A Celebration Fit For a Quincentenary!

June 15th 2019

This year’s annual Day of Celebration was a festival of all that is good about King’s Bruton. The below video provides a beautiful summary of the most incredible day!

'It was a privilege as Headmaster to welcome so many Old Brutonians, along with past parents and former members of staff, to our 500^th Day of Celebration. I had the added honour of welcoming the previous three Headmasters and their wives. I was very conscious of all that they had done in their time leading King’s to make the School such a success. Gilly and Rose organised a great day and I was even persuaded to sing ‘Sweet Caroline’ at the end of the Ball! We were fortunate with the weather but June 15^th now sits alongside Her Majesty The Queen’s visit on March 28^th as another unforgettable day in our 500^th year.'

Ian Wilmshurst - Headmaster

On Saturday 15^th June, the School welcomed almost a thousand visitors to celebrate 500 years of quality education in this beautiful town. Old Brutonians of varying ages, parents (past and present), staff (past and present), governors, Friends and current pupils joined together as one.

The day began with a Service of Thanksgiving in a packed St Mary’s Church, which included a beautiful rendition by the Chapel Choir of the recently commissioned anthem 'King of Glory, King of Peace', which was first sung at St Paul’s Cathedral earlier in the year as well as to Her Majesty The Queen when she officially opened The Queen Elizabeth Music School in March.

Meanwhile almost fifty interesting and classic cars gathered on the Memorial Hall Lawn, many owned by alumni and parents. They were enthusiastically waved off on a ‘King’s and Castles’ Tour which took in several counties. Guests were invited to visit their former houses, the new music school, Art and DT exhibitions as well as an exhibition of the School’s history, which displays many photographs throughout the years.

The sun shone and guests enjoyed picnics with family and friends before the School’s 1^st XI took on the Rifles Cricket Club, whose forebears played against the School in the very first match on the Hyde Pitch in 1917. There was an additional cricket match for alumni and parents to play against the 2^nd XI, whilst concurrently, there was a mixed hockey match between a team of Old Brutonians and parents against the School’s team, which is readying itself for a tour to South Africa next month.

Despite appalling weather earlier in the week, we were blessed with sunshine throughout the day which greatly enhanced everyone’s experience as they were able to stand surrounded by beautiful countryside, catching up with old friends and reminiscing. Meanwhile the catering Department and the BTEC Hospitality students produced a huge tea for everybody. This herculean effort was a feat of planning and organisation.

To round off the day’s celebrations, the 500 guests who were lucky enough to get tickets, such was the speed with which they were snapped up, gathered for drinks and canapés on the Memorial Hall Lawn, before retiring to a huge marquee for the 500^th Anniversary Ball. A fantastic dinner, followed by dancing to live music, table top magicians and fairground rides before a spectacular firework display underneath an almost full moon with the Dovecote as a resplendent backdrop, ensured that all the guests had a truly memorable evening.