A huge thank you from everyone at Thorner’s to all of those in the village who organised so much across the whole Jubilee week and weekend.  it really was a magical last day of school and I’m sure so much of it will live long in the memory of the children.  We started by attending the Ascension Day service at Church and then walking back to school to be greeted by both a fantastic vintage car, tractor and bike show – with models spanning the last 70 years – as well as by an incredible fly past of vintage aircraft.

I know the children adored both of these events and its lovely to hear the children still talk excitedly about vehicles ranging from modern state-of-the-art TESLAs all the way back to Minis and vintage bikes/tractors.  Similarly, thanks to Local Food Links for the lovely Jubilee inspired menu that week as well as our cook Clare Turnbull and dinner staff who worked so hard to not only give the children a bunting-filled and Union Jack decorated lunch but also to turn LATCH around so quickly for our afternoon tea party for the children and the village.

The children were wonderful and performed their maypole dances with real determination and independence as well as also serving tea to members of the village.  They should also be congratulated for creating such a fantastic exhibition of the last 70 years – covering world and national events.  Thank you again to all those in the village who also contributed artefacts and organised the village history trail which the children completed when they returned to school after half term.

To round off these celebrations we were delighted to welcome the Master and Members of the Worshipful Company of Water Conservators to school for our commemorative Jubilee tree planting.  The tree, sourced by our Foundation Governor Anna Morley, is now planted next to a wonderful plaque recording this special occasion.

In school, the summer term is shaping up to be wonderfully busy with the children having daily swimming lessons in our pool – with weekly coaching by the Jurassic Swim School, Nature Club in our wildlife area as well as sailing lessons after school at the Olympic sailing centre off Portland on Monday evenings.  It is, as always, a delight to see children as young as 7 take to the water for the first time and learn the basics of sailing.  We hope for more fine weather and favourable (gentle!) winds.  The children are also going on a range of trips to Axe Valley wildlife park, Salisbury Cathedral, Leeson House residential centre and Abbotsbury Gardens in the coming weeks.

By the time this goes to print we also hope to see solar panels up on our school roof – hopefully basking in this fantastic sunshine and generating wonderful, clean, green, renewable free energy for the school and the grid.  Here’s to a wonderful summer.