Opening of Memorial Hall - 27 February 1957
Soon after news was received of the first war casualties, the idea of a memorial to them was raised. In 1943 the War Memorial Fund was launched by the Old Boys. At that stage the Headmaster stated " The age of a stone memorial is past" and that more fitting would be a Memorial Hall. The Queen's Hall was too small for such a large school, and what was needed was a hall which could accommodate the boys and their parents.
At the following gathering of Old Boys this concept was accepted and appeals for donationswere sent to Old Boys, parents and the public of Queenstown.
It was difficult to estimate what the cost would be, and it was uncertain what the contribution by the Department of Education would be and also when they would be in a financial position to provide their share. At first it was thought that it would be sufficient if the school raised 7500 Pounds, but a year later this was raised to 10000 pounds.
The money came from many sources. There were individual contributions and donations by business firms. There were concerts and other fund raising efforts. But the largest sums were raised by the Ladies' Committee which had on it the wives of Old Boys' staff and parents.
Now followed a period of waiting. Building operations were delayed because of a lack of funds by the Provincial Administrator. In 1952 a deputation went to Cape Town to interview the Administrator, but it was only in 1954 that a sum of 10000 pounds was allocated towards the cost of the building. This was far less than anticipated and the plans had to be revised. The original plan provided for a hall and a gymnasium but this was no longer possible.
Building opertaions did not start until May 1955 and the hall was completed early in 1957. In the meantime more money was raised for stage curtains and padded chairs. 3 pounds 10 bought a chair and a small plate with the donor's name fixed to it. The final cost of everything was bout 25000 pounds, a tremendous sum for those days.
The Memorial Hall was opened on 27 February 1957 in the prescence of a large gathering of Old Boys and parents who came from all corners of South Africa. The ceremony of unlocking the doors was performed by Commandant W.E. Bowden, M.C., a distinguished Old Queenian and former Master at the school. Sentries were immediately posted on each side of the draped memorial tablets in the foyer of the Hall.
Mr R.A. Knight, mother of two sons lost in the war, then entered the foyer, pulled the tape, and the flags fell from the tablets to reveal 105 names of Old Queenians, simply engraved on white marble. The Cadet Band played the General Salute. The President of the Old Boys' Association read the Roll of Honour. The Last Post and Reveille sounded as the National Flags were lowered and raised.
The Cadets then led those present into the Hall where the second half of the ceremony took place in the form of addresses by the Headmaster, Commandant Bowden and others.
This Commemoration Service has been carried out every year since on the Sunday of our Reunion weekend.
