Hurst celebrates 150 years of service

Hurstpierpoint College celebrated 150 years of service on Thursday 27th May when the anniversary of the founding of the college's Combined Cadet Force was marked with parades, displays, a chapel service and a formal dinner.

All members of the 250 strong CCF who, on the day, were not taking exams paraded in the outer quad and former pupil Admiral Lord Boyce, Chief of the Defence Staff from 2001-2003, attended as Reviewing Officer, speaking to many cadets from all three sections, Navy, Army and Air Force.

Hurst’s Cadet force was formed in 1860, amidst fears of a French invasion, as the No 1 Cadet Company, 2nd Volunteer Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and given the cap badge of the 35th Foot. The school was, in fact, one of the first six schools in the Country to found a corps and Hurst’s remained the only public school corps in Sussex until Eastbourne College formed theirs some 36 years later.

It took the start of the Boer War to prompt Lancing and Brighton Colleges – aided by advice from Hurst – to follow suit. Today, the picture is very different with the CCF flourishing nationally in 259 schools, involving nearly 45,000 young people with a further 85,000 young people serving as cadets in community and other school based cadet forces

Since his arrival at Hurst, Headmaster Tim Manly has greatly strengthened the role of outdoor education. “All our pupils spend at least one academic year as cadets” said Mr Manly “and, through this and other school activities including, importantly, the D of E scheme, they develop invaluable personal qualities including a sense of personal responsibility, self reliance, resourcefulness, perseverance and leadership”.

Admiral Lord Boyce also formally opened Hurst's new Outdoor Education and CCF Centre which, like all of the school's buildings sits within the central hub on the 240 acre country campus. The new centre will provide core facilities and resources for the College's thriving CCF and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award outdoor adventure programme. He talked proudly of Hurt's cadets mentioning that “as I spoke to them they all had a twinkle in their eye and said they enjoyed the adventure, the camps and the flying.” He added: “Cadet forces do a fantastic amount for young people such as enabling them to learn about self-discipline and how to organise themselves, whilst having fun.”

Afterwards, he visited various stands in North Field and watched the cadets compete in a gun run.

Individual cadets said they felt honoured to be part of the occasion and to meet Admiral Lord Boyce who, whilst at Hurst between 1956-61, was an active member of the CCF and represented the school in the national celebrations to mark the Centenary of the founding of the Cadet force in this country.

A number of serving officers and former staff returned to join the school for the day including Nick Barton, who left Hurst in 1995. He has completed four tours of Afghanistan and received the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) award for bravery after flying his Apache back to protect British troops under fire despite damage to his helicopter caused by enemy attack.

After the Beating of the Retreat, many remained to attend the service in the College chapel during which the new Hurst contingent banner was dedicated and in the evening the formal dinner was addressed by Lord Boyce.

"It was" he wrote later "a wonderful day"; a sentiment echoed by the many privileged to take part.