The 127th Anniversary of Greek Independence - 1948

The occasion justifiably brings the entire school community together and everyone from students to teachers join hands to support the Royal Welfare Institute. Student Representatives made Speeches at the Ceremony before Handing over donations to the minster for welfare.

The Royal Welfare institute was created in July 1947 by royal decree, countersigned by the parliamentary Government. Queen Frederica made it her job to try and save the children of Greece from the Communists. Her good friend, Mrs Alexandra Mela (Daughter-in-law of Pavlos Melas, Hero of the Macedonian Struggle) undertook to organise it and seventy two society ladies living in Athens volunteered to help Queen Frederica. The main Project, at the begining , was to save the Children in the Northern provinces from being abducted by Greek communist rebels and carried across the borders and from being educated as enemies of the country. Within a few months fifty-eight childrens homes were established . They housed, fed and clothed over 25000 children. They educated them, Taught them a trade and, when the countryside was safe again, they were sent back to their family homes. The Queens ladies, as they were called, were hardly in Athens. They left their families, their safe and comfortable homes , to save the children of Greece. They rode for hours over dangerous roads that had not been cleared of mines. They rode for hours on mules , disregarding the danger of war to find the children, to get them before the Greek Communists did. It was a desperate race which they sometimes lost, but mostly won. They hardly ever had protection. The Greek army had a job to do, and these ladies were carzy; possessed by a sense of mission that made them disregard their own lives to save the lives of Greek Children from a fate worse than death at the hands of the Greek Communist Rebels.

After the completion of ceremony the students paraded before the Minister for Welfare.

The Royal motorcade arrives at the Metropolitan Orthodox Cathedral in Athens where the Te Deum service was held. King Paul alighted from the car followed by the Crown Prince Constantine and the two little Princesses Sophia and Irene. He walks up the steps and is greeted by Government officials and Army officers . The Royal party enters the cathedral preceded by Archbishop Damaskinos. At the completion of the service the Royal party makes their way through crowd lined streets to the tomb of the unknown soldier where King Paul laid a wreath. King Paul then steps back and salutes. The King then turns to take the salute in person as the parade begins. The Disabled veterans and nurses parade before the King followed by the Motorcycle column, and Armoured cars. The Royal Hellenic Airforce perform a fly over low enough to be clearly seen. The parade continues with a Motorised column of battle Tanks, Motor Vehicles and Heavy Artillery. Members of the Greek War Relief Association are next followed by various infantry divisions. The parade then continues with Soldiers leading Alsatians, a military marching band followed by more infantry divisions.

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