With special
thanks to ANGELA PERKINS (nee WILKINSON) 1959-64
CHRIS WADE 1970-77 for the music file
Click here to read SHEET MUSIC - be patient for 2 to 3 minutes!!
The
Oak, the Ash, the bonny Ivy tree
Are
known in story, famed in song ;
But
we who know thee, certain are
That,
search the woodland near or far,
Ye
ne'er will find, tho' seek ye long,
A
bush so worthy song or eulogy
As
Centre's Holly - ever green.
Semper
discamus ............................... Ever let us learn
Ut
doceamus ....................................... So that we
may teach
Nil
nisi verum, nil nisi verum. ........... Nothing save the truth
Sive
docemur, ..................................... Pupil or
Sive
docemus, .................................... Teacher
Vitam
degamus ................................... Let us live our
lives
Ut
maneamus ...................................... That we may
remain
Omnes
amici, omnes amici ! .............. In friendship together
No
stately mansion holds thee 'neath her tow'rs' ;
No
flow'rs for thee their fragrance shed
Nor
birds exchant
with minstrelsy
;
No
silvern stream encircles thee,
No
trees their shady verdure spread ;
But
we who know thee, love thee, School of ours,
And
know thee worthy all we give.
By
thee we first were gently taught to heed
The
quiet voice the Muses use
To
those who search in questing Youth,
For
Beauty, Knowledge and for Truth.
Thy
place in Mem'ry ne'er shalt lose :
Thy
inspiration evermore shall lead
To
noble labours, nobly done.
In
College, Hall and - maybe - 'Varsity,
In
stranger, wider circumstance ;
When,
too, we teach in after years,
We'll
find thro' all our hopes and fears
The
name of Centre there, perchance -
As
one may find empress'd in Memory,
A
Holly Leaf - an ever-green.
The
following verse was originally verse 3 but because of references to
High
Storrs playing fields and the SPTC uniform and badge it was altered
but
later appears to have been dropped during the City Grammar era.
-------------
Alan Lomax
ORIGINAL VERSION :-
We
grow to know thee in that first long year,
When
all thy rules in turn we break ;
But
when are gone our tiny woes,
In
Games - as every student knows -
At
High Storrs Field a pride we take ;
We
proudly wear grey overalls, and fear
The
day we doff our lion badge.
ALTERED VERSION :-
We
grow to know thee in that first long year,
When
all thy rules in turn we break ;
But
when are gone our tiny woes,
In
"Houses" then our interest grows :
In
games a fierce delight we take ;
For
"House" and School we grimly persevere
To
win a shield - and play the game.
Further slight alterations have appeared over the years :-
exchant :- has become "enchant"
minstrelsy :- has become "ministry"
maybe
- 'Varsity, :- has become "University"