Fun, laughter, relaxation and enjoyment, in just four words are the summary of another one of Bancroft’s Family evening. On Thursday 26th of November North House hosted a 1960’s themed family evening in light of their 50 year anniversary from when they were first established; in hope of raising money for their chosen charities. Although the underlying goal of these family evenings is to raise money and awareness for their charities it is also a way of bringing parents, teachers and pupils together. Various activities had taken place during the evening; from playing games at the different and imaginative stools- set up by the younger years, to watching the wide range of performances and acts on stage. I had the pleasure of witnessing some the preparations that had undergone weeks before the set date: the new year 7’s rehearsing their sketches till it was perfect, older years planning their outfits and their hair do’s, teachers sending out the flyers, the exciting buzz of the approaching evening was lingering in the air.  

This year’s chosen charities were of two; Young Minds, which helps 20% of the student population and adolescents who suffer from mental illness (helping to prevent young suicide), and also United World Schools –Who aim to build schools in disadvantaged countries and improve upon the provision of education in rural and war torn regions in Asia. Both charities chosen as shown had covered a huge problems in the world and both worthy of awareness and donations.

I spoke to one of the pupils who had attended the North House Family evening, asking her the difference in this years’ gathering;

‘This year there was a larger range of acts and performances, from comedians, to art offs, to singing and dancing. In previous evenings, I found the performances were widely music based. So this time a wider range of talent was displayed by North House’; states Chloe Cox a pupil from North house who thoroughly enjoyed the evening, as an attendee of most of the various stalls provided, and a viewer of all the performances carried out in the schools Great Hall.

I then had the opportunity of speaking to a young lady, whom which played a key role is raising some of the money for the house. Caroline E Wyatt performed a solo in front of many of her fellow pupil’s and attendees of the evening. Upon asking her what she chose to sing for such an occasion and why, Caroline replied with the upmost sophistication saying;

‘I sung my favourite song- “Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requim”, although it is a Christian song and I know much of the audience is not Christian, I believe that it’s simple beauty transcends faith and that is why I chose it’

 ‘Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requim’ actually translates to ‘Merciful Jesus, Lord, give them rest give them rest, eternal rest’. This beautifully sung song captivated the whole audience from the second Caroline began singing and was probably one the best endings I had seen in a charity event. As Miss Wyatt had stated the simplicity of the lyrics allowed the audience not to feel the music, but also made them think about the purpose of the evening, why they had come?, what the underlining goal of the evening was? ; to raise money for those less fortunate than us.

Yet another house family evening by Bancroft’s School, and yet another success in not only bringing the pupils and parents together but also contributing to a bigger problem in the world and helping to raise awareness.

By : Kiran K Bhangu