year. His resignation was accepted with deep regret by the Canterbury University College Council, the controlling body of the school, at its meeting yesterday. Tributes were paid to Mr Lancaster’s long service to the school and to the council by the chairman (Mr A. E. Flower) and members of the council. In announcing Mr Lancaster’s resignation, Mr Flower said that Mr Lancaster, who had reached the retiring age, felt that he should take the normal course of resigning, the resignation to be effective from January 31, 1941 He was willing, however, to assist the council, should it be necessary, by continuing in his duties as headmaster for a term or two beyond that date. He desired, in any case, however, to he relieved of his duties in charge of the school hostel, Adams House, as from the end of this year. Mr Lancaster’s resignation had boon accepted with great regret by the council, which he had served as assistant master and head for 22 years. The usual steps would be taken toward the appointment of his successor, but the council would gladly accept Mr Lancaster’s offer to continue for a while should any obstacle or delay intervene. ' Teaching Career Mr Lancaster succeeded Mr C. E. Bevan-Brown as headmaster of the school in 1921. He was bom in Liverpool in 1875, and was brought to New Zealand by his parents in the following year. He was educated at the Sydenham School, the Christchurch Boys’ High School, and Canterbury University College. He won three district scholarships, a junior university scholarship, and a senior university scholarship in mathematics. Ho graduated Master of Arts with double firstclass honours, in Mathematics and Chemistry, in 1896, Mr Lancaster began his teaching career at St, John’s College, Auckland, where he was on the staff from 1896 to 1901. Subsequently he taught at the Christchurch Girls’ High School (1902-03) and Nelson College (1904-19). In 1919 he became senior mathematics master at the Christchurch Boys’ High School, and at the end of 1920 was appointed headmaster. In nearly 60 years of its existence the school has had only three headmasters. The first, Mr T. Miller, hold the position fur three years. Then In 1884 Mr Bevan-Brown was appointed and held the position for 36 years. Mr Lancaster’s twenty-year tenure is long for the headmaster of one of the larger secondary schools of the Dominion. ■Mr Lancaster married Emily Hamlin, a daughter of Mr H. B. Hamlin. She died in 1937. Ho has two children, Miss Ethno Lancaster, and Mr Roy Lancaster, who graduated Bachelor of Engineering at Canterbury College in 1926, and who is with the Public Works Department in Nelson.