TEACHERS' FRIEND

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 110, 5 November 1935, Page 11

TEACHERS' FRIEND

THE LATE F. H. BAKEWELL

AN INTERESTING LIFE

The late Mr. Frederick Haslam Bakewell, whose death occurred at Paekakariki on Sunday night, was a man whose scholarly reputation and educational associations were in striking contrast with more adventurous phases of his early life. He was born in Kent in 1858, the second son of Robert Hall Bakewell, M.D. He was educated prir vately and at the City of London School under the famous Dr. Abbott, and later at Otago Boys' High School and Otago University.

Part of his early youth was spent in the West Indies in Cuba, Venezuela, and Trinidad, where his father held various medical appointments undar the Imperial Government. Of his life there he had a most vivid recollection, particularly of a rising among the negroes on account of the ■ strenuous measures taken in a smallpox epidemic.

As a young man Mr. Bakewell worked on the land, principally in the McKenzie Country (South Canterbury), and later in Motueka, but his ambition was to become a soldier. At the age of nineteen he joined the Armed Constabulary and was stationed at the Opunake Redoubt, where he saw considerable service during the Maori troubles. He was a member of the force which, under Lieutenant-Colonel Roberts, marched to the Parihaka Pa and to whose demand Te Whiti surrendered. He was on the point of proceeding to England to enter the Army when he met with a tragic accident. When firing at the butts a gun burst and shattered his hand.

Having to turn to another way of life he choose the teaching profession, and to that for over forty years he gave of.his best. Of outstanding ability, Mr. Bakewell rose rapidly, and in 1899 was appointed to the Inspectorate of Schools in the Wellington district. In 1917 he became chief inspector.

Personally knowing the trials and troubles of a teacher's life, Mr. Bakewell was ever ready to help and advise the teachers of his district and his appearance in a school was not looked upon as that of a coid, critical judge, but that of a warm-hearted, understanding friend. Few men have served their generation more ably than he and asked less in return. Few men have been more conscientious in the discharge of their duties and few indeed have earned from their subordinates such affection and respect. When, on his retirement in 1924, the teachers met to farewell him, the spontaneous expressions of affection, appreciation, and regret proved that he had not laboured in vain in his profession.

But his labours were by no means ended. He continued to serve the cause of education ,as a member of Victoria University' College Council, and as a representative of that body on the Senate of the University of New Zealand. In 1925, at the request of the Imperial Government, he was appointed a member of a Royal Commission on Education in Fiji. In collaboration with Mr. Frank Tate, Director of Education in Victoria, and representative Fijians' and Indians, he drafted a scheme of education to meet the many difficult problems due to the varied racial and, .religious conflicts. In a letter to the Education Department from Downing Street his good work was recognised and he was appropriately thanked.

In the councils of educators he was always effective. He spoke only when the occasion demanded it, and he spoke to some purpose. It was always he who, when some problem had got out of hand and nerves were frayed, rose and very briefly and humorously said precisely the right thing, thus straightening out the difficulty and restoring the good humour of the meeting. His sense of humour, his keen and ready wit were never employed to hurt, but 'always to adorn a tale or restore a harmony.

He was a fine Latin scholar, apt in quotation, and widely read. His special study and interest, however, was military history, on which he was a recognised authority. Lectures given many years ago on the "Characteristics of the British in War," are still remembered by the men then in training, for their scholarly appeal, and their wealth of historical analogy. Such was the man whose passing leaves an ache in the hearts of1 all who knew him, a scholar, a teacher, a wise councillor, but above all a great friend. I