Old Boys’ Notes

(Central Branch)

I like a challenge.  "Who dares, wins" !
Colonel Harrison, our Headmaster, rang me up last week, told me what he had in mind; and asked me to come and see him—which I did.
He explained that, after consultation and discussion with various people who matter in the running of the Old Boys' Association, it was decided, for various reasons, to vest the Honorary Secretaryship of the Central Branch in someone in contact with, and living near, the School.
For some time I was not impressed by the very small number of old boys who attended meetings which were held for their benefit at the School. May I say, despite the fact that I live 4 miles from Dunblane, there were times when I lived many miles away; but I always had much pleasure in visiting my old School regularly. I was then able to recall matters of interest, to discuss those I knew and laugh at pranks the various people played. In brief, I accepted the challenge.
George Stirrat (43) is now Honorary Secretary of the Central Branch of the Old Victorians' Association. He lives at Ormonde House, Doune, Perthshire, his telephone number is Doune 294 and he will be very pleased to see you or hear from you if you care to telephone. Tell him all about yourself, your name, School number, and when you were at Q.V.S. Moreover tell him that you have joined the Old Victorians' Association at one of the branches, the addresses of which can be obtained from the Editor.

"When school days end we'll scatter far
And mind that old old song,
And face our task whate'er it be
In the game that's stern and long".

Nothing like getting together occasionally and discussing old times, the people we knew and the tricks so and so got up to.
Some old boys who reach high ranks in the armed forces and positions of standing in the civilian world, show a profound lack of interest in the School which gave them their opening.

"The rank is but the guinea stamp.
The man's the gowd for a' that".

How well I remember Colonel A. L. Fowler, M.C., a former Headmaster, discussing this point with me. Take heed all you who have strayed, and return to the fold. You will be most welcome.
Bert Harrison (71), shepherd of the First Hundred, has written elsewhere in this issue. Read his notes.
It will surprise many very old boys to know that James Daniel Cooper (49) has at long last re-

visited the School. He came to see me after Grand Day this year. We were boys together. James was the first Drum-Major of the School and I was his successor. He was a most versatile fellow, and played centre-forward in our School football team which challenged Scotland in 1911. We lost 3-0. James was a thrusting player. He was also a beautiful singer. However, I am not going to steal Bert Harrison's "thunder". Read what he has to say. For those who live near London, James Cooper lives at 6a Palmerston Road, Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex.

Bert Harrison has not been too well of late; and for that reason missed the "get together" of the London Branch at the Duke of York's H.Q., Kings Road, Chelsea, in October this year.

Jimmy Grassick, the London Branch Secretary, living at 52 Yeoman's Row, Chelsea, London, S.W.3, ran a splendid and most entertaining evening. Mrs Stirrat (nae Scotland) and I were there as invited guests. So also was the gallant soldier and former Q.V.S. Commandant, Colonel White, V.C., M.C., a very charming and likeable person. See Jimmy Grassick's notes. Pipe-Major Bob Hill, late of the Scots Guards and Tony Hill, played pipe selections during the evening much to the delight of all those present.

Mrs Stirrat and I were invited to Camberley, Surrey, by Colonel White and he very kindly took us round the National Army Museum at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Colonel White invited Brigadier Lunt, a former Headmaster of Q.V.S. around the early 1930's, to meet us. Incidentally, Brigadier Lunt's son is presently a Major General at N.A.T.O. H.Q. I Time marches on.

I met many old boys while in the south—Victor Fennessey, George Dowling, Donald McQueen, "Zep" Taylor, Pipie Robertson, Fred Archsr, Reg Ride, Frank Hetherington, McArthur, Carruthers and others too numerous to mention. And of course the inevitable Bill Hawkins, a former teacher at Q.V.S., and known to many old boys. That was a man that was!

Alastair Bulloch, Hon. Secretary of the Edinburgh Branch, 50 Northfield Broadway, Edinburgh, has submitted notes published with this issue. Please read them. There are some specific items of interest and matter.

We were pleased to receive a letter from D. Liddell (1135), Wharf Cottages, Wellington, Somerset. He informs us that Q.V.S. was a School to be proud of. And so say all of us I

As a matter of interest, I would like to say in passing, that I located and wrote to the Hon. Secretary of the old Royal Hibernian Military School, a sister school, which closed in 1924. He informs me