Everything was British Style and a Sense of Ceremony

Every boarding school in the UK has its own unique traditions and history, and my alma mater, Christ’s Hospital, is no exception. From the very first day I stepped onto campus, I was captivated by the elegant, distinctly British school uniform: yellow knee-high socks, a long black coat, and a white neckerchief — it felt like stepping straight out of a historical painting.

Every day, as we entered the dining hall, the school band played “Sussex by the Sea.” That kind of ceremony is something only a British boarding school can offer!

However, if you were a member of the band, you'd have to play while watching your classmates queue up for food first. I used to play the clarinet, and after performing, I became lightning-fast at disassembling my instrument just so I could eat sooner. On cloudy days, we’d often keep an eye on the sky, hoping for rain — if it rained, the performance would be canceled, and we'd get to have dinner earlier. Unfortunately, those days were rare. It always seemed like the clouds would part just minutes before our march began.

Looking back now, playing in the band wasn’t a chore — it was a source of pride. It was a rare and meaningful chance to be part of something bigger: to carry on our school’s traditions with a sense of purpose.

The Campus Legend: We Turned Down Harry Potter

Christ’s Hospital is steeped in history. Its eight boarding houses are named after famous alumni, including the poet Samuel Taylor Coleridge and the writer Charles Lamb. The red-brick cloisters we walked through daily were rebuilt after the Great Fire of London in 1666. Every time we gathered in Big School for assembly, I’d glance at the plaque that read: “This school was founded by Edward VI in 1552,” and feel deeply moved — how many distinguished alumni have stood where I stood, looked at the same wall, the same ceiling, and sung the same school song? It was a truly surreal feeling.

Some people see tradition as rigid or outdated. But often, tradition represents principles, values, and a kind of emotional connection. It’s a precious bond shared by generations of alumni and a part of everyday life for current students.

At one point, the producers of the Harry Potter films wanted to use our dining hall as a filming location. But they requested to temporarily remove the portrait of the headmaster — and the school flatly refused. That firm stance deepened our understanding of the importance of preserving tradition.

Tradition Isn’t Just Ceremony

Weekly chapel services took some getting used to, especially for those of us without a religious background — I was one of them. At first, it felt a bit strange. But over time, it became part of the rhythm of life. The organ would thunder through the hall, the choir’s hymns echoing in our ears. Sure, some students occasionally dozed off, but even those moments made me realize something: tradition isn’t just about old buildings or rituals. It’s about the marks left by everyone who’s ever studied here — and how we, and you, follow those same paths today.