On behalf of the Society of Parents & Friends I welcome all to Prior Park College for the new school year.  If you have had 'A' Level and GSCE results to contend with  this summer I hope that your children have been successful and achieved everything that they wished.  If you are new to the College then I welcome you here for the first time and I hope that you will be happy here, as all the others have been over the years.

This is my last letter to you all as Chairman as I will be giving up that position at the AGM on 19^th September.  I have had three enjoyable and successful years as the Chairman and it has been a great privilege to do the job.  It is often great fun, usually hard work and always rewarding and I wish my successor the best of luck.

Over the years that I have been Chairman we have raised nearly £20,000, which has gone to projects within the School.  £6,000 has gone to help the theatre, several small amounts to provide pictures, mend the St. Pauls' clock and provide equipment within the School, and finally a major project to celebrate the Millennium, which is the Prior Park Mass Book for the Chapel.

The nature and activities of the Society are ever changing.  The demands of the School on us for funds are less and with more day parents living further from the School the number coming into the School on a regular basis is not as great.  The challenge for the future of the SPF is to adapt to these changes and make the Society as relevant as possible to all parents so that during their time here they can feel part of the School.  Prior Park is without doubt a community and you as parents with your children are part of that community.  The SPF exists to help that community thrive, to help the parents get to know each other and to help the School and its staff become more accessible to the parents.  All this will only happen if you are involved as much as you are able to be.  I commend the activities that will be organised in the next few months and ask you to do what you can to involve yourself in them.

Finally, I must thank all members of the Committee for help over the years and in particular my Deputy Chairman Susanna Pierce, my Treasurer Sheila Mogg and Secretary Moya Lee, without whom the Chairman's job would be much more difficult.  No vote of thanks will be complete without also including the Head Master and Bursar and the staff of the School who have given unfailing support whenever asked.                         

G. A. M. O'DONOVAN

The Summer Fete was, yet again, a great  success making a total of £3,000. We were blessed with a stunningly hot day (ensuring that sales of ice creams and drinks shot up) and there was something for everyone to enjoy.

The Napoleonic Society added some colour and noise to the day. The Big Band added some more melodic sounds to the afternoon.

Large numbers paid for guided tours of the Mansion and several people brought items to be looked at by Bonhams (and were pleasantly surprised at the values given).

Thanks to Brian Mogg and his team for organising it.
We'll be back next year!
This is your last chance to buy the Prior Park 2000 tea towel at the bargain price of £4.50 each.

These were made as part of the Lower 5 English Enterprise project and all proceeds will be given to charity.

There are only a small number left so do please order one quickly before supplies run out.