Figure 1.--Prep schools tend to be very traditional institutions. This can be seen in many ways such as the curriculum, stress on deportment, the uniforms and many other aspects of school life.
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Figure 1.--Prep schools tend to be very traditional institutions. This can be seen in many ways such as the curriculum, stress on deportment, the uniforms and many other aspects of school life. |
Britain is a country of traditions. You can not go very far in Britain without running into some aspect of the coutry's rich historical and cultural traditions. From the Tower in London to Hadrian's Wall and further north into Scotland, the country is covered by stone-age sites, Roman ruins, Viking sites, as well as medieval castles and palaces, and much more including some fascinating World War II sites. Even our modern economy beginning with the Industrial Revolution began in Britain and sites like Iron Bridge record this aspect of Britain's history. Many schools have their very own rich and fascinating traditions. Americams will be interested to know that Lord Corwallis' country home is now a well used school building.
In the vestibule of our magnificent new Centenary Hall there is affixed to the wall a plaque which bears the words of prayer based on some thoughts of the great Devonian Sir Francis Drake. 1981 sees for us the beginning of the second century of service. It is for us then, and for our heirs and successors, to ensure that our school does truly seek to achieve in the 21st century, the True Gloryof the final fulfillment of our declared intent for each and every member of our Bicentennial Community.
Tony Wortham, Mount House School, 1981.
Now, today, is a time in the year when we think especially of our own country, and of its patriots, those ho gave their lives for it. We have poppies to remember them by, Flanders poppies, wehich grew in their myriads across the wastelands of the First World War battlefields. Old Boys of this school died in that war, and in the Second World war, many again. Some of the latter were close friends of mine. I can see them now: James Conry, small, bespectacaled and owl like, an intense, serious little boy; he died. Anthony Garland, big and slow, and very kind, with a stutter, he was shot down. John Hume-Spray, whose picture to this dayis at the top of the back stairs, smiling happily, as he always was. David Pethick, noisy, cantankerous, a slendid games player, who also lost his life. These just a minute fraction of the millions who gave all their tomorrows for us who live after; for they, like Jesus, were patriots, they loved their country. There is no glamour in war, meerly great pain and loss, the glory is fleeting. But those men, and women whom we remember today, at their time and in their circumstances, faced their country's destruction in the only way possible, to fight tyranny, to give their all.
Fanfare Mount House School, Autumn 1988.
