A busy day

A very early start this morning to be at school for the centenary commemoration service of the Battle of the Somme, which started at 7.30am, the same time as the whistles blew for the soldiers to go over the top.  It was a very beautiful and emotional service where those from the school who had died in this battle were honoured. We were told about those who had just finished school, with a bright future ahead of them, only to be killed a few weeks later. The descendants and families of some of these boys attended the service, making it very real and personal. The service was held outside in the Garden of Remembrance and it was cool and a bit damp but at least it did not rain. Thomas played with the Brass Group who provided the music in the absence of the organ, and the boys also blew whistles before and after the minute silence. Here you can see Thomas playing the trumpet and I have also included an extra image of the proceedings taken by a pro photographer from an upstairs window.

Then for something completely different. Luke has spent all week at an investment company in London on a mini 'business school' training course for students. Today each candidate, in teams, had to present investment ideas to a Dragon's Den panel and all the parents were invited to attend. So directly  after the service I caught a train to London to hear the presentations which was followed by lunch. It was incredible to see these students presenting their business models and answering questions from the panel - so much more confident and knowledgeable than I was at that age! Luke had a great week and learned so much, it was an invaluable experience for him.

 After lunch Luke and I came home and now I am preparing to go back to school for the Leaver's Concert tonight. Each year the best musicians of the final school year perform a piece accompanied by the Symphony Orchestra, in which Thomas plays. In the previous two years first Luke and then Adam performed, and it has always been a wonderful showcase of talent. Tonight there is a young pianist who is utterly brilliant, and he will be playing the 1st movement of Rachmaninov's 2nd piano concerto, a fiendishly difficult piece. This is to be followed by the annual governor's dinner (Gavin is a school governor) and so concludes a very busy but entertaining day.

(I won't have a chance to look at journals but will catch up)