Speech Day
Looking back to Tuesday, December 9th, 1952, what do I remember? Quite honestly, when I think back I can remember only a jumbled mass of events - the long rows of seats being filled in the space of thirty minutes, the worried looks on some unfortunates' faces, the well-scrubbed appearance of each girl and boy, the shining advertisement for starch which shirts and blouses presented, the draught coming up the stairs and through the doors into the hall, the panic before mounting the steps to the platform, the relief when, with certificate or prize, one walked away after descending the "horrors", the applause from the parents - bless them ! - the lovely singing, the speeches which few heard but everyone appeared to hear - loud voices and soft ones, the empty hall when all was over.
What preparation went into our first Speech Night at Hill Stores and how soon it was ended! All the work done by scholars summed up in an hour and the presenting of certificates the matter of two seconds, yet how one must work for them !
Professor Oliver had our thanks that night for being our speaker. I shall always remember him (though perhaps for more reasons than his speech in my case!). Mr. Higson, our new headmaster, gained our confidence that night as he spoke. We thought back to Mr. Parker's days with a little sadness but looked forward to working with our new leader. Mr. Lord and all the other people on the platform merited our thanks, too, for their help to us.
In the prize-giving section of the evening there was a spirit of friendliness and pride in the school around - especially when everyone joined in cheering one boy (I need not name him) for a most remarkable achievement in his work. That is what the school needs and is one of the reasons why the Speech Night went so smoothly.
As we left the hall that night did we think of the day that had just passed or did we think of that holiday which the Education Committee had granted us? Anyway, both have gone now and we are left to prepare ourselves for the next Speech Day.
Let us hope that it is as great a success as the first one was!
J. WILD, VI Lit.
Receiving a Prize at Speech Day
"Professor Oliver will now present the prizes . . ."
I felt nervous as I rose from my seat with the other prizewinners and stood in the long line behind James Slater who was first on the list. Two names were called hefore me, one boy and one girl, and then, it came :
"Norman Buckley - IB - form prize". My heart missed a beat !
I walked dazed towards the platform, up the steps to the professor, shook hands, and, deafened by clapping, staggered back to my place and sank into the chair, while I heard the clapping for the next prizewinner - as it seemed in the distance.
NORMAN BUCKLEY, 2B.