Old Blues’ Day 2005 – Peter Newman
Saturday 17th September saw over three hundred Old Blues come back to Horsham for Old Blues’ Day. As the sun beat down on the Quad, many of the visitors made for Big School for an informal chat and the chance to grab a coffee. Also on offer was the opportunity to purchase some of the surplus stock from the old School Shop which was offering old copies of The Blue, books about Christ’s Hospital and paintings of the school.
After this, with pupils swarming through the Quad on the way to classes, many of the Old Blues took the opportunity to visit the library, watch the marching or visit the displays of creativity in the Art School or Design and Technology block. Adrian Bawtree, Old Blue, Music Master and Organist at Christ’s Hospital kindly put on excerpts from Make More Sale – an original and new musical telling of the story of the Battle of Trafalgar in the Theatre after lunch.
Other activities on offer included shooting in the Armoury or taking a swim in the late afternoon. Many of the Old Blues attended a more formal lunch that offered the opportunity to renew old acquaintances before wandering out to Big Side to watch one of a host of the school’s teams playing rugby or onto the all-weather pictures to watch the girls playing hockey.
Perhaps the most significant event of the day, however, was the first public meeting of the newly formed Christ’s Hospital Association, which was held in the morning for the Section Secretaries of the former CH Club’s Regional Branches. This was really the first opportunity for these Old Blues – many of whom act as a lifeline for connected Old Blues in disparate parts of the world – to get together and meet the people driving the Association.
Each of the important people which make up the Advisory Board were introduced by Sara Voice, the Association’s Manager, as was the organisation of the Association which will see the officers rotated on a three year cycle. Each of the members of the Board was introduced to the Secretaries and their roles and experiences briefly explained.
The Section Secretaries were then shown the website of the CHA and the easiest way to use it by its co-creator Julian Taylor. Afterwards Wendy Killner was given a round of applause and thanked for all the help she has given to Sara, the CH Club and the Association. Diana Gould, former Christ’s Hospital Club Chairman, was presented with an impressive bouquet of flowers for all her hard work easing the cross-over.
Finally, the need for innovation and feedback from the Regional Sections was reinforced by Chairman John Gower who wanted to stress that in order for all Old Blues to get the most out of the Association, the best way is to let people know what we actually want.
The day came to a close with a Choral Evensong, held in the cavernous Chapel. The event saw a mixed choir of Old Blues and present pupils singing with the additional help of congregational participation.