St Edmund's Day Celebrations 2009

Date: Tuesday 17 November 2009

This year, the third year of a three-year cycle, saw the festival of St Edmund of Abingdon celebrated in a 'low key' day, with none of the major excursions and outings of the last two Novembers. Instead, there was a new and so far unique experience of sharing celebrations with St Edmund's College from Ware in a Cathedral service; equally new, and so far unique was the experience of 'Strictly St Edmund's' - our version of the hugely popular TV show.

The day started with each of the Senior School Houses drinking the traditional toast to St Edmund in ginger wine (or ale) and jammy doughnuts. The Chapel Choir were then bussed to the Cathedral for a morning of rehearsal and acquaintance - getting to know their Ware counterparts - while the School enjoyed a normal morning of lessons.

The Service began at 2.30pm in a reasonably full Cathedral, with pupils occupying the centre of the Nave, and parents in the South Aisle. And what a service it was, superb in every way from the Organ Voluntaries which preceded it, to the final hymn, prayers and blessing. No one would have known that the event marked the public debuts of new Chaplain, Robert Prance, and new Director of Music, William Bersey. Each choral piece was apposite, and meticulously prepared - the little Abingdon House singers earning their ovation for 'Thank You, Lord, for this Day', and the congregation enjoyed the challenge of getting to grips with the St Edmund's Ware patronal hymn - three verses out of a possible seven. Dean Robert Willis preached, as ever, with real meaning, and certainly encouraged, by his story of the Tanzanian boy Lazarus, the congregation to dig deep and swell a collection designed to help Cornerstone Nursery School in Arusha.

Then came the one event of the evening, the Mark Sell/Liz Sears production of 'Strictly St Edmund's'. An audience of nearly 400 filled the Concert Hall, and revelled in the entertainment provided for the better part of two hours. Nine celebrity couples, each featuring a member of staff and a pupil, under the critical scrutiny of eagle-eyed judges, fought it out for the title of champion. Interludes were filled by the comic compering of Leigh Millard and Liz Sears, by the new Jazz Choir, and by 'professional' dancers, local dance champions Harry Keep and Summer Carroll. After a dance off, the winners, by audience demand were Helena Millard and her partner Declan Connor, whose footwork on the football field will now be under even closer scrutiny! Runners-up were Mark Sell and his partner Emily Betham, who performed an athletic tango - twice!

There are too many people to thank individually for their contributions to the day, but they know who they are and my thanks go out to them. What did today prove? That St Edmund's Day does not need off campus activities to make it a success and in-house events, though very hard work to put on, are often more satisfying than a day on a coach to Thorpe Park. The pattern for 2010 is not set in stone - I would have thought a day similar to this one would not be out of place.