Outward-Bound Warden To Retire Next Year

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 16

Outward-Bound Warden To Retire Next Year

Mr H. S. Thomas, warden of the New Zealand Outward Bound School at Anakiwa since its inception five years ago, will retire from the post in August or September next year. A well-known Christchurch solicitor, Mr Thomas said that he was not yet certain whether he would return to Christchurch or to the law. He said that he had given notice of his retirement and this had been made public so that there would be ample time in which to look for a new warden at the school. A total of 1956 boys had attended the school since it was started, he said. Each course Tasted 23 days, and 56 boys now attended each course. At the start. 36 boys had attended a course; this number had been increased to 48, and then to 56. “We have never experienced any trouble in filling a course. On odd occasions, we have been a boy or two short because of sickness. We are consolidating at present, but the school will have to be expanded in the future,” Mr Thomas said. Mr Thomas was in charge of the pilot adventure school held on Motutapu Island, Auckland, and then visited many adventure schools in Britain, where the Outward

Bound movement originated. The then Governor-General (Lord Cobham) was a prime mover in the establishment of a similar scheme in New Zealand and its patron in this country. “I have enjoyed my stay here immensely, but think it time to move on and let someone else take over,” Mr Thomas said.