Salisbury Cathedral School Association

Welcome to the Past Pupils Page

The next Reunion will be held on Saturday 12 June 2010

Introduction

All past pupils are encouraged to join the Association. Details of the association are sent to pupils in their final term. A reunion is held every summer including lunch, activities and evensong in the Cathedral.

Objects of the Association

To keep in touch with the past pupils of Salisbury Cathedral School.
To keep a Register of past pupils and encourage their initial and continuous membership of the Association.
To hold an annual Reunion Festival.
To take an interest in the well-being and future of the School.
To contribute to the Headmaster’s Discretionary Fund.
To give two School Prizes.
Support School Appeals.

The Association keeps the Past Pupils Register updated with biographies and new information on careers and interests.

The Register currently contains over 4000 names

Short History of the Association

The earliest known Festival dates back to a Friday night in 1818 when the Gentlemen who were educated at the School in The Close, had their dinner at the White Hart Inn (now the White Hart Hotel). There is no record of any further Reunions until 4 August 1890 when the Reunion Festival, extended to a whole day, was re-introduced and the voices of the former Choristers added considerably to the music of the evensong. At that time the Association consisted only of former Salisbury Cathedral Choristers and was known as ‘The Cathedral School Old Choristers Association’ or ‘Old Boys’ for short. In 1911 the current title ‘Salisbury Cathedral School Association’ was established, incorporating all past pupils of the Cathedral School.

Please keep the Association Secretary informed of any changes of address, school, careers and interests. Also welcome are articles and photographs for the Archives. If you know anyone who has lost contact, please ask them contact the School or the Association’s Secretary: Stephen J Milner.

The Association published the 5^th School Register in 2002. Although the School was founded in 1091, the first known pupil entry dates back to 1127, to a certain John of Salisbury, born in 1120. He is considered one of the greatest European scholars of his day. He was a friend and advisor of Thomas a Becket, witnessed his murder at Canterbury Cathedral on 29 December 1170, and wrote an account of the martyrdom. Later he became Chancellor of the Church at Old Sarum and was consecrated Bishop of Chartres on 8 August 1176 at Sens. He died in 1180.

The 2008 Reunion was held on Saturday 14 June to mark the 750^th Anniversary of the Consecration of Salisbury Cathedral with an orchestral Evensong, when the former choristers and past pupils joined the present choristers, the School choir and orchestra in singing and playing to celebrate this special occasion.

The 2009 Reunion was held on Saturday 13 June. We enjoyed tours of the Cathedral’s masonry workshop with the opportunity for members to try their skills, as well as tours of the Cathedral. A DVD of photographs and cine clips of the School was shown. The cine clips were taken in 1957on a 9.5mm camera by a twelve year old chorister during his last year at the School. The cine clips included sports, swimming and a Messerschmit car belonging to a member of staff going around the front of the School. Former choristers sang Evensong with the Girls Choir. The Annual Dinner was held at the Red Lion.

The next Reunion will be held on Saturday 12 June 2010 at the Cathedral School.

For further information please contact the Honorary Secretary:

Stephen J Milner, 22 Ellerslie Close, Charminster, Dorchester, DT2 9QQ.

Telephone: 01305 266197 or e-mail: stephen@jmilner22600.fsnet.co.uk

Salisbury Cathedral School Association

Introduction

Objects of the Association

Short History of the Association

Other Friends and Links