Hurst's great new Astroturf

The formal opening on 11th November 2011 was a joyous occasion.

Satisfaction and pleasure can be seen on the faces of Sir Derek Day KCMG - former Hurst student and Hockey Olympic Bronze medallist in what is widely recognised as the last Olympics contested largely by 'amateurs' (left below) - and David Tree - dynamic Chair of Hurst's Fundraising Appeal for the new 'Astroturf Plus' as they wait to address the 200 or so parents, pupils and staff who had gathered to mark the opening.

Hurst Headmaster Tim Manly thanked all those - pupils, parents and staff - who had, in one way or another, helped the school to produce such a valuable resource in such a short space of time.

Sir Derek Day formally opened the new Astroturf and its associated Multi Use Games Area (known - but only temporarily - as the MUGA) and this was the signal for the lights to power up and the fun to begin.

First it was the turn of our Prep School children to demonstrate not just the extraordinary speed of the new pitch

but also their quite remarkable speed and skill.

Then staff and parents bravely pitched their skills against a very talented and very fit school eleven. Gently but firmly refereed by Frances Block (who only a week or so ago heard that she had been appointed Ladies' Hockey Umpire for the London 2012 Olympics, a quite singular honour) and Hurst's own John Bettridge, the staff/parents combo occasionally gained the upper hand and, with many reserves to draw from, maintained a good pace throughout the match. Their undoubted skill and tactical intelligence enabled them to come close to matching the energy, vitality, enthusiasm, sophistication and achievement of their opponents. And so it should be; talented, superbly taught and trained students will always reach a level where they have the ability to challenge and defeat their mentors.

The same held true on the MUGA (pictures to follow) where staff battled students in three netball games played simultaneously. 'It's so good to see this fantastic new facility being used; you begin to realise the extraordinary impact it will have on the school' was Pete Boros' (Hurst's Estates Bursar) reflection after a 20 week explosion of activity that spanned the moment the first turf was turned to the formal opening on 11 November.

More pictures and text to follow, but - for the moment - a photograph of former pupil John Cruttenden talking to Hurst's Zoe Taylor-West is an appropriate conclusion. 84 year-old John, a former Hurst pupil from Red Cross between 1939 to 1945, travelled without assistance from his home in Chiswick to Hurst. Despite being unable to walk unaided, he used only train and taxi to reach the school. His journey took three-and-a-half hours and he only managed the final part of his journey to be present at the opening after the intervention and assistance of Zoe's husband (and Head of Middle School), Richard. 'I wanted to be here', said John 'I am very proud of my old school, what it now is and stands for and the extraordinary things it is achieving'.

To follow, Sir Derek's Day's memories of Hurst, Cambridge ('I read history and hockey') and playing for England, a photograph of Sir Derek and Hurst's legendary Reg Ruddock playing for Sussex in 1965 (we think) and Hurst's Director of Sport, Rob Kift's thoughts about the enhanced sporting opportunities now available for all Hurst's students.