b'F R O M T H E B E G I N N I N GTHE SCHOOL ROLLI t is fitting to conclude a school history with the names of all theboys who have passed through the place. However, some of thelistings here have been compiled on a wing and a prayer. Forthe first fifty years, Bill Nimmo left behind three beautifully boundledgers with hand-written entries. They cover the years 191416and 1964; 192950; and 195163. These books do not containthe name of any boy. Instead, they list the surnames, and some-times the addresses, of the fee-paying parents or guardians. It is notalways clear if more than one son is involved and, if so, how manymore. Sometimes the lists are broken up into classes, sometimesthey are not. There is no record at all for the period 19171928.The only other written sources of information have been theAlpha magazines. Bill Nimmo published only one of these, in 1952.Nick Brown revived them in 1967 and, almost always, they havecontained a School Roll, although not always with christian names.Without the Old Boys then, these lists could not have beencompiled.Manyhavecasttheirmindsbackfiftyorsixtyor seventyyearstoremembertheirPrepSchooldaysrecallingnick-names;half-rememberedchristiannamesandthevariousfates of friends in the War and elsewhere. Sisters, wives and distantcousins have all joined in. Inevitably, there are a few guesses, someerrors and lots of omissions. Nonetheless, we thought it worth a trybefore any more are forgotten.TheSchoolisalwaysgratefulforinformationrelatingto the Roll and its records generally. If you are able to contributeadditions,corrections,anecdotesorcurrentinformation relating to Old Boys, please write to: The Archivist Coogee Boys Preparatory School Alison Road Randwick NSW 20316 6'