CLYDE QUAY SCHOOL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 13 December 1938, Page 4

CLYDE QUAY SCHOOL

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OLD BOYS WHO ARE PROMINENT IN SPORTING WORLD Old Boys of Clyde Quay School. Wellington. and others will be interested in the appended review of sportsmen produced by the school. The celebrations commence on Friday, 16th December and continue on the 17th and 18th December. Blue-and-black colours wih be flying next week-end, the reason being that the Clyde Quay School is celebrating its jubilee, says the “Sports Post.” Past pupils will be out in force, and among them will be many whose development at school brought them into prominence in the field of sport. The school has, of course, made its mark educationally. Bearing on the recreational side, it is interesting to

C. S. Dempster. recall that when the old school was opened the question of school colours v/as passed on by the then headmaster (Mr W. T. Grundy, who died recently) to some of the senior boys. Their unanimous decision was that as Mount Cook had the same colours as the Poneke Football Club, Clyde Quay should have the Athletic Football Club’s colours. Thus, the school from its infancy had something in common with the Athletic Football Club, and when the young Clyde Quay footballers left school many of them were loath to change their colour. And many Clyde Quay boys went on to gain prominence as Rugby players. One to become an All Black was the late E. E. (“General”) Booth. Boys of the Clyde Quay School were notoriously fond of the water. It was little more than a step for them to go for a dip in Oriental Bay or Te Aro Baths (where the kindly Mrs Wilton and her family took a great interest in them). “WATER-RATS” “Water Rats” they were nicknamed by those of other schools, and if Mount Cook boys used that term in addressing the Clyde Quayites, they were promptly reminded of the fact that they were “gaol birds,” that doubtful titled arising through the Mount Cook School being near the old gaol. Clyde Quay turned out young swimmers by the score. It had its athletes, too, with “Jimmy” Wilton no doubt the greatest of them.

A pretty runner, “Jimmy” Wilton became New Zealand’s best quarter-miler, and was a member of the New Zealand Army record-breaking relay team. Other Clyde Quay old boys who served athletics well (the administrative side included) are the Pollocks (“Billy’ ’and “Pink”) and Frank Wilton (who also was a rare trier in swimming). A glance at tennis names of note and one finds that Noel Wilson, Don and Len. France and Les. McGip r had Clyde Quay schooling. Then there are the cricketers—a long line of them set on the right way in their days at Clyde Quay School. Pride of place must be given to “Stewie” Dempster, who has come to be ranked in the top flight of the world's batsmen. Then there are Herb. McGirr (back to prominence by reason of a fine allround display at the Basin last Saturday), Wiri Baker, and Mat. Henderson, each of whom has achieved greatness in cricket. Nor must Herb. Lambert be forgotten, and “Horrie” Prince comes high up in the ranking. It is a matter of particular interest that Dempster will be here from England in time for the jubilee celebrations. He is due to arrive by the Rangitane next Friday. Always keeping a keen eye on the boys in their development were the school heads, Mr Grundy and his successor, Mr W. H. L. Foster, and in setting them on the right track the boys had the invaluable coaching of “Jimmy” Lynskey (who really put the school on the map in the football sense —before he went to Pelone). Sid. Dempsey, Jim. Fanning, E. H. Fisher, and others. Old times at Clyde Quay will be talked over and over during the celebrations, which commence next Friday.