Without question, an excellent Founder’s Day!

Guest of Honour Edmund Watson urged the congregation at QE’s Founder’s Day thanksgiving service to ask good questions – about themselves, about others and about the world around them. 

His address in Chipping Barnet Parish Church came at the start of Founder’s Day, which is a highlight of QE’s calendar. The service featured traditional prayers for the School, Bible readings, hymns and music by Vivaldi, Brahms, Rutter and Hubert Parry.

Dr Watson (OE 1999–2006), a junior doctor who excelled at Oxford University and in his medical studies, and hopes to become a consultant, told the boys at the service: “As you go through the rest of your careers at QE, use those wonderful brains of yours to think, and to make the most of this remarkable School environment – whose 443rd Birthday we celebrate today – to help you become masters of asking good questions.”

Afterwards, the boys, staff and guests processed to the School, where Headmaster Neil Enright made the traditional roll call in front of the Main Building. The School Chronicle, a regularly updated account of QE’s history, was also read aloud – a tradition started by Mr Enright’s predecessor, Ernest H Jenkins, in 1930. The VIP party included: Chairman of Governors Barrie Martin and his wife, Perin; the Headmaster; Dr Watson, his wife, Emma, and parents; Rector of Chipping Barnet Reverend Chris Ferris; and the Deputy Mayor of Barnet, Cllr Sury Khatri and his wife and Deputy Mayoress, Tara Khatri.

With the formal proceedings completed, at 1pm the eagerly awaited Founder’s Day Fete, organised by the Friends of Queen Elizabeth’s, got under way. New attractions this year included an Indian dancing display by the Bollywood Dance Academy, while there was also an appearance by Leon the Magician, a performance by the School Orchestra conducted by Director of Music Cheryl Horne and a fencing demonstration by the Paul Davis Fencing Academy.

The international food tent once again proved popular, with food from India, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, West Africa and Turkey all featuring, and the Sri Lankan food stall reporting record takings. Hungry guests in fact enjoyed choice aplenty: there was a barbecue and a cake stall, while the Sai School Appeal (in aid of a rural school supported by QE in Kerala, India) offered milkshakes in various flavours, such as mango and Oreo.

Field events included a tug-o-war and the annual Stanley Busby Memorial Cricket Match between old boys of the School and the current First XI. The Old Elizabethans batted first, amassing 139-6, while the boys replied with 140-4, winning with one ball to spare. The high scorers, both of whom were unbeaten, were alumnus Sebastian Feszczur-Hatchett (2007-2014), on 67, and current pupil Harry Riley on 59.

Mr Enright said: “With the bad weather holding off, we enjoyed a thoroughly pleasant afternoon, with good attendance and many people staying longer than the official 4pm end time. My thanks go to the indomitable volunteers of FQE, whose months of hard work helped make the day such a success.”