Whakapappa is a fundamental principle in Māori culture, it is a spiritual belief that each of us is part of an unbreakable chain of people going backward and forward in time who are all part of a shared story, who share beliefs and a sense of identity with those around them, who share a purpose, who share a vision of the future, and who share rituals and traditions that tie them together.

This idea of belonging resonates deeply when I think about Warwick School. Our community is one such unbroken chain—one that began over 1,100 years ago, when the town of Warwick first appeared in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in 914. From its early days under All Saints’ Church, through its history at the Guild Hall and King Henry VIII’s establishment of the King’s New School of Warwick, on to its move to this site in 1879. Through all this Warwick School has been more than just a place of learning. It has been a home, a place of belonging for generations of young men.

Warwick School has many traditions that form part of our long history. Three of which have been front and centre over the past few weeks. Two are over 100 years old and the third is of far more recent vintage.

Today was the day of the Town Crier’s annual visit. The exact origin of this tradition is unclear. It appears to have started during the tenure of Head Master Horace Seymour Pyne. In 1912 it is recorded that the visit was taking place “according to tradition” – but there is no mention of it before 1906. It may be that the Town Crier visited the Middle School while Pyne was head there and he brought the tradition over the river with him in 1906 following the amalgamation of Warwick School with the King’s Middle School. What is clear is that for well over 100 years the Town Crier has visited Warwick School to collect donations for the mayor’s charity (This year’s charity is the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association) and announce the Mayor’s Half-holiday. In a worrying example of “grade inflation” this half-holiday has increased over the years, first to a whole day and more recently to an entire week! – which we will all enjoy from Monday.

Another long-standing tradition dating to the same period in the school’s history is the singing of the school song. Floreat Domus. Which was written for the Warwick Pageant in 1906. For those of you unfamiliar with our Latin song, here are the words.

Gaudeamus nos alumni

Quod per infinita saecla

Schola perduravit ipsa.

Gaudeamus nos alumni.

 

Floreat! Floreat!

Schola Warwicensis.

Floret atque Floreat

Schola Warwicensis.

Haec domus duret per aevum

Floreant omnes alumni,

Floreant semper magistri.

Gaudeamus nos alumni.

 

Floreat! Floreat!

Schola Warwicensis.

Floret atque Floreat

Schola Warwicensis

 

And for the classically challenged, like myself an English translation courtesy of Mr Cooley.

Let us pupils rejoice

Because the school has lasted

Through infinite centuries.

Let us pupils rejoice

 

Flourish,

May Warwick School flourish!

Warwick School is flourishing

And may it flourish.

 

May this school last through the ages

May all the pupils flourish,

May the teachers always flourish;

Let us pupils rejoice.

 

Flourish,

May Warwick School flourish!

Warwick School is flourishing

And may it flourish.

 

Most of you are no doubt unaware that there are actually two school songs and ‘Floreat’ is in fact the interloper and has a controversial history! Floreat was written in 1906. The earlier Warwick School Song whose words are in English dates to 1892.

Then Head Master George Albert Riding felt rather strongly about the original school song and its rather dated Victorian words, and set about replacing it with ‘Floreat’. After the Christmas 1928 school play, Shakespear’s Julius Ceaser, the school sang ‘Floreat’ as instructed. But the furious Old Warwickians present stuck to the 1892 English song, which they sung at the same time. Apparently, Riding was apoplectic with rage! He changed tack, however, rewrote the words of the 1892 song and had large numbers of cards printed with his version of the words, marked GAR 1931. It is Riding’s version of the Warwick School Song that OWs were singing at their annual dinner as recently as 2013. Both school songs the original 1892 Warwick School Song and Floreat Domus are now sung at the dinner. However, It is the Latin song that has captured the imagination of recent Warwickians and which, following a request a few years ago from the Head of School and Senior Prefects the school now sing at the end of each term, and which our new Director of Music, Mr Mann led a full school rehearsal of in assembly a fortnight ago.

The third and final tradition is the House Shout. This annual singing and music competition has, Covid permitting, been contested since 2020, on the afternoon of the last day before the Michaelmas half term holiday. The competition requires that each house perform twice, a musical number delivered by a house band and a song sung by the entire house. Since its inception the boys have taken the responsibility of forming a band and rehearsing with ever increasing seriousness. Consequently, the standard of the musical numbers has improved year on year. The same cannot be said for the quality of the singing! However, the brilliance or lack thereof, of the singing isn’t really the point. What has undoubtedly improved is the level of commitment. Embarrassed mumbling that can barely be heard over a judiciously loud backing track, is a thing of the past! The boys now commit wholeheartedly on stage. The production values have also soared with recent entries including a re-recording of Peter Kay’s video for Amarillo and an introduction from Ginger Spice! At the point of writing, I am waiting with (nervous) anticipation to discover just what delights this year’s edition will bring. Whatever the musical merits of the House Shout it is clearly fulfilling its purpose. Pupils now feel a sense of belonging to their houses that was lacking prior to its introduction. In a big school such as ours it is all too easy for the individual to become lost within the whole. The House system is therefore essential to our key priority of knowing the individual.

In a forward-thinking school committed to preparing young people to thrive in an uncertain future these traditions can appear an anachronism, but they are essential to our whakapapa. They connect us to our past and the future and foster a sense of community and belonging that is essential for young people to thrive and fulfil their potential. That is why the celebration of these traditions and rituals continues to play a vital part in life at Warwick School.