With apologies to George Formby: ‘They’re  absolutely marvellous and wonderful and beautiful’....... not just the ukulele band from the PE department, but the whole group of teachers who rose magnificently to the Grade One Challenge and who were even courageous enough to face the entire school in an (almost) impromptu, surprise concert in the Holst Hall on an ordinary Monday afternoon.

Usually when the school gathers in the Holst Hall it’s for assembly; imagine the roars of approval and looks of astonishment and delight when compere Miss Polly Evernden leapt onto the stage to announce the programme. And what a performance: words can’t do justice to the sheer bravado of the team as they strummed, bowed, plucked and worked their fingers frantically up and down keys and slides, blew on reeds or opened wide their mouths to deliver with passion the life-long lessons of their songs. It would be invidious to pick anyone out for special mention.......but it has to be done: flushed with the success of her Crocodile Song, the Headmistress on vocals joined  Mrs Jean Larkman and Mr Dan Monks on bass guitar and Miss Gina Thomson on drums to deliver The Who’s ‘My Generation’. There must be a former life we know nothing about. Good job our musical tastes are eclectic: we also had ‘Oom-Pah-Pah’, ‘Hawaii 5-O’, some fabulous harmonies from ‘Home and Away’ crooners Mr Dan Monks and Mrs Marilyn Harper, and some Magic Flute from other talented teachers, clearly wasted in their day jobs. This must surely rank as the most unexpected musical event of the year. It brought the house down; we just had time to recover with some very classy jazz from Mr Howard Peacock and Mr Andrew Hicklenton on piano before the bell went.

But as compere Polly Evernden advised the masses, make a note of this date because today we heard and saw it all.

It’s a great cause, the new Community Music Centre, and the loyalty and commitment of the staff helping to get us started on our quest is a reflection of the kind of school we are. It’s good to have fun together at the end of a busy year. Anyone moved to sponsor the staff can still do so online on the JACMC section of this website. Have a look at the full page spread on us in the TES 19/6/09. Thank you.