Bishop Feild College Team

    It always amazes me that there is still a significant amount of Feildian memorabilia out there waiting to be discovered. Here is a picture of a BFC Championship Soccer (Football) team of the 1960's I think. Who can name these boys?

 Back Row:  Dodo Breen, Stan Breen, ? , ?,  Eldon Drodge, Ron Martin,  ? , ?,  Bob Mercer

Front Row: ? , Henry (Fox) Summers, Roger Pope,  ? , ? , Doug House.

Exciting Founder's Day at BFC

June 7, 2023

About 25 old Feildians met at the college on Wednesday, June 7 to celebrate Founder's Day with the present student body. The gathering was hosted and planned by the principal, Ms. Norma Aylward and her staff. We gathered in the auditorium and all classes marched in and sat on the tiled floor. Ms. Aylward had the students say their Bishop Feild School Pledge and then the "old boys" taught them the chorus of the old song. We then sang the first and last verses and the students joined us in the chorus which they sang with  great gusto. We were accompanied by David Chafe, a wonderful pianist and the son of Bruce Chafe an old Feildian. Thank you David.

BR: Paul Tilley, Ken Brown, Bob Vallis, Doug Squires, Jim Hammond, Ed Arnott, Ches Crosbie, Todd Martin, Tim Facey, Vic Janes, Harris Flight

FR: Bruce Tilley, Tolson Chapman, Rex Anthony, Bill Goodyear, Dick Cook, Doug House, Peter Chalker, Cec Mordoch, Paul Miller, Bruce Chafe, Chris Facey, Cyril Bennett

Some of the student body and on the far right of the old boys are Henry Summers and Don Yetman who were missing from the first photo.

Old Boys Tour Alma Mater

OLD FEILDIANS TAKE TOUR OF

REFURBISHED ALMA MATER 

In 2017 there was a serious problem at the old school. A section of the ceiling in the gym collapsed and fell onto the gym floor. Luckily, there were no students in the gym at the time. However, that incident led to the closing of the school that year until the cause of the collapse was found and corrected.  The pandemic also insinuated its way in there and that lengthened the time that the school was closed. It reopened for students in 2020.

Now the old school with many improvements has reopened. The principal, Ms. Norma Alyward and a former principal Ms. Judy Gard-Puddester invited as many old boys who could make it to a tour of the building on Thursday, 26 January. A number of us attended and saw for ourselves the commitment of the government and the administration to this wonderful building on Bond Street. A building that has seen walk out of its doors many contributors to our society and to the world. For our alma mater and its teaching staffs down through the years, approaching 180 years now, have produced doctors, teachers, lawyers, trades workers, musicians and a host of others in all walks of life. It was wonderful to see it again.

As we walked through the building we tried to envisage where classrooms and other rooms in the building were situated when we attended. It has changed so much and rightly so. Today, there are computers and white boards. I cannot remember seeing any chalk. It is a completely redesigned school for the 21st. century. 

NON MORITUR CUJUS FAMA VIVIT

Back Row L to R: Charles Lester, Gordon Chalker, Jim Edgar, Doug House

Middle Row L to R: Paul Tilley, Peter Chalker, Tim Shears, Keith Garland, Jeff Levitz, Bob Vallis, Doug Squires

Front Row L to R: Duncan Granter, Dick Cook, Chris Facey, Doug Cook, Henry Summers, Jeff White, Robert (Gus) Crane

Every month Old Feildians gather at the Phoenix Restaurant in St. John's to have a meal and chat about the years spent at Feild on Bond Street. If you are an old Feildian or played for a Feildian team please come and join us. We would love to see you. 

BISHOP FEILD COLLEGE BOYS

    Can any of you guys help me with the names for this picture. I know some of them. They are: Hugh Miller, Paul Thompson, Vic Janes, Brien Maunder, Bob LeDrew, Strat Canning, Tim Shears, Keith Garland, John Tucker, Roger Barnes, Rowe Twins, Greg Barban, Jeff Levitz, ? Anstey, Max Rideout (Teacher)

Front Row: ? , Strat Canning, Calvin (Ace) Anstey, ? ,

Second Row: Tim Shears, Vic Janes, ? , Doug Rowe, Brian Maunder

Third Row: Max Rideout (Teacher), ? Lionel Rowe, Jeff Levitz, ? , Greg Barban

Back Row: Paul Thompson, John Tucker, Keith Garland, Roger Barnes, Bob LeDrew

Email: peter.chalker@gmail.com

 BISHOP FEILD COLLEGE 

STAFF 1963-64

 

I am continually going through our pictures and documents and so I sit here on Memorial Day looking at a picture of the Old School Staff of 1963. There are a number of teachers I cannot identify. Maybe someone can help.  See picture below.

From Left to Right Back Row

Violet Cave, Eric (Pop) Caines, Lloyd French, Maxwell Rideout, Clarence Burry

Harry Cooze, ????????

Front Rowe

Jessie Halfyard, ?????, Rita Long, Ralph Anderson (head), Nita Penney, ???? ,

Hattie Freeman, Lenora Thomas

With Covid-19 beginning to ease our committee will get to work on the trophies.

My email: peter.chalker@gmail.com

Our Trophies

Boys these are some of the trophies (approx. 30) we have at the archive. A small committee of Dick Cook, Don Rowe, Hugh Miller and I are looking for ideas to use these trophies. There is no space to display them at the school, I've been informed. We could photograph them and create a  binder with the photographs and descriptions of each trophy and then discard the trophy itself. We can make any number of copies of the binder.

The impetus for this effort stems from the fact that the Diocesan Archive is closing on King's Bridge Road. They are currently stored in boxes in the basement there and MUST be removed by the end of the month. We welcome all suggestions. Email me : peter.chalker@gmail.com

     Old Feildians, I received an email from John Henderson with a picture attached. I have added it below.  Paul Facey is in the front row with a big grin on his face. Do you know any of the other boys? The picture was taken in Bannerman Park in 1952.

 

 John lives in Saskatchewan. He is kneeling behind Paul Facey wearing his Feildian tie.

1962 Choir

Below is a picture of a Bishop Feild College Choir in 1962. Most of the boys have been identified but not all. In Rows 3,4 and 5 that is the third row from the back we know only a few of the boys. Please take a look and let me know who they are.

175 Anniversary of Bishop Feild College and School

The college will be 175 years old this year. What a history lives in the bricks of the old school? It lies vacant now but the work is about to begin to restore it to its former glory.

Bishop Edward Feild, the second Anglican bishop of Newfoundland, founded the school in 1844 shortly after his arrival from England having been appointed to the See by the Archbishop of Canterbury, William Howley.

Now, in August 2019 the call has gone out to all boys near and far to meet us in St. John's, NL to renew old memories and to inspire the future years of Feildians to come. The Reunion takes place at the Remax Centre (Curling Club) on the weekend of August 9, 10 and 11. Hope to see as many there as possible.

Last Thursday I finally received the Bishop Feild College Directors' Minute Book from the Rooms. Thanks to Greg Walsh, Archives Director, we are finally in possession of this valuable book in our College's history.

This minute book was found in the court house. Somebody sent it to the Rooms for safekeeping. I was alerted to its existence and contacted the Rooms to have it de-accessioned to our archive. Mr. Walsh agreed it should be here and finally it has found its proper home.

The minute book contains the minutes of meetings of the directorate of the college. I have included a sample page for you to look at. It contains the history of the College from 1905-1916.

Bishop Feild Boys at Bannerman Park

Grade 3 BFC Bannerman Park/Feildian Grounds 1952

From time to time I am given a photograph of a class at BFC. About a year or so ago Bill Goodyear gave the one below of his Grade 3 class with most of the young lads named. I post it here for your enjoyment. Unfortunately, I cannot be sure of all the names and the places in the picture, so have a look. Let me know if I have made a mistake.

FR: Lying down: Paul Facey, Unknown

R2: Unknown, Rex LeDrew, Bill Goodyear, Unknown hands on face, John Lear, Robert Hall, Neil Crane ( I remember Neil, he was killed in New Brunswick), Unknown, Unknown, Geoff Lewis, Dave Campbell, Unknown, Randy Bell (?), Don Davis, John Calver

R3: Ches Netten, Unknown, Keith Lashana, Unknown, Unknown, Doug Follett, Peter Martin, John Windsor, Paul Emberley

R4: David Brazil, Unknown, David Mercer, Unknown, Unknown, David Brown (?), Unknown, Unknown, Unknown

Hockey Picture

At our last lunch on January 19 Henry Summers gave me a copy of this photograph. I have many of the names but not all. If you know the boys here and if you know the date please get in touch.

Feildian Hockey Team

          

Year 1961-62

FR: Eldon Drodge, Doug House, Earl Wicks, Henry Summers, Earl March, Howard Hickman,Alec Yetman

BR: Ed Pennell, Rhodi Mercer,  Dick Wiseman, Barry Fraser, John Downer (?), Dick Parsons, Art Piercey, Dave "Stubby" Morris, Tom Collingwood, Gerry Critch, Doug French

At this lunch we had a guest speaker, Dr. John Hewson, who taught at BFC in the 50's. He gave a talk about his memories of Feild and how he came to teach there. We had many a good laugh at the memories he stirred up and it was my honour to introduce him and thank him for attending. 

Dick Cook had a card that we will send to Bob Cole in commemoration of his appointment to The Order of Canada.

See you at the next lunch!!

Floreat Semper Bishop Feild

Dr. Ronald Rompkey Dies

Hello Boys, once again an old boy has passed away. Ron Rompkey died July 31st. at Tiffany Village. Once you have read his obit. our motto describes the life of Ron quite aptly.
Please go to :http://www.inmemoriam.ca/view-announcement-440313-ronald-george-rompkey.html to read the full obituary.

Feildian Lunch Monday April 28, 2014

Our lunches continue to be well attended and today was no exception. We had a number of first timers. They are:

Frank Butler
Fred Riche
Paul Miller
Les Noseworthy

We had not seen Bill Neal for awhile but he was here today.




Several of us told of the time we were strapped at Feild. Terry Carter told a funny story about being caned by R.S. Tanner.  Most of us were at one time or another. It was having the experience of being strapped that we got to know who were the real pros. "Bull" could strap well as he was tall and could get great leverage. Lloyd also had a special and effective flick of the wrist when he strapped that hurt. However, from all the stories I have heard over the years you did not want to be strapped by Charlie Grant.

These stories were told with the backdrop of an all boys school during a time when the strap was an accepted part of discipline. Unfortunately, this would not be tolerated today.

On another note Chris Facey and his group continue their hard work to get funds for the continuing improvement of The Feildian Grounds. If you can see your way clear please make a donation to this great cause directly or by attending one of the dinners they have to raise funds. I will let you know of the next event when it comes along.

If any of you have pictures of your days at Feild please scan them and send a copy to me; peter.chalker@gmail.com

At the lunch today I had a chat with Henry "Hank" Summers and he brought along a picture of a hockey game in which he played goal for the double blues. The game was played at Prince of Wales Collegiate on Friday, February 24, 1956. On the back were written in pencil the lamentable words, " lost again to PWC, this time 12-6 and there were 39 shots. Just shortly after this game Hank took up boxing.

Until next time, floreat semper Bishop Feild.

(Please send corrections to peter.chalker@gmail.com)

Bishop Feild College Athlete Geoff William Stirling Passes

Old Feildian, Geoff Stirling passed away this week. If you go to Carnell's Funeral Home website (http://www.carnells.com/funeral-notice.aspx?id=3094) you can read a complete notice of his passing.

During the years that I have been managing our archival material at the school and now at The Buckle Memorial Archive, Geoff Stirling stands out as an athlete of very high caliber. He played basketball and hockey at Feild and was a tremendous high jumper. Below you will find a couple of pictures of Geoff during his atletic days at Feild.

Geoff Stirling sitting middle first row.

Geoff Stirling Front Row far right

Matt Foster Dies

It is with sadness that all Feildians mourn the passing of a beloved teacher and coach, Matthew John Foster. Matt was born in Broughshane, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, September 16, 1925.

After a long and stoic battle with cancer, endured with incredible fortitude, Matt passed peacefully away at home on Nov. 3, 2013, in the presence of his family and devoted caregivers.

He started his teaching career as principal of a one room schoolhouse at Kilcronaghan Primary School, in County Londonderry, N. Ireland, from 1947 to 1953. In August 1953, he immigrated to Canada with his young bride, Maud, and they both started teaching careers at Bishop Feild College and Bishop Spencer College. He developed sports and games programs there and went on for further training at Carnegie College in Leeds in 1958. On return to Newfoundland, Matt went on to teach at Bishop’s College from 1959 to 1961. He also did further Physical Education training and obtained a Master’s in Physical Education from Springfield College, Mass. in 1962. He joined the Dept. Of Physical Education & Athletics at Memorial University in 1961, and became Professor and Director of this School in 1964 until his retirement in 1986.

I began my school at BFC in Kdg. in 1952 and the next year Mr. Foster came. I can see him now playing badminton with his buddy John Hewson in the gym at Feild. That gymnasium was set some 12 feet into the ground so that spectators could look down from the rails above on the players below. He would always shout out "move on now" in that distinctive Northern Irish brogue.

Mr. Foster was a tough but fair teacher. He demanded the best from us at school and more so if you were lucky enough to be selected for one of his teams. He coached the Feildian Football Team in 1964 to the city championship.

Non Moriture Cujus Fama Vivit

Old Feildian Passes

Those of you in the class of '53 might remember your classmate Les Bignell. Roy Saunders emailed me with notice of his passing. He died August 3 in Oakville, Ontario. When you read this if you have other information on Les please let me know. I would like to send a card to his family from us.

Here you see the Grade XI class of 1952-53 and Les is in the second row third from the left.

 Feildians Meet For Lunch

Over the past two years Bishop Feild College boys have been gathering once a month for a lunch. We have been to a number of St. John's restaurants usually the last Monday in the month. We started out quite small with about 12 or 14 boys. As the months went by each of the boys contacted a classmate or friend who went to the old school and asked them to come along. Now we have about 40 boys who come regularly to our lunches. Below is a picture of one of our lunches. I have tried to name all the boys. I am sure if I have left out any I will get an email.

Feildian Lunch May 25, 2013

To those of you who have not been coming along please join us. In July we will meet on Monday, 29th. at the Officers' Mess Bldg. 308 Pleasantville at noon.

Back Two Rows, L-R: Cyril Ludlow, David Mercer, Doug Osmond, Harris Flight,  Doug French, John Cook, Paul Facey, Tim Shears, Millar Ewing, Vic Janes, Roger Barnes, Ian Garland, Art Summers, Hugh Miller, Owen Sullivan, Gerry Russell, Doug Cook, Chris Facey, Keith Garland, Doug Wood, Lloyd Osmond, Graham Skanes, Dave Edwards, Fraser Clarke, Jim Philips, Don Yetman, Graham Verge, Bruce Chafe

Sitting: Geoff Hiscock, Edgar Porter, Burf Ploughman, Bill Neal, Paul Thompson, Dick Cook, Cyril Morgan

PICTURE INFO NEEDED

Boys sorry I have not been updating the blog. I have been busy with other things. However,below is a picture that Bill Neal gave me. What  was the occasion for this picture? It looks likes a committee of some kind. Peter Clarke might know!

FR: Clifford Andrews, David Burnell, Fraser Clarke
FR: Walter Martin, Bill Neal

Here is a picture of a softball team. I know all the boys but would like to know the date, if possible.

FR: Wally Wight, Ron Harvey, Cec Vivian, "Jud" Spurrell, Art Kng, Bruce Hookey, Frank Carew
CR: Duncan Barnes, "Didge" Wight, Sonny Chambers, Dewey Morgan, Frank Williams
BR: Bernard Carew, Bill Parsons, Albert Downton, Bill Neal

Chris Facey Inducted Into Newfoundland and Labrador Hall of Fame

April 14, 2012 at The Sheraton saw one of our own, Chris Facey, inducted into The Newfoundland and Labrador Sports Hall of Fame. Chris entered the hall as an Athlete/Builder.