Traditions & Events
Charter Day
Philip and Mary's 1554 Charter explained their desire for Boston to have "good Education of the Youth and Children." In the reception area of the school you will see a replica of our Charter, in Latin. It is really a set of letters patent from Philip and Mary, bequeathing land for "the finding, maintaining and establishing, for ever, a Free Grammar school in Boston, and a fit master to teach, instruct and serve in the said School for the Education and Instruction of Boys and Youth in Grammar….".
We commemorate this event every Autumn with a celebration of the granting of the school charter. As indicated above, it was really the royal seal of approval from Philip and Mary in 1555 that bequeathed the land on which we stand to Boston and guaranteed the existence of a grammar school.
The Charter Day is a big occasion every year for the school and it is always uplifting to see the whole school walk through the town to St Botolph's Church, a wonderful venue for a service celebrating the history of the school and its place in the community. The service itself involves a mixture of organ playing, readings, choral singing, musical performances, hymns and addresses. Parents are warmly welcomed to join us for this fine old school tradition.
Beast Mart
Perhaps the most unusual of celebrations, this is an event peculiar to our school, arising from the fascinating history of Boston Grammar School. When the Marquess of Northampton was thrown into the Tower for his part in trying to secure Mary Tudor's throne for Lady Jane Grey, the Boston Corporation lobbied the Crown for the return of his land that fell in former guild lands belonging to them. The Corporation was successful, and in 1555 the land "in which is kept a grammar school (scola litteratoris) with the appurtenances" returned to the people of Boston by letters patent of Philip and Mary. With the Elizabethan statesman Lord Burghley as the town's recorder, the school flourished and occupied its current site with the building that you still see today in 1567. In 1588, the year of the Armada, the town's fair and cattle market moved from Bargate to the school yard (the Mart Yard). For a time it became one of the most important fairs in the East Midlands, only moving back to Wide Bargate during the 19th Century.
Nowadays, there are no cows, but we celebrate the tradition of the opening of the Mart annually. In most years we gather out in the December cold in the Beast Yard as a school to listen to the declaration of the opening of the Mart. At the stroke of noon, by the chime of the clock of St Botolph's, the Mayor calls for a half-day holiday to be granted to the pupils of the school. Each year, the Head grants that request (except, of course, for boys who owe coursework, who have the pleasure of spending the afternoon's holiday working in the Library). The vast majority of pupils go home happily. In 2010, for the first time in a very long time, the Beast Yard was so ice-bound that the service took place in the Library, with the prefects representing the pupil body.
Prize Giving
An annual prizegiving ceremony is held in December of each year. During this event a number of awards recognising achievement in academic disciplines, sport and other areas are awarded. Old boys are often in attendance, including the previous year's A-level students who return to receive their A-level certificates. The prestigious Parry Gold Medal is awarded to the student who achieved the best A-level results. A guest speaker is always invited, and notable guests of honour have included Professor Jonathan Van-Tam MBE, Danny Butterfield, Helen Sharman, Barry Spikings and Mark Simmonds MP.
