King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys has been spending the year celebrating its 160th Anniversary with a variety of events and installations. One of these installations is a commissioned stained-glass window, designed and created by Derek Hunt of Limelight Studios.
Derek met with various staff members and students from around the school, including the School Council, to get an idea of the school's atmosphere and take on suggestions from individuals. Simon Bird, Headteacher at King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, commented: "The contemporary design is a celebration of the inspirational values of Handsworth Grammar School and captures the school's long history of teaching students in a caring and uplifting environment, within the local community".
"The imagery in the window represents Birmingham through the sky line and Bull, the NHS, our multicultural students both female and male, Remote Learning, Sport, Music, Academic Success, our history and traditions from the Bridge Trust to the King Edward VI Foundation and the poppies represent the blossoming of intellect and knowledge as well as referencing the Fallen Heroes from War. I would like to express my deep gratitude to our Charity Trustees who funded this project."
The central inscription is an excerpt from the poem 'Biko the Greatness' by Benjamin Zephaniah who was born in Birmingham and raised in Handsworth.
“The Greatness that inspired educators to become liberators, And a nation of children to become great themselves”.
The window has been created traditionally using handmade techniques, including coloured antique glass and lead, with supporting saddle bars and copper tiles. All the detailed imagery was hand painted onto the glass and kiln fired.
See below for a time-lapse video showing the installation of the window:
https://youtu.be/jIVPjogdBds
