The sound of pipes and drums and many other pieces of regal music filled the school playground this morning as the whole student body took part in a special Coronation Celebration.
The morning began with local MP Fleur Anderson coming along to plant an oak sapling specially gifted by the All England Lawn Tennis Club, who are situated a stone’s throw from the school. This was part of the Queen’s Jubilee Canopy Project and the donated propagated oak sapling was from a veteran oak tree that dates back to Capability Brown’s era.
After the tree planting ceremony, which was also attended by members of the AELTC including Chairman Ian Hewitt and hosted by the school’s ‘Eco Warriors’, Ms Anderson joined the entire school community of staff, parents, friends and family to settle down and watch the show.
And what a spectacle it was!
Led by Year 5 pupils, through music, acting and dancing, they guided their audience on a journey which began on 14th November 1948, the day of His Majesty’s birth, through to his time growing up at school and university, followed by his investiture as The Prince of Wales on 1st July 1969.
When the period of his military career was portrayed, the pupils with parents in the military processed through the crowd to the song ‘Trooping The Colour’.
There was information included about King Charles’ amazing work with the Princes Trust charity and then we arrived at the time of his Coronation Day tomorrow. Each phase of his life was accompanied by a relevant military tune sung by different year groups and the school’s Chamber Choir. The children were keen to include mention of the Commonwealth in their celebrations and the ceremony ended with the National Anthem and closing prayers.
Songs included: ‘Sing For The King’, ‘Long Live The King’, Message From The King’ and ‘Coronation Day’, all specially written for this auspicious year. The morning culminated in a surprise ‘flash mob’ style singalong of ‘Celebration’ where even the 3 year old Mini St Mike’s nursery pupils took part.
All of the proceedings were watched over by a very regal figure in the form of a six foot four cardboard cut-out of His Majesty! Hopefully this will have inspired him for his very exciting and historic weekend ahead!
There followed a whole school picnic before the children returned to their classrooms for an afternoon of Coronation themed activities.
Each specially invited guest was presented with a commemorative Coronation lapel pin which every child will also be gifted after the bank holiday weekend as a special souvenir of a once in a lifetime event.
