We live, whether we like it or not, in a violent society. The recent assassinations of Senator Robert Kennedy and of Dr. Martin Luther-King; the brutality of the Chicago police during the Democratic convention in America; the student riots which took place in Paris and, albeit to a far lesser extent, in London; these are all manifestations of the mood of violence which is prevalent in almost every civilised country today. The senseless killing of two brilliant leaders who, whether or not one agreed with their political opinions, were undoubtedly sincere in their belief in equality, can only be attributed to the fanaticism of individual men, but what is more profoundly disturbing is the almost universal student unrest at the moment. It is a terrifying thought that a significant number of highly intelligent and committed young people, some of whom are destined to hold positions of the highest responsibility, have been driven to the conclusion that violence is the only means by which any impression can be made upon our political and social structure. It is perhaps, therefore, time for those in authority to cease from unqualified condemnation of student agitation, and instead to search for something fundamentally wrong in our society.
Yet it is a strange paradox that, running alongside this revolutionary idealism which, though possibly misguided, shows at least a concern for the welfare of the community, there is a spirit of apathy and of negative and unconstructive thinking which seems to have infected many of our schools at the moment. Almost anyone who has tried to organise anything in the school will testify that they met largely with complacency, and the belief that any responsibility lies with someone else. The lack of original contributions for the magazine, the traditional complaint of all DURNOVARIAN editors, is one example, but the same problem is met with in other fields: in the C.C.F., in the various school societies, and on the sports field; all too often it is a struggle to keep interest alive. An effort from both sides is necessary to keep the school from stagnation.
However, the future is not entirely black. The plans for the new swimming-pool, to be completed next year, have been greeted with enthusiasm, and the school's new debating society, the Wyvern Society, has made its debut amid a storm of interest. Let us hope that this marks the beginning of a new wave of interest in the life of the school and in the world around us.
STAFF. It seldom falls to the lot of a school to lose simultaneously, in one fell swoop, the services of four men who have given it a total of 126 of the best years of their lives. This is what happened to Hardye's in July, in the retirement of Messrs. MANN, THOMAS and WALTON from the teaching staff, and Mr. BAREHAM, the head caretaker. Earlier in the year we had lost the services of Mr. AXTEN who moved to Lichfield at Christmas. Mr. LANCASHIRE will be retiring at Christmas after 25 years at the School.
Adjustments and replacements have been made, and, to all outward seeming, at any rate, the School goes on much as before. Mr. ROBERTS has been promoted Deputy Headmaster, and Mr. RING has taken over the teaching of Economics in the Sixth Form. Mr. BURTON succeeds Mr. WALTON as Head of the Science Department.
We welcome the following new members of Staff:
Mr. D. W. B. SPRIGGS, B.Sc.(Hons. Manchester) as Head of the Physics Department. He is a native of Derbyshire and has experience of teaching in grammar schools in Portsmouth and Plymouth.
Mr. D. H. B. BROWN, M.A.(Cantab.); educated at Worksop College and Selwyn College, Cambridge, where he graduated with Honours in Maths, and Geography. He comes to us after a long period of service at Liverpool College.
Mr. B. E. LAWRENCE; educated at University College, Cardiff, where he gained his B.Sc. with Honours in Applied Physics. Previously he was employed as a Systems Analyst and Consultant with Burroughs Machines Ltd., Bristol.
Mr. P. GRUNDY; educated at Shrewsbury School and Leeds University, where he gained his B.A.(Hons.) in English Literature.
Mr. D. WORDEN who teaches Music part-time.
M. Hubert DESCIEUX, who comes from Paris as our new French Assistant.
Mr. H. J. C. MANN. B.Sc. of London University, came to Dorchester in 1928, and taught for a short while at the old school in South Street. During his 40 years at Hardye's he was Head of the Geography Department, and during the last ten years or so he taught Sixth Form Physics, as well, with considerable success.
Colleagues and pupils alike will always remember Mr. Mann as a person of the highest personal standards, a man of integrity, with a loyalty and devotion to the School that was beyond question. He always showed a keen interest in all School activities, and was frequently to be found, and to be asking searching questions at the unlikeliest of School Society meetings. For many years he was the School's Scoutmaster; he played or coached rugger until a few years ago; he took parties of boys to the Continent; for this purpose, or as a result, he became fluent in French and German.
The School always came first, but Mr. Mann still found time to pursue various interests in the town of Dorchester - lecturing in H.M. Prison, chairman of the French Circle, active service in the Congregational Church. Retirement will not find him at a loss.
Mr. R. R. THOMAS, B.A. of University College of North Wales, Bangor, took over the teaching of History in 1932. Apparently he very soon made his mark by introducing rugger into the School. A centre three-quarter of much more than average ability, Mr. Thomas played for the Dorset County XV, and was one of the founders of the West Dorset R.F.C.
During his 36 years on the Staff, Mr. Thomas was the Head of the History, and later of the Economics Departments, Sixth Form and Careers Master and, from 1960, Deputy Headmaster.
His interests outside the School were, and still are, social and political. He was the first schoolmaster to be appointed Mayor of Dorchester, in 1957; he was elected a second time in 1968, a most appropriate appointment as "Mayor of Casterbridge" for the Hardy Festival, of which he was both originator and chairman. His concern for the welfare of the elderly in the town is marked by the Rowan Cottage Old People's Club which he and his wife founded in 1958.
Mr. S. W. J. WALTON, B.Sc. of London University, came to the School in 1943 as Head of the Physics Department, which, under his guidance, has grown from humble beginnings to its present stature. The Headmaster pointed out on Speech Day that during his time at the School Mr. Walton saw well over 300 boys through 'A' Level Physics, over half of whom went on to university to read one of the Natural Sciences - a very proud record.
Shakespeare tells us that "Men of few words are the best men". Mr. Walton was one of these; he possessed all the other qualities that go to make a first-class schoolmaster - thoroughness, a sense of humour, loyalty to the School and a concern for the best interests of his pupils. Here again we have a man whose life was not confined to the classroom; he was active in the School's Scout troop, and a member of the School orchestra; he spent many years as a Civilian Instructor in the C.C.F., and he, too, often took parties of boys abroad. It is certain that he, too, will now use his retirement in catching up on those varied interests which he could not pursue to the full during his teaching days.
Mr. George BAREHAM gave 25 years of dedicated and loyal service to the School as head caretaker, an office as important in many ways as any on the Staff of a school. A caretaker can make or mar a school; George certainly made Hardye's, and hundreds of boys have every reason to be as grateful to him as to any other person who helped them on their way through the School. A man who can be as cheerful as George could be in the face of the all-too-often daunting task of keeping the School clean and warm when everyone's hand seems to be against him must be a man who has been cast in a most extraordinary mould. Irrepressible good humour, an inward serenity and a willingness to serve loyally and ungrudgingly were George's predominant features. Staff and boys alike will miss him, and will wish him and Mrs. Bareham long years of happy retirement.
Four men who gave a very great deal to Hardye's and gave cheerfully and gladly; four men who qualify for Virgil's meed of praise: Quique sui memores alios fecere merendo ("men who, by their service, have caused others to remember them").