Speech Day 2011

[Jo]

I'll be going to Speech Day this year (28th May) and just wondered if anyone else is going too? My other half is coming as my guest but it would be nice to meet up with other names from the forum and put faces to names that I've never met before.

[Mrs C.]

I`ll be there

[Jo]

Will you be in the tuck shop? I will pop in and say hello, assuming I can find my way - I was a Hertford girl and don't know the Horsham site very well.

[Mrs C.]

I `m assuming tuckshop won`t be open that day as it`s start of half term. I`ll be at lunch, speeches etc with Mr C

[baldoldblue]

I'm a new member of the Forum. But I will be going to Speech Day - under slightly odd circumstances as I write the Lord Mayor's speeches. My first time back for 20 years. I strongly suspect I will once again be filled with that familiar feeling that I've been caught smoking in those disgusting loos at the back of the Art School.

[J.R.]

I'm a new member of the Forum. But I will be going to Speech Day - under slightly odd circumstances as I write the Lord Mayor's speeches. My first time back for 20 years. I strongly suspect I will once again be filled with that familiar feeling that I've been caught smoking in those disgusting loos at the back of the Art School.

Oh, the good old days !

Didn't they smell terrible ?

[Great Plum]

And are no more since the construction of the 'temporary' (ha!) classrooms in the art school quad in 2000...

[kerrensimmonds]

I had an invitation, Jo, because I have recently been accepted as a Presentation Governor (Hertford Corporate presentation scheme). I am afraid that I declined - not only because my current physical situation means that I can't walk very far at the moment, but also because we (Hertford OG Scheme) have not yet identified the next potential candidate for admission nor have they passed the entrance requirements. So I hope the powers that be may reissue my invitation for 2013. In the meantime, there WILL be other Hertford OG's there, as Governors in their own right or representing corporate schemes - so you will not be alone. I hope you might connect with one or two of them and in any case that you will have a lovely day! Have you got a stunning hat?
In the meantime, the Hertford corporate fund's second presentee is currently Band Captain. Please cheer her on! She is a real credit to her mum (a Hertford OG), her family, and to the OG community who has supported her through the school.

[kerrensimmonds]

PS to 'baldoldblue' - what an interesting situation! Will you declare your Old Blue-ness to the Headmaster, The Clerk, The Treasurer (or even to the Lord Mayor) - or will you keep quiet? Anyway, it is going to be a very interesting experience for you! How will other Old Blues identify you in the ceremonial paraphernalia? Would you want them to?

[baldoldblue]

I'm glad to say that it's my colleagues who will be wearing the regalia. I will be in an M and S suit. And have a terrible feeling I will cry when I hear the Foundation Hymn for the first time in 20 years

[kerrensimmonds]

OOh Dear. Yes, the Foundation Hymn does tug at the heart strings. I sympathise. When my my mum was in extremis, 30 years ago, I used to sing it at full volume when walking the dog on the Downs, away from prying ears, and it made me feel good. So, yes, it is a very evocative and emotional sound. I hope you survive the experience, and indeed might have the opportunity to connect up with other OB s who you may not have seen over all these years?

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

AHHHH ! yes --- the Foundation hymn, brought tears to my eyes, when I heard it on the CH music CD.

------- but don't tell anybody, I am supposed to be tough and cynical !

[baldoldblue]

hope to catch up with adrian bawtree who was on my year and is director of music. already have that feeling that (a) have not done prep and (b) have been caught smoking in the lav ends again!

[kerrensimmonds]

Adrian is lovely, if busy, and if you can catch him and introduce yourself (will he recognise you if you don't?) he will be delighted to make contact with you again, I am sure. Forget the guilt feelings... they are no longer applicable! Did you know that Adrian is leaving CH at the end of this term? He is moving into a totally different arena - organising music for people in hospitals, hospices and care homes.

[Jo]

Well, it was a very enjoyable day, full of nostalgia even for a Hertford Old Girl who barely knows the Horsham site. The music is as wonderful as ever - brilliant organ playing by various Grecians in chapel, the choir sounding very professional, the band truly impressive. The march past by each house in turn was disciplined and well ordered. There were really only Grecians around after march past as it was the start of a leave weekend, but they all seem to be far more self-assured than we were at that age. Though still polite and charming young men and women. The Senior Grecian's oration put the Headmaster and the Lord Mayor to shame - truly inspiring and showing remarkable maturity for an eighteen year old, and she had learned it by heart where the Head and Lord Mayor read from scripts. I wasn't the only one dabbing my eyes with my hanky.

I wish I knew the Horsham site better - I've really only explored the Quad and the Avenue, though I did go to the museum last time. I managed to sneak into Barnes A again to show Chris the Mons Board with my name on it. I think he was impressed by the day and did admit this evening that he wished he'd been to school there. I will have the opportunity to visit more regularly in future, attending meetings there a couple of times a year, so must explore other bits of the site.

I saw a couple of people I knew, including Miss Tucker who was on good form, so it was nice to catch up with them, albeit briefly. Altogether it was reassuring to see that the ethos of CH hasn't changed, though happily I think conditions are much more humane. Today's generation seem much more unashamedly proud of the school than we were, and what opportunities they have. If I'd had kids I would never have sent my daughters to Hertford, but I'd have been happy to send them to Horsham now.