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WHEN Christopher Murray was first told that he was being sent to Queen Victoria School, he retreated sobbing to his bedroom convinced that his parents didn't want him any more. Now, with his first year at the Dunblane school almost over, 11 year-old Christopher reckons he is much older and wiser and that his parents' decision to board him at QVS was one of the best they had ever made! Christopher's father is in the Navy and the prospect of moving from post to post all over the world caused him and his wife grave concern about Christopher's education.
So, like so many other service couples before them, they applied for a place for their son at this boarding school for the sons of soldiers, sailors and airmen, in order that he could enjoy an uninterrupted education between the age of 10 and 18.
But the change from his life in Largs was a traumatic experience for young Christopher. "I really missed my mum and I used to cry every night at first when I went to bed. Some of the boys were crying and the second years used to come in after lights out and comfort us telling us not to worry and that we would grow to like it at the school."
A miniature replica of the sailor father Christopher is so fond of, the "rookie" was determined not to let his parents down.

Youngster with an aim in mind

There was so much to get used to and everything was so different from what I was used to at home. "At home I have my own room and suddenly I was sharing a dormitory with a dozen others", he said. I had also left all my best friends and I couldn't remember all the routines and rules we have in the week. Soon I realised that all the boys were feeling the same as me and that they were just as nice as the friends I'd left behind", he explained. "The masters were really nice too and the second years helped me find my way around and learn all the ways of the school." Wearing a uniform was another culture shock for Christopher. At his previous school in Largs they were allowed to wear anything "within reason" and suddenly he found himself in an environment where there was a particular set of clothing for different times of the day and activities.
"It was very confusing", he admitted. "I didn't even know how to put on my kilt."
But Christopher has grown to love the strange traditions of the school and the camaraderie of the pupils.
"I don't want to go back to a day school again", he said. I get to do more sport and different subjects here and they even make sure I do my homework so I must be getting a better education!"
Christopher has his sights set on becoming a lawyer when he completes his education but at the moment he is actively pursuing a career as a piper.
"My Dad really wants me to learn to play the bagpipes", he said, so I'm trying really hard to be good at it. I'm fourth best in my class at the moment and will be good enough to go on to play tunes soon."

Let off steam
at sport

THIRTEEN year old Paul Taylor is just one of Queen Victoria School's sports fanatics who can't wait for the arrival of a new sports hall. And with the end of term drawing near, Paul is concentrating all his efforts to promote the school's appeal for the project. A keen all-rounder, Paul is emphatic in his opinion that the proposed new facilities will provide a tremendous boost to the school. While promoting more indoor sports, Paul's first love is cross country and this year was placed sixth in the Scottish schools championships.
"We need a new hall", he said. 'The existing one is tiny and far too small to play proper indoor sports without falling over each other." "Playing sport is a great way to let off steam and good for taking your mind off any problems or worries", he added. "I've put a lot of things to right on the football field by taking out my tension on the ball." With a father currently serving in the British Forces, Paul too faced a life of educational upheaval until he came to Queen Victoria School. And he is delighted that his great love of sport has been encouraged by the staff there. Keen to become an architect, Paul does not shy from his studies, but the lure of the sports field is enough to occupy most of his free time. "I started doing cross country running in P7 and I've become really involved in it now", he said. "We do a lot of training up the hills behind the school, which is pretty tough going and I compete in a race usually every weekend."
Paul is keen to do well for the school because he feels that it is doing its best for him. "It's the best school in Scotland", he said. "I'm proud to wear the QVS uniform and let everyone know I'm part of the school."

Drumming for the Tattoo
QUEEN Victoria School has the honour of being represented by its pipers, drummers and Highland dancers at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo 1990 for only the third time in the school's history.
And that is good news for enthusiastic SI pupil Murray McDonald from Perth who wouldn't have missed the event for anything!
Playing the tenor drum like a natural is just one of Murray's many academic and musical skills - skills that staff at the Dunblane school have been quick to recognise and encourage.
But while Murray can forget about studying to keep his position at the top of the class for Maths and Science, he will be devoting most of his summer break to "brushing up" his drumming.
"All the pipes and drums and the dancers have to report back to school in the middle of the holidays", he explained, "but no one seems to mind."
The pipes and drums are especially seen by the public at rugby internationals at Murrayfield but Murray is glad his talents are about to be displayed before a larger and more cosmopolitan audience! Like most senior first years, Murray has very fixed opinions about life at Queen Victoria School - plenty to rave about and plenty to moan about too!
"I would never swap my life here for going back to a normal secondary", he said, "We complain about things like the food and how early we have to go to bed but on the whole life here is terrific"
So what is the main ingredient in a 12-year olds’ life at Queen Victoria School? "Definitely Neighbours", laughed Murray. "Our year just go bananas
over the programme. There is absolute silence in the school between 5.35 pm. and 6 pm. every evening as we all sit glued to the television. It's a real cult."

Helping to run the school's
day-to-day affairs

By James Scott
"I joined Queen Victoria School in 1982, as a wide-eyed, befreckled, 9-year-old boy. I was, at the time, the youngest (and one of the smallest) boys in the school. I am now in my eighth and final year and have become a Monitor, one of the three boys responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. Outwardly the school's appearance has changed considerably during my eight years with a multitude of temporary buildings (Portakabins) springing up around the school. The science laboratories have been modernised, a computer classroom introduced and a new craft and design department installed. A full-sized music department and practise rooms, along with an electronics laboratory have been erected in order to allow boys to take Certificate courses in these (subjects, and a common room for fourth year boys has been constructed behind the main building. The Haig fourth form dormitories have been completely refurbished with bed / study units which offer a boy a bed, desk, two lockers and a degree of privacy which couldn't exist in the old bed / locker / bed / locker layout.
A reception area has replaced the covered way where as younger boys we used to play hockey and the Main Building has been completely rewired and plumbed although the hot"? water for the showers is still as irregular and erratic as ever.
The working uniform of the school has been modified considerably. During my first year at the school, knee-length corduroy shorts and corduroy blues jackets were standard for all boys up to and including third year.
These jackets have now been replaced with blue navy style pullovers which, ironically enough, was the uniform before the jackets were introduced! The shorts have been replaced with green barrack-dress trousers

although Wavell House (P6 and P7 boys) still wear them - a constant source of complaint during the winter!
The traditional brogue shoes have been replaced in every day wear with nearly indestructible DMS shoes which can take an incredible amount of wear and tear and lack of polish! Perhaps the greatest change that has occurred is the lifestyle of the boys, although much remains unaltered.
New boys to the school (Rookies) are still looked after by a P7 who has spent a year "learning the ropes" and they still live in dormitories of 16 boys supervised by a Dorm Leader who is responsible for maintaining law and order.
However, the single beds have been replaced with space-saving bunks, the grey, Army issue blankets have been replaced with quilts and the once bare walls are now adorned with posters.
The senior house, Haig, containing fourth, fifth and sixth years, now experiences a degree of freedom not even dreamed of only eight years ago!
Discos are held in the theatre and Pass is available to places other than Dunblane in civilian dress. There are now far more opportunities for extra-curricular and out of school activities. The last major difference in the school is discipline. Corporal punishment was discounted in 1986 - the soft shoe, belt and dreaded cane have been superceded with detentions, 15 minute reports and the equally dreaded full gatings".
Although much has changed, much more remains unaltered. The primary boys still play the same games as I did in Wavell Wood, the 1st XV rugby team is still haunted by a lack of success and the Monitors are still as unpopular as ever they were! The school is moving with the times, "growing up" just like the boys who attend it.


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