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Mrs. Nicolson, Kitchenmaid, Mr. McGuigan, outside Pioneer, and Mrs. Fyffe, House Matron.
Three former employees of the School died during the year, Mrs. Baird, Mr. Crockett, and Mrs. Kay. We have been sorry to hear just before going to press of the death of Mrs. Lax, wife of the former Bandmaster of the School, Mr. Lax, who has himself, been seriously ill. Mr. Burnett, in charge of the Swimming Bath, had a long spell in hospital but is now happily recovered and back at work.
We have said goodbye to Mrs. MacLeod Kitchenmaid for 16 years; Mr. Mercer, Gardener; Miss Clark, House Matron; Mr. Morrison, Drum Major; Mr. Stewart, Handyman; Mrs. Noyle, House Matron; Mrs. Clarke, Kitchenmaid for 15 years; and just mentioned as a forthcoming event in the last Victorian, Mr. Hughes, Librarian and former member of the Teaching Staff, who retired finally last August. One impending resignation and one retirement, both effective in July next year, merit special regretful mention. Miss Bayliss, House Matron of Wavell for nine years, is leaving us, for health reasons, and Mrs. Ogilvie, Head Launderess, is retiring in her 29th year of continuous service to the School. To both Miss Bayliss and Mrs. Ogilvie we express in advance the sincere thanks and good wishes of all the School community.
We also congratulate Mrs. Weir, formerly assistant Nurse in the School hospital, on the recent birth of a daughter.
Mr. J. R. F. MELLUISH, MA
Although this is the first opportunity we have had to welcome Mr. John Melluish, our first civilian Headmaster, and his family, within the pages of the School magazine, he is already very much an integral part of our community and has impressed his personality on the School, having nearly completed a full School year in office.
When H.M. Commissioners became aware of the irrevocable fact that, in the seventh decade of the School's existence, all RAEC academic staff were to be withdrawn, their first concern was to obtain a civilian Headmaster who, highly qualified in his profession, would also identify himself with the School's unique Service traditions and connections and who would, in close co-operation with the Commandant, still further enhance the reputation and efficiency of the School, which a long succession of RAEC Headmasters had done so much progressively to build up and develop.
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The post was widely advertised and there were about ninety applications sent in, of whom the Selection Board interviewed twenty-four. And by the time the Board had made its decision it was found that, although candidates from all over the country had been interviewed, we had in fact gone
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no further afield than Trinity College, Glenalmond, our familiar neighbour, to find the right man.
John Melluish, though born in Lancashire and educated at Rossall, is almost a Scotsman by
assimilation, having served two tours of duty, of five or six years each, on the Trinity College academic staff.
Having been Captain of his School and a member of the Rugby XV he went to Queen's College, Oxford, in 1947 with a Mathematical Scholarship. While at University he represented his College at Squash and Rugby. Having obtained an Honours Degree in Maths in 1950, he entered the Army to do his National Service, being commissioned in the Royal Engineers.
His Army service over, he began his first teaching appointment at Trinity College in 1952, where he remained until 1958, becoming a MA in 1954. He did not relinquish his Army interests and connections as he remained on the Emergency Reserve of the RE in which he rose to the rank of Captain. In 1958 he was offered, and accepted, the Headmastership of St. Stephens College, Hong Kong, and so, having been married in 1955, he and his wife Margaret began what was to be a seven-year stint in the Colony.
During that time his son, Gavin was born in 1959, and daughter Ann in 1961. No doubt feeling that it was time he returned to the UK teaching world, he |
