This year King’s College, Taunton has been celebrating the 50th anniversary of a key moment in the history of the school: the arrival of the first girl pupils.
To mark the occasion, a Spring Fair was held to coincide with the school’s annual alumni day, and was officially opened with speeches from former pupil Kate Vaughan-France, Headmaster Richard Biggs and School Chaplain Father Mark. With live music from the King’s College Big Band filtering across the grounds towards the girls’ cricket matches taking place, the whole event captured the spirit of a village green fête.
Pupils from each of the school’s boarding houses ran a variety of stalls that included traditional offerings such as a tombola, coconut shy, and welly throwing, through to the more modern activity of paintball shooting. Carriage rides added a real sense of occasion, and the Parents and Friends Association tea room ensured everyone was suitably refreshed with hot drinks and handmade cakes. The fun dog show was well attended, with over 30 dogs battling it out for titles such as ‘cutest canine’, ‘waggiest tail’ and ‘the judge’s favourite’.
Concluding the day was a beautiful evensong in the school Chapel, led by Father Mark, and a choir of pupils, staff, parents and friends.
Commenting, Housemistress Lisa Cashmore, who, alongside our other two housemistresses organised the event, said “The Spring Fair was the perfect celebration of the wonderfully inclusive community we have at King’s. The school was turned in to a village fête for a few hours, allowing around 650 people to enjoy some old fashioned fun together. The girls’ cricket matches, featuring a high standard of play by the King’s, Somerset and club teams, made a statement as to not only how far the school has come in terms of co-education, but also how we are seeking to move forward for the next 50 years and beyond”.
The event raised in excess of £3,500, with more money still coming in. These funds will be going to the Malala Fund, a charity chosen by the girls’ houses, which aims to make it possible for every girl in the world to go to school. There could be not be a more appropriate and worthy cause.