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The Platinum Jubilee
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In early February, the School celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Queen’s accession to the throne.
Staff and pupils gathered in Wells Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving, which incorporated words, prayers and music. The Dean of Wells gave an engaging address highlighting the Queen’s long, dedicated service to the nation. The Junior School Choir gave a beautiful rendition of an anthem by John Rutter, and the Chapel Choir were joined by brass, percussion and organ for a magnificently stirring performance of Parry’s I Was Glad, which was performed at the Queen’s Coronation.
The School was honoured to welcome a number of special guests to the service, including the High Sheriff of Somerset, the Mayor of Wells, George Bunting (representing Old Wellensians), Arnold Wills (representing the Chorister Trust), as well as Governors of the School.
After the service, the guests headed back to the School where they were joined by the Vice Lord Lieutenant for Somerset, who along with some of the School’s youngest pupils, helped to plant a tree on Cedars Lawn. This tree planting was in celebration of the Queen’s Green Canopy, and was the first of many plantings that will take place at the School this year.
The tree planting ceremony brought recollections of a visit to the School in 1978 by the School’s Patron, HRH The Prince of Wales. In celebration of the Silver Jubilee, he planted a beautiful 'Blue Atlas' cedar tree on Cedar’s Lawn. 44 years later, the tree has grown and flourished and is now a magnificent fixture of the School, much loved by pupils, parents, staff and visitors.
We have enjoyed a fabulous day celebrating both the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and our ongoing patronage of The Prince of Wales. We very much share our Patron’s commitment to sustainability and environmental issues, and it was so wonderful to be able to plant a tree that will be loved by generations to come. It was also very fitting that we could perform a piece by Parry, the Prince’s favourite composer in our Thanksgiving Service. We hope that our own pupils can feel inspired by the Queen’s sense of duty, and her astonishing service over 70 years. All of us at the School wish her a very happy Platinum Jubilee year!”
- Mr Tighe, Head Master
We enjoyed a spectacular and deeply moving orchestral and choral concert at the Cathedral in celebration of the Queen’s Jubilee. The programme encompassed Britten, Vaughan Williams and Parry, concluding with Britten’s spellbinding arrangement of the National Anthem. The concert marked the first time in more than two years that the massed choirs and Symphony Orchestra have been able to gather in the Cathedral. This was made even more special by the fact that the first half of the concert was conducted by Old Wellensian Adam Hickox, who is currently Assistant Conductor at the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra.
Head Master Mr Tighe, who conducted the second half of the concert, wrote, "The Covid restrictions that we have all had to endure have been frustrating in so many ways… So today is a momentous opportunity for us as a School to reconnect… Our ability to present the concert will, I hope, be a powerful sign of the resilience of the School during the pandemic, the power of community, and an indication of our determination to look to the future with confidence and with renewed hope.”
Jubilee Fanfare
We are very proud of Year 7 pupil Cole Craggs for his trumpet fanfares at tree-planting ceremonies in Sandford and Winscombe in honour of the Queen's Green Canopy project for the Platinum Jubilee. Cole’s fanfares added a sense of occasion to each ceremony where he performed with such poise and confidence that he was featured on BBC Points West later in the evening.
Organiser Rosemary Mann said, “He really did us proud at both of the tree-plantings today”, adding that “he was a credit to the School, to himself and to all of the musical teaching and experiences that have already come his way”. William Du Croz, another organiser, told us, “Cole is clearly a gifted musician and was a great credit to the School. With a trumpet fanfare, our little tree-planting event was raised to a different level, and this was very much appreciated by all present.”
Platinum Pudding entry by Josie
We would like to congratulate Josie Prestidge (Year 7) for entering the Fortnum and Mason Platinum Pudding Competition. Her recipe has a very interesting twist on a brownie and sounds delicious!
Josie said: "A version of my recipe was created for my parents’ coffee shop in Bath, and was extremely popular. I have added brewed coffee to the mix, which brings out the flavour of the chocolate, while also reflecting my family’s interest in coffee."
