The Beating Heart of Christ's Hospital

Christ’s Hospital is surely one of the region’s most recognisable institutions and nothing perhaps represents all that the school stands for than its marching band. Every day, at about twenty past one, the band starts to play in the main quad of the school as the other pupils file into the dining hall. It’s a very visual representation of the dedication and commitment of the band members some of who go on to pursue professional musical careers. And it’s something the school and pupils are immensely proud of as it also epitomises the ethos of the school – hard work, commitment and excellence.

Humble beginnings

Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe, originally suggested the idea of a band in 1728. But it wasn’t until 1868 that some of the pupils requested that instruments be purchased to enliven their marching drill. The Treasurer of Christ’s Hospital agreed and, with money from his own pocket, purchased a few instruments and paid the salary of the first Band Master.

In 1872, the newly established band played in public for the first time, in front of the American Ambassador General Robert Schenck who was visiting the boys’ school then at Newgate Street in the City of London. As the band performed, boys paraded in groups with flag bearers out in front. Although girls at Christ’s Hospital, Hertford, began to learn to play musical instruments from at least 1875, it was more than one hundred years later before they were able to join the boys in the band, after the transfer of the girls to the school site at Horsham in 1985.

Now, over 100 young musicians make up the famous band with a mixture of oboes, piccolos, tubas and drums. Senior school posts within the band include the Band Captain, Assistant Band Captain, Senior Drummer and Senior Drum Major. The Band Master, Terry Whittingham, joined Christ’s Hospital in 1999 having formerly been Band Master of the Grenadier Guards and Queen’s Own Highlanders. The most famous member of the band has been Sir Colin Davis, who started with a clarinet and later also played the bassoon.

One of the best school marching bands in the world

Apart from daily playing, today, the band has an impressive record of engagements. It accompanies the school on its annual parade through the City of London on St Matthew’s Day and also performs at Lord’s and Twickenham (RFU).

The band took part in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Parade, marching down the Mall and then past the Royal family. And in what was a truly memorable weekend, last November the band both marched in The Lord Mayor’s Show and led The People’s Procession for the centenary of the Armistice in London.

Every year, the band also rounds off the academic year with an hour-long display of marching and counter-marching as a tribute to those who are leaving. This Beating the Retreat ceremony is a chance for family members to join pupils in the quad for a picnic. They’ve even taken this performance elsewhere, including the Tower of London in 1997 to commemorate the one hundredth anniversary of the laying of the Foundation Stone of the new school on farmland at Horsham in 1897.

Celebrating 150 years

As it marks its 150th year, the band and the school have pulled out all the stops. In May, they took part in the Children’s Parade in Brighton for the first time. Then as the sun set on Saturday the 22nd June, pupils, staff, family and friends gathered in the quad to listen to the band as the light faded and the surrounding buildings were lit up with a myriad of twinkling lights.

Finally, on the 13th October, members of the public will have a chance to see the band perform, as they march through Horsham town centre as part of the Horsham District Year of Culture.

This remarkable band, which requires daily practice and commitment, forms a major and traditional part of the school. It epitomises the high standards they strive for at Christ’s Hospital and their uniqueness as a school. It’s a rare and magical spectacle to witness this 100 strong band in their distinctive tunics, and it seems to capture both a sense of the past and the optimism of the future in a peculiarly special way. Long may they continue to march.