Headmasters Diary

1947
Staff Positions

During the vacation Mr C.A. Price left India on leave for 15 months. Mr W.A. Ferris resigned and left for England. It was not until the very end of the vacation that it was known what the staff would be. The vacancies were: English, History, Geography, Hindi (Mr S. Tauherd (?) was discharged during the vacation). And 1 Middle School post.

It was impossible to draw up a time-table until it was known what staff would be available. The following staff arrived against the vacancies:

English Mr T. Burnett
Hindi Mr H.K. Pradhan
Middle School Mr J. Purves Lochner

The History and Geography posts were filled, but Mr R.L. Monte Bello was appointed Middle School Master vice Mr Bloud, officiating History Master. Mr Bloud was later appointed to the History Post in the absence of a qualified candidate.

February 1947
A fire broke out in A Dormitory on the 11th February. It was reported to me at about 9 pm. The alarm was given and the servants were mustered with buckets. Coir and mattresses were burning fiercely. The fire was completely out by 11.30. Some of the fire extinguishers did not work – the minimaxes only were efficient. Some 40 mattresses were destroyed. The cause of the fire was not fully ascertained. It was presumed that a visitor by way of a window had dropped a cigarette end [How does a visitor get up to A Dorm? Editor]. The window had not been repaired by the P.W.D. in spite of frequent requests.

March 1947
Mrs Ferris, who had clearly returned only to regularise her winter salary payments, resigned and departed on the 12th March. Mrs I. Gangan was appointed temporarily to bridge the gap.

The first staff meeting was held on the 5th March. I explained my plan for Friday night lectures to the upper school. There was to be a lecture lasting 45 minutes every Friday throughout term. The staff and outside visitors would be asked to speak. Any subject was permitted. All that was required was that the speaker should know his subject. Project lessons, Current Affairs lessons, and History of Science lessons were introduced into the time-table, which was extended to 8 periods a day to permit the increased number of periods. I stressed the necessity of training the boys in cleanliness, punctuality and etiquette. Wash areas in the dormitories were thrown open for the use of the boys.

The first weekly lecture was given by the Headmaster on the 14th March. The subject was “The Languages of Ancient India”. A programme had meantime been drawn for some weeks ahead.

There was very heavy rain from the 13th to the 21st. unusual for March.

The Rev A.M. Solomons was appointed cricket coach, and practice was begun early. There was a noticeable improvement in the boy’s game in a short time.

On the 25th March, the P.W.D. set out replacing glass panes in the school.

28th March.

Mr R Stanarnt (?) Manager of the Shalimar Paint Co. Ltd, was the speaker in the weekly lecture. He gave a brilliant lecture on “Paint”. A prize was offered by him for the best essay on the subject. It was won by G.Wade. Mr Stanarnt also presented the school with paint and distemper for the decoration of the Library. The work was done during the vacation and the room looks much brighter.

April 1947
There was a retreat for Roman Catholic boys in Holy Week. The Rev Father Stanford SJ conducted it.

The Scouts which had been revived under the leadership of Mr Moon (?) went into camp for three days during the Easter holidays.

Cricket against Goethals who have just taken to the game and against North Point in Darjeeling. We were badly beaten.

Debating Society held its first meeting. School in quarantine.

Annual Staff Vs Boys Cricket match.

“Musical and musical forms” by Mrs Morrison; thoroughly enjoyed by boys.

May 1947
Cricket: Boys vs. St Paul’s at St Paul’s. – we won.

Cambridge results: 15 out of 17 Seniors; 15 out of 18 Juniors.

A joint debate was held.

Later in the month a cricket match here vs Lebong Captained by Bill Sutcliffe. Rain interfered and the match was converted into a soccer match which the military won.

The school cinema owned jointly by Dow Hill and Victoria had its first performance which was an enormous success.

June 1947.
Ponty ran away from school; retrieved; ran away again; again caught and brought back. Early next morning he ran away again and was not found. Returned later in the month and was flogged.

Goethals proved too good for Victoria in soccer, winning most of the matches in the series. St Paul’s under 15 XI drew with ours here, but our first XI was beaten at St Paul’s.

August 1947
Mr Higgins joined the staff as History Master. Talks by Messrs Lochner, Paine and Solomon.

Independence day Celebrations.

Examinations began on 21st and ended on 29th followed by a short holiday till Sept 1st.

September 1947
Hockey in full swing. Elocution tests on 10th & 11th.

We were pleased to have as our guest, the Rev G.B. Elliott. The Metropolitan spent 5 days here. Confirmation on 26th.

We were beaten in the Pliva Shield semi-final by the Police 3 –1, at St Paul’s. School Concert on 30th was acclaimed by all as a huge success. A number of visitors including 50 Goethals boys.

October 1947
We go onto Indian Standard Time. Finals of the Boxing Tournament held. A month of sports – Goethals, Dow Hill’s and ours.

Sports Day, 18th, started indifferently. After 15 events had been run the rain came down in torrents. One record was broken – Wade ran the 100 yards in 10.9 secs. Goethals (D’Mellow) won the Open 220.

Hail fell heavily mid-day on 27th.

Sports completed on 28th

Elocution competition held on 30th.

November 1947
Mrs Ricketts M.L.A. spoke to the boys about Anglo-Indians.

St Paul’s brought their boxing team down. Victoria won 8 – 4. St Paul’s stayed overnight.

We were sorry to lose Mrs Sherman who has rendered Victoria excellent service first as Lady Housekeeper and later as teacher of Std III.

Final exams began on 20th.

The final debate of the year, was held on the 23rd, the subject being, “As the world was doomed by the discovery of the atom bomb, Scientists ought to find a way to Mars, speedily”. There were 18 speakers. The motion was lost. Ian Cann was considered the best debater.

Speech day on the 29th when Mr P Benthal presided and Mrs Benthal gave away the prizes. Exhibition of Art in the Art Room.

Farewell dinner followed by a bonfire on the 30th. At the dinner the prefects were called on to speak much to the amusement of many boys.

December 1947
The Cambridge Exams began on the 1st. Junior Cambridge party left on the 10th. A farewell tea at the Headmasters house for the Seniors on the 12th.

Note written by the Inspector of European Schools, W. Bengal.

Mr T.W. Clark, Offg Headmaster, exercised the option to European Officers of the Govt. of W. Bengal to retire on proportional pension. Mr Clark proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement on 14th Feb. 1948.

During the months May to December 1947 he made no entries in this log book although he intended to do so from log notes which he kept separately. The above entries have been made by Mr C.A. Price who succeeded Mr Clark, as extracts from Mr Clarks notes.

E.V. Staynor
I.E.S. – WB
10 November 1948

[Note by Editor: There are no entries on Pages 142 and 143. Entries by Mr C.A. Price commenced.]


	The Headmaster's Diary - 1947. Victoria School - Kurseong.


	1947 Staff Positions During the vacation Mr C.A. Price left India on leave for 15 months. Mr W.A. Ferris resigned and left for England. It was not until the very end of the vacation that it was known what the staff would be. The vacancies were: English, History, Geography, Hindi (Mr S. Tauherd (?) was discharged during the vacation). And 1 Middle School post. It was impossible to draw up a time-table until it was known what staff would be available. The following staff arrived against the vacancies: English Mr T. Burnett Hindi Mr H.K. Pradhan Middle School Mr J. Purves Lochner The History and Geography posts were filled, but Mr R.L. Monte Bello was appointed Middle School Master vice Mr Bloud, officiating History Master. Mr Bloud was later appointed to the History Post in the absence of a qualified candidate. February 1947 A fire broke out in A Dormitory on the 11th February. It was reported to me at about 9 pm. The alarm was given and the servants were mustered with buckets. Coir and mattresses were burning fiercely. The fire was completely out by 11.30. Some of the fire extinguishers did not work – the minimaxes only were efficient. Some 40 mattresses were destroyed. The cause of the fire was not fully ascertained. It was presumed that a visitor by way of a window had dropped a cigarette end [How does a visitor get up to A Dorm? Editor]. The window had not been repaired by the P.W.D. in spite of frequent requests. March 1947 Mrs Ferris, who had clearly returned only to regularise her winter salary payments, resigned and departed on the 12th March. Mrs I. Gangan was appointed temporarily to bridge the gap. The first staff meeting was held on the 5th March. I explained my plan for Friday night lectures to the upper school. There was to be a lecture lasting 45 minutes every Friday throughout term. The staff and outside visitors would be asked to speak. Any subject was permitted. All that was required was that the speaker should know his subject. Project lessons, Current Affairs lessons, and History of Science lessons were introduced into the time-table, which was extended to 8 periods a day to permit the increased number of periods. I stressed the necessity of training the boys in cleanliness, punctuality and etiquette. Wash areas in the dormitories were thrown open for the use of the boys. The first weekly lecture was given by the Headmaster on the 14th March. The subject was “The Languages of Ancient India”. A programme had meantime been drawn for some weeks ahead. There was very heavy rain from the 13th to the 21st. unusual for March. The Rev A.M. Solomons was appointed cricket coach, and practice was begun early. There was a noticeable improvement in the boy’s game in a short time. On the 25th March, the P.W.D. set out replacing glass panes in the school. 28th March. Mr R Stanarnt (?) Manager of the Shalimar Paint Co. Ltd, was the speaker in the weekly lecture. He gave a brilliant lecture on “Paint”. A prize was offered by him for the best essay on the subject. It was won by G.Wade. Mr Stanarnt also presented the school with paint and distemper for the decoration of the Library. The work was done during the vacation and the room looks much brighter. April 1947 There was a retreat for Roman Catholic boys in Holy Week. The Rev Father Stanford SJ conducted it. The Scouts which had been revived under the leadership of Mr Moon (?) went into camp for three days during the Easter holidays. Cricket against Goethals who have just taken to the game and against North Point in Darjeeling. We were badly beaten. Debating Society held its first meeting. School in quarantine. Annual Staff Vs Boys Cricket match. “Musical and musical forms” by Mrs Morrison; thoroughly enjoyed by boys. May 1947 Cricket: Boys vs. St Paul’s at St Paul’s. – we won. Cambridge results: 15 out of 17 Seniors; 15 out of 18 Juniors. A joint debate was held. Later in the month a cricket match here vs Lebong Captained by Bill Sutcliffe. Rain interfered and the match was converted into a soccer match which the military won. The school cinema owned jointly by Dow Hill and Victoria had its first performance which was an enormous success. June 1947. Ponty ran away from school; retrieved; ran away again; again caught and brought back. Early next morning he ran away again and was not found. Returned later in the month and was flogged. Goethals proved too good for Victoria in soccer, winning most of the matches in the series. St Paul’s under 15 XI drew with ours here, but our first XI was beaten at St Paul’s. August 1947 Mr Higgins joined the staff as History Master. Talks by Messrs Lochner, Paine and Solomon. Independence day Celebrations. Examinations began on 21st and ended on 29th followed by a short holiday till Sept 1st. September 1947 Hockey in full swing. Elocution tests on 10th & 11th. We were pleased to have as our guest, the Rev G.B. Elliott. The Metropolitan spent 5 days here. Confirmation on 26th. We were beaten in the Pliva Shield semi-final by the Police 3 –1, at St Paul’s. School Concert on 30th was acclaimed by all as a huge success. A number of visitors including 50 Goethals boys. October 1947 We go onto Indian Standard Time. Finals of the Boxing Tournament held. A month of sports – Goethals, Dow Hill’s and ours. Sports Day, 18th, started indifferently. After 15 events had been run the rain came down in torrents. One record was broken – Wade ran the 100 yards in 10.9 secs. Goethals (D’Mellow) won the Open 220. Hail fell heavily mid-day on 27th. Sports completed on 28th Elocution competition held on 30th. November 1947 Mrs Ricketts M.L.A. spoke to the boys about Anglo-Indians. St Paul’s brought their boxing team down. Victoria won 8 – 4. St Paul’s stayed overnight. We were sorry to lose Mrs Sherman who has rendered Victoria excellent service first as Lady Housekeeper and later as teacher of Std III. Final exams began on 20th. The final debate of the year, was held on the 23rd, the subject being, “As the world was doomed by the discovery of the atom bomb, Scientists ought to find a way to Mars, speedily”. There were 18 speakers. The motion was lost. Ian Cann was considered the best debater. Speech day on the 29th when Mr P Benthal presided and Mrs Benthal gave away the prizes. Exhibition of Art in the Art Room. Farewell dinner followed by a bonfire on the 30th. At the dinner the prefects were called on to speak much to the amusement of many boys. December 1947 The Cambridge Exams began on the 1st. Junior Cambridge party left on the 10th. A farewell tea at the Headmasters house for the Seniors on the 12th. Note written by the Inspector of European Schools, W. Bengal. Mr T.W. Clark, Offg Headmaster, exercised the option to European Officers of the Govt. of W. Bengal to retire on proportional pension. Mr Clark proceeded on leave preparatory to retirement on 14th Feb. 1948. During the months May to December 1947 he made no entries in this log book although he intended to do so from log notes which he kept separately. The above entries have been made by Mr C.A. Price who succeeded Mr Clark, as extracts from Mr Clarks notes. E.V. Staynor I.E.S. – WB 10 November 1948 [Note by Editor: There are no entries on Pages 142 and 143. Entries by Mr C.A. Price commenced.]

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