The Royal Hospital School (RHS) in Holbrook, Ipswich is delighted to be hosting a Festival of the Sea community event, as part of Festival of Suffolk’s Jubilee celebrations. The Countess of Euston, HM Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, invited the school to host the event due to its Naval heritage and close links to the Royal Navy.
The event will take place at the school this weekend (11th and 12th June 2022) and will include a range of activities over the course of the weekend for the whole family to enjoy.
The event will kick off on Saturday 11 June with a wonderful afternoon of celebrations for all the family to enjoy. Refreshments will be available and guests are welcome to bring rugs and a picnic into the grounds. Highlights of the afternoon will include the Royal Navy Parachute and Royal Marines display teams – a rare opportunity to witness the skills of these highly trained professionals.
All events are open to public, but some require ticketing, so do check on the website.
Visitors will have the chance to:
- Chat to the Holbrook Coastguard Rescue Service
- Watch the magnificent RHS Marching Band and the Corps of Drums
- Hear the Motley Crew sing sea shanties and songs of the sea
- Learn more about the Royal Navy Training establishment through HMS Ganges Museum
- Admire the RHS Field Gun Team in action
- Find out how the RNLI Harwich team operate
- Discover what is involved in a career in the Navy
- Cheer on the teams at the sailing regatta as the Royal Navy takes on RHS
- Appreciate the displays and activities of the local Sea Cadet units and the Clacton Sea Cadet Band
The afternoon’s activities will draw to a close with the Sunset Ceremony at 18:45 which is free for all to attend and performed by the RHS Corps of Drums, followed by the Nautical Ball. Tickets for the Ball are on sale here.
On Sunday 12th June the Musical Picnic in the Park will begin at 3pm, and is an opportunity for families to spend a relaxing afternoon with a picnic while listening to the highly talented musicians from The Royal Marines School of Music and The Royal Hospital School Band who will perform a joint concert. Although free, it will be necessary to book the event in advance.
Closing the Festival of the Sea at 5pm will be a Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, hosted by the Royal Hospital School and run in partnership with The Royal Marines School of Music Band, The Holbrook Choral Society and local churches and parishes.
This special service will feature music performed at the 1953 Coronation including Parry’s iconic anthem ‘I was Glad’, Handel’s ‘Zadok The Priest’ and William Walton’s ‘Coronation Te Deum’. The service will take place in the magnificent chapel at The Royal Hospital School. This service will be free but tickets should be booked in advance.
More information and links to book tickets can be found here: https://www.royalhospitalschool.org/fos
Categories: Royal Hospital School
