The talk was followed by the singing of three songs which were associated with that day 80 years ago. We sang Coming in on a Wing and a Prayer, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Keep the Home Fires Burning, three songs that meant so much to the people of the time. I was very struck by the way in which our boys, so young, from so many different places in the world, sang the songs. They sang them with vigour and commitment as if they had been in Trafalgar Square in 1945. I found the whole experience very moving. All around them the boys see the fruits of that great day - democracy, a free society and a place in which families can make decisions about where they wish to live and what they wish to do.

And yet of course we must be aware that there is a war raging in Europe as we speak and so many conflicts elsewhere in the world. It is more important than ever that our pupils realise the benefits of peace and harmony, those vital and precious concepts which are so very important and which so many people died for all those years ago.

It was very good to see the photos from the national celebration at Westminster Abbey in the presence of the King and Queen. Central to the service, of course, was the Dean of Westminster, the Very Revd David Hoyle whom we welcomed to the school last term. Every term we have interesting and varied speakers who come to Cathedral Assembly on Friday mornings. Do please feel free to come to these assemblies - you are more than welcome. So many parents tell me that they love the opportunity that the services bring to have a quiet time at the end of the week and to listen to fascinating people talking about moving ideas and concepts. There is always coffee afterwards to which all parents are invited and to which many come. It’s a delightful occasion when we have the opportunity to spend time with one another. The parental body is a vital part of the school.

I have had the privilege this week of attending two IPQ presentations. We have introduced the IPQ this year, a project designed by the ISEB, the board who are responsible for the Common Pre-Test and Common Entrance. The idea is to give senior pupils the opportunity to write an extended project about a topic of their choice. Having done so they are required to give a presentation to an audience. So on Tuesday and Thursday this week, all of the boys in Form 7 spoke to a group of parents and teachers about their chosen areas of interest. I was fascinated by the variety of subjects chosen. There were projects about space, AI, town planning, trains in America, films, environmental matters, the history of language - the list goes on and on. Clearly a great deal of research has been done. I was also impressed by the confidence that the boys displayed. Many, of course, are natural public communicators, while others find it more difficult. Nonetheless, everybody spoke and everybody spoke so well. I consider the ability to communicate to be a real attribute in life and I am delighted by how the whole process went. The project will now be externally assessed and the boys will receive a qualification which we will be able to send to senior schools. I want to thank Mrs. Fairhurst for introducing and coordinating the whole thing and Mr Boarder who spent a considerable amount of time helping the boys in the preparation of their projects.

It was delightful to spend part of Wednesday afternoon over on Merton Field watching cricket. However much I admire rugby and football, there is something very special about the moment when our pupils appear in whites and we know that the cricket season is underway - the moment when Willow and leather come together and that wonderful, complex, sophisticated and civilised game starts to unfold. Do try to get down to the field this term, especially as the Pavilion comes on stream over the next few weeks.

In fact today a very moving thing happened. I was handed a set of keys by the Christ Church Clark of Works. This does not necessarily sound a particularly exciting thing, but when I tell you that they were the keys to the Pavilion, I’m sure you will understand the significance this moment - 10:30 am on 9th May. We will now be able to use the pavilion - I repeat, we will now be able to use the Pavilion! Hooray!! Await further details.

Talking about cricket whites, one of the parents told me that they had been stopped in the street when coming to school with their son clad in whites by a passer by who commented upon the all white clothing that the School seemed to have chosen as its uniform. Perhaps we should consider making cricket whites the official uniform of the school all year round! That would keep us in a summery mood, even in January!