1962

Chairman: P. W. Ward.
Vice-Chairman: J. Boulter.
Secretaries: A. T. Gable, T. S. Goodes.
The School Council started the year a little uncertainly and there was a feeling within the Council that it was not serving any useful purpose whatsoever. A committee was set up to investigate the matter. The report of the Committee was that the School Council be "dissolved completely and permanently." This proposal did not secure the complete confidence of the house and various suggestions were put forward as to ways in which the composition of the Council could be modified. All these alterations came to nought. One concession was, however, made by the President, namely that visitors to the Council be allowed to speak to motions although not to propose, second or vote on motions.
The Council has this year, unlike other years, accomplished very little: the hydraulic door-closer has been refitted to the library door, the Towelmaster towels have been changed more frequently and paper towels replaced in the containers. This is all the business that the Council has accomplished this year (up until March). All these three matters could have been dealt with by drawing the attention of the Headmaster to them without the necessity of the formality of debate before the Council. All the other matters that the Council has passed have not gained the consent of the President or the Staff.
The fears expressed at the beginning of the year so far appear to have been justified. With the limited powers the Council has, its only positive advantage is the training that it gives to boys in the procedure of local government. T. S. Goodes

President : Mr. V. J. Stirrup
Chairman: P. W. Ward.
Vice-Chairman: J. Boulter.
Secretary : T. S. Goodes.
The two power blocks within the Council have maintained peaceful co-existence since the last report and the business has proceeded more smoothly in the absence of petty differences between councillors.
The business of the Council has as usual concerned everyday matters in the running of the School. Unfortunately Council recommendations accepted by the President have not always been implemented The Council has again had to draw the attention of the President to the inadequate washing facilities and a motion passed in May concerning the removal of broken furniture from the corridors, although having the assent of the President has not yet been implemented.
Perhaps the greatest influence the Council has had on the life of the boys of the School resulted from the successful introduction of a motion that the money collected for the Swimming Pool Fund be donated to the Oxford Committee for Famine Relief. This motion gained overwhelming support among the councillors, the President, while not accepting the motion in its entirety, suspended the Swimming Pool Fund for a limited period and the money normally donated to this was given to the Oxford Committee.
Other motions passed have resulted in changes in the accommodation of cycles and in the procedure for disciplining absent councillors.
The importance of the Council must be brought home to boys of the middle school as well as to those in authority: the Council is organised to hear the views of any boy in the School and, although it cannot guarantee any changes, any views expressed will be recorded in the minutes and brought to the attention of the President.
T. S. Goodes.