Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

Page 24 text:

14 The Branksome Slogan enjoyed by the spectators and showed a great deal of practice on the part of the girls. In addition to our athletic aspirations, each form presented a play. Fourth form opened the series with IVA enacting a satire on Julius Caesar ' ' entitled ' ' God Caesar , and IVB by presenting a Mock Trial. In a joint effort, the fifth formis presented Lena Rivers , a comedy- drama which Mary Louise Edmonds completely directed, produced and acted in the title role. (A Laurence Olivier in our midst!) IIIA donned their best Irish brogues to present Spreading the News while IIIB had everyone rolling in the aisles with A Little Cuckoo . II A tried a new idea and held a Noihsaf Wohs ( Fashion Show spelled backwards) at the height of which Miss Read brought down the house when she appeared dressed as the typical school Marm of fifty years ago. IIB used an all negro cast to present Culcha . Both the second forms are to be commended on their original announcements which kept us in suspense until the curtains were pulled. Teen-age problems were aired by lA in their play For Whom the Telephone Rings ; and Nobody Home was presented by IB who gave an execellent performance. The Special and Commercial forms plan to enact Getting Pin in the spring term and everyone is looking forward to it immensely. Third, fourth and fifth form girls participated in plays, musical and educational programmes over the B.B.C. (Branksome Broadcasting Corporation) under the capable direction of Miss MacNeill. Jane Capon, Anne Blackwell and Diane Johnson sponsored a drive for the Community Chest during the fall term, and there was scarcely a member of the school who was not sporting a red feather on her blouse. Although a slight matter of exams must be attended to in the near future, everyone is looking forward to the Strawberry Festival, the Graduation Dance and the Prize-giving. Looking back on this year we can see that it has been filled to the brim with fun and interest and we think all will agree that it has been a wonderful year. KINGS OF NIGHT CLOUDS Hawks call Unto the night Like ghosts they skin the trees And prey on those ' below for food Of life. Like ships They sail the sky, Their hazy outlines blurr ' d And changing with each breeze to form More dreams. ANN SUTHERLAND. ANNE SMYTH.

Page 23 text:

fHE Branksome Slogan 13 Form Forum ' Then the schoolboy With shining morning face, creeping Like a snail, unwillingly to school. — Shakespeare. We hesitate to say anything about the scholastic year, but in all other respects the year 1948-49 has been a great success. The autumn classes were temporarily interrupted by the picnics at Clansdale Heights foi each form. The winter picnics were a little harder to arrange ' ' due to circumstances beyond, our control , the erratic weather. However, no form was left out and we all enjoyed skiing and tobogganing on the snowy slopes. HB captured the basketball cup, after a hard-fought battle with HIA. All the forms took an active part in clan competition . . . volley- ball, badminton, swimming, bowling and basketball. Some of the more energetic members assisted by Miss Bertram ' s competent instruction presented an apparatus and tumbling display which was thoroughly CLASS PRESIDENTS Left to Right, Front Row — Mary Caven, Muriel Ferguson, Pamela Wilson, Pat McClocklin, Marilyn McClelland, Margaret Ritchie, Betty Wilkinson. Back Row — Janet Howard, Mary Dorner, Anne Elderkin, Joan Smith, Nancy Patten, Peggy Porter.

Page 25 text:

The Branksome Slogan 15 Branxholm Castle, Scotland Lying between the fells of Teviotdale and Liddesdale in the Border- land of Scotland, is the old Castle of Branxholm. Doubly celebrated as the ancient home of the Scotts of Buccleuch, and as the scene of Sir Walter Scott ' s Lay of the Last Minstrel, it stands on a gentle eminence in full command of the approaches above and below. There, the lords of Branxholm maintained their large companies of retainers in the days of Border strife. Little remains of the fifteenth century stronghold for the castle was burned in 1532 by the Earl of Northumberland, and later in 1570 it was blown up with gunpowder by the Earl of Essex, but not before Scott himself, in anticipation of the vengeance of the English, partly destroyed it. The rebuilding was begun almost immediately by Sir Walter Scott and completed by his wife Margaret Douglas in 1574. On the twenty-fourth of June 1948, I set out to visit this old peel tower which bears the .same name as our school. As I entered the drive- way, I met a gardener whom I asked if I might be permitted to look around. He smilingly pointed out to me a lady gardening on the other side of the lawn and said, ' That ' s Her Grace. Tell her your story, she ' ll be very pleased to see you. The Dowager Duchess of Buccleuch, Chatelaine of Branxholm, received me graciously. I was invited into the old flag-stoned entrance hall with its armour and family portraits, and there Her Grace