On Friday 6 November, Dartford Grammar School marked further 450th anniversary celebrations with a special royal visit.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the school to bury a time capsule arranged by the school over the past year in order to celebrate the school’s landmark anniversary. The time capsule is intended to be opened for the 500th anniversary of the school in 2076.
His Royal Highness was welcomed by headteacher Mr Metcalf, and was then met with School Captains Archie and Arianne, as he disembarked from his short helicopter journey from Cambridge. The Duke was escorted straight to the Hardy Building lawn to carry out the burial, before taking a brief tour of the school.
On reflection of the tour, Archie praised The Duke’s ‘inquisitive’ nature.
A number of school governors, who were in attendance for the annual Governors’ Day, were able to watch the historic moment, in what is the school’s first royal visit since the Duke of Kent’s opening of the Mick Jagger Centre (alongside Sir Mick Jagger himself) in 2000.
Also in attendance were Dartford Borough Council Leader Jeremy Kite, who had attended the school’s Act of Remembrance in the morning, while Jim Dickson MP and Mayor Avtar Sandhu joined him for the landmark event.
The Duke signed a copy of the school’s new history book, A History of Dartford Grammar School, which was written by Dr David Lepine and today’s event marks the launch of the book.
Many students were honoured with the opportunity to speak to His Royal Highness, as a reception in the Mick Jagger Centre foyer saw musicians, prefects and Duke of Edinburgh participants welcome him as they were asked about their roles and their enjoyment of life at Dartford Grammar School.
The royal visit concluded with The Duke unveiling a plaque to honour the 450th anniversary. He addressed staff, students, governors and guests in an expression of gratitude for being able to mark a significant event in the school’s remarkable history, and credited the school’s impressive longevity and the role it has played in educating Dartfordians over the centuries since its founding in 1576.
Mr Dickson celebrated the visit as he appreciated The Duke’s visit and efforts in ‘recognising this historic institution’ for the central role in education within the constituency and, above all, ‘putting Dartford on the map’.
Images of the event are to follow.