School marks 50th anniversary
The launch of a unique digital archive will be the highlight of a weekend of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary since the founding of Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School.
The Behenna Archive is the first to be operated by a state school in the UK and is named after Christ’s Hospital’s first Head Teacher Arthur Behenna.
The school on Wragby Road will be open from 11am to 5pm on Saturday and Sunday (September 14-15) for anniversary activities including a time capsule burial; wildflower and tree planting ceremonies; displays; tours of the school; performances by current students and a service at Lincoln Cathedral led by former students.
The event has been organised by the Foundation of Christ’s Hospital School at Lincoln and has been two years in the planning, including working with Dr Mike Rogers from the National Archives on the archive.
“Lincoln Christ’s Hospital is both a very old school and a fairly recent one,” said Foundation chairman Steve Holt.
“In its present form it was established in 1974 with the coming together of four existing Lincoln schools – Lincoln School, a boys’ grammar with a history reaching back to 1090; Lincoln Christ’s Hospital Girls’ School founded in 1893; St Giles Secondary Modern for boys and Myle Cross Secondary Modern for girls.”
Current Head Teacher Martin McKeown added: “I am excited to be part of this amazing school’s 50th anniversary celebrations including the launch of the new digital archive. Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School and its forebears have been educating in Lincoln since 1090. It is an honour and privilege to be the Head Teacher at such a wonderful community-based school.”
The photograph from the 1950s above shows Lincoln School building, which opened in 1907 and designed by celebrated architect Leonard Stokes.
The photograph below, taken from technology teacher Ty Reynolds’ drone, shows how the school has grown and developed over the years.
