Great Scot September 2019 Great Scot 157_September 2019_ONLINE | Page 86

OSCA
Heritage
BRUCE BROWN (‘60), OLD SCOTCH HERITAGE CLUB PRESIDENT (RIGHT) PRESENTS A E CLARK’S PRIZE
BOOK TO GEOFF LAURENSON, GEELONG GRAMMAR‘S ARCHIVIST. IN THE PAINTING BETWEEN THEM IS
MICHAEL COLLINS PERSSE, WHO TAUGHT AT GEELONG GRAMMAR FOR OVER 50 YEARS AND WAS THE
SCHOOL’S FIRST CURATOR (ARCHIVIST).
PRIZE BOOK
RETURNS TO
GEELONG
GRAMMAR
AFTER 118
YEARS
During an Old Scotch Heritage Club visit to Geelong Grammar School’s archives
In July, club President Bruce Brown (‘60), took the opportunity to return a prize
book to the school, awarded in 1901 to Geelong Grammar student, A E Clark.
The bookplate on the inside front of
the book is inscribed:
The Public Schools of Victoria
Church of England Grammar School
Geelong, Founded 1857
Awarded to A E Clark
Form Lower VI
Subject French
Presented by his Royal Highness
The Duke of Cornwall & York
Head Master L H Lindon
May 1901
The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and
York were in Australia at the time, during
which the Duke officially opened the first
Commonwealth Parliament in Melbourne’s
Royal Exhibition Building on 9 May 1901. The
Duke went on to be become King George V
in May 1910.
The winner of the book was the
grandfather of Helen Weymouth, wife of Keith
Weymouth (‘44). Keith, who was the first
Secretary of the Old Scotch Heritage Club,
84
Great Scot Number 157 – September 2019
came across the book when sorting out
family history in preparation for downsizing.
According to Keith, A E Clark became a
doctor and had an amazing collection of
books.
The Duke presented prizes to students
of other schools on that same day. The
Geelong Advertiser of 31 October 1900 had
reported that ‘an endeavour should be made
to induce the Duke and Duchess of York to
preside at the United “Speech Day” of the
[public] schools. Steps have already been
taken to secure their Royal Highnesses’
consent, about which little doubt is felt ...’
The Duke and Duchess duly gave their
consent, and the ‘United Speech Day’
took place on 12 May in the grand setting
of the Royal Exhibition Building, just three
days after the official opening of the first
Commonwealth Parliament. All five of the
(then) public schools were represented.
The Duke presented the academic prizes
and the Duchess presented the sports
prizes.
Scotch Principal Dr Alexander Morrison
had the honour of delivering the address of
thanks to the royal couple. He said: ‘To-day
... we welcome a Prince of the Royal House
who is also Heir to the Throne, and a much-
loved and gracious Princess, mother of our
kings-to-be. Every boy here will remember
this day as long as he lives.’
One of those boys was Great Scot
Assistant Editor, David Ashton’s (‘65)
maternal grandfather, John Adamson
(SC 1897-1900), who was Dux of Classics
at Scotch in 1900. For his achievement,
Adamson received from the Duke a prize
consisting of the 10-volume History of
England, by Oxford University historian,
Samuel R Gardiner. Volume one of
Adamson’s books, which now reside on
a bookshelf at David Ashton’s home, has
a similar bookplate to the one inscribed
for A E Clark.
GRAHAM STANLEY (‘60) – OLD SCOTCH
HERITAGE CLUB