Prep School Festivities

Festivities

CHRISTMAS LUNCH 2020

In a year that was turned upside down by the outbreak of COVID, for a while we on the Catering Team at Bedford School wondered whether we would we be able to offer any lunches at all, let alone Christmas Lunch. After lots of planning around the ‘rules’, it was established that, yes, come wind, rain or COVID, we were going to have a Christmas lunch… but sadly without crackers (I know, it’s crackers!).

The plan was to offer two days of Christmas lunches across the Prep School, serving three year groups each day. Unfortunately, due to enforced last-minute isolation of large chunks of boys, we ended up just having one limited but exciting gathering on one of those days.

With limited decorations and staff socially distanced, we opened the doors, with turkey tongs at the ready and chocolate yule log taking up every available space. Boys entered in single fi le to what I believe to be one of the nicest lunches we have ever offered. Because we in the Catering Team like a competition, this year’s Christmas contest was to design and wear your own original Christmas hats (mainly because we were not allowed to supply them ourselves!). This competition seemed to go down very well amongst the boys as we had some great entrants. (We believe parents may have enjoyed this lockdown task just as much as the boys!) As in all good competitions, there were prizes to win. In this case, the victors each took away a delicious and huge (40 centimetres tall) Christmas themed Gingerbread Man!

It was a great celebration in the circumstances, but let’s hope that Christmas 2021 brings back the decorations, crackers and, as always, the boys in high spirits to enjoy the occasion.

WORDS BY By Mr Alex Grieve, Deputy Catering Manager

Much as the Holy Family had to improvise on their arrival to Bethlehem, fi nding no room at the inn, so pandemic forced us to reconsider and engage creatively with the very concept of a carol service. With much care, planning, and rehearsal Mrs. Gedye organised the fi lming of each year group in their prepared carol, suitably distanced in an evocatively decorated Chapel. Lessons were read and recorded by boys and teachers from across the breadth of the School, telling the Christmas story. In order fully to capture the experience of a lockdown Christmas, Mrs. Turton prepared a dramatic script which, interfacing with the nativity story, explored the hope and joy that Christmas brings even amidst distancing and isolation. This was ably recorded from home by James Holt and Nirmay Patel, refl ecting the now ubiquitous experience of catching up with friends over Zoom (other providers are available…!). Boys from across the year groups, suitably costumed, acted out cutaway scenes, both from the Nativity but also scenes of hope from pandemic life in hospital, school, and street. With huge effort from Mr Lewis in editing all this footage together, a carol service for the digital age came together, allowing boys, families, and our wider community to share in the hope and joy of Christmas from the safety and comfort of their homes.

MAGIC SHOW On Tuesday 8th December 2020, Years 3 and 4 were treated to a magic show performed by Matthew Garrett who used to be at Bedford School. Some classes watched from home on Microsoft Teams because they were isolating but others watched it live at school in the Atrium. Matthew started the show with some playing card tricks. George had to remember a card and then Matthew somehow picked it out of the deck.

It was amazing! I don’t know how he did it. Later in the show he did some optical illusions. He spun a black and white wheel and asked us all to concentrate on the middle for 10 seconds, then when we looked at Matthew’s head, it looked like it was growing and about to explode! He also blew up a raccoon, although I don’t think it was a real one. The funniest bit was the mixed-up song words, especially the Romanian song about being the man, a plate of cheese and Ebay. I also liked the one about stapling a vicar. The most impressive part was when Matthew got inside a ginormous balloon. He blew the balloon up and then rolled it over his head and climbed inside and did roly polys around the fl oor. That was so funny. I really really enjoyed the magic show. It was a lovely Christmas experience.

WORDS BY By Eben

Clarke (4M)

CHRISTMAS 2020

WORDS BY Mr McCleery, School Chaplain