ADMIRAL AS A BOY

Hokitika Guardian, 28 June 1933, Page 6

ADMIRAL AS A BOY

HOW FIVE POUND WAS WON,

PASSING AN EXAMINATION

LONDON, ‘May 16

In proposing the toast of “Wait'aki” at the celebrations by-the old boys’ in London of the jubilee, of the Waitaki High School, Admiral Sir Lionel Halsey told of Bis own chequered career at school. After ■ leaving one school, where he whs unlucky, lie spent 18 months at another school preparing for the examination to pass into the Royal Navy. Six years ago, in going through his l ! atc father’s papers, he read a letter from the headmaster, .of that (school, who .Wrote;—"l’m only to* willing that your son should try to pass the examination, but he has not got the faintest hope.” “I was sent up with 22 other boys,” ■Sir Lionel s'aid’. “We came with the headmaster to the Langham Hotel and sat for .the examination at Burlington House. The headmaster said to me: ‘lf you get into the Navy I will give you £s.’ An a matter of fact, I . did the examination, and was very much pleased with myself. In a month’s time when the resluts were issued I found I was fifth out of 52. I cannot help thinking that the. examiners made some mistake.in my number! Anyway, I got mv £5.”