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Snow and freezing temperatures
brought an extra challenge to the 2nd
Years visiting Plas Pencelli Outdoor
Education Centre in the Brecon
Beacons at the end of March, but did
not seem to hamper their enjoyment
in the activities on offer – climbing,
canoeing, gorge scrambling and
mountain walking. n
Whilst the snow earlier in the term
brought many challenges to transport
and sporting fixtures, it also brought
much fun to the boarders. n
The 450th Anniversary
The 450th anniversary of John Roysse’s
endowment of Abingdon School has
been marked by the launch of a website
History of Abingdon School in 63 Objects
(www.abingdon.org.uk/63objects)and an
exhibition in Abingdon County Hall Museum
– From Abingdon to Zanzibar – people and
places associated with Abingdon School
over 450 years. The exhibition closed on
21 April but there will be a chance to see it
in the School later in the year.
On the anniversary of the day itself, 31
January, the 1st Years laid a wreath on
John Roysse’s tomb in St Helen’s Church,
visited the museum exhibition, heard a talk
in the old schoolroom on the history of the
School and got an idea of what education
was like in the past. That evening, the
annual New Year Concert marked the
occasion with a special performance of
a sixteenth-century composition, William
Byrd’s The Earl of Oxford’s March, played
by a brass ensemble.
On 27 February, a large audience were entertained in the old schoolroom by a witty
and knowledgeable talk on the history of the School from Michael St John Parker,
headmaster 1975-2001. n
Visiting the exhibition
From Abingdon to Zanzibar
Laying a wreath on
John Roysse’s tomb
John Roysse’s coat of arms on The Lodge,
restored for the 450th anniversary
Experimenting
with writing on
a slate
Snow
The Community Service Tea Party Chess Champions
Jeff Abraham and
Joseph Truran,
joint winners of the
Wiltshire Junior Open
Chess Championships
in February.