Our Monarch Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (our College Visitor) has once again graced us with her presence at Victoria College. It was both a privilege and a pleasure to be present on May 25th last with the Royal Standard broken from the top of the south-east tower, as the Queen, cool and comfortable in cornflower blue and white with a wide brimmed plain blue hat stepped from her car by Sir Galahad.
Greeted there by Connetable Mrs Iris Le Feuvre in her capacity as President of Education, the initial presentations were made: Deputy H.L. Dubras and Mrs Dubras, Jurat G.H. Hamon and Mrs Hamon, Miss I.C. Stevenson and the headmaster and Mrs Devenport.
Escorted by Martyn Devenport, Her Majesty and His Royal Highness Prince Philip moved slowly down the line of Jersey College for Girls and Mont Cantel pupils towards the privet hedge where a second group awaited their presentation.
The acting Vice-Principal John L. Le Breton and Mrs Le Breton, P.G.H. Baker and Mrs Baker, Miss Victoria Aubrey, proudly wearing her Jubilee Medal (who taught at Prep. 1926-?) and part time for many years after, and F.E. F. E. Lewis Esq., BEM, who came to college in 1942 were presented to Her Majesty by the headmaster.
Mr Lewis has looked after three headmasters and their Royal Visitors during his years as College Porter coupling that care with that of the gorgeous flower arrangements so apparent on this occasion.
A slight cause for bouquets to the Queen then the headmaster accompanied their Majesties to the dais erected outside the College main Portico to loud applause from the two thousand plus people present
After a brief introduction Mr Devenport then asked Michael Hedditch the Head of School to read and then present the Loyal address to the Queen on behalf of the whole College (whose address it was). Michael rose to the occasion magnificently, read the address faultlessly, ascended the dais, bowed then knelt before his Sovereign to hand over the red bound Vellum.
There followed the presentation by Her Majesty of her Gold Medals and History Prizes. The recipients were watched from close quarters by their very proud parents, in fact Mr and Mrs Chan had flown from
Hong Kong for just this. Keith Dixon received the Gold Medal for Science, Dominic Chan the Gold Medal for Mathematics, Philip Le Cornu the Queen's Senior History Prize and Marc Read the Junior award.
After the formal signing of the College Visitors book Her Majesty graciously commanded that an extra
days holiday be awarded to commemorate her visit. As the Queen walked slowly back to her car the deputy head of school Ben Robins called for three cheers which were duly given with acclamation.
HRH Prince Philip left the dais on the south side for an impromptu chat with Ben Robins who then escorted him along the line of Prep boys back to join the Queen.
Then suddenly 15 minutes after it had all begun it was over except to the final act of planting a tree by Connetable Mrs Le Feuvre now in her capacity as chairman of Governors. This will serve to remind the coming generation of Victorians of a great day. Now as the last remnants of programmes, paper cups,, coke tins, crisp packets and the like blow gently through the almost empty scaffolding stand; one reflects perhaps: was it all worth it? The answer is without doubt a resounding Yes. All present enjoyed it due in no small part to the tremendous amount of organisational work carried out by John Le Breton who bore the brunt of the onslaught on what normally would have been an ordinary school day.
Heartfelt congratulations John a splendid job well done. With no less feeling our grateful thanks also to Reginald Poingdestre the current Head Porter resplendent in his very smart uniform making sure everything was in the right place at the right time. His success in raising the standard after a number of snags was miraculous. Thank you Reg and your band of helpers. Your editor sitting in a position of some eminence with a 'gammy' leg was most conscious of the part played by all in the success of the afternoon not least the College teaching staff and prefectorial body. I am sure that future readers of the back numbers of the Victorian will wish to see that particularly.