Scotch College

Harold Hill to turn 90

Harold Hill, one of Scotch's long-serving former masters is now in Belvedere Private Nursing Home, 352 Princes Highway, Noble Park.

Harold had a stroke some four years ago, losing most function in his left side. In spite of this he remains cheerful and enjoys a conversation with any visitors. As he now has no close relatives, he particularly values visits from Scotch colleagues and pupils. Harold will turn 90 on 1 March 2000.

In 1942 there were six new appointments to the senior school staff, of whom Harold was one. Two of the others were Alec Lyne and Harold Blenkiron. Harold Hill was a very successful General Science teacher right through to his retirement at the end of 1975. Boarders will remember him as the Housemaster of School House from 1948 until 1968. From 1969 until 1975 he was Hall Warden. Earlier he had been in charge of the Artillery Platoon in the Cadet Corps. Perhaps he is most widely known as the master-in-charge of tennis; the strength of his all-round game, particularly his powerful forehand, ensured that he was rarely beaten by any Scotch player.

Harold's earlier history is not so well known. He was born in Melbourne and as a baby he was taken to Christchurch, New Zealand, by his parents with his two older sisters. There he had his school education and did his teacher training course. From 1933 until 1936 the whole family was in Saskatoon, Canada, where Harold completed a law degree at the University of Saskatoon. Then followed three years teaching back in Christchurch and two subsequent years at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide. At the end of 1941 he had an interview with Mr Gilray resulting in his appointment to the Scotch staff.

Mr David Scott