In peace, as well as war, the college, which was founded over seventy years ago at Horseferry Road, has gained honourable distinction. Hedley Fitton, the famous etcher, was one of its old pupils. Sir James Yoxall, author and M.P., is another old student. James Smetham, the famous artist and letter-writer, was a tutor here. John Scott, grandfather of the Rev. Dr. Scott Lidgett, was the first Principal, and was followed by Dr. Rigg, the great educational expert and writer on Methodism and Anglican theology. Besides that, it is linked to Australia by the fact that some of its old pupils have gone to occupy honourable positions as teachers and in some cases ministers in the Commonwealth.
At least one of our great Australian schoolmasters, Mr. F. Chapple, M.A., B.Sc., Principal of the largest boys' college in Australia, Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, was a student and a member of the staff here.
One of the strange things that war does is to bring back in khaki men from Australia, on business to the A.I.F. Head Quarters to find that it is their own old college. Men from Westminster Training College are fighting in France, Palestine, Mesopotamia, on the Salonica front, and some of them are in naval work; and while this famous Alma Mater sends out her own sons to the frontiers of the Empire, she opens wide her hospitable portals to receive the brawny pioneers of New Lands away 'down under.' Thus men from back-block townships in Australia are brought into a sort of fellowship of service with the English trainers of the old Horseferry Road Training College.
Our men will think kindly, too, of Horseferry Road, because the War Chest Club, just opposite the Head Quarters, was so often their home. Here, under the hostess, Mrs. Samuel, a capable group of lady workers have dispensed thousands of hot meals to sore-footed and war-weary Australians on leave from France. Then there was the quiet refuge of the Y.M.C.A. Hostel on the other side of the road, in the Wesleyan Central Hall, where, under the lady superintendent, Mrs. Workman, and her voluntary assistants, similar good work was done.
To Horseferry Road the Australian came gladly, leaving it regretfully for war again; and when the war is over it will be a kindly memory. In close proximity to Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament, where so many bonds of Empire are forged, the old Westminster Training College will continue to do its useful part in Empire building.
Printed by Jarrold & Sons, Ltd., Norwich, England.
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