Our first College Sunday parade of the new academic year had a fresh feel.  A large audience of parents, past parents, and families were in attendance, including many new parents who gathered for drinks organised by the Pangbourne Parents’ Association (PPA) afterwards in Devitt House. The first parade took place on Sunday 24 September following a Service in The Falkland Islands Memorial Chapel.

The Service was led by our Chaplain, The Reverend Neil Jeffers, who preached engagingly on The Prodigal Son. Our College Choir, conducted by Mr George Picker, Assistant Director of Music, sang Howard Goodall’s well-known anthem, ‘The Lord is my Shepherd’. Mr Chris McDade, Director of Music, accompanied the anthem and hymns on the organ.

The Head is always the Guest of Honour at the first College Sunday parade of a new academic year. It is an opportunity for those pupils in new leadership roles, and Sixth Form students and Year 9 to 11 pupils who are new to the College to continue to learn the art of the school’s special ceremonial traditions. 

This year our SSI, Mr Paul Radford, has created a new format for our College Sunday parades, so even for those who have been at the College for a long time felt it had a ‘fresh feel’ to it. Our new Upper Sixth demonstrated clearly that they were up for the challenge. 

Our parades are a valuable means of every individual in Year 9 to Upper Sixth learning to ‘pull together’ for a common theatrical purpose. Performing to a large audience seven times a year builds confidence and resilience. For a number of pupils, this was their first time playing in our Marching Band. 

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