Chapel Flowers

It is clear that our education must not make us merely clever at words and technology, but that a spirit must get into our solution of these problems — a spirit, it seems to me, that is above and beyond what is human. And that is why this Chapel again turns out to be central, whether you are a conventional believer or an agnostic, or an atheist. In the centre of Chapel is the Cross. Its shape is both the I crossed out, selfishness crossed out, and the gesture of forgiveness. It is a symbol of the Spirit that must get into us if we are to survive.

And here, at last, is my text, from Paul's letter to the Colossians, Chapter 3, Verse 14: "To crown all, there must be love, to bind all together and complete the whole".

The hard winter which limited decorating so severely earlier on made final bountiful amends in time for Commemoration. The roses which should have bloomed in June suddenly filled the gardens in mid July and for the last weekend of the summer term the Chapel was full of them. We had pink and red and flame, with copper foliage and white syringa and, in the centre window, a lacing of bright blue cornflowers which intensified the blue of John Brown's hanging crucifix.

Back in October, Harvest brought a riot of glowing colour and fascinating shapes, and every ledge and resting place overflowed as the Olavites carried in a bumper collection of fruit and vegetables and sheaves, with jam and eggs and tea and tins and two magnificent harvest loaves. Red and silver and evergreens, with the fairy lights on the two Christmas trees always bring the Chapel warmly alive for the December carols each year. In the Spring the girls in St. Peter's arranged a profusion of daffodils and tulips for the service for Jillian Harness. And there were more massed vases for the Confirmation, held this year in June instead of March.

Our School Chapel does need a mass of colour to look effective. Small arrangements get "lost". So it has been difficult indeed this year to provide for all those "ordinary" weeks in between the highlights! Our faithful band of helpers is VERY small these days and everyone of them has a host of other commitments besides. We have said goodbye to one or two who have left and gladly welcomed two or three newcomers. But we would love to see many more to swell the numbers of arrangers, or even just to bring along some flowers or greenery from time to time for others to arrange. PLEASE consider whether you could help, even just once a year perhaps, and give your name to one of us or to the Office. None of us are experts but I think we all feel it is worth some effort to make the Chapel more colourful and attractive, both for services and as a place to spend a few quiet moments in the day or even just to practice in.

Our thanks as always go to all those of you who already do contribute in various ways. And this includes parents, boys and girls, wives of governors, staff and friends. Thank you for your gifts in cash and in kind, for your help and your encouragement. The results do not go unappreciated. And a special word of thanks to the Chapel cleaners and porters. They put up most patiently with all our mess and the sometimes mountainous piles