From the archive

We look back at the celebrations for the 200th and 250th anniversaries of Churcher’s College...

200th anniversary – a royal visit There was much delight in Petersfield when Princess Beatrice agreed to open the Bicentenary Bazaar at Churcher’s College, which at that time held just 160 pupils. On the day, Princess Beatrice arrived by motor from Southampton and was escorted through Petersfield before proceeding to Churcher’s. She was received at the Clock Tower by a Guard of Honour of the O.T.C. and welcomed in the Assembly Hall by Sir Heath Harrison Bart, Chairman of the Governors, who said that it was the first occasion on which any member of the Royal Family had visited the College. After accepting a gift of a model of the College crest – a ship in full sail – the Princess declared the Bazaar open. She made a short tour around the stalls before taking her leave and proceeding on her way to London. The following day, the Headmaster received a telegram from the equerry: “Her Royal Highness was much pleased with everything yesterday. Princess Beatrice hopes that the boys may be given a few days extra holiday”. Consequently, with the Governors’ consent, the boys were given three extra days holiday the following Easter. 250th anniversary – Service of Thanksgiving The 250th anniversary was celebrated in a Service of Thanksgiving and Intercession in St. Peter’s Church on 2nd May. After the service, the Churcher’s College Contingent of the Combined Cadet Force paraded in the Market Square and marched back to the College headed by the Band of the Royal Marines. A most impressive and inspiring display of marching was then given by the Band and the proceedings ended with tea for guests on the South Lawn.

Jon Faulconer (72) CCF Senior Cadet

“A Service of Thanksgiving was held in St Peter’s Church in Petersfield to commemorate Churcher’s 250th anniversary in 1972 and the CCF attended in uniform. Following the service, the Cadets were formed up in the Square in front of the church prior to marching back to the College. We went down High Street and then up College Street, past the original Churcher’s College building and then Ramshill to the College. In 1972, College Street and Ramshill were part of the main A3 that ran through Petersfield; needless to say, the Police had cleared the traffic along our route. The Headmaster, Mr David Goodfield, arranged for a Royal Marine band to lead the parade back to the College. We were also proud to have the Standard of the Combined Cadet Forces which was paraded at the front of the College’s CCF Contingent. Whilst we had our own CCF Corps of Drums, we were unable to use them on this occasion; however, John Rowe, the Bandmaster, had the honour of being the Standard Bearer and his escorts in the Standard Party were armed with 303 rifles.”

Les Mason (72) Captain of College

“I do recall that on the day I was much more engrossed in the pomp and ceremony of the Combined Cadet Force’s parade through the town to mark the founding of the College. We had such a good comradery within the three sections and we all wanted to excel in the showmanship of the march. A small group of us who made up the Colour Guard had been practicing rifle drills for some days previously. We drilled with the trusty Lee Enfield 303’s, a penny slotted into the magazines so that the rifles rattled loudly when the stock was slapped as the arms were presented. Later in the day I recall being driven by the Headmaster, David Goodfield and a number of dignitaries to the church at Funtington. Passing through the lynch gate we went to the tomb and the Headmaster invited me to join him in laying a wreath on the tomb. A few words were spoken to acknowledge Richard Churcher’s role in the founding of the College, and we all returned back to Petersfield. As a matter of fact, I cannot recall whether I was still in my CCF uniform for this event!

I also have vague memories of a tea party on the Headmasters lawn and a dignitary arriving by Wessex helicopter on the Nicholson rugby field. We need to have another get-together of the Class of 72 to knock heads and pull out all those fragments of memory!”

You can access the digital archive and copies of the Churcherian dating back to 1914 in the ‘Archive’ at Churcher’s Community.

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