After a week of nerve-wracking variable weather, the Gods were kind to us for this year’s Day of Celebration on Saturday.
From late morning, thirty classic and interesting cars (and one motorbike) were on display on and around the Memorial Hall Lawn. We were lucky enough to have three Alvis, three Aston Martins, a Lagonda, a ‘John Player’ Lotus, a Ford Mustang, Landrovers ranging in age from over sixty years old, to a two year old Defender – Spectre (as used by James Bond!), a Morris Minor named Horace, Morgans, a Concours standard Ferrari, and many more. Together they made a stunning and eye-catching display for the pupils, staff and visitors as they spent time mingling, chatting to owners and taking as many selfies as possible! The roar of the engine of the 1928 Donald motorbike, as OB Petri Hitches took it for a few practice laps of Bruton, just added the perfect sound track. After a light lunch and a few welcoming words from the Headmaster, many departed on a 50 mile tour through the leafy lanes of three counties, armed with their route guide detailing many historical sites relating to King’s as suggested by the School Archivist, Andrew Leach. The King’s Bruton tour plates ensured that all whom they passed were left in no doubt as to where they had come from.
Meanwhile, throughout the afternoon and under blue, sunny skies, cricket and tennis matches took place. On Hyde, the School’s 1st XI were celebrating 100 years of playing cricket on the Hyde Pitch, when the King’s 1st XI played their inaugural game against 3rd Battalion The Dorset Regiment in June 1917. This time, it was against their successors, The Rifles (Regiment) Cricket Club, our local Infantry Regiment. It was wonderful to welcome back OB James Edwards as their Captain. On Abbey, the School’s 2nd XI had a very close fought game against OBs and parents, playing in fantastic spirit. As if this was not enough, more OBs and parents provided some stern opposition for the King’s tennis teams.
At the appointed hour, the sport ceased and the cars returned to park around the boundary on Hyde as an excellent tea was taken by all at the Pavilion. Over 200 people enjoyed an amazing tea laid on by the BTEC Hospitality students and our in-house caterers. The extended tea enabled everyone to mingle and talk about sport and cars, with many regaling tales of their times spent at King’s and rekindling friendships.
Later, after pre-dinner drinks listening to the School’s Senior Jazz Quintet, eighty guests (OBs, past and present parents and Friends) enjoyed a four course dinner in the Memorial Hall, again with the BTEC Hospitality students supporting our caterers. The evening was topped off by dancing to the School’s excellent staff band.
All in all, a wonderful day celebrating all that is good about King’s, coinciding as it did with the launch of our 500th Fundraising Campaign Appeal for the new Music School. Albums from the Day of Celebration can be viewed below.
Gilly Bunday - Events Manager
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