Old Boys’ Notes

CENTRAL BRANCH
Three weeks hence it will be 60 years since the first boy entered Q.V.S. That boy, now very much a man, is Wing Commander Andrew Swan, M.B.E., late Royal Australian Air Force. I understand he is still in Australia and I hope, enjoying excellent health. Q.V.S. No. 1, "Andy" Swan, came from the Duke of York's Royal Military School on transfer. At the same time Bill Gibbon also came from that school, whilst Bill Crichton and James Henderson came from the Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin. This last named school ceased to function, as such, in 1924. Those boys who wished, were transferred to the Duke of York's R.M. School, Dover, to continue their education.
At King George V's coronation in London, in July 1911, 25 boys from each military school, marched in procession, headed by a small Pipe Band from Q.V.S., from Old Scotland Yard Police Barracks, to a point opposite Buckingham Palace. Drum Major James Cooper (49) headed the contingent.
It was, I believe, Shakespeare who wrote, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them". I know of no Old Victorian who enjoys inclusion in the first and third categories, but some have achieved a measure, not of greatness but certainly of success. There are now among the ranks of Old Victorians, Brigadiers, Colonels, Lt. Colonels, Majors and Captains, and Subalterns galore. I know of one Old Boy who gained the D.S.O., D.F.C., A.F.C. and Air Efficiency Medal in the Second World War. Many boys now leave Q.V.S. and go to Sandhurst, Cranwell and Welbeck Colleges. Many are now entering Universities.
So much for all that, but what about those of them who owe their start in life to Q.V.S. and now never visit their alma mater? These are the boys we wish to see from time to time.
Bert Harrison (67) is the shepherd of the "First Hundred". He was responsible for getting together a considerable number of Old Boys who made up those known in that category. The occasion was the School Jubilee in July 1958. Bert undertook a long, arduous and difficult task. He wrote a considerable number of letters to achieve this. Moreover, he eventually achieved recognition by the National Press in this endeavour. He compiled a large album of Press Cuttings, Photographs and Reports of his tremendous undertaking. This album he is presenting to the School to perpetuate the memory of the boys who passed through the School in its early days. We are most grateful for this magnificent gesture.
James Cooper, M.M., (49) is coming to stay with me during Grand Day week. He and his charming wife. Nan, are coming from Westcliffe-on-Sea, Essex, for the occasion.

 Jimmy was first Drum Major from 1909-1912. He served in the Royal Fusiliers during the 1914-18 War and gained the Military Medal for bravery. It was an immediate award by General Sir Henry Rawlinson.
The Central Branch had its first Annual Dinner in the Westlands Hotel, Dunblane, on 22nd March, 1969, Peter Taylor taking the Chair. Major General F. C. C. Graham, a School Commissioner, was our principal guest. We also had the pleasure of the company of Brigadier and Mrs Hope-Thomson, Lieut. Colonel and Mrs Harrison, Major Kislingbury, the Rev. and Mrs Ritchie, S.S.M. and Mrs Deeley, Pipe Major and Mrs McKenzie, and C.S.M. and Mrs Mortimer. In all, 60 sat down to Dinner. There followed toasts and speeches. After this the company got together in an amicable manner; and there was the usual handshaking and reminiscent stories. Thank you Glasgow and Edinburgh for attending in numbers. The following day, Sunday, Church Parade was followed by a March Past. The salute was taken by Keith Douglas, Flying Officer R.A.F., stationed at Waddington, Lincolnshire. In the afternoon, the Pipes and Drums Beat Retreat. So ended a very happy week-end. Pity so few responded to what would have been a great pleasure for so many.
I would like to express my sincere thanks to those Old Victorians who travelled so far, namely, Andrew Doig from Tunbridge Wells, the Quinn brothers and Alan Coid from Essex, David Liddel from Somerset, Keith Douglas from Lincolnshire, the Smith brothers from Inverness, Bill McArthur from Ross-shire and William Kerr from Germany. We hope to continue with another function in 1970, on a much larger scale. Please take note.
The following corresponded with me about their being unable to attend and I am grateful for their interest:—James Black of Haddington, Major Peter Pirie of Dover, George Ferrier of Forfar, J. Anderson of Perth, Robert Gill from Chepstow, Major Hamish Tomney from Bridge of Allan, Gordon Gilmour of Glasgow, David Johnstone from Gibraltar, Major Charles Vass from Inverness, "Eckie" Brett from Burnt Island, and Prison Governor L. V. Dewar of Dorset. Thank you one and all. Needless to say I had a long letter from Jim Grassick, Hon. Secretary of the London Branch. He and his wife have had a long spell of ill-health but he is a real enthusiast.
During my time in the Police Training College we used to preach "The idle chatter of the ill-informed is a powerful irritant". I was responsible for a story getting around that Major Peter Pirie, late R.A.E.C., had died. I refute this monstrous canard! All this arose through a mis-interpreted telephone message. I wrote to Mrs Pirie—who does not exist—Peter is a bachelor—expressing my sorrow at the loss of her husband. Lo and behold I had a hasty reply from Peter referring to himself as a "ghost writer" and that