The 1929 School Magazine

It is of vital importance that every Public School boy should know why he attends his particular school. There are far too many young scholars who think of school merely as a place where they are required to gain a knowledge of certain subjects, which will assist them in their future careers. A few, indeed, seek a secondary education for the sole purpose of following a conventional idea. The Public Schools fulfil such requirements, it is true, but they have a far more important function. School is the place where the boy's outlook on life is developed into something much deeper than just being successful, later on, from a material point of view.

Every scholar should, besides striving to be properly educated, foster a love for his school and its traditions. Moreover, he should take an interest in its various activities, so that, in after life, he will have none but pleasant recollections of the days he spent at school. And then it is very often found that the friends we make at school will prove to be our staunchest friends after we have reassumed the higher responsibilities of life.

There is no stronger agency for maintaining this after-school friendship than the Old Boys' Association. Its members cannot fail to preserve a deep interest in the work of their old School, and in the doings of former school fellows. Therefore, it behoves each scholar to join this Association when he leaves, and so preserve that deep attachment for his school, which is so desirable. Then, in years to come, those boys will proudly acknowledge the words of Newbolt:—

"Though long we've missed the sight of her, / Our hearts may not forget; / We've lost the old delight of her, / We keep her honour yet."

The 31st Annual General Meeting (November 1929) was chaired by the President, Mr. F. S. N. Bousfield, supported by Vice-President Mr. J. E. Broadbent and Hon. Secretary & Treasurer Mr. J. G. Nowlan; the Headmaster, Mr. S. Stephenson, was among those present. The President reported the thirty-first year as "on the whole, quiet and uneventful," but "marked by steady growth in numbers." At year's end the membership roll stood at 1,690, with 123 new enrolments (a net increase of 66). The OBA Cup for Champion Athlete went to J. C. Moffatt and the Costin Memorial Medal (rifle) to A. Freeman; the School retained the combined-schools premiership for the sixth year in succession and won the Head of the River. The meeting elected Mr. J. E. Broadbent as President for 1929–30.