Former Chief Masters of King Edward’s School, Birmingham, gathered to mark the planting of 10 new cherry trees along the driveway of the leading independent school on Tuesday, 5 October 2021.
The trees will return the drive to blossom every spring, replacing a number of cherry trees that have been lost over the years. Their location is being recorded as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy tree-planting initiative created for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Joining Dr Katy Ricks, who has been Chief Master since 2019, were former Chief Masters Hugh Wright (1991-1998), Roger Dancey (1998-2005), John Claughton (2006-2016) and Keith Phillips (Acting Chief Master 2018-2019). Veslemoy Lunt, the widow of Ronald Lunt (Chief Master 1952-1974) was also in attendance, along with family members of the Chief Masters, current staff, governors, the School Captain Bhavanjot Aulakh and
three Vice-Captains.
Dr Katy Ricks said: “As we celebrated the renewal of our site, we took a moment to reflect on the contribution of those who have served as Chief Master in recent decades and the life and growth of King Edward’s during this time.”
Following the ceremony, the guests enjoyed afternoon tea in the school’s Dining Hall, before former Chief Masters and their families had an opportunity to visit Vince House – the Chief Master’s residence on the school site – where they had all lived during their time at the helm.
King Edward’s School occupies a beautiful 50-acre site in Edgbaston, which it shares with King Edward VI High School for Girls. Among the other notable trees on the site is a graft from the Lincolnshire apple tree that is believed to have led to Sir Isaac Newton
discovering gravity.
