750 Old Boys At St Andrew’s Dinner

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31006, 11 March 1966, Page 12

750 Old Boys At St Andrew’s Dinner

About 750 old boys of St. Andrew’s College (the limit that could be taken) filled the Cowles Stadium last evening for their jubilee dinner. They came from all decades and all parts of the country.

Mr G. A, M. Hilson, president of the association in which he has been a foundation member and secretary for most of its existence, proposed the toast of the school. The college had suffered losses of old boys in war, financial difficulties and shortages of buildings and amenities but faith in its destiny had never faltered, Mr Hilson said. Supporters gave time, talent, and money to strengthen its foundation and widen its influence. The college had thus become a place of spiritual values, great ideals, and of visions. The physical fabric would change as stately building arose but the spirit of St. Andrew’s would always be the same. Mr Hilson Praised An immediate tribute to Mr Hilson was paid by the Rector (Mr I. T. Galloway) when he acknowledged the toast. Mr Hilson’s tremendous organising ability could have won fortune, if not fame, in: business but he had dedicated his life to the college, being bursar for the last 26 years. Mr Galloway said he was delighted that the Old Boys’ Association had made Mr Hilson its president in this jubilee year.

To old boys Mr Galloway said: “It is by your image that the school is largely judged and few yardsticks more accurately measure a

school’s true worth or explain why its waiting list is longer or shorter.” By this standard St. Andrew’s image was high. Future Plans

Reviewing advances made and planned in the college, Mr Galloway said the third stage of the college hall project had priority. Soon he would like to see a new boarding block planned so that Rutherford House (a wooden building in the middle quadrangle) could be used for classrooms, extended library, senior studies, and other offices. The chapel was already too small to hold the full senior school and would require extension.

Constantly, Mr Galloway said, it must be remembered that large capital expenditure could not be met from fees So much development would depend solely on the willingness of old boys, parents, and friends to give help. Mr Galloway paid tributes to past rectors and staff whose academic ability and qualities of personality had stimulated boys’ imagination and enriched their lives. “We must continue to give boys minds to think with, faith to steer by, a capacity for judgment, receptivity to new ideas and courage to greet the unknown.” said Mr Gallaway. Mr G. Burns gave an address on “The Commonwealth Today.”