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As His Eminence Cardinal Godfrey, Archbishop of Westminster, had been called to Rome for a special Preparatory Commission for the Second Vatican Council, the officiant for the Blessing was Rt. Rev. David Cashman, Bishop of Caetano. The deacon and sub-deacon were Frs. Matthew SDS. and Eric SDS. Rt. Rev. Mgr. Canon Fairhall and Canon Rivers assisted His Lordship. Also present were the Very Rev. Fr. Anthony SDS. Provincial; Canon Parsons, Canon George, Mgr. Sutton; Fr. Clement SDS., Sindlesham; Fr. Andrew SDS., Abbots Langley; Fr. Xavier SDS., Chester; Frs. Alban, Alphonsus, Anselm, Gerard, Martin, Louis, Leo Stephen, Ignatius, Brendan, Aelred, Aloysius SDS. and many of the local clergy. In the procession from the school Library to the Church, the following lay dignitaries followed the choir: the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Harrow; Aldermen Barrow; McRae; Mrs. Nott-Cock; Councillors Mason and Mrs. Mason; Maun and Mrs. Maun; Hart and Miss Moore; Harrison; Jenkins; O'Loughlin; Fairley. Mr. and Mrs. J. King; Mr. and Mrs. B. C. A. Turner; Mr. and Mrs. Berriman, Dr. and Mrs. O'Sullivan. The Sisters present represented the following Convents; Rosary Priory; Harrow-on-the-Hill; Botwell House; Hanwell; Kilburn; Oxhey Lane; Salvatorians; Abbots Langley; Our Lady of the Missions; Wealdstone. The Architect, Mr. J. A. Strubbe, FRIBA. and Mrs. Strubbe and Mr. Pringle, Director of Messrs. G. Wallis the chief Contractors were also present.
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The Blessing opened with the "Veni Creator" and the introductory prayers in the Church. These were relayed to the parents, Heads of Schools and other guests already assembled in the Hall. The procession reformed and progressed through the guard of honour formed by boys of the school, to the eastern outer wall of the school, where the exterior of the school was initially blessed. The chief civic guests were detached from the party and conducted by Fr. Brendan to the places reserved for them in the Hall. Fr. Stephen accompanied the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress, and Mr. D. Freeman, President of the Old Boys Association, in the procession behind the Bishop, for the rest of the exterior Blessing. On reaching the entrance to the Hall, the choir remained in the rear of the Hall while the procession of Clergy with the Bishop began the Blessing and Incensing of the Hall. The Crucifix was Blessed and officially positioned by His Lordship and the procession then left for unvesting. While the unvesting was taking place, the special guests were led to their places on the stage.
On the return of His Lordship, the audience stood for the singing of the Salve Regina, which has been the school hymn for many years. On the stage were - His Lordship, Bishop Cashman; the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress; V. Rev. Fr. Anthony; Mgr. Fairhall; Canon Rivers; V. Rev. Fr. Alban; V. Rev. Fr. Alphonsus; Mr. Strubbe. FRIBA; Mr. Pringle; Mr. W. H. J. Knight, M.A., Borough Education Officer; the Headmaster and Staff. The Headmaster opened the proceedings by tracing the history of the school from its foundations to the present extensive changes, paying tribute to the Headmasters and Staff who laboured through the years, and thanking in particular Canon Rivers, Financial Secretary of the Archdiocese, and the Borough Education Officer.
His Lordship, Bishop Cashman, remarked that an opening always had about it some element of surprise and many who had seen the buildings for the first time had indeed been agreeably surprised. He paid tribute to the Headmasters, parents and friends who had made the day possible, with a special note of thanks to the Chief Education Officer for Middlesex - Dr. C. E. Gurr. This good gentleman had the burden of the almost interminable negotiations which of necessity precede the erection of schools and in particular, the assessment for the granting of Voluntary Aided status. The Deputy Mayor, while thanking the school for the invitation to be present, said that the Headmaster had hoped that someone who had a spare £50,000 would be a very welcome guest of the Chairman of the Governing Body. He had not the £50,000 but brought with him the felicitations of the Borough and the affection in which the school and parish were held.
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V. Rev. Fr. Anthony SDS., Chairman of the Board of Governors, thanked the Bishop and Deputy Mayor for their attendance; the Architect for his patience in planning and the perfection of the result; the Education Authorities for their co-operation in the matter of Voluntary Aid and the Headmasters who had given such loyal service to the school. The debt was indeed enormous; we had hoped for a 75% grant; we should have been happy with a 55% grant, but we looked for the day when a 100% grant would be the normal agreement between the Education Authorities and Catholic schools.
Mr. D. Freeman, President of the O.S.A., replied on behalf of the guests. He said that it was his experience that by the time the last speaker had risen 75% of the audience had fallen asleep; the other 25% wish they could fall asleep. That had not been the case today--everyone seemed wide awake and conscious of the importance of the occasion. He pledged the gratitude of the guests and friends who had come to help launch this ship of study on a calm sea.
After the speeches, the Guests were provided with a fine tea prepared by Supervisors of the School Meals Service - Mrs. Pantling, Mrs. Colley and Mrs. Dawson. All were much impressed, not only by the efficient way in which this was done but by the variety and preparation of the cakes and food set before them. During the day Fr. Ignatius was busy making a cine-recording of the ceremonies and processions. The sound relay arrangements were made and installed by Mr. O'Connell, Physics master at the school. Mr. Corner and members of the O.S.A. were busy in the Hall; Mr. Grey and Mr. Hartin took care of the boys in the guard of honour; members of the F.S.C., were on duty along the processional route; Dr. Lewis, Mr. Baring-Gould and Mr. Crawford, shepherded the guests; Frs. Louis, Stephen and Aelred were in charge of arrangements in the church; the choir was under the care of Fr. Aloysius; organist was Mrs. Bauers.
The Master of Ceremonies was Rev. Fr. Martin SDS.
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