'Awe-inspiring' performance is highlight at Founders Day Parade

Date published: 22 July 2019


The Mayor of Oldham, Cllr Ginny Alexander, was among hundreds of pupils and staff who joined in and celebrated this year’s Blue Coat School Founders Day Parade.

Cllr Alexander was joined at the event by Oldham’s Youth Mayor Samah Khalil.

The event celebrates founder and hat manufacturer Thomas Henshaw, who died in 1810, leaving £40,000 for the endowment of the Blue Coat School.

The foundation stone was laid in 1829 and the school was opened in 1834 as a boys' boarding school, before evolving into the mixed gender academy it is now.

The procession began at the school and walked to Oldham Parish Church for a service.

Before entering the church, ex-pupil Timothy Young played the Last Post in tribute to the ‘Old Scholars’ who fell in the two wars.

Students placed wreaths at the side of the church on the Blue Coat memorial grave.

The procession entered the church to the sound of the Blue Coat Brass Band playing.

There were then readings by staff and pupils and a sermon delivered by Rev. Katy Cunliffe.

Cllr Alexander said: “These beautiful performances, alongside the solo pieces by students, made for a really special service.

“The band even performed ‘Don’t stop me now’ by Queen. It was hard to keep still and not get up dancing!

“The conductor, Mr Hewson, was one in a million.

“The energy he delivered to the audience and the way he encouraged the best possible performance from the musicians was awe-inspiring.”

The performance was concluded with the national anthem before members of the procession returned to the school for lunch.


Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.