To be a Pilgrim is to be well 'red', Edition 9
Today is Red Nose Day and Pilgrims’ turned red! Through wearing mufti (with the theme of red) and red noses, boys and staff raised money for the amazing charity, Comic Relief, founded in 1985 to drive positive change through the power of entertainment. The charity supports people to break free from poverty, violence and discrimination in the UK and all over the world. Poverty is behind so many of the issues that that Comic Relief tackles. It is not simple, and it is not always easy to see. Comic Relief believes that those who are closest to the issues have the best solutions, so it forms local partnerships with local charities and organisations to make a difference to the people who need support. This week, including in my Head’s assembly on Monday and in long-tutor time today, Pilgrims learnt about the work of Comic Relief, including through the stories of children and young people supported by the charity and its local partners. In the last two years, Comic Relief has partnered with amazing projects and organisations to make a difference to the lives of an incredible 11.7 million people across the UK and around the world.
This year’s theme is “Funny is Power”. Entertainment and comedy have always been an important part of the power of Comic Relief. The charity was founded in a refugee camp in the Sudan by British screenwriter Richard Curtis and philanthropist Jane Tewson in response to global humanitarian and poverty crises abroad. Sir Lenny Henry, the outstanding British comedian, has been one of the driving forces behind Comic Relief’s growth right from the very beginning and was a trustee for over 27 years. In 2017, Lenny resigned as a Trustee and was appointed as an Honorary Life President of the charity.
Today, Pilgrims’ held the final of Pilgrims’ Got Talent in the Octagon and the Quad to coincide with Red Nose Day. With huge thanks to Mr Duncan who organised the wonderful event, to all the boys who entered, and especially the finalists from Year 2 to Year 8 who entertained the boys and parents who made up a wonderful audience. Many congratulations to all the finalists for their talent and showmanship; they were all wonderful. The panel of Miss Dennett, Mrs Beverton, Mr Bryant and myself (complete with red noses and Red Nose Day deely boppers) had a very difficult job to judge the competition. The result: two boys were winners and given honourable mentions. They were Daniel Hu from the Pre-Prep who played the piano with aplomb and Ben Tall from the Prep School for his incredible beat boxing.
After another action-packed week at Pilgrims’, perhaps you will enjoy the Red Nose Day TV show tonight? Thank you for your generosity. Have a lovely exeat, all.