insideKENT Magazine Issue 72 - March 2018 | Page 120

EDUCATION
CRANBROOK SCHOOL
FIFTH CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
CRANBROOK SCHOOL IS CELEBRATING 500 YEARS AS A THRIVING GRAMMAR SCHOOL IN THE HEART
OF THE WEALD OF KENT. THIS YEAR, THEY ARE MARKING THE ORIGINAL FOUNDING OF THE SCHOOL
BY LOCAL YEOMAN, JOHN BLUBERY, WHO BEQUEATHED HIS ‘CHIEF MANSION’ TO PROVIDE A ‘FRESCOLE
HOUSE’ FOR THE TOWN’S CHILDREN. FIVE HUNDRED YEARS LATER THE SCHOOL IS THRIVING IN ITS
ORIGINAL SITE, PROVIDING AN OUTSTANDING EDUCATION TO 750 BOYS AND GIRLS, DAY STUDENTS
FROM THE CATCHMENT AREA AND BOARDERS FROM OUTSIDE AND ABROAD. FEW COUNTRIES, LESS
INSTITUTIONS AND EVEN FEWER SCHOOLS HAVE HAD THE CHANCE TO CELEBRATE 500 YEARS OF
HISTORY SO THE PRECEDENT IS THEIRS TO SET.
Cranbrook aims to make the quincentenary
a constant theme throughout the year and are
going to recognise this achievement with an
exciting programme of anniversary lectures,
formal ceremony and a series of festival events.
These celebrations will be open to students
and staff, parents, OCs (Old Cranbrookians)
and the whole Cranbrook community – they
look forward to all of us joining us!
FIFTH CENTURY LECTURES
For centuries Cranbrook School has produced
leaders and luminaries in our country’s
business, science, culture and public service
communities. Each month throughout 2018,
the school is celebrating their quincentennial
by inviting Old Cranbrookians to talk to
students, parents and the wider community
about how they are shaping our world and
how their experiences at Cranbrook prepared
them for success.
Already underway, on Monday 8th January,
they had the pleasure of welcoming Mr Rob
Joyce, OC and associate director at the
120
Institute for Fiscal Studies, to Cranbrook School
to enlighten everyone on the topic of ‘Is our
Tax System fair?’.
Upcoming lectures include:
• Friday 2nd March – Mike Trueman, former
officer in Britain’s Brigade of Gurkhas and
leader on over twenty expeditions to the
Himalayas and four to Everest. There will be
a Nepal Expedition Dinner, followed by
Mike’s talk at 7.45pm in the QH, entitled
‘Everest and the 1996 Storm’.
• Wednesday 14th March – Air Commodore
Mark Jeffery OBE, OC and Head of RAF
Safety at Air Command, RAF High Wycombe.
Talks to students in the school day (timings
TBC).
• Wednesday 25th April – Assistant Chief
Constable Tony Blaker, OC and Kent Police’s
Head of Central Operations. Talks to students
in the school day and an evening talk to
parents at 7.30pm in the QH, title TBC.
Please visit www.cranbrookschool.co.uk
for more information.