XN000022-1984-03-02 — Page 10

FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 1984

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+ THE TEACHER TO CLASS RATIO HAS BEEN IMPROVED AND SCHOOLS ARE NOW MORE ABLE TO OFFER MORE STIMULATING EXTRA-CURRICULAR PROGRAMMES AND MORE REMEDIAL HELP TO INDIVIDUAL PUPILS.

+IN BRIEF, THERE HAS BEEN AN OVERALL BRIGHTENING, AN INCREASED SENSE OF PURPOSE AND, I BELIEVE, A MUCH GREATER AWARENESS OF THE VALUE OF THE WORK IN OUR PRIMARY SCHOOL SECTOR, HE SAID.

BUT HE WAS NOT COMPLACENT ABOUT THE PROVISION OF PRIMARY EDUCATION, MR HAYE SAID.

+1 FULLY REALISE THAT THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR MUCH IMPROVEMENT. BUT I KNOW THAT ALL OF US CONCERNED WITH PRIMARY EDUCATION ARE CONTINUING TO WORK FOR THAT IMPROVEMENT AT THE SAME TIME, I THINK THAT WE CAN BE PROUD OF OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE, HE SAID.

FAREWELL CEREMONY FOR RO DIRECTOR *****

THE DIRECTOR OF ROYAL OBSERVATORY, MR J.E. PEACOCK IS TO RETIRE FROM THE CIVIL SERVICE ON APRIL 3, AFTER SERVING IN THE GOVERNMENT FOR 34 YEARS.

HE WILL PROCEED ON PRE-RETIREMENT LEAVE ON MARCH 15.

TO MARK THE OCCASION, STAFF MEMBERS OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY TODAY (FRIDAY) BID FAREWELL TO MR PEACOCK AT A DINNER RECEPTION AT THE MARIGOLD RESTAURANT AND NIGHTCLUB. HE WAS PRESENTED A SILVER TRAY AS RETIREMENT GIFT BY THE DIRECTOR DESIGNATE,

MR PATRICK SHAM PAK ON BEHALF OF HIS COLLEAGUES.

MR PEACOCK WAS BORN IN FEBRUARY 1927. HE JOINED THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY AS SCIENTIFIC OFFICER IN 1950 AND WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PROMOTED TO SENIOR SCIENTIFIC OFFICER IN 1963 AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR IN 1965. SINCE THEN, HE HAD ACTED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS AS DIRECTOR OF THE ROYAL OBSERVATORY.

HE WAS PROMOTED TO DIRECTOR IN 1981.

MR PEACOCK WAS APPOINTED A JUSTICE OF THE PEACE IN 1968

AND WAS AWARDED THE OBE IN 1984.

HE IS MARRIED WITH THREE CHILDREN.

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