The End Of An Era
As the upper sixth leave this summer, so do the people who came from those two schools. No one will, be able to remember what it was like to attend a school where everyone knew everyone else.
The advantage and great opportunities offered in this large school, especially for the sixth form, are greatly appreciated. Nevertheless it seems a fitting time to take one last, nostalgic look at the old Collegiate Girls’ School which had many traditions and made everyone proud to belong there.
I remember my first year at the Collegiate quite clearly, as I imagine many other girls do. Especially I remember the first day, wa1king up those forbidding steps to the main entrance into a new world full of new people, meeting my form teacher and adjusting to a new way of life. I recall that one of the first problems to overcome was finding my way about and remembering everyone’s name.
Many other happy memories spring to my mind when thinking of my first year the pleasant summer walks through Stanley Park invading the playground and the paddling pool, the thrill of signing my name in the "Golden Book" for doing good work, and the enjoyment of going into the biology lab at dinner times to play with the animals of which everyone became fond.
The presence of the sixth form in the school made a great difference to the discipline within the school. They were not to be annoyed, for as prefects they could give punishments One of their favourites was making you wear your hat in assembly if you had been caught not wearing it outside. The last-day assemblies will bring back several memories to the girls who used to attend the school. There were the leavers, obviously looking forward to their new lives but sorry to say goodbye to a school where they had been happy. These were moving occasions, and we were all proud to sing the school hymn, "Lift up your hearts". I wonder how many can remember the words, If they are at all like me, then I expect they all can.
I often wonder what many of the teachers who left the Collegiate in the year we moved are doing now: Mr. Firman, Mr Sheffield and Mr. Lonergan, to name a few. I know I shall always remember them for their friendliness and consideration for our welfare. I also wonder if the teachers still here think about the old school and if they ever miss it.
When that happy year finally came to an end I do not think anyone in the first year felt happy at leaving Co1legiate, nor did anyone in the rest of the school. So the new Collegiate began and the old one dies a little more as we ‘Old Girls’ leave in pursuit of all our chosen careers, but I do not think it will ever be forgotten.
Susan Wrignt 1970 School Magazine
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