Others deliberately flaunt their modernism and forward-thinking.  Very few can take a genuine act of local democracy and, 150 years later, use it as a hook to celebrate its anniversary conveniently at the end of a busy term in an incredibly atmospheric pageant.

And so it was that we gathered on Meads, the historic playing field of the original scholars’ College, to witness ‘Illumina’ – a commemoration of a democratising event in 1862.  To that point the College Scholars were safely insulated from contact with the Commoners by the wall that divided the playing fields of Meads, Chamber Court, Chapel, Hall and ‘School’ from the small Grass Court used by the Commoners.   The Commoners celebrated its removal with a bonfire and the placing of lighted candles in the niches of the surrounding wall.  Once the Commoners were placed in boarding houses in 1869 the scholars kept up the tradition by lighting their accumulated candle stubs and placing them into the wall recesses.

Today, Illumina provides a delightful end to the term that the College idiosyncratically calls ‘Short half’ when parents, pupils and staff can mingle, enjoy seasonal fare, and be serenaded by the Chapel Choir.

This year, the Qs together with the ‘back rows’ of the Chapel Choir assembled in Flint Court to sing a selection of carols.  A compromise was that the choir was amplified to allow those around the bonfire to hear them but making those nearer the action rather sore of ear.  No matter, any discomfort was more than compensated by the joy of witnessing Mr Cunningham and Ms Baldock getting fully into the spirit of the occasion by the impromptu use of four hands on the piano to add depth to the accompaniment – they gave every impression of an Illumina well enjoyed in its execution!  Due praise must also be given for Sam H’s assured solo first verse of ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

The choir then processed over to the bonfire, by now well ablaze, for a rousing rendition of the school song, ‘Dulce Domum’.  Thus the end of Short Half was marked in the most traditional of ways, but with perhaps at least half an eye cocked at the absurdity of it all whilst inwardly taking immense pride in being part of such a great and venerable institution.

Happy Christmas!

Jerry Pett
Q Parent