Ever the highlight of the FHS calendar, today has seen a full day of birthday celebrations to commemorate 142 years since we were founded by the Reverend Canon Francis Holland. Wearing daffodils in their hair (as is school tradition for our spring birthday), the whole school headed to St Columba’s Church first thing for our annual School Birthday Service. Led by the Headmistress, Lucy Elphinstone, and School Chaplain, Revd. Van Der Hart, the service thanked Canon Francis Holland for his commitment to girls’ education and celebrated the many achievements of the School over the past 142 years. Guest speaker (and ultra-marathon runner) Revd. Kira Taylor also delivered a powerful speech on love, service and our school values before the whole school community joined together in a rousing rendition of the School Anthem ‘Except the Lord Build the House’.

Following the service, our splendid birthday cake was cut by Mrs Elphinstone before the traditional (and hotly contested) Staff vs. Student netball match in the playground. After a fiercely fought match, the students reigned victorious with a narrow 7-6 score – much to the delight of the student body! Students spent the rest of the morning enjoying delicious cupcakes in their form parties, enjoying each other’s talents at the Talent Show, and jammin’ away in the Senior Hall to ‘Rokeoke’ (karaoke with a live rock band!). Meanwhile, the Junior School girls took to the stage for ‘FHS Has Got Talent’, with some fabulous acts on show, including solo singing, gymnastics routines, and dentist-themed stand up comedy. With acts performed, form parties wrapped up and cupcakes devoured, the girls enjoyed a well-deserved early finish as our birthday celebrations came to a joyous close.

Thank you to our wonderful FHS community for joining us for another spectacular School Birthday, and we already can’t wait for the next!