Harrow School

Harrow School is a British public school, located in Harrow on the Hill, in North West London. It was founded in 1572 under a Royal Charter granted by Elizabeth I to John Lyon, a local yeoman, for the provision of education to local boys (Lyon was particular about keeping Harrow single-sex, a tradition that is still maintained). Harrow currently has approximately 850 pupils spread across 11 houses, all of whom board full-time at a cost of £23,625 per year. The majority of boarding houses were constructed in Victorian times, when the number of boys increased dramatically and the school began to resemble something similar to the current institution in terms of size and uniform.

Harrow Traditions

Uniform

Harrow has a rich heritage of tradition, which manifests itself in a variety of ways. The most well-known public example is probably the Harrow hat, which resembles a boater in materials and shape. This hat is worn to all lessons. Weekday dress consists of a white shirt, black tie, grey trousers, blue jumper and a bluer (see Harrow Slang below). Sunday dress consists of a black evening tailcoat, pinstriped trousers, a black waistcoat, black tie and a white shirt. Variations include a grey waistcoat for those in the top sports teams, a hat with black speckles for boys in the top cricket team, and various society ties worn to meetings of the respective societies (The Guild, Philatheletic Club and Monitors all have their own uniform variations discussed in their separate sections).

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Songs

One of the most distinctive Harrow traditions is the singing of School Songs. In the vein of the Eton Boating Song, many were written by teachers (commonly called 'beaks') about Harrow life in general in the latter half of the 19th century. The School celebrates Songs once or twice a term, and Songs are sung with a similar frequency on a house level. The most famous is Forty Years On, which has become something of a catchphrase, and the title of a play by Alan Bennett. Many of the most popular songs were written by John Farmer and Edward Bowen. Indeed, it was they who first started the tradition.

Related Topics:
Eton Boating Song - 19th century - Forty Years On - Alan Bennett - John Farmer - Edward Bowen

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New songs are occasionally written, although some feel that nostalgia cannot be ready-made and that "the old ones are the best ones"! The most recent addition to the collection is 'The Vaughan' by the current Master in Charge of Music, Richard Walker, and the lyrics by Tom Wickson. It describes the school library, recently refurbished, and the many pleasures that may be found there. However, many have criticised it for being too modern, and it was received with hissing at a recent Songs.

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Sport

Harrow has two major sporting traditions, the first being Harrow Football. It is played with a large leather ball, used to score bases (goals) and is something of a cross between rugby and football. Tackling can be violent, as there are no restrictions as in rugby. As a result, injuries often occur, despite the game being played on the muddiest and softest pitches, and games kit often ends up dirty and torn. As no other schools play this unique game there are fiercely contended inter-house competitions and teams of Old Harrovians often return to play a school team.

Related Topics:
Harrow Football - Rugby - Football - Old Harrovians

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The second tradition is the annual Eton versus Harrow cricket match played at Lords, and celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2005. It has more often been won by Eton in recent years, but this year was won by Harrow by 7 wickets. It is the oldest sporting fixture at Lords of any description, having begun in 1805, several decades before the current ground with its distinctive Victorian pavilion was built. Indeed, the well-known poet Lord Byron played in the first Harrow XI that year.

Related Topics:
Lords - 2005 - Eton - Lord Byron

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Harrow is also acknowledged by most historians as the inventor of the indoor racket sport squash, in the mid-nineteenth century. The game is derived from the older game rackets, which some assert was codified at Harrow in the early nineteenth century. The first recorded squash courts were constructed at Harrow in 1864.

Related Topics:
Squash - Rackets - 1864

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Speech Day

Speech day is the main social event of the Harrow calender. It is held on the first day of the Summer half term. The day begins with 'School Bill' in bill yard. It is a traditional ceremony where boys parade in front of the headmaster with their hats on while their names are called out, whereupon they answer 'here sir!'. Speeches follow in Speech Room and a review of the year is made by the headmaster and prizes are awarded to boys. For the rest of the day, there are exhibitions and sports finals.

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Founders Day

The founders day is celebrated every year to comemorate the founding of the school. Is is considered one of the most important days of the year to the school and is often attended by parents and friends.

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Long Ducker

Long Ducker is an annual charity event at Harrow. The main event is a 10 mile run from Marble Arch to Harrow along the Harrow Road, but the top atheletes in the 6th form complete the full long ducker from Harrow to Marble Arch and back again. There are also options to swim 100 lengths in the school pool, climbing, rowing, and power walking equivalent distances.

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New boys test

The new boys test is a test all new boys must take three weeks after joining the school. He is trained for it by a 'shepherd' who is responsible for the new boy in the first few weeks. It involves remembering the names and colours of every house, school slang and other "important" items. If a boy fails it then his mentor is often punished as well as the new boy by getting double.

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