The Ypres British School.
70
THE YPRES TIMES
ON Wednesday, June 18th, at 10 a.m., the first annual Prize Giving took place
at the British Memorial School, Ypres. The prizes were presented by Sir
Reginald Blomfield, R.A., in the presence of a large and interested audience
of parents and children. Colonel Higginson, Chief of the I.W.G.C. in France and
Belgium, and Mrs. Higginson, Capt. W. G. Perrott, Head of the I.W.G.C., Ypres,
Mr. A. B. Melles and Mrs. Melles, and Mrs. Milner were present.
The headmaster, Mr. H. Morris, B.Sc., opened the ceremony by giving a short
report on the year's work. He offered his warmest thanks to the staff of the school
for their loyal support during the year, and also to the School Managing Committee
in Ypres, Capt. Perrott, Mr. A. B. Melles, M.B.E., and the Rev. G. R. Milner,
M.A., for the way in which they had interested themselves in the conduct of the
school. He further expressed his gratitude to the Imperial War Graves
Commission, who had so generously provided free transport for the children. The
school choir, under the direction of Mrs. K. G. Morris, L.R.A.M., then sang two
songs.
The headmaster asked Sir Reginald Blomfield to present the prizes. He
pointed out to the children and parents how honoured they were to meet Sir
Reginald, who had created the beautiful Pilgrim's Hall in which they sat. He also
said how greatly indebted they were to Mr. Palfrey, of the L.C.C., who had so
kindly obtained the prizes for them. Sir Reginald Blomfield made a short speech
to the children. He said that he took a fatherly interest in the British Settlement
at Ypres, because he had been associated with it from the beginning, when the
ground on which it now stood had been a mass of ruins, with a stream running
through it. The donors hpd originally planned a school for about 40 children, and
they were now happy that, their labours were not in vain when they saw how
successful the school had proved and how rapidly it had grown. He counselled
the children to remember always those men to whose memory the school had been
built, and to copy their ideals of courage and unselfishness. They should always
strive to cultivate the quality of true British sportsmanshipnot merely skill, but the
will to do their level best for their team. They were very fortunate, living in a
foreign country, to have a real British school, and they should try always to show
the best qualities of the race to which they belong.
Sir Reginald then presented the prizes, amid great enthusiasm. After the choir
had sang two more songs. Colonel Higginson spoke a few words to the children.
He remarked how interesting it was that the first prizes should be presented by Sir
Reginald Blomfield, the architect who had designed and watched over the growth
of the British Settlement in Ypres. He complimented Mr. Morris on the great
success of the school and urged the children to make the fullest use of their
opportunities. Finally, he said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and so
he hoped that the school which would shortly be opened at Arras would be as
successful as the Ypres School.
On behalf of the children of Ypres, Mr. Morris wished the new school at
Arras the best of luck.
The whole assembly then sang the National Anthem, and a very successful
ceremony terminated with three hearty cheers for Sir Reginald Blomfieldthe first
British cheers heard in Ypres for some years.
H. M.
