A Royal History

Repton has had connections with royalty for over 1350 years, and any visitor to the village will have passed signs welcoming them to the ancient capital of Mercia. As Kings of Mercia, both Aethelbald and Wiglaf were buried here, and in 874 the Vikings drove King Burhed from here and into exile.

A medieval Priory was established at Repton in the 12th century, and King Edward I was one its most prominent visitors; unfortunately, another King, Henry VIII, was the cause of its downfall. However, without his actions, Repton School would not have started on this site. Its founder, Sir John Port, was knighted in 1547 at the coronation of King Edward VI, and later sat in the Parliament of Queen Mary.

The School established under the terms of his will was officially linked, by the 1621 charter of King James I, to another creation of his beneficence, the Etwall almshouses.

Royal celebrations and commemorations have featured large in the history of the School – until the mid-nineteenth century, it was customary for the Headmaster to grant the boys a holiday on Oak Apple Day in memory of King Charles II. The Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1887 was marked with fireworks and a party, and her Diamond Jubilee with the planting of an oak tree outside the Arch.

The Queen visited Derby in 1891, and the whole School travelled in a special train from Willington to see her. In more recent times, the proclamation of Queen Elizabeth II was read out from the steps of the market cross in 1952, and five years later both she and the Duke of Edinburgh visited the School as part of our quatercentenary celebrations

Her son, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, came half a century later to help us mark our 450th anniversary. Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Kent has visited us twice, once in 1985 to open the Music School and again in 1992 to open The Garden, and in 2013 His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent opened the Science Priory.

Paul Stevens, School Archivist

The first most of us heard of the Royal Visit came from the Headmaster at lists on the first day of the Lent Term. Many people tried to affect a casual attitude

“Oh, yes, the Royal visit” – but one could sense, even at this stage, a keen sense of anticipation and excitement. This increased as the term drew on. The Precinct became a hive of activity, with workmen tapping bricks with one hand, while sipping their “elevenses” with the other; strange men with haggard ex- pressions and bowler hats were seen pacing up and down the School Yard; high officials of Derbyshire police became frequent visitors; the rural peace of February afternoons was shattered by the activities of workmen, equipped with pneumatic drills, concrete mixers, diesel rollers and good oldfashioned picks and shovels, widening the road. The Bursar was heard to agree to a new carpet for the Audit Room-great things were afoot.

Thursday, March 28th, dawned warm and sunny, with that slight haze on the distant hills that promises fair weather. One could almost feel theHeadmaster breathe a sigh of relief-a sentiment shared by everyone concerned. Early birds brought back tales of crowds in the Precinct and the route lined with sightseers, firmly ensconced on portable stools, drinking cups of coffee. One felt for Mr. Bolland - master in charge of the Precinct.

Work was prescribed until 10.30 am, and for all of us, it was a novel sensation to walk to School between lines of flagflapping children, cheering and whistling. Emerging into the light of day at 10.30, one was immediately struck by the greatly increased sense of excitement and anticipation. Parents were walking around the School Yard and O.Rs. stood reminiscing in little groups. The police were everywhere; cool, polite, and indivertibly efficient, they even walked off with a Prefect’s bicycle, momentarily left outside the Lodge. The gaiety and colour, the cheerfulness and excitement immediately had their effect on those who had so far tried to stand aloof. These were now to be seen giving their shoes that extra bit of polish or straightening that stray hair. In the Houses there was a blend of relief and excitement; relief that the tedious days of rehearsal were over and that The Day had dawned at last, and excitement at what the day should bring forth. Those who were privileged to speak to the Queen were checking on their facts and perfecting that bow of the head. The Guard, resplendent in new uniforms, were hurrying to the Armoury.

By noon the scene was set. The Guard was in position, in lines as straight as one could wish them, their bayonets winking in the sunlight. The O.RS. were under the Yard wall, facing the parents and the School. Colour was everywhere- the bright hats and dresses of the ladies, the masters’ hoods, the red carpets, the khaki of the Guard, enlivened by blue and gold lanyards and the markers’ red sashes.

At 12.35 the spasmodic cheering of the crowds outside the Arch reached a crescendo. The Queen had arrived. The friendliness and the spontaneity of the Archbishop’s welcome set the tone for the day and helped to dispel any nervousness which those destined to play a big part in the day may have felt. Throughout the day the Archbishop was a very great asset; with his easy manner and ready wit, he made an incalculable contribution to the spirit of informality that helped to make the day so enjoyable.

When the Headmaster and Mrs. Thomas had been presented, all eyes were riveted on the Arch as the Queen entered School precincts. Wearing a dove-grey fitted coat, primrose hat, black shoes and carrying a black handbag, the Queen walked to the dais and received the Royal Salute from the Guard of Honour. R. L. Cowdell, commanding the Guard, accompanied Her Majesty around the ranks, answering her questions which displayed a lively interest in the School. After the presentation of Bandmaster H. A. Hole and SergeantMajors J. V. Paul and J. Goodwin, the Head Prefect-A. P. Thomas-called for three cheers for Her Majesty and His Royal Highness. The magic of her charm had already captivated the School; the Yard has never rung with such heartfelt cheers.

After presentations of the Governors, the Staff, Mr. Harry Altham (President of the OR Society) and Major Betterton (Chairman of the Governors of Etwall Hospital), the Royal Party moved on to the Masters’ Common Room, where Mrs. T. L. Thomas presented Mrs. Christie and the twelve senior ladies of the Staff. In spite of being behind time, the Queen never appeared to rush, stopping to have a word with many of the people she met.

In the Undercroft, in addition to the familiar exhibits, the Royal party looked at a display of statistical records, illustrating such features as careers, the School’s games record and academic results. Conducted by the Headmaster, the party proceeded to the Library via the Vassall Room and the Audit Room and were clearly impressed by the beauty of these rooms, with their old fireplaces, oak beams and panelling. In the Library, R. A. Cooke pointed out the historic beating block beneath the portrait of the Rev. Ford “Surely he was not so beastly,” said the Queen, to which the Archbishop replied “Not under my portrait, I am happy to say Ma’am.”

Meanwhile all spectators, including the Guard of Honour, had reassembled in the New Precinct in readiness for the opening of the Kindersley Gate. After the presentation of Lord and Lady Kindersley, the Dowager Lady Kindersley and Mr. Marshall Sisson and Mr. J. P. Foster (the architects), N. Etherington-Smith, a greatgrandson of Dr. Pears, presented the Queen with a pair of scissors for cutting the ribbon across the Gate. Although so comparatively young, Etherington-Smith was put quite at ease by Her Majesty’s ease of manner, and was given four Maundy coins, a symbolical antidote against the severing of friendship. By that gift we should like to think that Her Majesty’s friendship for the School was established and will never be cut. After the Queen had named the new way from the gate to the Precinct “The Queen’s Walk,” the Archbishop said a prayer and blessed the whole precinct.

Crossing the Willington Road, the Royal Party were received by the Rev. and Mrs. Harcombe, who accompanied them round the Church and Crypt. Leaving by the North Door, they passed through the Pillars of Hercules to the Hall.

After the Queen had had a quick glass of sherry with the adults who had been invited to the Luncheon, the School Prefects and the head boy of Foremarke were presented. Here again the Archbishop set the tone of informality. Coming out of the

Headmaster’s drawing-room into the hall, he shook the Head Prefect by the shoulder, saying: “Relax, relax; she won’t eat you.” He was not in the least abashed when he realised that the Queen was standing behind him, laughing away. The Duke had a word with most of the Prefects, and laughingly inquired why the Orchard should need a head!

Luncheon was taken in the Hall diningroom, where twenty adults and fifty-six boys (six from each House and two from Foremarke) were assembled. Boys sat on either side of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, and, after a slightly slow start, conversation soon became animated. Many topics were discussed, among them music, apropos of which the Archbishop asked “But what is a skuffle club?” The meal-prawn cocktail, roast turkey, fruit salad and coffee-was subsequently described by one of the national dailies as “a typical School meal.”

After lunch, Cross, Sieff and Voelcker took Her Majesty and the Duke round the boys’ side of the Hall. Although the Duke is said to have a flair for discovering “skeletons in cupboards,” nothing untoward happened this time, and both the Queen and the Duke had plenty of opportunities for chats with boys in their studies, games room and library.

On completing that tour, the Queen was presented with a beautifully illuminated and richly bound genealogical tree, tracing her descent from Sir John Port.

The public had been asked to leave the School grounds quite private for the afternoon, and it was thus that the Queen saw the School as it normally is, and the Royal visitors were duly impressed by the natural beauty of the place. Guided by Rowell and Elliott, the Royal party walked through the Hall garden to the Garth and the War Memorial, where the Queen and the Duke remained a moment in silence, scanning the columns of those killed in the two World Wars. Emerging from the Garth, the party watched some sports practice; laughing and joking, the Duke entered well into the spirit of it. Looking up to the distant cooling towers, he turned to the Archbishop and said: “You know, Bish, what amuses me is what is going to happen to those monsters when someone thinks of a better way of producing power!” In Pears School the Royal guests watched a rehearsal of the Masque.

Walking from Pears School to the Science Block, the visitors looked at demonstrations staged by the Fencing team, the Gym team, the Sailing Club, the Fire Squad, and the R.A. and R.E. Sections of the Corps. Naturally the Duke was particularly interested in these activities; so much so that he arrived at the Science Block after the Queen had gone in, and entered by the Metal Workshop door, thus catching a metal-worker-cum-gunner trouserless. The boy’s embarrassment was so apparent that the Duke calmly turned round and laughingly went out again to reenter by the main door.

Passing by a number of demonstrations in the Chemistry and Physics laboratories, the Queen came to the Metal Workshops, where she was presented with a model engine for Prince Charles, made largely by Voelcker, and, for Princess Anne, a miniature silver tea set, made by Mr. J. N. Emery, on a highly polished mahogany tray the work of Mr. T. L. Green.

On their way to the Maths. Block, the Queen paused to speak to representatives of the Staff of the Grubber and Book Shop. Biologists, signallers, philatelists, aeromodellers, the dance band, artists, and photographers all had a chance to show the Royal guests their skill. Even though they were now approaching the end of their visit, the interest of the Royal couple never flagged. Outside the Art School, the last presentations took place those of the senior School servants.

The final engagement in Repton was the Chapel Service. This was the most moving part of the day. To the coronation setting of “All People that on Earth do Dwell” the Queen and the Duke, accompanied by the Archbishop, the Chaplain, the Assistant Chaplain, the Countess of Leicester, Captain Vickers and the Headmaster walked slowly down the nave to their special seats under the pulpit. After Laudate Dominum, a lesson from Ephesians was read by the Duke with dignity and feeling; a Dyson

On Friday, 16th September 2022, the School came together for a special Service in the School Chapel to mark the incredible life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The Chaplain shared this moving address: setting of Nunc Dimittis, the Pilgrim hymn, and finally the Blessing given by the Archbishop all combined to produce a service of outstanding beauty, dignity and fervour. The service ended with the National Anthem, and with the Queen so near, it was not surprising that this was sung with the deepest feeling by everyone present.

“If you ask anyone who is British, why they are proud to be British they might give you lots of different answers. Some may say “I’m proud to be British because of Shakespeare - the greatest playwright who ever lived”. Others may cite more recent authors - our own Roald Dahl or J K Rowling. You may point to Britain’s impact on the world of music- and it won’t take you long to get to the impact of The Beatles. Whilst many might just think of the British countryside - with the dramatic British landscape of mountains and valleys. Perhaps there may be some who will just say “The Premier League”- and who can forget the roar of the Lionesses this Summer?

But there is a generation – probably your grand-parents or great-grandparents – who, I wager, would simply say “I’m proud to be British because of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II”. We’ve got to ask why that is.

Having signed photographs and the visitors’ book at the Hall, the Queen granted the School four days’ extra holiday, which the Headmaster announced over the loudspeaker.

As the Royal cars drove through the School Yard between the two lines made by the School, we all had our last glimpse of the Queen at Repton. The heartfelt cheers that sped the Royal guests on their way was the only way we could all say “Good-bye” and “Thank you for a wonderful day.”

It might be because of the longevity of her reign, which brought stability after the crisis of the Abdication. The Queen was as much surprised to become Queen as her father was reluctant to become King. From the beginning of her reign, she vowed that abdication would never be part of her story. This has provided a fixed point in a world of bewildering change.

The Queen is also part of that generation which stared down the threat of Nazi tyranny and preserved for us the freedom we enjoy today.

But there are other reasons for revering her life and reign. The Queen knew what love was. When she first saw a young Phillip Mountbatten as a young woman visiting the Royal Naval Academy, Britannia, she knew that he was the one she wanted to marry - and would not be deterred by her parents’ initial disapproval.

There was also her humour. The actor Helen Mirren, when studying to play the role of the Queen, studied hours and hours of film. But the clip that gave her the biggest insight was a 30-second Pathé news story which showed an 8-year-old

Queen disembarking from a train behind her parents. In the carriage she can be seen laughing with her sister but the moment her foot touched the platform she straightened her coat, put her shoulders back and put forward her hand to shake the hand of the local mayor. Duty behind which lay a humorous love of life.

But the story about the Queen which I find most poignant comes from Dr David Nott, the Doctor famous for working around the world in the toughest of war zones. He describes in his autobiography how, on returning from Aleppo and the fighting in the Syrian war after hearing the news of the death of his mother, he received an invitation to meet the Queen. He describes how nervous he was and how, the moment he saw her, ‘the mother of the nation’, he wanted to break down and cry. He says that if the Queen had asked him how he was that is exactly what he would have done - but she didn’t. He then realised she recognised his grief because she too had lived through the grief of war. She knew how it felt on the inside. She simply said, “Let’s not talk; let’s just go and play with the dogs”. That’s exactly what they did - for an hour.”

Revd Adam Watkinson