Events & Friends of King's Bruton

Penny Bird

Events Manager

Events and Friends are intertwined at King's providing a social network for parents, whilst raising funds for additional projects. A termly subscription (£10 per term), is collected via the School Bill and events are regularly held throughout the year. Funds raised purchase additional equipment, facilities, fund projects and provide a small budget for the Boarding Houses, with the aim of enhancing the education and welfare of the pupils.

Over the past few years, through the generous efforts of parents we have been able to provide items such as the shelters at Hippisley hockey pitch, benches for the re-wilding area, a concert bass drum for the Music Department, cooking equipment and air beds for the Ten Tors team, a livestream camera and stand for the Sports Department, table football for Blackford House, candles for the Chaplaincy, a BBQ for Arion House, and outdoor furniture for Priory House to name but a few.

As we emerge from the last two years, Events at King's are certainly back in full swing. In true King's style, we were back up and running with 3 major events in The Memorial Hall within a week, with the Sixth Form Formal Dinner, the Community Concert and Swing Into Spring for 120 parents. It was quite poignant that we went into lockdown two years ago straight after the 2020 Swing into Spring and we emerged from the pandemic with Swing Into Spring 2022!

The first Saturday in March, saw the 6th Form Formal Dinner take place in the Memorial Hall. It was fabulous to see the event being able to take place again. The Pupils all looked stunning and were obviously delighted that finally they were able to enjoy this important social occasion once again. It is the first chance they have to socialise as a whole 6th Form, and importantly, sets the scene for the rest of the year.

The following Friday, we were delighted to welcome back guests from Hugh Sexey’s Hospital, Candlelight Care and Active Living to our Community Concert and Afternoon Tea. The guests enjoyed an outstanding Concert from the King's Military Band and a delicious Afternoon Tea, baked and served by the BTEC Hospitality Pupils. It was wonderful to see the Memorial Hall full of smiles, laughter, companionship and music again. The guests thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon out, and for many it was the first social occasion in two years. Cherry Catley-Day from Candlelight Care said “Everyone so enjoyed the afternoon, as usual, King's did everything to perfection, and for a few hours we were all transported away from these troubling times.”

The next evening, the volume was dialled up as the King's Big Band headlined a fantastic evening of fun, food and dancing - ‘Swing Into Spring’. The atmosphere was convivial and it was evident that everyone was happy to be out, out once again! The evening started with the ‘Groove Ensemble’ providing some excellent pre-dinner entertainment, performing to a very high standard. They were followed by two sets from the King's Big Band, combining some of the best traditional swing numbers with more up-tempo pop and rock classics and accompanied by soloists, Tom, Lily and Amelia. Guests certainly danced the night away and as the evening came to an end there was loud shouts of ‘encore’, ‘more’! All whilst being served dinner by King's Hospitality pupils. If you didn’t manage to come this year, it is a great evening out and a highly recommended date for your diary.

In April, the Sports Department hosted the 1st Team Formal Sports Dinner, which was a hugely enjoyable event. It was an event which celebrated the commitment, performances and successes of the 1st Team players. It was also an opportunity for the Sports Department to recognise the significant contribution that the pupils at King's make to sport, week in and week out - it was great fun for the Sports Department staff to serve the pupils their three course meal! There were excellent speeches reviewing the season from each of the Sports Captains, with a lot of humour and friendly competition all round.

As we go to press, we are looking forward to the 5th Form Dinner, which will mark the end of their GCSE exams and also their time as Juniors before they look forward to the next stage! Most excitingly we are busy planning the Leavers’ Ball once again, which is the final celebration for our U6th pupils time at King's and one they all look forward to, lots of laughter and lots of tears as they realise they might just miss King's!

Looking ahead we have a full programme of events planned in September and beyond. Please do save the date for the Midsummer Party, Saturday 24th June 2023, which we hope will be a chance for the whole School community to come together and celebrate.

We want to offer as many fun events and networking opportunities as possible. The aim is (for those who want to), to be able to come to a huge variety of events, meet friends and feel connected. If you have any ideas as to events you would like to see happening, run workshops or courses which you would like to offer to the King's community, or would like to be a point of contact for your year group, please do get in touch me, Penny Bird, Events Manager at pjb@kingsbruton.com.