from the Soham Grammarian, Spring 1962
The target of £400, our share towards the local Schools' effort for the Soham Swimming Pool Fund, has now been reached. The bulk of the money came from the Garden Party and the Christmas dramatic productions; money was also raised by a Physical Education Display, an Evening of Speech and Music, and a concert organised by Mrs Ross.
THE SCHOOL GARDEN PARTY
It is not easy to write in February about an event which took place last July; but such are the demands of a School Magazine which comes out only twice a year - and, after all, the weather was not so very different.
A damp and chilly Saturday morning saw the last-minute touches being given to a project which had occupied the School in one way or another for much of the Summer Term. As it happened, it was perhaps as well that many events had been planned for indoors, though the regular supporter of English garden parties is by now sufficiently inured to the rigours of the English summer to be able to ignore them; and indeed the lack of sun did not deter the visitors from watching such varied entertainments as the cricket match against the Old Boys, a gymnastic display on the lawns, an open-air performance of "The Ugly Duckling", and the School Scout Troop's display, with its enormously popular aerial ride.
Indoors, the visitor could wander from Modern Art (as interpreted by the Sixth Form) to the Mathematics Exhibition, which must have opened many eyes to the artistic possibilities of mathematical forms; passing on his way an exhibition of pottery and woodwork, a collection of historical models, and an ingenious display based on the four School Houses.
Upstairs, a non-stop performance of films about School life and careers attracted many parents, while Biological and Roman remains provided a restful contrast. On stage in the Assembly Hall could be seen a continuous programme, which included a lively French conversation lesson, a Latin play and songs, and 2H's operetta "School and Crossbones".
In addition to this intellectual feast, teas were provided on the lawns, and in the Dining Hall. Inevitably, this bare catalogue fails to convey the many pleasures of a hectic afternoon ; suffice it to say that the School made many friends, a substantial sum was raised for the Soham Swimming Pool Fund, and - for the hardy survivors - the Old Boys and the Sixth Form combined to end the day with a Dance.
source Ivan Whymer 56 - does anyone have a better quality version?
see also some of this event in a film compilation
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page created 4 Nov 10: updated 12 Mar 20