More than 4,000 persons were in attendance at the historic instalment of Princess Alice as Chancellor of the University College of the West Indies. The Princess was very convincing in her oath as she pledged to loyally and "faithfully uphold and maintain the privileges and rights of the University College".

Published Friday, February 17, 1950

PAGEANTRY MARKS MEMORABLE DAY

-CROWD OF 4,000 LOOK ON

- Princess Alice installed with pomp and ceremony

BY Royal Charter granted by His Majesty the King, George the Sixth, Her Royal Highness, Alice Princess of Great Britain, Countess of Athlone, was installed Chancellor of the University College of the West Indies yesterday afternoon at Mona, St Andrew.

The Princess recited the Oath of Office before an estimated four thousand persons. Couched in magnificent language, the oath promised “in all times and seasons to loyally and faithfully uphold and maintain” the University College.

Chancellors, vice-chancellors and representatives of universities from four continents, colonial governors, dignitaries of Church and State from Jamaica and other lands were among the company which witnessed the ceremony.

Full of history-making consequences and rich in academic traditions, the ceremony, which dates back to mediaeval times, was solemnly impressive.

Present on the pavilion and representing the University of London was the Earl of Athlone. His Excellency the Governor, Sir John Huggins and Lady Huggins were among those seated in the audience.

Set to commence at 4:20, hundreds of motor cars and buses were converging towards the playing fields from as early as 3 o’clock. Excellent traffic arrangements kept the movement free and made comfortable the approach to the square enclosures facing the pavilion.

Rain along the foothills, but the ceremony not marred

The sky was clouded, rain swept along the foothills of the Blue Mountains which cup the site at Mona. A thin drizzle threaded briefly across the plain, midway during the ceremony. Then the clouds banked west, leaving the afternoon cool and fairly clear. The installation was not marred.

Potted palms went around the base of the green-painted pavilion which blended into the green sward and the green rise of mountain behind it.

At 4 o’clock the company had settled. At 4:20, the Governor of Jamaica left the robing room to which he had escorted the Princess and walked towards the enclosures. Uniformed in their red and blue Zouaves, the Jamaica Military Band played the National Anthem.

The Governor and Lady Huggins, preceded by a female undergraduate, went to their seats and at 4:25 a fanfare announced the entry of the principal’s procession.

First from the robing room were the seventy undergraduate members of the University dressed in their scarlet gowns, patterned on those of the ancient University of St Andrew. Behind them came the lecturers, resident tutors and assistant librarians in black gowns and mortarboards. Next were the members of the Senate, the academic authority of the University College drawn from members of the staff. The Council, the governing body of the College, was fourth in the line winding towards the pavilion.

A representative of Codrington College and the Principal of the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture. Mr H.J. Page, OBE, followed. The Inter-University Council for Higher Education in the Colonies and the Universities’ Bureau of the British Empire came after; then representatives of the University College of Ibadan, Nigeria, the University of New Zealand and Howard University, the University of Chicago and Queen’s University of Belfast, the Universities of London and Durham, Harvard University, the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford.

Vice-Chancellors

The Vice-Chancellors of the University of Birmingham, Sir Raymond Priestley, and of London, Professor Lillian Penson, were followed by the Principal of McGill University Mr F.C. James Irvine, and the Chancellor of the University of Puerto Rico Dr Facundo Bueso.

The Marshals walked before the Chancellor of the University of London, the Earl of Athlone, and the procession ended with the Principal of the University College. Dr T.W. J. Taylor, who was supported by the Vice-Principal, Mr P.M. Sherlock, and the Registrar, Mr Hugh Springer.

Undergraduates, lecturers, tutors and assistant librarians branched either side of the pavilion and took their seats. The rest of the line ascended to the platform.

The vast concourse was quiet, except for the shirr of movie cameras and the far noise of water down the gorge of the Hope River.

The Principal announced over the loudspeaker system the purpose of the assembly, which was to install the first Chancellor, as provided for in the Royal Charter granted January 5, 1949. Then the Principal called on the Registrar to read the relevant clauses of the Charter.

Fanfare Heralds Arrival

Following the reading, the Principal called upon the Vice Principal and the Registrar to conduct the Princess into the assembly. Together they left the pavilion and walked through the aisles to the robing room where the Chancellor-elect awaited them. A fanfare heralded her approach.

Princess Alice wore a formal afternoon gown of dark material. Regally she came into the assembly, preceded by two male undergraduates, the Vice Principal and the Registrar and followed by a train-bearer.

The company stood while she entered, and the robed graduates doffed their caps.

When the Chancellor-elect had ascended to the pavilion, the Principal called upon her to recite the Oath of Office. In a strong clear voice, she took the Oath.

“I Alice, Princess of Great Britain, Countess of Athlone, promise that with the help of God I will at times and seasons fulfil the duties of Chancellor as required by the Statutes of the University College of the West Indies and will loyally and faithfully uphold and maintain the privileges and rights of the University College. I will endeavour to promote the great purposes for which it has been established – the advancement of knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, science and learning and the encouragement of sound religion.”

The magnificent robe of black and gold was placed about the shoulder of the Royal Chancellor by the Principal and her page.

“Thank you,” she said quietly. A fanfare announced the Chancellor’s entry upon office. The company sat.

King’s Message Read

It was here that the edge of the circling hill showers sprayed thinly across the meadow, then lifted to the west hills, curtaining the higher ridges. The afternoon became clearer.

First duty of the new Chancellor was the reading of His Majesty’s message to assembly. After the applause, the Principal read the address of welcome expressing the “deep appreciation of the honour” which she had paid the University College in taking up the office of Chancellor.

Her Royal Highness accepted congratulatory addresses from representatives of universities who sat on the pavilion.

Addresses were received from the Association of Universities of the British Commonwealth and the Universities of the British Commonwealth and the University of Birmingham, presented by Sir Raymond Priestly: the Universities of the Union of South Africa presented by Mr H. Springer, Registrar; the University of Chicago by Mr Bindley Cyrus; the University of Otago, New Zealand by Professor Hassall; Durham by Professor Mackay; McGill by Principal James; Harvard by Bishop Burton; St Andrew’s by Sir James Irvine, Cambridge by Professor Parry and Oxford by the Earl of Athlone.

The main address of the ceremony was then made to the assembly by the Princess.

Sir James Commended

This was followed by the address from the University College to the Vice-Chancellor of St Andrew’s Sir James Irvine, in which tribute was paid for his great work in creating the present university college. Sir James replied to the address and the Earl of Athlone, Chancellor of the University of London, addressed the company.

Then, “I declare this congregation at an end,” said the Chancellor, after seventy minutes of pageantry and solemn significance to mark the growth of the University College into a body corporate. The Mace of the University College was brought before the pavilion.

A fanfare announcing the departure of the Chancellor, the assembly rose. Her Royal Highness descended from the pavilion and was joined by His Excellency the Governor. The Chancellor of the University of London followed and was joined by Lady Huggins.

Led by the Mace, they left in possession then moved out of the enclosure reverse formation, the company remaining in their seats until the line had filled into the robing rooms, before dispersing.

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