At the start of this term, a number of boys eagerly signed up for the British Young Pilots Commoner, an after-school activity offering the extraordinary opportunity to learn the fundamentals of flying. Over the weeks, they have developed their aviation knowledge, practised cockpit procedures, and honed their skills in preparation for a real flying experience.
When it was built, few could have guessed that the Priory stable block would one day be graced with an Air Hockey table.
French chocolate macarons are delicate, sweet, and absolutely delightful! They look fancy, but with a bit of patience, you can make them together. The crisp shells and smooth chocolate filling make them a treat worth sharing.
%20crop.jpeg)
Imagine how the world would look if you were a tiny ant...
The Treasury at Winchester College is a little gem worth exploring. We are lucky to have it at our doorstep and that not only our pupils, but their families can visit too.
I adore *soupe au pistou* in November. Making this colourful Provençal soup together helps build confidence, language skills, and encourages your son to embrace some ingredient names in French—like *les haricots verts* (green beans) or *le basilic* (basil)—as you cook.
.jpeg)
This week, the boys learned the challenging skill of square lashing.
Quizzing has long been a passion at Pilgrims’, but we have not entered the national ‘Schools Challenge’ for some time.
Poulet à la bretonne is a creamy chicken dish from Brittany that’s perfect for this time of year. As you cook, use a few French words — it’s a fun way for your son to see how *le français* can be part of everyday life.
.jpeg)
Look at the trees more closely and you might see some hidden faces peering back at you!
On Tuesday this week, the choristers and their families gathered for the termly Chorister Concert. The many opportunities that all boys at Pilgrims’ get to participate in and enjoy music is both rare and precious and for many boys it will hopefully lead to a lifetime of musical enjoyment in many different forms.
Ordinarily, the Choristers are in the Cathedral (a huge venue by any measure), expectations are high and the mood is rightly formal. Although they are only boys, they are at work and they are doing a job when they don their cassocks! The Chorister Concert offers a wonderful contrast to their bread and butter: the boys are able to perform in an informal environment, surrounded by friends and family.
All the choristers, from Year 4 through Year 8, play a piece on one of their instruments. Music in recent years has ranged from Three Blind Mice to virtuoso concerto pieces: without fail, Three Blind Mice (or its equivalent) gets the loudest applause!
One of the most wonderful things about these concerts is to witness the quite staggering transformation in skill and musicality which the boys enjoy during their musical education as Choristers at Pilgrims’. The hours of hard work in an environment where there is so much opportunity pays dividends. Every single boy goes on a musical journey that will hopefully prove food for their soul….. even if they don’t realise it until they look back as men! Thank you to all those who play a part in supporting that journey at Pilgrims’, within the Cathedral and from the wider Winchester Community. They are very lucky boys.
A Chorister parent
Enjoy some photos here from the recent Commoners' Instrumental Concert.
