OLD AZURIANS
ASSOCIATION
C J HUNT (1948-1969)
Subject: Geography
Mr Hunt joined the school in 1948 as a geography master, a post which he held for some 20 years and in which, by his eloquence, superb freehand map-drawing skills, and enthusiasm, he excelled in bringing to life the human activities, economies and geological features of far-flung corners of the world. He was an active participant in the school Geographical and Geological Societies and organised many memorable trips.
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One such expedition was to Cornwall in 1953. He had given an enthralling presentation about the county and its people beforehand that so inspired his audience that a whole coachload of boys, including some for which neither Geography nor Geology were at the forefront of their academic endeavours, signed up for it.
The departure by coach for the overnight journey was recorded with a photograph in the local press.
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For all concerned that trip was a memorable one, made all the more so by what happened on the day the school party was to walk along the cliffs from the small village of Zennor to the Geevor tin mine. The interior of the Tinner’s Arms in Zennor proved to be an irresistible attraction to a group of lads, and when they emerged after partaking of some refreshment, the main party had moved on and had already embarked on the clifftop walk. In order to catch up the lads took a short cut up a steep rocky path and had nearly reached the top when disaster struck. ‘Charlie' Dale lost his footing and slid down the slope, fell heavily onto the rocks below, and banged his
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head. He was eventually rescued by coastguards and spent a couple of days in Penzance hospital under observation.
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On return to school next term the group of lads was summoned to the Headmaster’s study and one of them was called upon to recount what had happened. Not wishing to get anyone into more trouble, least of all Mr Hunt, he summoned up hitherto unrealised diplomatic skills and managed to convince JTT that the short-cut used was a well-defined path (confirmed by Mr Hunt) and that the episode had simply been an unfortunate accident. That was the end of the story, though there were two sequels which illustrate the loyalty of the boys to Mr Hunt and his kindly and understanding nature.
Charlie Dale promised Mr Hunt that he would get the highest mark in the country in the forthcoming Geography A-Level Examination – a promise that he fulfilled. Many years later Mr Hunt was present at an Old Azurians Dinner and when reminded about the incident on the Cornwall trip he suggested that the lads had stopped for an ice-cream, though it was quite obvious that he knew perfectly well all along that the refreshment taken was something different.
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