b'A H I S T O R Y O F C O O G E E P R E P4Special EventsT he Christmas Party was always a spectacular event. The boyswould spend most of the afternoon decorating the black-boards and their class rooms. Then, in the evening, theirfamilies would join them in the School Hall to await the arrival ofSanta Claus. The boys in the junior classes would welcome himand the visitors with Christmas songs and carols and, in reply, hewould distribute gifts to all the boys. Then there would be a won-derfulsilentmoviewithCharlieChaplinorsomeotherfavourite starfollowed, somewhat incongruously, by a boxingexhibition.Tommy Hanley would bring in his voluminous hessian bagsfull of large and very smelly boxing gloves, which almost swal-lowed the boys when they put them on. Then, with few rules andless ceremony, they would punch each other, endeavouring eitherto tap the blood vessels in their opponents nose or failing that, tocause an opponent to fall off the edge of the stage. After this, therewould be a delicious feast before the evening drew to a close. The annual Pet Show (or Fete, as it is now known) was alwaysheld at the Nimmos homefirst at Warrawee in St.Marks Roadand later at Keira in Carrington Road. Not only were there all thecraft and food stalls, but then as now, there were the bicycle races.CharlesInglis(193037)remembersayo-yocompetitionatSt.Marks Road.Trevor Lawrence (191623) recalls that some years after he hadleft the school, he was minding a goat called Gertie for a neigh-bour. He was approached by Michael Kmit, the very successfulartistandwinneroftheBlakeArtPrize,whoaskedifhissonMichael (197477) could borrow the goat to enter in the Pet Show.Trevor agreed and Gertie won first prize! In the twenties, Mr. and Mrs. Nimmo and some of the parentswould host a dance each year in their house or at the school. The3 5'