Headmasters Diary

2/3/1939
I, Eryx (Eryx) Vere Staynor, took over the officiating appointment of Headmaster on the forenoon of the 2nd March, 1939, vice Mr E.C. Hessing, the permanent Head, whose leave ex India dates from today.

The first party arrived under the charge of Messrs Bloud and V.C. Prins.

Mr D. Prins who is to act as English Master during Mr Clark’s absences on leave arrived today.

3/3/1939
Arrival of the second party under the charge of Messrs Baillie and Doyle.

Arrival also of :
Miss Simmons who is to act as Art Mistress during Mrs Clark’s absence on leave.
Mr T. R. Gasper who is to fill the temporary vacancy created by my promotion to the Headship.

We start the session with a complete Staff.

4/3/1939
Staff Meeting. Among the important points discussed was the new scheme of duties by which some members are to take charge of the Senior dormitory in the morning and Messrs Price and Heywood are to be responsible for games throughout the School.

6/3/1939
Commencment of regular clsses.

17/3/1939
Holiday to celebrate the Schools great success at the Cambridge Examinations.

Juniors - 15 passed out of 17
Seniors – 17 passed out of 18.

* The Prefects for the year are the whole Senior Class viz.

E. Breese (Senior Prefect),

S. Bowen,

M.Beale,

G. Hilton,

B. St. Romaine,

R. Smart,

G. Bishop and

J. Timbers.

Also the xxx I.A. Boarders, J. Jacob and L. Bufford.

1/4/1939
Cricket Match: boys Vs Staff: the Staff won after an exciting finish.

3/4/1939
Joint Concert held at Dow Hill to say farewell to Mr and Mrs R.N. Nicholls. A silver salver, subscribed for by the pupils and Staff of the two Schools, was presented to Mr and Mrs R.N. Nicholls in token of all they had done.

The P.W.D. again advise a cautious and restricted use of water. Irony in some form is inevitable; but why it should take the form of water shortage in Kurseong the P.W.D. alone can tell.

7th – 10th
Easter Holidays.

10/4/1939
School Picnic.

Dance at Dow Hill.

11/4/1939
Holiday granted at the Nicholl’s request.

15/4/1939
Cricket Match against the Planters. The Planters considered it a well contested game. They won by a comfortable margin but only when they got our last man out, two minutes before the close of play.

25/4/1939
37th General Meeting of the Governing Body held at Victoria School. Dr. W.A. Jenkins presided.

29/4/1939
Cricket Match against St Pauls School on our grounds. We won by 2 wickets.

Inspected
H. Thomas
8 May, 1939.

6th – 8th
The School Office was inspected by Dr H. Thomas, Inspector of European Schools, Bengal.
He also discussed with the headmaster the improvements and extensions it may be possible to bring about when the accommodation now taken up by the two classes at the Commercial is released on their transfer to Dow Hill School.

12/5/1939
The first number of “The Vic” appeared today.

24/5/1939
Nine boys were confirmed at a Confirmation Service conducted by The Metropolitan at the School Chapel.

9/6/1939
The King Emperor’s Birthday.

A dance was held at the Assembly Hall.

12/6/1939
We have just heard of a very successful Old Boy’s reunion held at 42 Cornwallis St. Calcutta. The promoter was Fr Prior of the Oxford Mission.

13/6/1939
Staff Meeting to discuss the prospects of the Cambridge Candidates.

18/6/1939
The Scouts left for Dacca this afternoon. We expect them back next Monday.

19/6/1939
The Annual Fete proved a great success.

2/8/1939
Meeting of the Teaching Staff.

23/8/1939
The stunning news was received by wireless this morning of the Soviet – German non-aggression pact.

3/9/1939
The District team came to play us in hockey, but rain made play impossible.

England declared war on Germany at 11 o’clock G.M. Time.

[The Headmaster has certainly got his priorities in order - first the sports, then the announcement of World War II commencing ! :-) Editor.]

7/10/1939
Our second replay in the semi-finals of the Pliva Shield Tournament. We were beaten by the Police in ‘extra-extra’ time.

9/10/1939
Mr John Sergeant, Educational Commissioner visited the School. He showed particular interest in the arrangements for Carpentry teaching.

18/10/1939
Joint Junior Jubilee Sports held at Dow Hill.

20/10/1939
Joint Senior Jubilee Sports held at Victoria. The partnership was a great success. There was a record gathering, while the use of a Public Address Amplifier contributed to the pleasure and efficiency of the afternoon.

Mr R.H.G. Johnstone I.C.S., Deputy Commissioner presided and Mrs Johnstone gave away the prizes. Over 300 people sat for tea.

6/11/1939
Dr H. Thomas, Inspector of European Schools, Bengal, called to discuss plans for the provision of a better laboratory.

13/11/1939
Mr T.W. Clark resumed work after a curtailed spell of leave.

14/11/1939
School final examinations commence.

28/11/1939
Speech day. Mr A.B. Scott I.C.S. (S.D.O. ) presided and Mrs Scott gave away the prizes.
The Hall was crowded.

The Senior boys presented “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” in Part II of the programme.

30/11/1939
Mr T.W. Clark leaves for Army service.

1/12/1939
The non-examination classes leave for the holidays in one party.

4/12/1939
The Cambridge Examinations commence.

19 Juniors and 8 Seniors.

No precautions were taken against the loss of answer papers in transit to England.

14/12/1939
Departure of the Cambridge party.

Signed.

E.V. Staynor
Headmaster (Offg.)


	The Headmaster's Diary - 1939. Victoria School - Kurseong.

	2/3/1939 I, Eryx (Eryx) Vere Staynor, took over the officiating appointment of Headmaster on the forenoon of the 2nd March, 1939, vice Mr E.C. Hessing, the permanent Head, whose leave ex India dates from today. The first party arrived under the charge of Messrs Bloud and V.C. Prins. Mr D. Prins who is to act as English Master during Mr Clark’s absences on leave arrived today. 3/3/1939 Arrival of the second party under the charge of Messrs Baillie and Doyle. Arrival also of : Miss Simmons who is to act as Art Mistress during Mrs Clark’s absence on leave. Mr T. R. Gasper who is to fill the temporary vacancy created by my promotion to the Headship. We start the session with a complete Staff. 4/3/1939 Staff Meeting. Among the important points discussed was the new scheme of duties by which some members are to take charge of the Senior dormitory in the morning and Messrs Price and Heywood are to be responsible for games throughout the School. 6/3/1939 Commencment of regular clsses. 17/3/1939 Holiday to celebrate the Schools great success at the Cambridge Examinations. Juniors - 15 passed out of 17 Seniors – 17 passed out of 18. * The Prefects for the year are the whole Senior Class viz. E. Breese (Senior Prefect), S. Bowen, M.Beale, G. Hilton, B. St. Romaine, R. Smart, G. Bishop and J. Timbers. Also the xxx I.A. Boarders, J. Jacob and L. Bufford. 1/4/1939 Cricket Match: boys Vs Staff: the Staff won after an exciting finish. 3/4/1939 Joint Concert held at Dow Hill to say farewell to Mr and Mrs R.N. Nicholls. A silver salver, subscribed for by the pupils and Staff of the two Schools, was presented to Mr and Mrs R.N. Nicholls in token of all they had done. The P.W.D. again advise a cautious and restricted use of water. Irony in some form is inevitable; but why it should take the form of water shortage in Kurseong the P.W.D. alone can tell. 7th – 10th Easter Holidays. 10/4/1939 School Picnic. Dance at Dow Hill. 11/4/1939 Holiday granted at the Nicholl’s request. 15/4/1939 Cricket Match against the Planters. The Planters considered it a well contested game. They won by a comfortable margin but only when they got our last man out, two minutes before the close of play. 25/4/1939 37th General Meeting of the Governing Body held at Victoria School. Dr. W.A. Jenkins presided. 29/4/1939 Cricket Match against St Pauls School on our grounds. We won by 2 wickets. Inspected H. Thomas 8 May, 1939. 6th – 8th The School Office was inspected by Dr H. Thomas, Inspector of European Schools, Bengal. He also discussed with the headmaster the improvements and extensions it may be possible to bring about when the accommodation now taken up by the two classes at the Commercial is released on their transfer to Dow Hill School. 12/5/1939 The first number of “The Vic” appeared today. 24/5/1939 Nine boys were confirmed at a Confirmation Service conducted by The Metropolitan at the School Chapel. 9/6/1939 The King Emperor’s Birthday. A dance was held at the Assembly Hall. 12/6/1939 We have just heard of a very successful Old Boy’s reunion held at 42 Cornwallis St. Calcutta. The promoter was Fr Prior of the Oxford Mission. 13/6/1939 Staff Meeting to discuss the prospects of the Cambridge Candidates. 18/6/1939 The Scouts left for Dacca this afternoon. We expect them back next Monday. 19/6/1939 The Annual Fete proved a great success. 2/8/1939 Meeting of the Teaching Staff. 23/8/1939 The stunning news was received by wireless this morning of the Soviet – German non-aggression pact. 3/9/1939 The District team came to play us in hockey, but rain made play impossible. England declared war on Germany at 11 o’clock G.M. Time. [The Headmaster has certainly got his priorities in order - first the sports, then the announcement of World War II commencing ! :-) Editor.] 7/10/1939 Our second replay in the semi-finals of the Pliva Shield Tournament. We were beaten by the Police in ‘extra-extra’ time. 9/10/1939 Mr John Sergeant, Educational Commissioner visited the School. He showed particular interest in the arrangements for Carpentry teaching. 18/10/1939 Joint Junior Jubilee Sports held at Dow Hill. 20/10/1939 Joint Senior Jubilee Sports held at Victoria. The partnership was a great success. There was a record gathering, while the use of a Public Address Amplifier contributed to the pleasure and efficiency of the afternoon. Mr R.H.G. Johnstone I.C.S., Deputy Commissioner presided and Mrs Johnstone gave away the prizes. Over 300 people sat for tea. 6/11/1939 Dr H. Thomas, Inspector of European Schools, Bengal, called to discuss plans for the provision of a better laboratory. 13/11/1939 Mr T.W. Clark resumed work after a curtailed spell of leave. 14/11/1939 School final examinations commence. 28/11/1939 Speech day. Mr A.B. Scott I.C.S. (S.D.O. ) presided and Mrs Scott gave away the prizes. The Hall was crowded. The Senior boys presented “The Bishop’s Candlesticks” in Part II of the programme. 30/11/1939 Mr T.W. Clark leaves for Army service. 1/12/1939 The non-examination classes leave for the holidays in one party. 4/12/1939 The Cambridge Examinations commence. 19 Juniors and 8 Seniors. No precautions were taken against the loss of answer papers in transit to England. 14/12/1939 Departure of the Cambridge party. Signed. E.V. Staynor Headmaster (Offg.)

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