Branksome Hall - Slogan Yearbook (Toronto, Ontario Canada)

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THE LORD PROVOST OF EDINBURGH Sir Andrew Murray

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THE BRANKSOME SLOGAN

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The Branksome Slogan 3 The Installation of Prefects On December the first, 1949, we were honoured with the presence of the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Sir Andrew Murray, at our annual instal- lation of prefects. This ceremony is of greatest importance because it does, in reality, lay the cornerstone of student conduct during the year. The new prefects are appointed by Miss Read, and are selected in their fifth form year, according to their qualifications of lead- ership, popularity and co-operative spirit. Early in the fall, the appoint- ments are announced to the school assembly, and the tasks of these girls begin immediately. They handle school activities capably and eflfici- ciently; they organize; societies and participate in the sports programmes, and they apply in their school life a practical form of modern democracy. This year at the formal ceremony, the prefects were installed in traditional fashion before a large audience of parents and friends. The sub-prefects and clan chieftains wore red bands; the prefects, the Dress Stewart kilts. These uniforms are the original clan tartans of Brank- some Castle in Scotland, and with the Hunting Stewart worn by the main student body, they add much to the Scottish atmosphere of our school. The procession passed through a guard of honour formed by officers of the fifth form, and mounted the platform. The eight clan chieftainis with their colourful Scottish banners formed the background of an im- pressive picture. Miss Read ' s introductory address was followed by the formal cere- mony of installing the new officers of the school. Each girl mounted the platform to be congratulated, and to be presented to Sir Andrew Murray. Then the prefects who were being retired presented the school flags to the new prefects, who were asked to maintain the standards of Branksome HaJl. The Head Girl pledged to make this the main object of the school year. Sir Andrew Murray, in his address, expressed great interest in our ceremony, and told us how glad he was to find a school in Canada with Scottish customs. He said that the close harmony between Canada and the Old Country was being maintained by the kind of tradition established in our school. He told us of the happy experiences he had had in our country, expressly pointing out Miss Read as a fine example of Canadian hospitality. It was Sir Andrew ' s first visit to a girls ' school, and he expressed his dehght in the opportunity to participate in one of the most interesting ceremonies of our school calendar. We were indeed fortunate in having such a distinguished guest as Sir Andrew Murray at our Installation, for not only did he impress us with his address, but won for himself a very special place in the heart of every Branksome girl.