Congratulations to Gordonian Hannah Russell, awarded an OBE in the New Years Honours List. The 24 year old was recognised after achieving a gold medal at last year's Paralympic Games in Tokyo as she defended her 100m backstroke title. Hannah is pictured here with her former PE teachers Paul King and Jamie Harrison during a recent visit to the school.

Celebrating Christmas in the beautiful surroundings of our Victorian Chapel of St Edward the Confessor last night and tonight at the Carol Service. The congregation heard pieces from the Boys’ and Girls’ Choirs, Semper Fidelis Singers as well as members of the school’s Brass Group and Orchestra. Proceeds from the ticket sales and retiring collection will be supporting Mind mental health charity, Safe Passage for child refugees and Compassion UK releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name. Here's a sample from the dress rehearsal, featuring the whole choir.

Congratulations to our talented young chefs, Noah Hopkins and Megan Brock, who took part in the local finals of Future Chefs at Crawley College today. Noah presented the judges with a chicken mousse ravioli with a mustard and cream sauce. But Megan's salmon tortellini in a dill and pea sauce proved the winning combination, earning her the top spot in the competition and a place in the regional finals early next year. Noah and Megan competed against ten others in designing, cooking and presenting a meal for two costing up to £5. The industry judges were looking for workmanship, skills, techniques, creativity and presentation as well as composition, taste and flavour in the timed test. 

Piping to mark their respects to those who lost their lives to COVID. Five of our pipers attended a ceremony this afternoon initiated by the community alongside the National Trust and Royal British Legion, where families planted trees in remembrance of loved ones at National Trust Runneymede.  Pipe Major Matt Carter, planted a tree in the name of the amazing work that the teachers and pupils achieved during pandemic. After a minute's silence, the pipers played the Lament, Flowers of the Forest; a fitting tribute. To see more about what the event was today, tune in to BBC London at 1830.

The latest edition of Semper Fidelis, packed full of highlights from the past six months is now available online. News, pictures, features, House reports, insights, art, drama and much more. Hard copies will be available in Houses soon. To view, please click here.