Charlie Smith ATGM161109QEGS015 Erin Webster ATGM161109QEGS015
Mayor Caroline Cooper with the embroid
A
CENTURY ago pupils
from Queen Elizabeth s
Grammar School
moved in to their new site in
the Green Road. A new
landmark in the town and a
landmark event that was
celebrated in style at the
weekend.
Families flocked to the Green
Road site, built 100 years ago this
year, to enjoy a family fun day that
took over the whole site -- which
has evolved throughout its life in to a
high-tech centre of highly acclaimed
education.
This year the school celebrates
one of the biggest changes in its
history and events took place
throughout Saturday designed to
showcase what the school has to
offer the people of Ashbourne.
Headmaster Dr Roger Wilkes said:
"This weekend marks 100 years
since transfer day -- the day all the
children came up to the new site --
and we wanted to showcase the
school as a school for the
community. We wanted to show
exactly what we do for the people of
Ashbourne, and what we do well.
"I had no idea what to expect or
how the day would turn out, but I
was very pleased with everything
and to have seen everyone's hard
work. I think it went very well
indeed."
The centre-piece to the event was
the unveiling of a new tapestry,
which celebrates the life of the
school over the last 10 decades.
The school commissioned an
embroiderer dubbed one of the best
in the world, Jenny Adin-Christie, to
create the masterpiece, which took
430 hours to complete and has now
taken pride of place in the library.
Former pupil and teacher Mrs
Marjorie Macarthy was invited to tell
an audience of past and present
pupils how the school has shaped
her life and the 88-year-old senior
mistress explained how things have
changed over the years.
Another key event that took place
on the day was the launch of the
school's new e-book. Compiled by IT
technician Rob Tuck, the online book
documents the school's modern and
ancient history, with entries from
several people connected with
QEGS over the years.
The book, which can be found on
the school's website, compiles many
of the site's key events, along with
some of its notable pupils. It can be
constantly updated and creators
hope it will now grow and develop
with the school.
While old Ashburnians enjoyed a
trip down memory lane, younger
pupils past, present and future
enjoyed a QEGS X-Factor
competition, bouncy castle, falconry
display, a treasure hunt, a craft
workshop, special science, maths,
technology and cooking classes and
several exhibitions geared at
showing how the school's facilities
have developed over the years.
During the celebration the Old
Ashburnian Society, a group of
former pupils, presented the school
with further donations of �2,000 --
following decades of support to the
Green Road facility.
Despite the centenary year
drawing to a close, celebrations are
still on-going. A Centenary concert
will be held on December 4 in the
main hall from 7pm -- showcasing
current and previous musical talent
-- and speech day will be held on
December 17 rounding off another
successful academic year.
by GARETH BUTTERFIELD
gareth.butterfield@staffordshirenewspapers.co.uk
(above) Cheque
presentation between
headmaster Dr Wilkes
and Old Ashburnian
Peter Sallis
ATGM161109QEGS004
(right) Jenny Adin-
Christie and her
masterpiece
ATGM161109QEGS001
A COMMUNITY SCHOA COMMUNITY SCHO
Wednesday, November 18, 2009www.ashbournenewstelegraph.co.uk20

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