Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Were you all there and if you were, wasn't it fabulous?

The band, the march past, the Lord Mayor and his entourage, the WAGS (as my husband called them) ... and the weather was lovely too

An occasion to be very proud of the little darlings

Yes . It was lovely. Perhaps it was my imagination but the students looked much more together and smarter than than I had thought they had looked a few years ago.

It was wonderful, the kids looked smart and marched beautifully, the band were excellent and the sun was shining. Lovely!

Yes, very proud of my 90 little darlings, and of course my own daughter! The marching was of a really high standard this year and they all looked fantastic!!!

This was my first Speech Day at CH and I took my best friend. She was bowled over by the school - the marching and the fabulous band. It made me very proud to see my little one concentrating so hard as he marched past... can't wait to the next one!

Just wait for the Beating of the Retreat!

Wouldn't it be rather a long way for you to travel, Philip?

Isn't 'The Retreat' still considered a closed-shop ?

I know many local OB's do pop down for it. Any excuse for a visit to 'The Bax', eh, Matt ??

J.R. wrote:Isn't 'The Retreat' still considered a closed-shop ?

I didn't realise it ever had been. I'm sure I can remember hoards of parents around the Quad?

Ajarn Philip wrote:

J.R. wrote:Isn't 'The Retreat' still considered a closed-shop ?

I didn't realise it ever had been. I'm sure I can remember hoards of parents around the Quad?

I enquired at the school-office a couple of years ago and was politely told that as The Retreat was now in the afternoon of the last day of summer term, it was for parents and staff, not OB,s.

Needless to say, some of us still invaded.

When is it this year, by the way ?

4th July I believe as my dad retires at the end of term! Im planning on coming down for it, one last time-funnily it will be only the 2nd time I have seen retreat since i left! I personally found the first time i saw it after I left (2years) it just didnt seem quite so special, i think its because you associate it with your personal experience of leaving and possibly forget it hapens everyyear to all other leavers

J.R. wrote:I enquired at the school-office a couple of years ago and was politely told that as The Retreat was now in the afternoon of the last day of summer term, it was for parents and staff, not OB,s.

Needless to say, some of us still invaded.

Interesting point, although the 'no OBs' rule seems absurd - no real security until comparatively recently. What on earth do they do on something like the last day of term? They can't possibly check everyone's credentials, it would be complete chaos.

Ajarn Philip wrote:
Interesting point, although the 'no OBs' rule seems absurd - no real security until comparatively recently. What on earth do they do on something like the last day of term? They can't possibly check everyone's credentials, it would be complete chaos.

There's 'security', and there's 'security'.

When I went down for the Retreat, we just drove in past the security-post, smiled and waved to the security officer who just smiled and waved back.

'Nuff Said ?

Some of the more distinguished Old Blues (e.g. Council of Almoners, 1552 Club etc.) have in the past been invited to attend Beating Retreat and to bring a guest. They get seats in a roped off area in front of Dining Hall. I went as a friend's guest, two or three years ago.

I filmed the majority of the marchpast and have Tubed it: I don't have a link but my username is Campana2222; searching for that should work.

EDIT: Got my username wrong!