To many generations of staff, parents, pupils, local government officers and some employers, Drayton Manor and Marjorie Scott were almost synonomous. Joining the school as Secretary when it opened in November 1930, Miss Scott controlled the school office, dealing with every aspect of school administration, throughout the ensuing forty three years. When she retired in December 1973 her remarkable record and the last remaining link with the earliest days of the school were alike broken.

Before the Second World War the work of a school secretary was in several respects different from that undertaken today. The school was smaller, administration less onerous, the telephone less demanding, the correspondence lighter, except when the occasional teaching staff vacancy occurred bringing two hundred applications for the one post! Former pupils from those years may recall Miss Scott playing the piano in Assembly or helping with the marking of Arithmetic papers! The war, the 1944 Act, the growth of the School brought that epoch to an end. Administering a school office became more than a full time job, as was recognised with the appointment of an Assistant.

Outside the teaching profession few can fully appreciate the enormous range of the financial, administrative, secretarial and 'public relations' duties now involved in a school secretary's work. In Miss Scott's case, what distinguished her long tenure of the post was not just her impeccable efficiency, great though that was; not merely her willingness to work exceptionally long hours, invaluable though that was too; perhaps most of all it was her total involvement in every aspect of school administration, beyond what could normally or reasonably be expected. Four Headmasters, four Deputy Heads and countless members of staff appreciated and directly relied on her knowledge of the school, of its former pupils and of all administrative procedures; 5000 pupils and their parents benefited indirectly. Drayton Manor has been fortunate for many years in retaining the services of several of its staff for longer periods than are now customary. Employers in other professions and in industry too, have occasion to recognise long and outstanding service by employees. Comparisons are impossible as well as invidious, but the fact remains that forty three years as School Secretary is, to say the least, a remarkable and unusual achievement, a record that is unlikely to be equalled here or in any other school in future years.

I am sure that present and former staff, pupils, parents and friends would wish to join me in recognising Miss Scott's service, in thanking her for her work and in wishing her a long and happy retirement.

C.J.E.