ON the right-hand tower, as you look at it, a flag was being raised. The tower had been the focus of the crowds' attention for the last couple of minutes. The flag fluttered for a brief moment in the breeze, then vanished, apparently embarrassed by the unwarranted attention.
Reg probably meant it as a joke—the 'guests' were already a fashionable ten minutes late. Outside, however, the crowds were not amused; their eyes flashing at the tower lest the little boy cry "wolf" again? In another ten minutes, the flag was re-raised, this time rather more triumphantly. With barely any 'sshing' the crowds were brought to a tense silence.
The arrival of body-guards, police motorbike and, of course, regal Rolls Royce, however, did indeed bring a 'spontaneous' applause from everyone.
Dressed in blue and white, Her Majesty stepped out of the 'Roller' and, stopping briefly to have a chat with those teachers lucky enough to be at the front of the lawn, was escorted by Mr Devenport to the dais. The Prince Philip, the Bailiff and Mr Le Breton brought up the rear.
Unruffled, as usual, Head Boy Mike Hedditch began the proceedings by presenting the Loyal Address to the Queen from a book almost larger than himself! The fact that Victoria College had been built to commemorate the visit of Queen Victoria to Jersey seemed not to interest the cluster of babies behind whose mewling provided an interesting contrast with Mike's impeccably delivered address.
Having been presented with the address, the Queen was then invited to present her own awards, that is the Gold Medals for Science and Mathematics, and the Queen's senior and Junior History prizes.
First on the dais was 'Keithie' Dixon, receiving his Gold Medal for Science to the cheers of the 6th and 7th year contingent on the back row on the lawn. Dominic Chan, maths whizz-kid, followed Keith, closely photographed by his father. Indeed, Mr and Mrs Chan, having made the 16 hour flight to Jersey from Hong Kong seemed speechless throughout the Royal Visit, overcome, perhaps, with the honour of watching their own son receive his Gold Medal from the British Monarch and Leader of the Commonwealth.
Winner of the Senior History Prize, Philip Le Cornu, came next. Having proved his worth both on the field and as a witty and very popular vice-head boy, it only seems fitting that his career at college should be sealed with a prize from Her Majesty herself— demonstrating that he is equally happy armed with a history book as with a cricket bat!
Having scooped up most of the school prizes for the last five years, Marc Read proved a dab hand at collecting the Junior History prize from the Queen. When he had taken his place along with the other prize-winners on the VIP seats, Mr Devenport invited the present vice-head boy, Ben Robins, to raise the cheer for the Queen.
Looking rather like an actress who had forgotten her next cue, the Queen was invited to sign her name in the College's visitors' book. A brief walkabout, talking to Mr Rotherham and his scouts, and the Royal couple stepped back into the sedate Rolls Royce. cheered along by the Girls' College crowd outside Room 2.
The visit had not been long, but the atmosphere of the crowd had changed.
The tense excitement had gone, leaving everyone to chatter amongst themselves about the Queen's dress, Prince Philip's hair-cut or even, for some, the ITN news reporter!
Few people, I fear, noticed the presence of Douglas Hurd or the planting of a commemorative tree by the Chairman of Governors, Connetable 1. M. Le Feuvre. This is only to be expected. The brief contact with a representative of a thousand years of British heritage is one which all present are unlikely to forget.
JAMES GLEESON