Pupils, students, staff, and guests joined together at Blackburn Cathedral for our Beginning of Year service. The service was led by Canon Gary O’Neil, Canon Precentor, who welcomed us all to this annual service.
As the congregation took to their seats, Adam Hassan (Y8) performed a beautiful solo piano piece.
In this year’s service, we were asked to consider kindness, our readiness to learn, resilience and respectfulness. We welcomed to Queen Elizabeth’s, the many people who have joined the school this term ensuring that the warmth and friendship for which Queen Elizabeth’s is rightly renowned is extended to all newcomers and that we are able to help each other in the months and years ahead to lead fulfilling and successful lives.
Our school choir performed Siyahamb’ ekukhanyen’ kwenkhos’, under the direction of Miss Cockshott, Subject lead for Music followed by a reading ‘First Lesson’ from Head Girl Niamh Hamilton, another beautiful solo piano piece from Year 11 pupil Toby Saxty, a further reading ‘Second Lesson’ from Head Boy Hamza Bux and another choir performance of Cantar! – J Althouse.
Prayers were read by Alfie Flanagan-Dobson(Y10), Zainab Chishti (Y10) and William Hopkins (Y10) and the Lord’s Prayer, was read by Deputy Head Boy, Farheem Nargolia followed by a beautiful Clarinet solo from Mr. Braime performing Prelude No.2 for Clarinet by G Gershwin.
During the final hymn, Tell Out, My Soul, The Greatness of the Lord, an offering was collected in support of Nightsafe with a final blessing from Canon Gary O’Neil.
A beautiful Service, full of warmth and readiness for the year ahead. Thank you to all our pupils, students, and staff who represented QEGS you really did Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School proud.