| The
Autumn Term brought a great deal of
sadness to those of us who have been
associated with the School for two or
three years for, in addition to the
personal grief of Mr. Baxter's death, and
our sorrow for Mrs. Clare who taught at
the School for barely a week, we lost two
of our most memorable former Masters
Ernest Wood (1922 - 1962) and Ewart
Heywood (1948 - 1969). Both men in their
very different ways had enriched the
School and had endeared themselves to
many generations of students. Both were
remarkable men with a breadth of culture
reinforcing their specialist abilities as
mathematician and English scholar.
Tributes to them in former editions of
the Prescotian are there to remind us of
them. These several
shocks to our system called for a great
deal of adjustment. Not only had we
started the year with a large number of
new staff, but at Easter we were also to
lose Mr. J.D. Swain who as Head of Middle
School had brought such common sense,
sympathy and good order to the special
problems of that age group. For his sake
we could not regret his translation to
the Deputy Headship at the Selwyn Jones
High School, Newton-le-Willows.
Mr. L.N.
Atkinson's arrival as Deputy from Hindley
and Abram Grammar School was therefore
most welcome in April, and he has already
shown himself in full control of a
difficult brief.
Fortunately this
summer a number of departures in the
staff room has been fewer than in past
years. Mr. and Mrs. Freestone's move to
Pudsey has deprived us of immeasureable
talent in matters creative and technical
and the fact that we called on their
assistance on "Zigger Zagger,' and
the Dent Camp at and beyond the end of
term indicates how much we owe to them.
Adjustment has
also been necessary to the new system of
local government. It is trying enough to
remember that our postal address has
changed from Lancashire to Merseyside;
what has to be realised is that the whole
structure has changed and we can only
hope that improved services will
compensate for the loss of our
Lancastrian birthright. At least Knowsley
is a direct descendent of the County
Palatine and should surely inherit some
of its qualities of character, if not
much of its wealth.
Adjustment, too,
is anticipated with the plans for
comprehensive reorganisation. The
waiting has been long but inevitable.
Meetings of the Education Officers with
teaching staff and parents, and the
proposals of the Education committee add
a touch of certainty to the prospects for
1975.
Most school
events are recorded in the papers and all
have been mentioned in the half term
newsletter to parents. The new
arrangements for Prizegiving permitted
more intermingling and conversation, and
avoided the boredom of long processions
and intermittent applause. This year's
sermon at Founder's Day by Dean Patey of
Liverpool Cathedral was surely the most
invigorating for years.
Within the School
the increasing size of the Sixth form has
made our accommodation problems more
insoluble but the greater freedom the
pupils have been permitted has reduced
the pressures and brought encouraging
results.
Whatever the
controversies that surround us, it is
deeply pleasing to know that over 905% of
our boys are engaged in one or other of
our successful activities, giving a sense
of identity which itself promotes loyalty
and high standards.
J.C.S. Weeks
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