With the inauguration of the House system, with the
introduction of the School song and school blazer, with the
publication of the first issue of The Mermaid', with the
construction of the new block of laboratories as well as the
establishment and constitution of the Boarding House, with a
steady increase in the number of students on roll and the
first of the annual interhouse athletics competitions, and
with many more behind him, Captain Harman, left the College
in December, 1925 after being presented with an ofl portrait
of himself by the great and the first Nigerian artist, Mr.
Aina Onabolu himself a member of staff who was nicknamed
"Artist Kere" in later years.
The Boarding House opened its doors to the first boarders on
the 14th January 1926, and Mr. C. H. Baynes, assumed duties
as House Master in February. In April 1926, Mr. A. H. Clift,
later to be Principal of King's College joined the staff as
English Master for the upper forms. In Easter term of 1926,
a new House called Harman's House, was created alongside
School House, Hyde-Johnson's House and McKee Wright's House.
On September 26th 1926, the Revd. W. M. Peacock, arrived in
Lagos to assume duties as Principal. His first public
appearance was the following Wednesday when he read prayers
for the first time at the close of which he received a
healthy welcome from the School. In the same year, a
foundation member of staff, Mr. J. A. de Gaye, died.
The Mermaid of January 1927, records that the construction
of the new laboratories had been completed and would be put
to use the following Term. Mr. Crutchley had arranged the
apparatus which included a cinematography.
