JUBILEE BANQUET HELD

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27489, 25 October 1954, Page 14

JUBILEE BANQUET HELD

Christchurch West High School 300 FORMER PUPILS ATTEND

Three hundred persons gathered in Beaths restaurant on Saturday evening at a banquet to celebrate the fiftieth jubilee of the Christchurch West High School’s secondary department. Old pupils, their husbands or wives, and past and present members of the school’s staff, took part in the function.

The history of the Christchurch West High School went back to 1858, said the chairman of the ceremony (the Rev. L. Farquhar Gunn) in welcoming guests to the function. In that year the Christchurch Boys’ Academy (later the Christchurch Boys’ High School) was founded. - When the Boys’ High School moved to Riccarton the Old Boys’ Academy was moved to the present site of Christchurch West.

Close associations were also held with the Church of St. Andrew, said Mr Gunn. At one time the kilt played an important part in the school’s uniform; the cross of St. Andrew was still incorporated in the school’s monogram. “I have always thought it would be interesting had that uniform continued until today,” he said. ‘‘lt would be even more interesting if the staff had been compelled to wear it.” Proposing the toast to the school, Mr R. C. Madsen quoted John Buchan by saying, ‘‘Abiding things lie in the past.”

‘‘We remember tonight all the things the school has done for us,” he said “The school probably means more to us now than it did when we were there as pupils.” Except for those with very long memories, the routine class work was probably forgotten. Memories would consist mostly of highlights of the life or eccentricities of staff members.

“Our school has fulfilled its aim of fitting its pupils for life,” said Mr Madsen, ‘‘and its other aim of introducing pupils to the cultural, ethical, and spiritual things of life has also been well discharged. The school has given us something more than the dry bones of learning.” Mr C. A. Noble, the present headmaster, replied to the toast by remarking that the large number present at the banquet showed the real affection in which the school was held by its old pupils. ‘‘My association with the school began in 1933,” he said. For records of the happenings in the years before then he was at a disadvantage; there was no record of the personal, more intimate details of school life. ‘‘We do not know why October 3, 1904, was the opening day for the secondary department: we do not know who chose the motto.”

‘‘Tomorrow, when you visit the school, you will see many changes,” said Mr Noble. “Next year you will see more. But at heart the school is still as sound as ever. We who are responsible for carrying on are just as keen as those who began to see the good name and traditions of the school continued.”

Musical items by former pupils and a roll call followed this reply, and then two former headmasters (Messrs L. F. de Berry and A. E. Caddick) spoke. Finally came the toast to the Old Pupils’ Associations, proposed by Mr R. A. Chapman, and responded to by Mrs A. C. Pitcaithly and Mr R. J. Burness. Church Service Yesterday afternoon old pupils attended in St. Andrew’s Church a commemoration service conducted by Mr Gunn, the minister of the church, and chairman of the school’s board of governors. Mr Burness, president of the Old Boys’ Association, read the first lesson, and Mrs Pitcaithly, president of the Old Girls* Association, read the second. The roll of honour was read by the head prefect of the school, L. D. Payne. In his sermon, the Rev. W. C. Comber, an old boy, spoke of the dangers of the ‘‘mass mind.” He said: “The mass mind is more terrifying than the atom bomb. Its coming was seen by several people 100 years ago. " We now have seen what the mass mind, in its flight from reason, can produce—the Second World War.” Mr Comber said that children should be taught to understand words. They should not be influenced by those words emotionally charged but with little meaning. ‘‘We need education so that young people can go into the world with the ability to detect absurdities and fallacies,” he said. After the service the old pupils gathered in front of the main entrance of the school and the bell was rung. In welcoming them, the headmaster of the school said: ‘‘l hope you are not too critical of the changes.” With him stood Mr Caddick and Mr de Berry. Afternoon tea was served and then decade photographs were taken.