In this week of national remembrance, all Year 9 History classes have been undertaking an archival research project to find out more about Gresham’s and its pupils at the time of the First World War. Classes have been introduced to documents from the Gresham’s Archive by School Archivist Izzy Farrow. These included photographs, prospectuses, school magazines, books, medals and other contemporary documents. All the pupils enjoyed a unique opportunity to get ‘hands-on’ experience with original sources relating to Gresham’s and the First World War. 

Our U14A rugby team met with Finborough School on Saturday 5th November. Both teams played extremely well and the opponents made for a great match. We left the pitch triumphant with the game finishing 26-21, with tries from Toby G (2), Alec A and Daniel M. Player of the match was Alec A. 

The Senior School boarders came together on All Souls Day for a special service to remember those that we love but see no longer. The Chapel was lit with the warm glow of thousands of candles and the choir sung music from the beautiful Faure’s Requiem.

The inaugural Gresham’s School Inter-House target sprint competition took place at the end of January.  Each of the seven Houses entered a Junior team (Year 9 & Year 10) of five competitors and a Senior team (Year 11, Year 12 & Year 13), also containing five competitors. The event was adapted slightly, in order to make it very spectator friendly and also to allow those that had not done very much shooting the opportunity to be competitive. Each competitor was required to run 200 meters before coming into the air rifle range and shooting down five targets. Once the five targets had been knocked down then the next runner set off around the track. The event was made slightly more exciting as it was run under floodlight, at 8 o’clock in the evening. Both the track and the range were floodlit to create a wonderful atmosphere.

A huge congratulations, and thank you, must go to all those that took part and that were involved in the event. Particularly well done to Howson’s for winning the Junior trophy and to Oakeley for winning the Senior trophy. Oakeley also won the overall trophy, so very well done to them.

On Saturday night we held our annual Bunfire Night on the Senior School grounds. Relocating this year to the new venue by the Auden Theatre proved hugely successful, and despite the rain over 500 members of the School community were in attendance. FOGS kindly offered refreshment stands throughout the evening to support the busy food vendors. Farfield, Edinburgh and Tallis jointly won the Guy Competition with their various eclectic efforts. The grounds team with the support of the Headmaster put on a great display for the crowd; all in all the event raised nearly £2000 for our School Charity, The Holt Youth Project.

Our stunning Chapel was given a fresh look last week as we received delivery of two beautiful new altar frontals. The frontals have been created by the talented team of broderers at Norwich Cathedral as a kind gift from FOGS and the Gresham’s Foundation. The frontals were blessed in a special service by the Archdeacon of Lynn.