ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20377, 7 August 1934, Page 10

ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE.

Headmaster Farewelled by Parents. PRESENTATIONS MADE. To farewell Air A. K. Anderson, who for the last fifteen years has been headmaster of St Andrew’s College, parents of past and present pupils met in the college gymnasium yesterday afternoon. Air Anderson has been appointed headmaster of Scots College, Sydney, but before taking up this position will spend five months on a trip to Europe. Air A. C. Bretherton presided and with him on the platform were Mr and Airs Anderson and Aliss Beverley Anderson, Air F. W. J. Belton and Alesdames W. J. Hunter and W. H. Downer. The Alayor, Air D. G. Sullivan, ALP., also paid the gathering a short visit. Splendid Work for College. Air Belton in making a presentation to Air Anderson of a travelling case and a cheque, offered the congratulations of the parents to him on his new position as headmaster of Scots’ College, Sydney, a position, which he said, placed Air Anderson at the top of his profession. He expressed the regret of those present at losing Air Anderson, their appreciation of the splendid work he had done for their boys and for St Andrew’s during the fifteen years he had been headmaster, and their hopes for his success in Sydney. The St Andrew’s boys, said Air Belton, were characterised by a spirit of willing service, and a headmaster who could imbue his boys with that spirit could be said to have educated them. Sydney’s gain, he said, was their loss. The Mayor also spoke in appreciation of Air Anderson and his services to St Andrew’s College and to the city.

Airs Anderson in turn was presented with a silver rose-bowl by Mrs W. J. Hunter who spoke of the great help she knew Mrs Anderson has been to her husband in his work. Airs Hunter presented Aliss Beverley Anderson with a necklace and matching bracelet. Bright Future.

In replying Air Anderson said he had definite causes for gratitude. lie had had the support of the parents over the whole of the fourteen to fifteen years of his headmastership. They had survived many vicissitudes together and now the future was bright with hope.

“ Secondly,” said Air Anderson “ I rejoice in the good name St Andrew’s bears.” Thirdly, a definite tradition of scholarship had been built up in the school. Air Anderson spoke of the gratification of a schoolmaster who heard that boys whom he had taught were doing well. Air Anderson said his fifth cause for gratitude lay in the choice of the Board of Governors of Air J. B. Mawson as his successor. He had been at school and college with Mr Alawson who had also been his first assistant from 1925 to 1928.

“ Airs Anderson has helped me enormously with the work I have done for the college,” continued Air Anderson. “She has always been genuinely interested in the bc}-s, and has sometimes interceded successfully on their behalf. She has also helped to keep me in contact with the parents.” No gathering held at the college had given Airs Anderson and himself more pleasure than this one had done, said Air Anderson thanking all the previous speakers for their kind remarks. In his opinion, a school should be a happy place, that men in after life would look back upon with gratitude, as he would on his years at St Andrew’s

The following contributed items during the afternoon: Peter Cooper (piano solos), Airs W. J. Hunter (song), Air Stephen Elsom (violin solo) and Air H. Glaysher (harp solo). Dr. T. Leslie Crooke played the accompaniments. The platform was attractively decorated with blue and white bunting, while the school flag and banners were hung on the wall as a background.