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Victoria College Revisited

(June 2001)

Main College Building

The College reception has moved from the main entrance to the room which was called "Tatam" (after the headmaster of that name). In my day, that was the prefects' common room, but now it is a busy hive of activity, with an industrious staff working amidst computers, printers, files, photcopy machines, and all the paraphernalia required for a modern office. Part of the older dividing walls have been removed and replaced with glass panels, so that it is an altogether lighter room.

The prefects no longer have their own common room; instead, there is a general common room. I was going to say 6th form, but the school form numbering has changed in accordance with general practice, so that while primary school still goes up to year six, secondary school no longer starts from year one again, but goes from years seven to twelve.

The main corridors have not changed, but here and there are paintings by pupils, and the whole effect is to provide more colour than was hitherto the case.

The library has been thoroughly updated and modernised, and extended into a new section of the college, while the overall effect, outside and in, blends neatly with the older architecture.

Library looking to Great Hall

Library extension

There is now a specific room given over to information techology, or rather, the newer term, information and communication technology (ICT), the extra phase indicating networking, both local and internet. Again, this is part of the newer building extension.

The great hall still radiates an air of past grandeur, with the distinguished portraits on the wall. At the time of my visit, it was being used for examinations, so, with all the chairs and desks present, probably looked akin to its early days, when it was a place for teaching rather than assemblies.

The great hall.

Dr. W. G. Henderson, first headmaster.

Howard Davis Hall

Retractable tiered seating, inside, Howard Davis Hall.

Further round, in the old Art Centre, is now the senior school common room. From the window can be seen wooden benches with seating, pleasantly softened with flowers and shrubs. This was provided by a legacy from the late Victoria Aubrey, a much loved teacher from Victoria College Prep.

Common Room

Victoria Aubrey's Picnic Area

There is now a canteen providing food around this area. (In my time, more formal meals - for those who wanted them - were provided at College House, which also took boarders, but now College House has closed, and the building redeveloped as part of the nearby Jersey College for Girls.)

(The Temple.)

The Temple is no longer the site of the College archives (which are held in the main school), but has become the headmaster's private offices.

Further round, the science block (The Princess Ann Science Wing) is much the same, and I was even able to meet my old physics teacher, Ed Le Quesne, which was a pleasant surprise. I forgot to ask him if he still brewed up coffee on bunsen burners on the last day of the Summer term!

An older, soon to be replaced, IT room is in part of the extension to the old Mummery building. The de Quetteville buildings have not changed overmuch, except in function.

The old pound building has long been demolished.

Lastly, I noticed that the swimming pool is now covered over, making it all all-weather pool, a far cry from the days when it was used exclusively in the Summer term, and then often by shivering, goose-pimpled boys.

It was pleasant to revisit the College buildings, and good to note that while retaining much that is good of the tradition of the College, the buildings and teachings have also moved to embrace the 21st century.

I am most grateful to Alan Hamel for providing me with the opportunity to iew the College once again.

A.M. Bellows

July 2001.