OLD BOYS' DINNER

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 28, 2 August 1932, Page 7

OLD BOYS' DINNER

WANGANUI COLLEGE

LONDON GATHERING

(From "Tha Post's" Representative.)

LONDON, 24th. June.

The annual dinner of the London branch of the Wanganui Collegiate •Sehool Old Boys' Association was held at the Criterion Eestaurant, Piccadilly Circus, on 18th June, the Eev. C. P. Pierce, M.A. (late headmaster) being' the guest of honour.

The following were present:—Mr. C. J. Wray (in the chair), the Eev. C. P Keree, Captain J. S. M. Eitchie, E.N., Messrs. W. ,E. Henley, J. E. Giesen, D. H. S. Biddif ord, G. C. Tisdall, ■G. H Winder, T. H., Thatcher, Blair Whyte, E. C. Pullerton-Smith, P. C. Soavill, G. Gray Eussell, .Maurice Smith, -Drs. J. MacNaughton Christie, P. P. de Cans W. P. Willis, Major A. H. A. Empson Major W. C. Hartgill, Captain Brian Strang, and the Eev. N. P. Eobertshawe.

Apologies were read from Mr. Walter Empson, the Eev. J. L. Dove, Dr E. C. Hardwicke, the Eev. W. P. Besley, Mr. J. Armstrong Neame, Mr. E. G-. Atkinson (former masters), and Sir William Marris, the Hon. J. D. Boyle, Air Commodore C. T. Maclean, Sir Thomas Wilford, Sir H. D. Gillies, the Eev. C. H. Eitcjtie, Dr. Arthur E. Porritt, the Eev. D. B. MacGregor, Col. Dudley Hewitt, Lieut.-Commander G. C. Harper, Lieut.-Col,. E. E. Barker, Dr. H. S. Gilmer, Messrs. J. S. Atkinson, O. H. Eoberts, E. J. Harris, W. Denis Allen, D. O. W. Hall, H. J. D. Stowe, N. G. Barker, T. F. Latham, H. V. Anson, Guy Marriner, J. Turnbull, Edgar T. Stead, T. W. Eeed, I. D. Taverner, C. P. Harrison, Chappie GillCarey, J. D. Nelson, Vernon Crawshaw, S. P. -M. Wilde, J. C. Wilson, E. B. Watson, and others. c"

A cable of greetings and good wishes was received from the parent association.

The chairman reported that members of the London committe'e of the association had visited Mr. and Mrs. Empson recently at Bournemouth, and a very pleasant afternoon had been spent with their old headmaster and his wife. Major and Mrs. Arthur Empson were also present. It was decided to send a message of greeting to Mr. and Mrs. Empson and, of good wishes to the former for a speedy recovery of his health, which had! not been very good lately. The toast of the school was proposed by the chairman, who'referred to the splendid work done for the school by Mr. Pierce, and expressed regret on behalf of the old "boys that ill-health had compelled him to resign his post. Mr. Wray congratulated Mr. Pieree on. his appointment' as rector of the Parish of Standlake, Oxfordshire.

Mr. Pierce, in his reply, gave a resume of his work and expressed his appreciation of the treatment he had received on all sides while at Wanganui, mating special reference to the kind consideration, he had always received from the trustees of the .school and from the old boys.

The feeling was •unanimous in favour of having the annual dinner in London in mid-week rather than xon a Saturday as heretofore.

The Eev. N. F. E. Robertshawe (late of Dannevirke) presided at the piano, and the school song, as well as "Forty Years On," "The Poacher," and many other old favourites, were sung—and shouted—the while groups of old toys of various periods were standing exchanging reminiscences of school days. A very enjoyable evening was brought to a close by the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."