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“...Newsletter. No. 21.
JUNE, 1938
Chefoo Schools Great Britain
Association X Branch.
SECRETARY’S NOTES.
Here we are again ! and where Old Chefusians gather we can always add—“ All good friends and jolly good company.” This is indeed a “ Reunion ” number, and it will be with real interest that our members will read of how Old Chefusians in other parts of the world have been getting together. Mr. Bruce has certainly had his fair share of these gatherings during his furlough, and no doubt all “ older ” Old Chefusians have been glad to hear from him personally some details of modern Chefoo.
Our new joint Editors are to be congratulated on this issue. We hope that their success will be repeated for our next number, which will be December. News and other items for publication should reach them by November 5th.
Our Committee. The members co-opted to our Branch Committee for 1938 to represent the younger Old Chefusians arc Evelyn Williamson and David Parry.
Address Book for 1938. This was published...”
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“...from Chefoo that the publication of the February number was postponed until May. We are grateful to Mr. S. Houghton for sending us advance “ copy ” for use in this Newsletter.
Girls’ Conduct Watch. Dorothy Kirk would like to acknowledge with thanks all the sums of money which have been sent from Old Girls in the Great Britain branch to the conduct watch fund. As there have been so many replies, she would be grateful if the kind donors would accept this acknowledgment in place of individual receipts.
Former Rangers. Any Ranger who did not receive the Company’s Greeting Card at Christmas, should apply to Miss I. E. Phare for one. (We regret that owing to the change in date of the Newsletter issues, this notice has been much delayed. Since Miss Phare is now on her way back to Chefoo, we presume that letters should be addressed direct to her there.)
Summer Reunion. This will take place on September 10th. Particulars will be sent out early in August. Please keep this date free.
Chefoo Week-end...”
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“...December 7th, and that the Schools would have only one month’s holiday. Those who lived near Chefoo were able to go home for Christmas. The long holiday was postponed to the end of the Spring Term, which began on January 4th, and closed on March 15th. This arrangement suited those who hoped to be able to travel home in the Spring. As the weather is generally too cold for regular sports’ training in February, it was decided that the longer races would be run off in the Spring Term and all other events take place at the beginning of the Summer Term. Those who remained in Chefoo at least would be able to train in the holidays. Because of the snow, hockey was impossible during the first part of the term, so training for the Long Run, and later the Mile and the Half, usefully occupied “ compulsory ” times.
When the winter holidays came, there were forty-odd boys and the same number of girls in the two big schools. It was a new experience for some to stay at Chefoo for the Christmas holidays...”
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“...has stayed at Chefoo knows what eagerness the boys and girls show in decorating and in buying presents for others. This year the thrill was doubled. Not only was there the Christinas Party with Santa Claus and his performing bear, a Punch and Judy Show most ably managed by Mr. Martin, and a scenic panorama of Chefoo Bay, lit with electricity, organized by Mr. Dunean, Mr. Urceh, and others, but there were also other smaller parties, and one for each school given by the housekeepers.
The holidays ended fittingly with one full day of C.S.S.M. gatherings on Sunday, January 2nd. A prayer-meeting was held in Mr. Houghton’s house at nine o'clock to begin the day. At the Union Church the service was handed over to the C.S.S.M. Committee, and Dr. Irwin gave a special address. In the evening there was a Chinese Lantern Service, led by Mr. Arthur Rouse and Dr. Howie, in the Memorial Hall. Later in the evening four “ crushes ” were held at various houses.
The Japanese Occupation of Chefoo (extract from...”
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“...wakened in the middle of the night by shots. The Japanese retaliated next day by dropping a few bombs, one of which fell to the south, behind Vineyard Hill. Outside the Compound Gate two Japanese marines are always on duty beside a barbed wire barrier, inspecting Chinese as they make their way to and from the outlying districts. On the Compound itself, our peace is undisturbed, and for this we are most thankful.”
Changes on the Staff.
Mr. Bruce is to be the Principal of the Boys’ and Girls’ Schools. Since Miss Rice is leaving, Miss Broomhall is to be Acting Vice-Principal until Miss Pyle’s return. Messrs. Fleischmann, Grant and Warren have recently been working in the Business Department, as Mr. and Mrs. Richardson have left for New Zealand.
We extend our heartiest congratulations to Mr. Duncan on his engagement to Miss Alcie Lachlan, an Old Chefusian. Mr. Duncan intends to leave for England sometime this year. Changes in the Curriculum.
At the beginning of the year, in January, it was...”
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“...A. There are many parts of my work I like. Many of the letters we receive, especially from German and Italian hotel proprietors are really entertaining. The part I like least is dictating all my letters to an Ediphone machine.
No. 2. FROM THE DISPLAY WORLD.—R.H.A.L.
I have been plagued or honoured—however you take it— with a list of questions about my job. But why pick on me ? I can’t understand it. unless it is ” form order backwards ” !
The first question was. “ Where do you work.” Well, in Chefoo terms, it is a glorified Shuen Chang’s, Harrods by name ; perhaps some of you have heard of it.
The second is a perfect snorter ; “ Time table of your day ? ” Well, I am in the Man’s Shop section of the Display Dept. ; we have nothing to do with those exquisite windows on Brompton Road, but we do turn out some excellent windows facing Basil Street—though I “ sez ” as shouldn’t ! We dress on an average five windows per day and usually run a definite scheme or style through each set.
The first...”
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“...CHOOLMASTERS have frequently told me of the joy that comes to them when an Old Boy calls. Not many Old Boys call at Chefoo although occasionally one may find his way to that port, and then it is not uncommon for the visitor to be more of the “old” than of the “boy,” and he finds that few of the staff were there in his day. I recall such a gentleman turning up, and finding the M.O.D. (as usual in the Master’s sitter) he enquired as to the names of the present staff and discovered that he did not know any of them. However, the M.O.D. had a brain wave (not an uncommon occurrence !) and remembered that there was a former member of the Staff now retired in Chefoo, who would know the visitor. Consequently the two went to find the said master and the Old Boy was wondering if he would be recognised. The introduction was done by the visitor who went up to Mr. “ X ”— this letter was chosen after careful thought—and, uncovering a partially bald head, said, “ Sir, do you remember me ? ”
Mr. “ X ” eyed...”
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“... when thev first arrive in this countrv.
G.P.W.
LONDON WINTER REUNION.
JANUARY 15th, 1938
“ Hard lines, old chap, you’ve missed the tea 1 ” Three years ago that would have been rather a blow, but, as it was, I soon forgot it in the excitement of greeting old friends and playing “ Plus-bridge,” and “ Amah’s Washing Day.”
The “ House of Weller ” gave a brilliant programme of shadowgraph charades during the evening. The words acted were in every case the name of a person or place connected with Chefoo. There was “ Bottle Rock,” “ Preedy,” “ Rough,” “ Hogg,” “ Miss Pyle,” and so on
10...”
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“...“ ad infinitum." As Mr. Welch remarked in his typical pithy “ hank-hank ” style, it was “ well up to the Weller standard."
The feature of the evening was a film, kindly lent by Mr. Dunachie, showing Chefoo and the activities on Foundation Day. 1936—Mr. Welch supplied a running commentary. Many a vision of boyhood and echo of dreamland came back as one well-remembered scene gave way to another. “ Oh, for a raft bathe again ! ” exclaimed someone by me, as wc watched them “ keeping the kettle boiling ” and “ spanking the baby.”
Supper followed. Personally. I made up for tea, and judging by the way things disappeared, it was evident that the old Empire Day spirit had taken hold of some Chcfusians. I wonder if those brave tales still travel “ up and down the China coast " ?
Before parting, Dr. Judd led us in Family Prayers, and we pondered again upon the glorious truth of David's words—“ The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want." 11.ILL.
The following Old Chcfusians were among those present...”
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“...prize can of Golden Syrup. After supper Mr. Roger Mills told us his recollections of the names in the game, and he had not yet forgotten the “ Eau de Cologne River.”
Mr. Bruce then, for fifteen minutes more or less, told us of the Chefoo of the present. Hundreds of us Chefusians have now heard his stirring words, and we all wonder at the great improvements that have been accomplished by him and the splendid Staff.
Instead of the time-honoured custom of “ tea under the trees,” we had tea, that is chocolate, at a banquet table laden with huge tarts, and small ones, too, and stacks of bread baked by Mrs. Crofts (Miss Harlow), peanut butter, golden syrup, sweets, but no sardines, till we had eaten too much, and responded none too heartily to Mr. Mills’ songs of Chefoo days. We stuffed not only ourselves but our pockets, so that every fond parent among us had spoils a-plenty to take home.
The following were present :—
William Best; James Fiddler; Viola Lagerquist; Mrs. G. D. Palmer (Grace Lagerquist)...”
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“...Bruce gave a short history of the Chefoo Schools for the last five years or so, interspersed with questions, especially from “ the boys.” Among those present were the following :—
Mrs. G. Findlay Andrew; Mervyn Andrew ; Bruce Clinton ; John Voss Olsson ; H. Malcolm Forbes; Mrs. Rist; Stanley Rist; Edna Rist; Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Coulthard; Josephine Coulthard; May Gilmer; Mrs. K. M. Xaftel (nee Fishe) ; Marjorie Tull : Lorna Whitelaw; Mr. and Mrs. A. H. Mildon (Ivy Gonder) ; Alan Brock ; Mary Ririe ; Mrs. Rowe (nee Marian Fishe) ;
Mrs. Wesley Heard (n^e Gwen Parry) ; Ernest Grainger ; Gardiner Taylor; Mr. and Mrs. Morrison Taylor ; Kenneth Taylor ; Marion Taylor ; Walter Tyler ; Eleanor Gonder : Mary Xicoll; Rachel Nicoll; Sidney Best; Muriel Clark ; Mrs. and Mrs. Harold Warren : David Hanna ; Muriel Evans ; Ruth Bevis; Eunice Bevis Coles; Mildred Oldfield Millar ; Arthur Parry ; Mr. and Mrs. Averell Robinson ; Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Gonder ; Brian McCarthy.
On January 26th, Mr. Bruce was...”
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“...A more staunch friendship could not exist than among this Chefoo Reunion group. As Mrs. Murray so aptly expressed it—“ When we meet you all, we feel once more that there is real love in the world.” Many who read this article, and who were under the kindly and beneficent tutelage of Mr. Murray, undoubtedly will want to know something about him, for he became an institution at Chefoo. For several years he has been living at Pacific Grove (new address, 156, Monterey Avenue), where he and Mrs. Murray have entered into community activities, Mrs. Murray being especially active in Church work. He is just the same as of yore, kindly, humorous, gentle (even when he licked us he was gentle about it), with the same merry twinkle in his eye. His boys, numbered by the hundreds, will always remember him as guide, counsellor, and friend. True greatness is measured by true service, and Mr. Murray has truly served, and is numbered among the truly great. The boys’ love and respect for him is something that...”
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“...BB
OR AN EDUCATIONIST’S NIGHTMARE.
“ Yes,” murmured the Very Old Chefusian reflectively, “ I think it was in 1938 that I left school. Or was it 1937 ?—some years before the War, at any rate. Everything here seems very different now. The town itself, for example : its enormous size, and all those vast hotels and public buildings, and the magnificent gardens along the sea-front, I passed as I drove from the air-port. Who would have imagined that Chefoo would become the Brighton of the China coast ? But, of course—apart from television, and a day-trip on business from Australia in 1950—I haven’t seen the place for close on sixty years ; and one must expect changes in that time.”
They were standing together on the roof-garden of the coeducational building, looking out across the bay. The Headmaster shifted his gaze back from the Bluff to the vaguely hypnotic white beard of his visitor, and suggested a move indoors.
“ I thought you would like to come straight up here, first of all,” he said...”
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“...spending the rest of the night there. He was shocked, of course, to see conditions here—especially the loss of his beautiful lawns and gardens, the work of four years—but our uppermost feeling was one of thankfulness that we had all been spared to one another. We found that the rest of our neighbours had escaped the previous afternoon, or been taken out during the night, and the folks who spent that memorable night with us now jokingly refer to our place as “ the Ark ” !
Muriel Huntley Magness (Chefoo 1900-07).
19...”
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“...start training in one of the Froebel Kindergarten Training Colleges.
Jimmie Bruce is at present at Monkton Combe Junior School.
Mr. P. Bruce asks to be remembered very warmly to those Old Boys whom he was not able to meet while in England. He was very sorry that
he was unable to be present at the Winter Reunion and meet all those gathered there. He left for Chefoo, via America and Canada, on January 5th. He met groups of Old Boys in quite a few centres, and also visited several of the colleges, where Chefu-sians are continuing their studies. He arrived back in Chefoo at the end of February.
Mrs. Bruce is hoping to follow her husband to Chefoo as soon as the way opens.
Mary Bruce is training as a nurse at Mildmay Mission Hospital, Bethnal Green. Recently, when Queen Mary opened the new Out-patient Department, she and May Polhill were in the Guard of Honour.
Grace Castleton has started her masseuse training at King’s College Hospital, London.
Agnes Clarke has just returned to China after her second...”
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“...doubly elated —partly because he has just been appointed accountant to a building firm in Cricklewood, but chiefly because he has become engaged to Miss Dorothy Nightingale, of Cran-leigh, Surrey. (China papers, please copy.—Ed. !)
Ronnie Weller is leaving the firm of David Mann and Sons, at Cranleigh, and joining a Nursery at Chilworth, where he will be nearer his Mission Hall and hopes to have more advanced work. (It depends on the kind of nursery !)
Mr. and Mrs. G. P. Welch expect to return to Chefoo shortly. They leave Southampton on June 29th by the Queen Mary. After a few days in New York, they hope to visit Toronto. They sail from Vancouver on August 6th.
John Whitelaw writes saying that he has been off from business for three weeks, having had his tonsils out ! He spent Easter touring Devon and Cornwall.
Evelyn Williamson is taking a year's secretarial course at Pitman’s, Brixton.
Marion Williamson is teaching History at Clapham High School for Girls.
Elspeth Wills is working in a laboratory...”
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“...responsible for organizing the large Varsities and Public Schools Camps Swiss Winter Sports Parties— this time comprising over 220 people. This kept him pretty busy, but he was able to enjoy some good games of ice hockey and a swim each day in the hot swimming baths—the latter being a special feature of Leukerbad, where the parties go.
At Easter he was Commodore of the V.P.S.C. Walrus Cruise on the Norfolk Broads. There were eleven yachts in the Fleet, and they had some grand sailing. He kept up his early morning bathe—sometimes with ice on the decks—and had his usual April dip in the sea !
His son, Peter, is now 5J years old, and is generally “ full of beans "—not Heinz ones, though !
CHINA.
Egbert Andrews writes : “I am on the Eastern end of the Trans-Siberian railroad. I came up here about the middle of October, because I was unable to go to the part of China I had expected, and I felt there was a greater need here than in Chefoo, where I had been during August and September. It is very...”
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“...investigations of the Royal Commission with regard to Dominion-Provincial Relations. He has also been appointed a delegate to the British Commonwealth Relations Conference to be held in Sydney, Australia, next September.
Carrington Goodrich was in China for the spring and summer of 1937, and saw " Chefoo Parents and Old Boys ” in various parts of China.
After nearly nine years of ministry at the Wyoming Church in Millbum, N.J., the Rev. H. Norman Sibley moved to New York City last October to take charge of the University Heights Presbyterian Church.
C. H. Judd has returned to Vancouver to resume the Secretaryship of the China Inland Mission on the NAY. Pacific Coast.
William D. Thomas has a position with the Imperial Bank of Canada in Toronto.
After graduation, Ethel Dickson plans to take a Religious Education course at the Biblical Seminary in New York.
Last autumn John Fiddler moved to Buenos Aires, Argentine, where he holds a position of responsibility in connection with the firm for...”
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“...CHEFOO SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION.
Presidents :
Mr. & Mrs. F. McCarthy.
Vice-Presidents :
Miss L. Blackmore. Mr. F. H. Rhodes.
Mr. D. E. Hoste. Mr. H. G. Judd.
Rev. W. H. Aldis.
And the Principals of the Chefoo Schools :
Miss M. Pyle' (Girls' School).
Miss A. Carr (Prep. School).
Mr. P. A. Bruce (Boys' School).
GREAT BRITAIN BRANCH COMMITTEE.
Chairman :
Mr. W. D. Mudditt,
Glendower, Grove Road, S. Woodford, London, E. 18.
Hon. Secretary :
Mr. H. F. Joyce,
Gwynear, 9, Hurst View Road, S. Croydon. (Cro. 5270).
Hon. Treasurer :
Mr. B. Burnett,
59, Lenmore Avenue, Grays, Essex.
Joint Editors :
Miss D. W. Kirk,
Cathay, 205, Great North Way, Hendon. London, N.W. 4. (Hen. 8329.)
Mr. T. J. Hirst,
2, Canonbury Park North, London, N. 1.
Miss F. King.
Miss G. Briscoe.
Miss E. Williamson.
. Mr. A.
Assist. Secretary :
Mr. W. P. Olesen.
Mr. J. M. Slimmon. Mr. J. S. Green. Mr. C. Fairclough. Parry.
Scottish Secretary :
Mr. C. W. Fleischmann,
56, George Square, Edinburgh.
China Secretary :
Miss E. M. Broomhall...”
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