Pupils at Queen Elizabeth’s School enjoyed themselves at the end of term with all the festivities, but also made time to remember those less fortunate than themselves during the season of goodwill.
The last few days of term featured the traditional Service of Nine Lessons and Carols in Chipping Barnet Parish Church; Christmas dinner at the School with all the trappings; and a trio of charity activities in the borough.
Headmaster Neil Enright said: “Our carol service was magnificent – a spectacularly rousing evening. The music really was excellent, with a variety of arrangements used to make traditional tunes and texts feel fresh and resonate.
“The readers did well, too – and with the internal scaffolding above the chancel steps removed, following the completion of repair works following recent storm damage – the packed church was looking splendid.
“The carol service, combined with the charity work, made a fitting footnote to a year that has seen high success for the School. I wish all current QE families, staff, alumni and other friends of the School an enjoyable holiday and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.”
The service at St John the Baptist Church featured congregational singing of some seasonal favourites, starting with Once in Royal David’s City. The School’s musicians played a full part, with the Barbershop and Chamber Choir performing some less well-known pieces, including carols from France and Austria. Members of QE’s growing cohort of organists took part, too, with Year 8’s Gabriel Ward, Zach Fernandez, of Year 9, and final-year student Joel Swedensky all playing before the start of the service.
The Barbershop were also in action at Barnet Grange care home, where they sang carols for the residents and then spent time chatting with them.
There were School-wide charity collections for Chipping Barnet Foodbank and Homeless Action in Barnet, and for Sebby’s Corner, a charity based just around the corner from the School on the Queen’s Road industrial estate, with which QE has formed a new partnership this year.
Pupils and staff donated non-perishable food, clothing and toiletries, as well as new toys for children who might otherwise go without this year.
Christmas dinner at the School proved as popular as ever, with Year 7 in particular eager to don their paper hats from their crackers!
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