When one looks at the Trophy Cupboard - and at the moment we are in process of building a new one - and sees the range of trophies and cups won by the school from the various football trophies down to the individual trophy won by a first year boy for the National Cycling Proficiency test for the Borough of Harrow, one gets an immediate sense of satisfaction. When further one can read from the academic record that 88% success is registered at Advanced Level and that 26 pupils have gone to University out of 32 A level entrants in the current year while, from the 73% success recorded at Ordinary level a resultant record intake of 54 boys started the Sixth form this year, both Staff and Governors feel even more gratified - a gratification enhanced by a very commendatory letter from the Director of Education on behalf of the Education Committee. Naturally both the academic success and the success in the field of games and athletics gives the rest of the school not only a high standard to aim at but a warm participation in the glow of so much successfully achieved.

Those who have left school, whether eminently successful or not, must feel at times, from the vast range of opportunities presented to them, that the whole world of business and commerce and the Services, is queuing up eagerly seeking their patronage. They have been told so often, on Radio, Television and in the Press, that the future is for the young and that the world is their oyster, that there is a danger in their assuming that the end of their student days is the end of their striving. Perhaps the world is their oyster! But to seek the prize within they have to prise from without. It is a hard, cruel, tight-fisted world which does not open its treasures at the first attempt. Many thousands of shells may be found behind any oyster bar which have produced little more than a very inadequate appetiser. Very rarely does one produce a 'pearl of great price', a pearl born of many years of the operation of grit on a hard working valve. The whole operation of production is quiet, unseen, undemonstrative but steady and persevering. It is this quality of quiet perseverance, to which one had become accustomed at school and carried into the world of business and the professions which will bring a satisfactory reward. Parents are indeed sometimes troubled by the thought that their children may be entering a world of unreality and that the student world of the day is a maelstrom of radical permissiveness and opposition to authority. These are merely the sound of thousands of oyster shells being tossed away We have become accustomed to hearing of student riots and revolts; of sit-ins and sit-downs; of denial of free speech in search of free speech. Not so very long ago we were being treated, on Television, on Radio and in the national Press to the threat of a massive demonstration of 1000,000 on a Sunday in the heart of London. On the actual day no more than 10,000 turned up for the rally and this was given front page news and top billing everywhere, with perhaps an undertone of sadness that it had not been so riotous after all. Two weeks ago, 10,000 young people spent the best part of a Sunday on a march over the bridges of London - it was quiet and undemonstrative, it needed grit and perseverance. Its purpose was neither riotous nor radical, it got no billing on Radio, nor Television nor in the national Press - yet these young people on that day raised £15,000 for the rehabilitation of the physically handicapped.

I have mentioned quiet perseverance. I dare say that this is also the outstanding characteristic of a good teacher. It is a contagious virtue which passes itself on to the pupil and out of this successes come. For example this perseverance, in fair weather and foul, on schooldays and at weekends, on suitable and unsuitable grounds, in victories and defeats, gives a special quality to victory when it comes. And it deigns to come now and then. In football, the Under 13's, the Under 14's and the Under 15's won the local competitions this year; the Under 13's and the Under 14's also won the leagues; the latter team had a record of 137 games without defeat! Two of the pupils also took part in a representative English schoolboys tour of Malta at Christmas last and Dury and Murray were in the team. Dury was also in the team at Easter which went to France. In Malta the team were presented to the Prime Minister and were praised for the quality of their sportsmanship and the high standard of play.

In Cross Country, Basketball and Athletics we had a good but not remarkable season. Outstanding in the athletics was the feat of Martin Coughlan in winning the Middlesex Grammar Schools senior event in the High Jump at 5' 11". At Sports Day we had a very enjoyable day, traditionally rainy, which added special zest to the Steeplechase. The sun, when it did shine, made up for much of the discomfort and the teas provided by the Friends Association and served by their ladies had also an added enjoyment.

The Swimming is also going strong and a most enjoyable Gala was held at Highgrove Baths.

In Cricket, apart from the feats of David Dury - he was selected for the English Schoolboys Team but had to cry off the first game because of a sudden illness but managed to play in a later game. In a few days time he will be off to Pakistan with the Middlesex and Surrey Cricket Association, a great honour to the school and to the Borough. At Whitsun we had a most enjoyable tour in Norfolk while at present there is the possibility of a tour in Holland in 1969.

At Rugby, the baby game, but not the babie's game of the school, we had a most enjoyable if not successful season, but there are signs of victories on the way. We won a recent game by 49 points to nil! The Hockey section is heartened by the presence of Fr. Eric and is gaining confidence daily.

Table Tennis again shows a very high standard of play and of destruction of all opposition. They not only have won many representative honours but topped all the leagues in which they had entered. They are closely followed by the school Chess team, who, though unsuccessful to date in the Sunday Times competition have, nevertheless, topped the local Junior Chess league and came second in the Senior. Anthony Thurnham, who is now doing V.S.0. in Kenya, was a most enthusiastic member of the Chess Club and his parents have generously donated a Trophy which will be presented for the first time this evening.

In the Craft department there was great excitement during the year when the Archery Club got off the ground with new bows made in the Woodwork shop and the Metalwork department nearly got off the ground when the Go-Kart, manufactured with diligent care by 3A, made its debut in the playground and the Craft master showed his trust in his pupils by being the first to take the wheel.

Among intra-mural activities are the Photographic Club, the Electronics Club the Radio Club, the Sixth Form Society, the Film Society and the Bridge Club - all of which are in a healthy and flourishing state. The school Drama Society continues to amaze all who have had the opportunity of seeing plays produced and directed by Mr. Tufnell and Mr. Crawford and the production of "The Strong are Lonely" was no exception. In the Spring a new producer took the boards - Mr. Pickles - and gave us a memorable feast of entertainment in "A Penny for a Song". The production in the throes of its birth pangs at the moment is "Royal Hunt of the Sun" and the production here is likely to be the first amateur production of this play. Allied to the Drama group is the Theatre Club which has given many evenings of delight to its members. A Music Society is now in formation and is attracting much attention. A very enjoyable Art exhibition of Boys' work was mounted in the Summer.

Our school orchestra, which has been growing in trials and tribulations for the past year will make its first public appearance at the Orchestral Carol Service in the school on 18th December; but this is an advertisement not matter for the report of 1967/68.

The annual Ski-ing trip took place at Christmas and the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes at Easter; on this occasion we took three handicapped children with us. Field days and extra mural trips of many kinds fill the rest of the school diary, but as we have mentioned handicapped children, perhaps this is the place to record that the boys raised £102 to take the children to Lourdes; they also sent £110 to the Crusade of Rescue and the group who took part in the Bridges walk raised £46 for Rehab.

School games, athletics, societies, clubs, groups could not possible survive were it not for the untiring assistance given by the Friends Association who in the course of the past year have made items valued £625 available to finance such projects and to them we are sincerely grateful. There are also the Staff who give so many hours in and out of school to encourage the boys in their pursuits and to urge them always to aim at the highest level of attainment. To the Friends and all these members of Staff both Governors and parents owe a great debt of gratitude. The Careers trinity of the Staff, Mr. Montgomery, Father Raymond and Mr. Crosby, have to sift through everything that makes the stuff of this report and use it judiciously in the compilation of references whether for the YEO., for Industry and Commerce, or for UCCA For applications for University or College. To the Deputy Headmaster and all members of Staff I offer my most sincere thanks. Regrettably there comes a time when a member of Staff retires and this year Father Ignatius and Father Brendan have retired after having served the school faithfully for 80 years between them. Mr. Hartin has become a Silver Jubilarian in service. Resignations included those of Mr. Enright who served in the Biology department and Mr. Chaterjee who was a Maths. assistant for two terms. Both have now gone to Technical Education. In September we welcomed Miss Rabaiotti, Mr. Callery, Mr. Corey and Mr. Povey and Mrs. Moss to part-time Staff.

In conclusion, I should like to record my thanks to the Governors for their very sincere interest in the school and its work and for their 100% record of attendances at meetings; to the Director of Education and his Staff for their patient endurance under so many requests and their unfailing courtesy; to the Welfare Officer, the Medical assistants, the School Meals Supervisor, the Caretaker and his Staff, the Parish Priest for the unlimited use of Saint Josephs Church where we have at least 5 services each week and to my Secretary who cheerfully does the multitude of chores which fall to a Secretary's lot, in which she is ably assisted by Mrs. Williams.


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