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LETTER TO THE HEADMASTER
1. The customary letter is to be written by all old boys. Only those incapacitated by ill health or death are exempt.
2. The webmaster is requested to accept responsibility for ensuring that this letter is written, and in a worthy fashion, by all the old boys. It is customary to provide at least one class period for the writing of the letter, and the old boys may understand that if the webmaster decides to attend to more pressing business, the old boys have the option of either continuing with their reading or writing the letter.
3. It would be advisable to remind all the old boys of the usual requirements and restrictions. The letter must be written on A4 size paper with wide lines, A margin must be left all round, and only black or blue/black ink should be used. Ball pens are forbidden for this purpose. The quantity must cover the whole of one side and three quarters of the other side. Space-filling devices such as unnecessarily large writing and lists are forbidden. In deciding on the content of their letter, the old boys would be well advised to remember the general principle that one ought not to put in a letter anything that one is not prepared to say in person to the recipient. Profane and inappropriate language will not be tolerated. Neither will outside references be allowed. I trust that the web Master will remove these before dispatch.
4. The layout should be as follows
At the top of the page in block letters — the boy’s full name.
The date written out in full
The Rev. F. J. McGuiness,
S.T.L., M.A.,
Head Master,
St. Augustine’s Grammar School,
Manchester, M22 4PJ
Right Reverend and dear Monsignor,
(letter content)
| Asking your blessing, | ||
| I had the honour to be, | ||
| Right Reverend and dear Monsignor, | ||
| Your humble pupil, | ||
(signature)
5. The writing of the letter must be preceded by at least one practice, and web Master is requested to demand evidence that the letter has beer written in rough first. The web Master is requested to refrain fron reading the letters closely, so that reasonable privacy may be maintained, but they should certainly glance at the letters and hand them back if they seem for any reason unpresentable. It is embarrassing for the Head Master to appear to reject his colleague's judgment in returning on unsatisfactory letter to a boy.
6. Letters should be collected by the web Master in order to ascertain that every old boy has written one. They should be submitted by 31st January. If the letter is completed by an earlier date, then the letter may of course be submitted without further delay.
7. Although not obligatory, the Headmaster would also be delighted to receive letters from teaching staff (emeritus)