Great Scot December 2019 Great Scot 158_December_ONLINE | Page 58

FOUNDATION
ARTHUR ATKINS DFC (’34,
LEFT) AND BILL MORGAN,
FRONT, INSPECTING
REPLACEMENT BOATS
IN 1935 AFTER THE 1934
FLOODS.
A SPECIAL
OCCASION,
AS BILL
MORGAN
TURNS 104
Scotch’s oldest living Old Boy, Bill Morgan
(‘34) visited Scotch on 16 October for a
chat during morning Assembly with School
Captain, Nick Marks. (See the Features
section of this issue.)
After a hearty round of applause and a
rousing rendition of the College Song at the
conclusion of the Assembly, it was upstairs to
the Longmore Room for Bill, accompanied by
his son John (’69), for the ceremonial cutting
of the cake ahead of Bill’s 104th birthday (23
October).
In honour of the occasion, Bill was joined
by three of Scotch’s other Top 25 Oldest Old
Boys: Arthur Atkins DFC (‘34), Ron Taft AM
(’36), Jim Keipert (’39), as well as Bill’s close
friend and fellow Kingston Heath member,
Alan MacQuarrie (’41). While he may no longer
actually wield his driver and putter, Bill still
goes regularly to the golf club on Monday
58
Great Scot Issue 158 – December 2019
TOP RIGHT: RON TAFT AM (’36), ARTHUR ATKINS DFC (’34), BILL MORGAN (’34), JIM KEIPERT (’39)
AND ALAN MACQUARRIE (‘41). ABOVE: CAKE CUTTING DUTIES FOR SCHOOL CAPTAIN NICK MARKS
(YEAR 12). BELOW: SCHOOL PRINCIPAL TOM BATTY WITH BILL MORGAN (’34)
mornings to join his mates for lunch, and then
watch them tee off.
Notably, Arthur Atkins brought with him
two photographs in mint condition from his
time at Scotch in the mid-1930s. One of the
photos shows both Arthur (far left) and Bill
(front left) inspecting replacement boats early
in 1935 after the famous floods of December
1934; while the other features Arthur, along
with Ron Syme (’36)†, both Cadet Corps
Corporals in the Signallers’ Platoon of 1934.
As a Cadet Corps Lieutenant, Bill was also
keenly involved in Cadets while at School.
Importantly, Arthur would later be awarded
a Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) in 1946
by the Governor-General, with the citation
reading, ‘Skill and fortitude in operations
against the enemy’.
This was, in every way, a very special
occasion, and the tributes quite rightly flowed,
initially from the Principal, ‘I reckon, that those
who’ve lived longest probably know most, and
it’s certainly true of Mr Morgan.’
But the final words and sentiments belong
to Bill. He said to the boys in Assembly:
‘May I say what a privilege it is to have been
welcomed this morning by the Principal,
and to share in your worship. To hear you
sing has just been inspiring. I hope you are
not only singing a tune, but that the words
meant something to you. It has been a
privilege, which for the rest of my days, I shall
remember with great joy.’
PATTY WALLACE-SMITH