A song from my childhood keeps recurring to me – “If you go down to the woods today you’re in for a big surprise!” I suspect that many of you will recognise this as the opening words of the ‘Teddy Bears’ Picnic’ , a wonderful 1930s song. I am reminded of it because I went down to the woods on Wednesday – in particular to our Woodland School – and had a big surprise. The recently appointed Head Gardener of Christ Church and his wonderful team are in the process of transforming the wood into an even more brilliant Woodland School. Hedges are being built, wigwams made from willows, cooking areas, bug hotels, a pond, several seating areas are being constructed – it is going to be extraordinary and will be a most wonderful resource for us. I am very grateful to the Christ Church gardening team and for Mr Robards who is overseeing the project. We will bring you news as it happens but over the course of the next few weeks and months you will see the transformation of the place. Part of this will happen naturally as many of the features will come into being through plant growth. Do go and have a look when you come to watch a match or have a walk round the Meadow.

On Monday evening I went to the Wigmore Hall in London to see the Cathedral Choristers perform at the beginning of a year in which we celebrate the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the Cathedral choir in 1526. Not a spare seat was to be had in that beautiful auditorium. The major piece that they performed was John Taverner’s Western Wynd Mass. Taverner was the College’s first organist and the premier and most famous musician of his day - Wolsey would only have the best for his new foundation. The mass was composed very soon after his appointment and was composed for his new choir. It is a very lengthy complex mass based upon a common song of the time which many people knew with a simple but haunting words:

“Western wind, when wilt thou blow/That the small rain down can rain/Christ, that my love were in my arms/And I in my bed again!”

Taverner takes this tune and weaves a highly complex mass from it – throughout one can hear the tune being passed around, being modulated and weaved between different parts in the most complex and creative way. It was a joy to see our boys performing alongside the adults of the back rows, singing some of the most complex music written to a professional standard. As this major year in our history begins, I thought it worth reflecting upon the extraordinary legacy with which we have been entrusted to help maintain and what a wonderful example it is of what boys of this age are capable of achieving if they are believed in and if they believe in themselves.

This week I have been the proud possessor of the ski trip’s emergency phone. That has meant I have the privilege of being on the Whatsapp group and have therefore received all the photos of the trip. It is clear that the pupils (and indeed staff from what I can see) are having a wonderful time, skiing, sledging and consuming amongst other things. As I sit here in the rain and the dark, I look with envy at the snow, at the sun and feel the crisp mountain air. Thank you so much to Madame Loyer, Mr Boarder and Mr Davies for all their hard work in ensuring that the mountain fun continues.

At lunchtime today I asked one of the boys whether they had had a good Christmas. They told me that they had received a lovely present from Santa. I asked rather innocently how Santa had known what present to choose. The boy looked at me rather witheringly. “I didn’t ask Santa because he doesn’t exist. ” “Oh, ” I responded sounding slightly disappointed. “As you would know. ” He continued. “How would I know he didn’t exist?” I asked “Because Santa is your parents and you are a parent. ” I suppose, upon reflection, that I should have known!