Charitable spirit all abound as Brentwood School hosts party

Christmas charitable spirit was in abundance at Brentwood School last week as young and old united to sing yuletide carols and enjoy a festive afternoon tea.

Residents and carers from local care homes gathered in the Memorial Hall for the annual Christmas Party and musical extravaganza hosted by the School’s Voluntary Service Unit. One visitor even paid a visit to his old classroom right opposite on the way in.

After a brief welcome from the school’s VSA Coordinator, Miss Claudia Martin, Brentwood School’s Dance Academy delighted the gathered audience with interpretive dances to contemporary and older tunes. Recently crowned 2019 British National Ballroom and Latin Juvenile Champion, Nicholas Rashkov then performed some of his winning dances, which stunned the crowd.

Third Year Owen Romhany opened choral proceedings for a third year running with a beautiful solo rendition of the first verse to ‘Once in Royal David’s City’.

Regular attendee, Mr John Samuel, joined Upper Sixth student Elizabeth Moore in a moving performance of ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’, and Assistant Director of Music, Mr David Revels, led the congregation in a rousing and competitive rendition of ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.’

The visitors, from Shen Place Alms Houses, South Weald Alms Houses, Seven Arches, Seton Care Home and The Marillac, were also entertained by the School’s talented Chamber Choir and Boys’ and Girls’ Barbershops.

Members of the School’s Voluntary Service Activity Unit, who had decorated the Memorial Hall with a bright array of festive adornments, served wine, sherry, mince pies, sausage rolls and cakes, and weaved among the tables to chat to the residents, many of whom they know from their regular visits to local care homes on Friday afternoons.

Headmaster Michael Bond, who joined in the singing on his way to the football field to see the School’s first XI play in the ISFA Quarter Final, paid tribute to the VSA student committee who had worked so hard to organise the afternoon. He also thanked Miss Martin, the School’s caterers, Independents by Sodexo, and the Music and Dance Departments for helping to make it such a wonderful event.