OKA ARTICLES
Memories
Memories
Sports Days
In his book The Power in a School William Ingram describes Sports Day as the “outstanding feature of the Schoolyear” when white rails enclosed “the arena with row upon row of cars drawn up behind them” and “conspicuous against their background of tall trees, the long white marquees where teas were provided for well over a thousand visitors in addition to the School personnel”. It’s somewhat different now - let’s take a look at the history of the Kimbolton School sports day and how it has changed over the last 100 years. Despite the School having no playing-fields of its own, in 1914 Ingram was determind to revive Sports Day and hold a new type of event - one with a detailed programme that would interest and engage visitors from start to finish. Keen for everyone to be kept away from the school buildings and the then ‘meagre’ accommodation, he gained permission to use the Kimbolton cricket ground and the meticulous planning began; invitations were sent out to parents, Governors, county Education Directors, the Press and to the Rt Hon Earl of Sandwich to present the prizes. The programme included some interesting races and events, including a Swedish Drill Display, a Staff Race, an Egg & Spoon Race for the Mothers and a Flower-Pot Race... All appeared in subsequent Sports Days apart from the Mothers race because the mothers in those days “were not good mixers” and “the fashionable hobble-skirts of Bond Street were beaten hopelessly ... by the homely wider garments of the countryside”! Ingram’s first Sports Day paved the way for the growth of the School; when the Earl of Sandwich left he said to Ingram “You must build a Public School for Huntingdonshire” giving him the inspiration to start development. In 1924 six and a half acres were leased, followed by a further eight and a half in 1931. In 1932 Kimbolton School hosted its first Sports Day on its own playing fields - Ingram recorded the arrival of 1200 parents and 300 cars on this occasion. This style of event, albeit not quite so big, lived on until the 1970s and, to a lesser degree into the 80s. Many OKs will remember both the Prep and Senior School Sports Days being quite an occassion. The Prep School event still is; on the last Friday of the summer term families and friends can be seen unloading the picnics from their cars parked The earliest Sports Day Programme in the OK Archives was for Sports Day 100 years ago - 26 May 1920.
1935 Sports Day Swedish Drill Display
26
www.oks.co.uk
near the Welsted Pavilion and setting up their chairs (and sometimes tables and gazebos!) in a position overlooking the athletics track. It’s a full day event and involves all pupils from Reception to Year 6. Meanwhile, up at the Senior School the sports day format has had to be adapted to accommodate the increasing pupil numbers and school activities, and to work around the forever changing public exam schedule and study leave dates for 5th and U6th formers
