Talbot Heath School Birthday is a ritual which has changed little over the years. My first ‘Birthday’ was in 1992. I was initiated with a lecture by Miss Vernon-Browne about what to expect and more importantly, what was expected of me!
(These birthday photos are from 1993)
In those days boarders picked heather to make into buttonholes for governors, current staff and the considerable number of former colleagues who were invited to the Birthday Service and lunch. There is no need for me to say more about the events of School Birthday, for any former TH students or members of staff (both teaching and non-teaching) will know exactly what the day entails. Some Birthdays however, stand out for me; the first time members of the newly opened pre-prep department joined the celebrations is one. There had been much debate about whether they would be able to sit quietly in the quad, but this being Talbot Heath, of course they did ! That is apart from the year “Emma and Horatio” were nesting in that corner of the Quad – mercifully no ducklings hatched during the service.
Another memorable Birthday was the year the Upper Sixth arrived at school unusually early. When I came through the door at half past seven, the lily pond was full of bright yellow plastic ducks. They continued to paddle until break when they were taken to dry off in the sixth form Common Room.
A special moment of the morning is always the arrival of the Birthday Cake, wheeled down the hall with all eyes in the front rows turning to watch its progress. One year the Head Girls had replaced the traditional candles with the ‘eternal flame’ variety and after several attempts to blow them out I had to give up. We all sang Happy Birthday as the cake, candles still alight, was wheeled back up the hall.
In 2008 we welcomed three special guests to our Birthday Celebration. The Bishop of Winchester, the Bishop of Shyogwe Diocese in Rwanda and Pastor Athanase, then headmaster of College St Emmanuel. That Birthday service included the blessing of the partnership between our two schools and I am pleased that these links endure, 18 years later.
One of my favourite moments of each Birthday was standing on the parapet at the end of the service when there was total silence apart from the gentle splashing of the fountain. Then I would turn and lead the guests off the parapet and the sounds of school life could be heard once more.
With best wishes,
Christine Dipple, Talbot Heath Head, 1991-2010
Here you can watch Alumnae enjoying the same experience 33 years later at the 140th School Birthday celebration, 1.5.2026
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