A message from the Head Master

A MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD MASTER ALASTAIR LAND

It is with great pride but also a sense of humility and honour that the School comes together every five years in the Royal Albert Hall: pride in our tradition and our identity, humility as we acknowledge that the School today is part of something much larger, and honour for Churchill and what his enduring legacy in service and leadership represents.

As tightly woven into the essence of Harrow as the straw in our hats, Songs in Houses, Songs in Speech Room, Songs in gatherings around the world, Songs are in the warp and weft of the fabric and enduring success of Harrow – our fellowship. Songs are the ties that bind and are part of the silver cord of continuity from new Shell boy through distinguished Old Harrovian and on to Giants of Old beyond.

Churchill Songs originated when Old Harrovian Sir Jock Colville (private secretary to the great man) heard the prime minister singing St. Joles in the bath and thought that, in the sterner days of late 1940, he would be cheered by going back to the Hill and singing Harrow songs with the boys. He contacted the Head Master and, within three months, in December 1940, Churchill (accompanied by Old Harrovian members of his cabinet and administration) returned to Harrow. A year later, on his second visit to the School during wartime, Churchill referred, from the stage in Speech Room, to songs as “the most precious inheritance of all Harrovians”. The annual tradition of Churchill Songs was born.

450 has been a splendid anniversary to celebrate this year. We have been lavish in recognising what we have been, and surprised and delighted by what we have discovered in ourselves and our relationships locally, nationally and globally. It is fitting that John Lyon’s Foundation (Harrow School, John Lyon’s Charity, John Lyon School and the Harrow International Schools) has become prominent this year, as all of us look to the enduring inspirational example of our Founder in continuing to commit ourselves resolutely to providing inspiring education and life-enhancing opportunities for young people.

This year, too, we commemorate Her Late Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II, three-times visitor to the School, with a piece of new writing, and we will look forward loyally with unalloyed support for His Majesty King Charles III.

Let Songs begin and fill us with conviction for the years ahead.

Thomas M. Hemy, 1887, engraved by Walter Cox Cricket on the Sixth Form Ground [detail]

JOHN MITCHELL

FINE PAINTINGS

EST 1931

17 AVERY ROW, BROOK STREET, LONDON W1K 4BF TEL: +44 (0)20 7493 7567 WWW.JOHNMITCHELL.NET james@johnmitchell.net @john_mitchell_fine_paintings 91 not out! John Mitchell Fine Paintings have been dealing in traditional British and European paintings for over ninety years and can offer advice on the acquisition, sale, conservation and framing of paintings, and their valuation for probate, insurance, CGT and other purposes. Our family shares in the celebrations of Harrow’s 450th anniversary, and we look forward to welcoming all Old Harrovians and their families to our Mayfair gallery, where a fine selection of historic prints and drawings of the School can be viewed.