Amazing Athletics Achievements 1923

  Friday, June   29th,   was in  every respect  a  red-letter   day  in  the history   of    the   School,   for,   on that   day,    were   held  the    inaugural Athletic  Sports.   Everything tended to make them the huge success which by common consent they were voted to be. King Sol beamed with generous warm thoron “Mountjoy,” which was crowded with visitors, many of whom had come from   considerable   distances.     Four  of the governing body were present—The Dowager   Lady Wimborne, who   very kindly presented the prizes to the winners of the various events; Lord Guisborough; Sir Charles King-Harman and the Rev.P.   E.   Warrington, who combines the office of governor with that of Hon.  Sec. It may, perhaps, be well to state here, that, in  conformity   with   the  almost universal custom of public schools, the sports will be held, in future, towards the end of March and not in the Summer Term. The various events were all timed on the programme, and they went off with clockwork precision; in fact, every detail showed much careful forethought on the part of those responsible for the arrangements.    While the weather was too hot for good results in the longer events, some of the   shorter ones were exceptionally good, especially, perhaps, the    senior hundred, while the senior jumps were not at all bad.    As usual, the House events were thrilling, especially the relay, which was won by Franklin’s, and the tug-of-war, which was carried   off by School House. During the interval for tea, which was served   on tables  in   front   of a  large marquee to the west of “Mountjoy,"" call-over” was taken by the Head-master, to the great interest of the many visitors, who were gradually assembling on   the   terrace  in   readiness   for  the distribution of prizes by Lady Wimborne. At the conclusion of this, Lady Wimborne took   the   opportunity  of assuring   the boys of her great interest in the school which was now being carried on in the building where she had spent the whole of   her married   life.    In   a   short  but telling speech   she pointed out to each one the responsibility which rested on his shoulders for fitting himself to take his place as a citizen of this Empire, and all the duties which such citizenship tailed in these troublesome times.   At the conclusion of this, Lord Guisborough proposed a very warm vote of thanks to her for presenting the prizes, which was  seconded   by    Sir  Charles   King-Harman.     Before  the   vote   of thanks, which was greeted by "three times three," was  put,   Lord   Guisborough  made  the interesting    announcement    that    the governors   had,  that   morning,   bought practically   the  rest  of  Canford  Village, with  a  good deal  of  extra  land which would  allow plenty  of  room  for  future development  and, incidentally,  he  made the  time-honoured request  for  an  extra" half,"  a  request   which  was  granted amidst  great enthusiasm.