The Common Room and Staff

Mr. David Du Croz left us in July to take up another appointment, and we all wish him well.

We offer our good wishes, too, to Mr. G. Johnston, who has retired as Head Groundsman after working in the School for 18 years. Under his guidance the termly miracle never failed, as the playing fields were fresh and ready again for heavy use with each change of season.

On the domestic side, Mrs. Allenby (Maisie) has retired from work in the School, where in particular she took such remarkable care of the Chapel. We thank her and wish her well.

D.R.D.C.

David Du Croz came to us from Cambridge in 1969 to teach History and coach Rowing. He now leaves us to join the History Department at the Haberdashers' Aske's School. His success at St. Peter's has largely stemmed from his generous expansion of mind and energy beyond the simple definitions of History and Rowing.

He has become a fine History teacher, with a sympathy for the boy not naturally fitted for historical study (yes, we have a few like that) and at the same time high standards of intellect for the skilful historians —History, as he insisted, is no easy ride. His work on the Middle School curriculum invited IIIrd Formers to research on a thematic rather than chronological basis and thus to exercise embryo judgment. Projects can be thin educational fare, at their worst scissors-and-paste compilations or ill-spelt chunks of 'mindless copying; but at their best they can 'be strenuous, rigorous and demandingly exploratory. David, by presenting this ideal and setting up new thematic courses, has left us an invaluable legacy. But he has also taught in the Sixth Form: in his serenely persevering way, he has cajoled Sixth Formers to analyse and argue more rigorously than they thought they could. The History Department, not a large one, has always done well by its Sixth Formers, and the Oxbridge score over the last few years, without trumpet-blowing, has been impressive. In this David has played his full part.

As an oarsman he has presided over the Boat Club and seen its expansion to a membership of 90. He inaugurated the St. Peter's Invitation Regatta—a regatta unique in my experience for providing instant races for any casual visitor to the river (none of those half-hour waits!)—and this has become a tradition of the summer season. His patient coaching, unflappable amid the friendly chaos of the riverside, has resulted in increasingly good performances at regattas. How fitting it was that, in his final season, the Boat Club has secured a record number of prizes (at any rate in my time), at least one at every age level. Parental involvement, both socially and as back-up transportation, is tremendously appreciated; the work of David and Mary, in helping with social functions such as dances and buffet lunches, has made fund raising for the Boat Club a source of enjoyment for the guests at those functions and of hilarity for those combining to lay them on. We owe all members of the Rowing Supporters Club, and especially David and Mary, a debt of gratitude for this mini P.T.A.

But David has not stayed within boundaries. He has shown the fun of participation in the total culture of the School—games, intellect and arts. He has brought a zest to the stage at St. Peter's in several elegant 13