GENEROUS T.O.B.A.

Thames Star, Volume LXII, Issue 17390, 30 March 1928, Page 4

GENEROUS T.0.8.A.

PRESENTATION OF SHIELD: TO THAMES HIGH SCHOOL. FOR ANNUAL STEEPLECHASE. That the Thames Old Boys' Association takes a very keen interest in the Thames High School was demonstrated yesterday afternoon, when the president, Mr E. Watson, accoriipanied by Messrs J. W. Danby, W. Carson, R. Muir and W. B. Mconald, paid a visit to present a shield donated by the Thames Old Boys' Association f0r,..; competition in the annual steeplechase.'-' The visitors were courteously received by the principal of the High;

School, Mr W. H. Hoult, and conducted to the assembly hall, where the scholars were waiting. . .■ s In introducing Mr Watson, as preslw dent of the Thames Old Boys-' Association, to the pupils, Mr Hoult said that iThames was peculiar inasmuch as it : successfully supported an Old Boys'

Association, a fact that few towns in New Zealand could boast of. Mr E. Watson, who received an ovation from the scholars when he rose to speak, said that for a considerable time the members and executive of the Thames Old Boys' Association felt that they would like to do something tangible to help sport in the High School. This had been finalised and' a, shield had been made to their order, which they had called the Thames Diamond Jubilee Shield, in commemoration of last year's successful functions, and which would be ; open for competition, at the annua] steeplechase. They hoped the shield would promote a friendly rivalry in school sport. Accompanying the shield would be a gold medal to the winner each year, and a framed photo enlargement of the first boy to win the shield would be hung in the school: Mr Watson asked 'Mr Hoult to receive the ■ shield and the Srst medal, and hoped that the good spirit now in the school would exist in the years to come.

Mr Hoult said that he could assure the Association that he received the shield and medal with the. greatest pleasure. It was probably the finest trophy the school held, and it would be valued accordingly. In these days of laziness it was refreshing, to have someone to promote sport that would benefit the bodies of youth. All mental training would go for nothing if the body was neglected, it was showing real interest in the school's welfare to present such a trophy. The school was doing its best to promote indoor learning, and this would ■ encourage outdoor sport. The shield was for competition in the annual steeplechase and rules and conditions would be drawn up governing it. It was desirable that every boy in the school should com-

Ipete for the shield. Later in life the boys would be proud to say th'at they had competed for the Thames Old Boys' Shield. The competition would ibe'arranged at the close of each football season. It gave him the greatest pleasure to accept the shield on behalf of the boys from the Thames Old Boys'" Association. Mr Watson asknowledged Mr Hoult's remarks by saying that one of the members Qf the Thames Old Boys' Association would present a framed en-, largement-of the first winner of the shield, to be hung in the school. Three hearty cheers were called for and. heartily given to Mr Watson and • his fellow-members of the Thames Old I Boys' Association. The shield is a very handsome one of oak. It bears a medallion jn silver, surmounted by the coat o*f arms of-the Thames Old Boys' Association, with gold wreaths on either side. An inscription in a silver band reads: ISG7—Diamond Jubilee Shield—l 927 - beneath which is a silver shield em-

bossed with a figure of a runner in gold, with an inscription: '"Thames High School Annual Steeplechase." This is supported by gold ferns on either side. There are. ten miniature silver shields for placing the winners' names in sequence. The gold medal is a beautiful bit of work,' bearing the Thames Old Boys' Association- coat of arms. The whole of the work of the shield and the medal is that of Mr Harry Foy, an old' Thames boy, son of the late Mr George Foy, and brother of the Misses Foy, of Mary Street.