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“...‘*®6k
nil
^CHEFOO
DECEMBER,
1945....”
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“...CHEFOO SCHOOLS ASSOCIATION
President :
Mr. f. McCarthy,
Vice-Presidents
Miss L. Blackmore.
Mr. D. E. Hoste.
The Rev. W. H. Aldis.
Mr. H. G. Judd. Miss E. Rice. Miss I. A. Craig.
And the Principals of the Chefoo Schools :
Mr. P. A. Bruce (Boys’ and Girls’ Schools).
Miss A. Carr (Prep. School).
GREAT BRITAIN BRANCH.
Chairman of the General Committee :
Mr. W. D. Mudditt,
Monkswood, Forest Way, Woodford Green, Essex. Secretary of the General Committee :
Mr. H. F. Joyce,
Brook Cottage, Scrase Bridge, Haywards Heath, Sussex.
Branch Secretary :
Miss D. Briscoe, f
35, West End Avenue,.Pinner, Middx.
Treasurer :
Mr. J. S. Green,
C.I.M., Newington Green, London, N. 16.
Editor :
The Rev. J. G. Weller,
182, Maldon Road, Colchester, Essex.
News Editor :
Miss Mary Weller,
University College Hospital, Nurses’ Home, Huntley Street, London, W.C.I.
China Secretary Miss I. Taylor.
AUSTRALIA BRANCH.
Secretary :
Mr. A. Pike,
22, Cochrane Street, North Brighton, S.5., Victoria.
Treasurer :
Miss K. Waters,
25...”
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“...Newsletter No. 36
DECEMBER, 1945.
Chefoo Schools Association
Great Britain Branch.
Editorial.
After all that has happened in the past few months there is so much which might be said that it is difficult to say anything at all. The war is over at last : both wars—and the second more quickly than we had dared to hope. The peace is not yet, but at least we can get to work a-building it. And meanwhile, our friends and kinsfolk and schoolfellows—we ourselves—are back from prison camp or battle front or war job ? though there are many still in the services ; and there are some who will not return, whom we remember with proud and grateful affection.
For the Schools, the long ordeal of internment is over. Already (as this Newsletter bears record) we have heard something of the over-ruling mercies of God vouchsafed during these years—and we wait to hear more. What is to happen now ; where and how soon and under what conditions the Schools are to resume their life and work, we have yet to learn :...”
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“...extent of £14.
As we had an opening surplus of £15 we ended up with about £1 in credit at the end of 1944. Therefore, with our opening reserve nearly all gone we had to make a fresh start this year. Members are accordingly asked always to pay their subscriptions promptly.
On the General Fund, to which each Branch subscribes in normal years, we had a surplus of £5 at the end of 1944. This fund used to cover the cost of special expenses, such as presentation awards etc, in connection with the Chefoo Schools and also the publication of an annual list of C.S.A. members of all Branches. The new Committee will give their attention to this matter in due course, and also
2...”
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“...to the excellent suggestion made in the July 1945 magazine that a Chefoo Schools Reconstruction Fund should be opened.
C.S.A. Branches. At present, these operate in North America and Australia, where, thanks to the keenness and efficiency of their executives, they appear to be in a flourishing condition.
It is hoped that some O.C.’s in New Zealand may be willing to start a Branch there but so far we have not succeeded in contacting anyone willing to take the initiative!
The possibility of reviving the China Branch will be considered when the right opportunity arises.
C.S.A. Colours. There is.still a small stock of ties and blazer badges, and it is unlikely that new stocks will be available for several years. Metal Badges are now sold out.
Orders with cash (including postage) should be sent to me. Ties 6/- (plus I coupon), Blazer Badges 3/-.
Winter Reunion. This is to be held on Saturday, January 5th, 1946, and we hope to welcome a number of Chefusians who have been repatriated recently...”
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“...which Mr. Martin produced as an invitation to the second Reunion we were asked to bring nothing more than a pin ! At the first Reunion we had reminiscences by Mr. Bryson, Mr. Andrew and Jimmy Baskett (who left a few weeks later to join his parents in a Shanghai camp), an account of Jim Watts’ famous Ride from Taku to Tientsin in 1900 by Mr. L. H. Howell, a few pictures of Chefoo thrown on the screen, and finally Family Prayers led by Mr. Bruce.
“ At the Second Reunion we started off the evening with a game of Chefoo Place names (hence the pin !). There followed a Topical Song composed by Mr. Martin, then a history of Chefoo in 3-4 minute speeches. Mr. Bryson once again gave us a racy account of the very early days, Mr. John Hayes spoke on 1900, Miss Marjory Broomhall on the Plague Term (191,1), and Mr. Harris on the Great War. Then after the Chairman had filled in the chronological gap, Dennis Fulton gave us a humorous account of early Co-ed days, and Margaret Vinden of the Piracy. But what...”
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“...with the first American Mission, gave a short account of his own experiences since leaving Ghefoo and then answered questions on any and every phase of the War. Sometimes there were a few games and always spirited singing of Chefoo and Topical songs. A Committee of young people ran the meetings themselves and the success of these evenings Was due largely to their splendid efforts and also to Mr. Hayes’ untiring enthusiasm.
“In a few days’ time our numbers will again be added to, for the present Sixth form are now writing their Oxfords. Most of the'se youthful members will soon be amongst you all in the homelands and we know they will receive a great welcome.”
Note : Isabel Taylor, together with some other Chefusians, was expected in San Francisco on November 4th.
Letters from Mr. Gordon Martin.
Weihsien,
August 27th, 1945.
“ We have been happy here, with many chances of usefulness : and we have made some new friends. Sometimes I have felt that I hated the name of Weihsien—when I have seen...”
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“...Thompson writes from the C.I.M., Newington Green :
" The arrangements are well in hand for the reception and re-settling of repatriated internees. Each party on arrival, will be met by the representatives of the Ministry of Health, and In cases of real need of clothing will be supplied with a warm garment. They will also be given a free rail ticket to their home and pocket money on the way A supply of clothing coupons will be given to each.
“ A Daily Mail Correspondent who had been ashore at Chefoo wrote that he had walked past the * gutted China Inland Mission Boys’ School We had heard the premises were damaged because the Japs were using them as Headquarters, but we have no information as to extent of damage.”
News from Shanghai.
C./.AI. Headquarters,
1531, Sinza Road, Shanghai,
October 14th, 1945.
Letter from Mrs. E. Weller.
‘‘The last fortnight or so has been a busy time and though still in a desperate muddle, things are getting under weigh. We are making the first floor our home for...”
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“...In Memoriam.
MISS M. ALLEN.
Chefusians will be sorry to hear of the death of Miss Allen who was a nurse at the Schools in Chefoo for a number of years. She lived to be eighty years of age.
HENRY WHITTLESEY.
The following letter of warm appreciation was sent to Mrs. Whittlesey by Henry’s Senior officer :
COLONEL DAVID D. BARRETT, GSC. (09726),
Hq. Chinese Combat Command (Prov), APO 879, c/o Postmaster, New York, N.Y.
February 17th, 1945.
Dear Mrs. Whittlesey :
I cannot tell you how shocked and grieved I was to hear of Henry’s death. At this time nothing which I can say can mean much to you, but I do want to assure you of my deepest and sincerest sympathy.
Henry and I served together from the start of the Observer Section which was sent out from Theatre Headquarters last summer. As I was senior officer with the Section, I came to know Henry very well, and I formed for him a deep affection as well as the highest respect for his professional abilities.
No one could have been more genuinely...”
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“...Chinese ChoW, London.
On November 19th an unofficial reunion was held at Choy’s Restaurant, Dean Street. It had been hastily but effectively organised by MRS. BENTLEY-TAYLOR (nee JESSIE MOORE). The Chow was excellent and the Chefoo Chat even better. We hope there will be many more such occasions.
Those present were :
DAVID and JESSIE BENTLEY-TAYLOR, ARTHUR MATTHEWS, PEARL DOBSON (nee GALLOWAY, Prep School Staff 1936-1941), DORIS ROUSE, ROBERTSON SINTON, EDITH PREEDY, MARY and MARGARET WELLER, JOE DUNLAP, MARY BIRD, MARGARET OLESEN and DORIS BRISCOE.
Re-union in Melbourne.
A special Reunion was held at the C.I.M. Home, Melbourne, on the 14th July, in honour of some who hope to be away before the regular December Reunion. Briefly, we had sundry games. Mr. Tomkinson gave a side-splitting performance of Chinese calls (pedlars and what-not) and then he and Mrs. Tomkinson gave us a demonstration of a Chinese husband exerting his authority over his wife. It nearly finished us. He stamped and raged...”
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“...and JIMMIE MOORE’s descent on the Weihsien camp. There is another Chefusian, Major S. BARDENS, in David’s unit. He has also come across GORDON KENDERDINE who is in a similar unit to his own. In India he met a Colonel Lake who had known a number of Chefusians in Edinburgh and elsewhere. David expects to be abroad for another eighteen months or more and he says : " If there are any Chefusians in Delhi, Calcutta and Bombay- -or even Rangoon or Singapore—I might be able to contact them. My'small Chefoo Bible has been with me everywhere and what a source of joy and comfort it has been. Many times I have not known what to do when in the jungle, but by reading His word a message has instantly come. What a joy it is to be able to witness for Him.”
DAVID BENTLEY-TAYLOR, who was on the Boys’ School Staff for a time, has recently been appointed Men Candidates’ Secretary of the C.I.M. in London. He and his wife (nee JESSIE MOORE) hope to be settled into their new home at Newington Green by the end...”
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“...Yang-chow. Mr. Brown was very surprised to see him as he had no idea he was anywhere near. It was an exciting meeting.
E. GOOLD CARWARDINE has recently been appointed Education Officer at the Rugby works of the English Electric Co., Ltd., which claims to have the best facilities in the country for training Mechanical Engineers. He has visited several famous schools, as his work covers boys from Elementary, Secondary and Public Schools, as well as students from the Universities and men returning from, the services. Students come from all over the world, including China. He finds the work most interesting.
AGNES CLARKE has arrived in this country on furlough. Her three brothers were interned in different Camps in Shanghai.
FAITH CLAYTON was married on the 8th of April. Her name is now Mrs, McGahan. She has been demobilized and hopes to join her husband in India after Christmas.
ARTHUR COPPIN is now married and living in Kunming where he is attached to the British Military Mission.
ELVA COOK...”
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“...looking forward to spending a holiday in November with CALVIN COOK. He is also very much looking forward to meeting several of his Chefoo friends who have just been released from Weihsien.
OLIVE HUDSON (nee LAVINGTON)
is still living in Felpham, W. Sussex. Her son, John, is now six years old.
WILLIAM JENKINS writes, “It may interest a few readers of the C.S.A. magazine to know that I expect soon to go to a shore-base in China. Since last March I have been ‘ agitating ’ for a draft to China so that I could put to use my local knowledge of Chefoo and Wei-hai-wei and the Shantung dialect. I spent three months in barracks while ‘ the powers ’ decided what to do about it. Finally I was sent out here with a recomendation for a job as an unqualified interpreter—of a sort I I expect to go first to Hong kong and then north to Shantung. It- would be wonderful to be sent to Chefoo for the remainder of my ‘ time ’ which is quite lengthy, as my demob, number is sixty. During the three months wait in barracks...”
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“...* stiffs ’ and keeping a set of bones under his bed. Needless to say, ELIZABETH is still at St. George’s. Of course we have had news of my Father. He has kept very fit in spite of four years in Hong-kong and will probably return early next year.”
DOROTHY WALDRAM (nee KIRK) is still living in a flat near Hendon Central (Oh I for a house with a garden) and thrives on household duties. Ian is full of fun and energy, and nearly two years of age. Though not as good for toddlers as the sea-shore at Chefoo, a visit to Felpham, Sussex, this summer was a huge success.
JIM KIRK, who was at the Prep School for an Autumn term in 1926, has recently been home on leave from Southern Italy ; he is a Major in the Royal Corps of Signals, in charge of the technical side of the radio station at 2 G.H.Q. He has been mentioned in despatches.
LESLIE LAUGHLAND who is on the staff of the 49th Indian Brigade was with Brigadier Mallaby in Java and luckily escaped with slight wounds. As the ‘ Daily Mail ' of November...”
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“...September at Winchester, and travelled back with DORIS BRISCOE and BERESFORD WELLER. They all enjoyed the wedding and the journey.
WILFRED OLESEN arrived back in England from the Middle East recently.
MARGARET is still working at the Air Ministry. She seems to go in for Chefoo coincidences I Sitting on the shoulder of Helvelyn this summer she saw a familiar figure appearing up the hill and greeted it. ” Hullo ”, returned the figure, as though to some unmannerly hiker, and was going on with no sign of recognition when Margaret called, “ Hi I You were at Chefoo.” Whereupon there was a jubilant reunion between Margaret and ELEANOR FORD. MRS. OLESEN is on her way home to England. MR. OLESEN has volunteered to return to Chefoo for a time.
JOAN PAILING has good news of her parents and expects them home in England by Christmas.
KATHERINE is in her last year at college and is on the College Union Committee, so is very well occupied.
MR. and MRS. FRANK PARRY and their daughter CAROL, all old Chefusians...”
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“...not able to return to study. We had. a visit from BILL SINTON in July ; we had been corresponding in rather a spasmodic way for six years or so.”
IRENE ROUSE is on her way home from Weihsien.
HAZEL SAWYER writes : " I am
afraid I have very little news for the Chefoo news-letter, but my one and only contribution means a lot to our family. We have heard that my Father is well on his way home and should arrive in England about the middle of this month (November). It will be wonderful to see him again after seven years. I am still in the W.R.N.S. but no doubt will be drawing my Old Age Pension before being demobbed I Recently I met FAITH BAKER in Salisbury and we spent a day together, talking our heads off about the good old days in Chefoo. I am certainly looking forward to the Reunion in January.”
MABEL SEARLE (nee FORCEY) has recently been to Hemingford Grey with her two children to visit BERESFORD and MURIEL WELLER and David.
LINDA SERGEANT, after giving up nursing, spent a few months at home...”
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“...news of Chefoo and I look forward to the paper each year. Can any one give me news of EDNA SMITH (that was) ! ”
CHARLES C. IRWIN enlisted in the American Army Air Corps in 1942, but because of a serious illness was given* an " honourable discharge ”, so was hot able to go Overseas. Since then he has been attending College in Wooster, Ohio, and has just graduated. He is studying music and expects to make that his career. He is going to New York in the autumn of 1945 for further voice training.
GEORGE T. IRWIN is a Senior in High School in Kane, Pa.
Mrs. Bannan passed through Toronto in September, 1945 and called on the NICOLLS. She said IRENE BANNAN CAVIN is enjoying her work in West Africa, with her husband. PHYLLIS MARY is lecturing and studying for her Ph.D. in history.
MAYBETH JUDD GRAY and her husband and two children arrived in North America early in August and passed through Toronto on their way West to MR. and MRS. CHARLES JUDD in Vancouver. Maybeth met a number of her Chefoo friends...”
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“...be called “ John ” !) is teaching at Trinity Grammar School, Kew, Victoria.
ANGUS MURDOCH, who was at Chefoo in 1938, is now in the R.A.A.F. in Western Australia. He had been at Point Cook in Victoria for some time and contacted the C.I.M. just before returning to the West.
BILL LAPPER is now Lt. Cdr. W. R. H.. Lapper, R.N.V.R. We understand that he came to Australia under the Admiralty, but now that he is on their repatriation business he's been given a rank and uniform ! He's gone to Manila to help with the P.O.W. and internee: situation.
(Later: We are very sorry to hear that the Lappers have lost their small son. We remember them in this grievous loss.)
DORIS EMBERY is taking up work in the office of the.C.S.S.M. in Melbourne.
JEAN LYONS wrote on 15th November, 1945 :
“ There has been some excitement with the arrival in. Australia of about thirty-two children and adults from Chefoo—or Weihsien. I shall be passing through Melbourne and Sydney on my way to Brisbane (on holiday) in a couple...”
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