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This report of our Grand Day ceremony on
July 13 last year was written by Bob Swift of the "Stirling Sentinel" and is reproduced by courtesy of the Editor of that newspaper.
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Weather as usual, only more so, and the Victorians, bravely clad in scarlet No. 1 tunics for the first time since before the second world war, made the playing fields of Queen Victoria School at Dunblane bear what must surely have been their brightest and most brilliant scene ever on Wednesday of last week—Grand Day indeed. This despite the lessened ceremony attendant on the dispersal of the military band which meant that (another first time) there was no Trooping the Colours for H.M. Commissioners, guests, friends and relatives of the Victorians to watch from packed enclosures. For the second year running the parade faced the school and spectators thus had the added pleasure of being able to look on a pleasant backcloth of trees and rising ground instead of the solid but unspectacular back of the school buildings, while the ranks of boys had the sun on their brows and not on the backs of their necks. There were none who fainted on parade. The parade formed up in line, with their pipes and drums in the rear, and strode on to the field to the school march, "Victorians."
Almost immediately the inspecting officer, Lieut.-General H. Murray, C.B., D.S.O., G.O.C.-in-C., Scottish Command, arrived and was met by the Commandant of Queen Victoria School, Lieut.-Colonel R. F. Nason, who conducted him to the saluting base where he was received with the "General Salute" on the bugles.
Then, with diminutive Boy David Mclnnes as his orderly preceding him, General Murray set off to inspect the parade. Boy Mclnnes's salute as he gravely paced past the Colours was a model and I understand that several feminine lookers-on were barely restrained from applauding.
After the inspection the parade moved off, and then, reformed in columns of guard, marched past the saluting base in slow time to "Cameronia." This was followed by a march past In quick time, while pipes and drums skirled and rolled "Hielan' Laddie."
Now the columns gave to line and, advancing in review order, once more accorded their inspecting officer the General Salute—and thus an end to pomp and circumstance.
Having advanced on General Murray as if to enclose him within their three sides of a square, the Victorians (Colour Party excepted) gratefully received the order to sit down on the warm turf while they heard what the General had to say to them.
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General Murray's appraisal of them was brief but glowing; his vote of confidence short and sincere; his counsel comprised few words, and was straight to the point.
He was impressed with the excellence of the
Victorians' turn-out and bearing; quite sure that his generation could hand over the country's fame and reputation for integrity and fair dealing "to you the coming generation."
He advised them to be honest, and to play the game in the interests of the team.
Mrs Murray presented to Boy Corporal Douglas Hastie the shield and medal he had earned as Primus of Queen Victoria School.
To three other boys, A. A; Blackie, K. A. Gavigan and D. Maclennan, Mrs Murray handed the Addison-Smith public speaking prizes and to N. T. Poulson the Sir Robert Cranston Memorial essay prize.
The cricket shield was claimed by B Company, the Drill Cup by both Junior School and B Company—Junior School received the award. C Company won the Dancing Shield, while D Company gained the Junior, and B Company the Senior championship trophies.
When Mrs Murray had completed her pleasant duty by presenting the Regimental prizes, Senior Monitor John Wilson called on the school to raise three hearty cheers for the General's lady.
In a trice the countryside echoed to their cheers, and a cloud of bonnets rose as if to darken the sun.
After tea a programme of entertainments opened with Scholes's Trumpet Fanfare, and went on to displays of dancing, physical training and the Beating of Retreat by the pipes and drums.
One of the "Ginger" Carcary clan, and his equally rumbustious crony. Boy Quinn of the red nose, brought to the P.T. display a brand of fun reminiscent of a brace of cheeky youngsters named Gavigan.
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It was with some surprise, therefore, that I gazed on certain pictures and examples of modelling labelled "K. A. Gavigan" in the Victorians' exhibition of arts and crafts in the bandroom.
For there is little doubt but what one of the cheeky youngsters of yesteryear is on. the way to becoming a full-fledged artist of tomorrow. Already Keith Gavigan's draughtsmanship and sense of composition show that "he has it," and if I may say so he only has to keep on working hard to keep and develop "it" into something really worthwhile. I hope he keeps his promise.
Much the same might be said about the work of John Wilson—although he has not as yet the
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