Sixth form students joined the Old Cestrefeldian Society, a group formed to link old boys and masters who attended or worked at the Chesterfield Grammar School (now the location of the Chesterfield College Sixth Form), to plant a tree outside the Sheffield Road West Studios building as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative last week.
Joined by Derbyshire Vice Lord-Lieutenant, Colonel John Samuel Wilson OBE DL at the planting ceremony, it was a celebration of different generations coming together to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee and planting something which will last for generations to come.
Derrick Priestley, Secretary of the Old Cestrefeldians’ Society explains, “Queen Elizabeth I was instrumental in passing an act that set money aside to build a grammar school here in Chesterfield, 400 years ago today. The fact that 400 years later Queen Elizabeth II is on the throne and encouraging the nation to plant trees as part of her jubilee has led to this wonderful opportunity to commemorate the generations of students that have passed through these doors by planting something that will last for generations to come.”
Sixth Form student, Clea Kapadia, “Chatting to the Old Cestrefeldian Society has been fascinating, finding out about what all of the rooms used to be, for example the dining hall and even a ‘fives’ court which I gather is one of the few remining in the country. It’s great to see so many generations come together to talk about how the building has been utilised for learning over so many years. I knew the building had history but speaking to those who came here when it was a grammar school has really brought its history to life.”
