Wednesday, 13th June was a special day for some of our staff and pupils.
As part of the Royal Visit to Nottingham, the School was delighted to be able to offer the use of its Valley Road Sports Ground as a landing and take-off point for the Royal helicopter. First, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arrived by helicopter from Anglesey and left by car to meet Her Majesty the Queen at the station. Later, the Queen was welcomed by the Headmaster and the Chair of Governors on her departure from the city, followed a short while later by the arrival from Vernon Park and subsequent departure by helicopter of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Pupils and staff from Lovell House and NHJS were on hand to wave the royal visitors off in style.
And for two boys it was a very special day indeed! James Webster (NHJS - Year 6) and Ryan Mannion (Lovell House - Reception) presented posies to the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge.
The School was not officially on the tour itinerary for the day but we managed to negotiate to allow the boys from the Junior School and Lovell House to go down to watch them depart. With senior school exams on and with a very clear message from the organisers that we had to restrict the numbers involved, we were not able to open this opportunity to our staff, senior school pupils or to any parents. We are sorry that this was not possible but hope that you will understand that as Valley Road was not part of the official tour we had no control over who could see the royal family depart. We are, of course, delighted to have been able to play our own small part in the visit and much credit is due to our grounds team, led by Ian Jones, for making this possible and indeed for ensuring that Valley Road always looks so very good.
As part of the School’s 500th celebrations we are very confident of hosting our own royal visit to the school itself probably in October so that will be a chance for many more staff and boys from the senior school to be involved.
