MORE CELEBRATIONS

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 190, 8 May 1940, Page 4

MORE CELEBRATIONS

"Back To School" Day At Queen Margaret's

•The twenty-first birthday celebrations at Queen Margaret’s College, Wellington, continued on Monday with a ‘-back to school” day, when the school was crowded jvith more than 300 guests. In the afternoon the old girls took part in basketball matches between Imuses—returning to those they had belonged to in schooldays for the occasion. Girls from the present fourth forms and up swelled their numbers for the matches and took part in the day’s programme. In spite of the bitter weather there was a large attendance at the matches, the spectators entering into the spirit of the games with the enthusiasm of their early youth.

Ping pong was held indoors, while the basketball was in progress, and after this was over those in the various houses arranged an entertainment of plays, burlesques and charades, which was thoroughly enjoyed by spectators and players alike. At 6 o’clock a buffet tea was served, and time was spent inspecting familiar haunts. A popular room was the one which was turned into a “treasure house,” containing photographs recording events and personalities connected with the school from its earliest days, and other exhibits which recalled happy memories. Other rooms contained, art, handicraft, and sewing displays, the articles having been made by present-day girls.

After tea Miss Hirst led a community sing, the songs being a collection of old school favourites of the past 21 years which Miss Hirst had collected and compiled into booklet form for the occasion. As the guests were too many to accommodate in one space at a time, amplifiers were used to relay the singing and other events to other rooms from the hall. While the singing was in progress, however, many of the guests saw a screening upstairs of a review of important days in the school’s history. Everyone joined in reminiscence time, when Miss D. Kersley, president of the Old Girls’ Association, was in the chair. Miss I. AVilson, the present principal, opened this entertaining period with a few welcoming remarks and the stories which followed occupied more than 24 hours. They wore all in a happy and humorous vein, and appropriately, Mrs. Ulrich, a former headmistress, and Miss M. Clachan, a pre-sent-day teacher who has been with the school for many years, added their reminiscences to those of the okl girls. Letters were included, there being one from Dr. Helena Gibbs, now at Leeds University, England, and another from Miss Beatrice Hutchinson. Others who spoke were Dr. Jessie Burnett (Jessie Alexander), Airs. Marion Ackroyd (Al. McCaw), Aliss Betty Afenard, Aliss Lottie Clift, Miss Kersley, Mrs. Joan Rawson (J. A'eitch), Miss Phillis Dawson, Mrs. Julie de AVoolf (J. Maris), Mrs. Jean Hay (J. AlcLay), Aliss Alarguerite Thompson, Airs. Joan AlacArthur (J. Smith), Airs. Mary Matthews (M. Brodie), Miss Stewart Hamilton, Miss Valerie Norman, Miss Alary Gladden, Airs. Helen Tremewan (11. AViddop), Aliss Hesta Nicholls, Miss Ewen Lewis, Aliss Ann Eichelbaum, Miss Margaret. Martin, and Aliss Valeria Aladdeu, Aliss Florence Davies. The evening concluded with the school song, and three cheers for the school, for Mrs. Ulrich, and for Miss AVilson. Supper was served before the guests left.