THIRD EDITION. BOYS FOR THE NAVY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16826, 13 December 1928, Page 13

THIRD EDITION. BOYS FOR THE NAVY

ROYAL HOSPITAL SCHOOL MR. G. S. READE'S BIG GIET LONDON, Nov. 2. | Owing to tlui beneficence of Mi'. 0. K. tiende, of Auckland, the Admiralty .ire about to erect a fine group of Imifctings in the country where, in due course, the hoys of the Naval School al Greenwich will be transferred. The Drike of York laid the, foundation stone last FridaV. Greenwich Hospital was founded by charter of William and Mary, dated October 25, 1694.. lor the relief and support of seamen of the Royal Navy, their widows and dependants. In pursuance of one of the objects of the charter—"the maintenance and education of the children of seamen happening to be slain or disabled"—the old school now at Greenwich was first established in 1712, and provided for 10 boys. In 1803 the tn(al number of children had increased to 200. Dining the last century the school grew to its present full complement of about 10C0 hoys. At Ihe present time the school is recruited from among the sons of seamen and marines by selection of the Admiralty. Since 1874 the school has provided nhonl 10,000 beys for the senior service and it has ronie lo he regarded as the cradle of the navy. Although the site of Greenwich Hospital was originally a rural one on the banks of the Thames, it is now in the heart of East London. Old establishments arc not easily replaced in this country, hut no doubt (he Admiralty have Jong known that the health and training of young boys would in: better served by a'school in the country. The generous' gift of Mr. Reade has now mafle it possible to transfer this "cradle of the Navy" to more healthy surroundings. Mr. Reade's estate is situated along the estuary of the River Stowr. At the mouth of'the estuary is the harbor ot Harwich, and the Harwich Naval Station. The 800 acres now given to the Admiralty by Mr. Reade is overlooking the ostuarv, the site of the new buildings is about 200 ft. above sea level, and eight miles from loswieh. It is delightful country and the Holbrook site is about six miles from the railway station, so that the boys will be trained in strictly rural surroundings.

much work Already done Already a good deal of work has been done, on the site. Roads have been laid down and a. small village of huts has been erected. Concrete foundations of some of the main buildings have been sunk and other preparations are being made for the four years of work. When this is accomplished there will be a kind of village settlement, for the boys, in their new home, will live in separate hostels Reside the central block ol buildings there will be about 50 houses for boys, officers, masters and sta L \gain 'there will be a gymnasium, baths and other buildings for training, ami the RrowMs will be laid out with gardens tennis lawns and football and cricket grounds. s . " The 23 ton stone was suspended by chains above its filial resting phYc'e .Xh\ one face was the inscription: 11ns stone was laid bv His Royal Highness the Duke of York, K.G., K. 1.. GC M O G CV.O., on the 20th day ot October.'l92B. It was taken from the quarries in the Isle of Portland from which stone was raised on warrant*" Sir Christopher Wren for building he Royal Hospital al Greenwich m Ine years 1700-1701." , ... ' Tlie Duke of York laid Ihe stone with the customary formalities, the ceremony being- partly religious. Prayers were offered by the chaplain of the Meet and the Bishop of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich. Before the stone was finally lowered into position the Duke placed in a cavitv below it, a casket containing copies of the Times, and the East Anglian Daily Times, and a set oi coins Irom a hll . ( hing to a gold sovereign. TRIIiCTE TO MR, READE No speeches were made at the CO.fymonv. nor was it intended "><7 * ! 'f '> b 0 , n:l(ki a ftcr the luncheon. Mr Bridgeman, however, said that he could not allow the occasion to pass without paylt, a tribute to Mr. Reade The moving of the Greenwich Hospital School, he said, to the new site, was solely due to the beneficence of Mr. Reade, who bad presented them with 800 acres of land and intended also to make a bequest. He Ead made the gift without any ulterior motive and simply out of his hive o he nation and his admiration of hNavy He asked for no reward-except the feeling, that his gilt would be appreciated, and that the school would be organised and conducted in such a way as to make the Navy, if possible stilbmoreefhci. The Admiralty, M trustees of Greenwich Hospital," thanked Mr. Reade wavmlv for this noble gift, said Mr. SeLn, and they would do their best to see that every penny which lie had Liven was properly spent in the improvement of the accommodation for the boys intended for the Navy.