Independent school marks 100th birthday with ball

A BALL was held at Rupert House School in Henley to mark its 100th birthday.

The school in Bell Street invited about 200 current and former staff, pupils and parents to the black-tie event on Saturday, which raised money for two charities.

The prep school first opened its doors to 10 children in 1924 and now has more than 200 pupils attending.

The ball was one of a series of centenary celebrations for the school this year, including an alumni party, a picnic concert on the playing fields and Henley Royal Regatta drinks with the headteacher Nick Armitage.

Funds raised on the night supported the Chiltern Centre and the Mukuru Centre in Nairobi, which helps children and young people across five different sites including schools and maternity units and centres for people with disabilities.

Guests were offered a drink on arrival and were served a three-course meal in a marquee in the school grounds.

Show band Fresh Collective played pop songs including Blame It on the Boogie by the Jackson 5, Happy by Pharrell Williams, Moves like Jagger by Maroon 5 and Respect by Aretha Franklin to guests during the evening.

An auction was held and presented by Rupert House parent Maddi Sharkey, who auctioned off prizes including experience vouchers and event tickets during the evening to support the charities.

Mr Armitage said: “It was a really great opportunity to bring current and former pupils and teachers all together as a community to celebrate in style.

“We wanted to do that on site at school so that they could come back through the big blue door and there was lots of reminiscing of their time and how the school has changed.

“We had a lovely display of the school’s history and there were photo albums and lots of old pictures as well and lots of members of the wider community contributed.

“That was really lovely, not just for the parents but for the former and current pupils as well to learn more of the history.

“The community has always been so supportive of the school and it’s really lovely to celebrate with them all together.

“It’s lovely to have so many parents who were keen to come as well and also keen to support great causes.”

Mr Armitage held a short speech to welcome those in attendance and delivered a brief history on how the school has changed over the years. He said: “I talked about everyone there at the ball being the heart of the school.

“They’re the lifeblood and have all played their part in the school and getting to this milestone as well which is a privilege.

“The school was founded in 1924 and was called St Joan’s School in New Street.

“It moved in the early Thirties to the current site and then became Rupert House and was named after Prince Rupert of the Rhine, who was stationed just down the road here during the civil war.

“In the Fifties it became a charitable trust. The school expanded over the years in terms of facilities, buying sports facilities and developing the pre prep, for ages five to seven.”

During the summer, renovations were made to parts of the school interior.

Mr Armitage said: “It’s really fantastic. As you walk into the school, we’ve got book lights hanging down from the ceiling, an incredible paint job and it’s fun and vibrant for the children.

“We’ve replaced the old strip light which had lots of bare bulbs hanging down but with different coloured cords.

“There’s fun block painting around the school and we completely revamped two of the pre prep classrooms over the summer holidays. It’s a very different look and feel which has been replicated across the rest of the pre prep next summer holidays. We’ve got a new library space upstairs and a fabulous boys’ changing room.

“The children were utterly bowled over when they came back.”

Former Rupert House teacher Susan George, 71, said it was wonderful to return to the school for the ball.

She said: “As I entered the school, I saw pupils who I’d taught years ago, Eleanor Waldron, Millie Hughes and Poppy Mclean-Inglis, and then when I was waiting, a group of people came in and their faces lit up, their arms opened, they gave me big hugs and I used to teach their children so that was lovely to see.

“I thought the ball went very well. There was live music, they had a very good auction for the charity and I’m sure they had a lot for that. It was a very lovely atmosphere. To celebrate the 100th birthday is quite special in itself.

“I was sitting on a table with people that I’d known for many years and some that I’d only just met that evening.

“I went through into the main area and the hall and I noticed it had been redecorated and looked very attractive. I’ve always had a soft spot for Rupert House and it was very inviting.”