Founder’s Day Celebration:
In a change from the established format, it was decided to incorporate this year’s celebration into the Minister’s normal Sunday evensong service, which takes place at 4 pm most Sundays. This change has been made in the hope that more Old Boys and their guests would be able to attend.
The move proved to be a success in that slightly more Old Boys attended, and the congregation was augmented by the regular Sunday evensong attendees.
It is the Minster choir who largely create the atmosphere and make evensong the inspiring occasion it is. As ever they sang magnificently, led with his usual panache by the Revd Canon Hilary Barber, assisted by the almost — but not quite — overpowering Minister organ.
Included were two readings familiar to generations of Heathens, Ephesians ch. 6, read by John Robertshaw, and the patrician Ecclesiasticus ch. 44, proclaimed by Grayham P. Smith. There were also the splendid hymns — Bunyan’s ‘He who would valiant be’ and Heath’s own end of term favourite ‘Those returning ... make more faithful than before.’
Finally we all repaired to the West End of the Minster, where the bust of Dr Favour had been gazing benevolently (we hope) down upon us, not too dismayed at having no chaplet this year. Jim Farrell read the memorable lines of doggerel supposedly found on the old school house (see page 6 of the HOBA Newsletter 2022), which concluded another successful HOBA event.
Thanks to the Committee for organising, to Revd Canon Hilary Barber for hosting and to all those who attended.
Rod Eastwood [1954–1961]
You can read a scan of the full order of service in a PDF.
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