Baker’s Beacon Blog – Week 8

Dear Parents,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable Half Term – looking at the plentiful postcards, Beacon boys have visited all manner of interesting places at home and abroad.  Even though it won’t sound very interesting, I visited Dorking over Half Term with Mr Walker as we scouted out the English leg of our ‘Beacon to Paris’ cycle ride next summer.  The vast majority of the route is perfect, good roads, great scenery, suitable stopping places, but there was a brutal hill just outside Ripley that might require a re-route.  The route will certainly require a better day of weather than the one we had with the apocalyptic rain storm but if we could manage in those conditions, then next summer should be a breeze…I just need to get a lot fitter…

I have been on ISI inspection duties Tuesday to Thursday this week and as I left The Beacon on Monday afternoon, the cherry picker was busy outside my office, preparing the front of the school for the Poppy Display.  When Ms Jackson pitched this to me earlier in the term, I remember saying that it sounds great…but will need A LOT of poppies as that is a huge area to cover.  Ever determined and with an army of Beacon boys and staff and one Headmaster (two of mine are on there somewhere), she set to work on creating the incredible display that was revealed this week. I only saw it ‘live’ this morning but the pictures from staff and overwhelming response on the school’s and my own personal social media channels told me on Tuesday that this was a remarkable installation that everyone connected with the School, and indeed the local area, are immensely proud of.  It is the perfect accompaniment to our Remembrance Service today and services at a national level over the weekend.   What will the magical Ms Jackson come up with next year…

Have a good weekend,

Nick Baker

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