Evensong at St Clement Danes

Marking 75 years since the beginning of the CCF was celebrated in style with the College’s musicians, along with the RAF Section who paraded and presented the CCF standard to the chaplain-in-chief of the RAF the Venerable Dr (Air Vice-Marshal) Giles Legood MBE KHC who also gave the sermon on the theme of non ministrari sed ministrare (not to be served but to serve).

It was a real Eastbourne College occasion: OE Group Captain Lionel Rees VC OBE MC AFC (Blackwater 1898–1901) is on the board commemorating recipients of the Victoria Cross in the RFC; the current resident chaplain the Revd Mark Perry who took the service is husband of College chemistry teacher Hannah whose son is a current pupil and RAF CCF cadet, and daughter an OE; and the development director is Jules Sherwood (Blackwater 1977–82).

Mark and Jules welcomed to the church those friends, OEs and parents who had navigated the rail strike, and the College’s RAF Section who had travelled by coach, and they also provided some historical context. Some were able to visit the crypt. Choral Evensong, a joint event with the choir and the director of music of St Clement Danes, beginning with a violin solo by music scholar Alice Younger (Watt House), was a tour de force with maestro director of music Dan Jordan, some 40 College singers, a quartet of visiting singers, and four College trumpeters providing the music to an uplifting and inspiring service.

A job superbly well done was the general feeling, and a visit to McDonald’s on the way back for the College pupils, and drinks in The George for visitors ended what was a remarkable and memorable day.

The next CCF celebration is a dinner in the House of Lords on Friday 2 February 2024. Keep this date free. More details from kjrichardson@eastbourne-college.co.uk