If you had driven through the Downe House gates on Saturday evening, you would have been greeted by something rather out of the ordinary. A 5 metre by 3 metre giant screen and its accompanying speaker system stood directly in front of the Murray Centre. In front of the screen were hundreds of deckchairs, each one carefully decked with a blanket and sweets. Just behind the deckchairs was a cluster of street food stalls offering enormous plates of American BBQ, Thai and Mexican dishes for supper. The Co-Curricular department’s much-anticipated Food and Film Festival had arrived.

Every aspect of the night was meticulously considered – from staggered supper times for maintaining bubbling, to heaters placed by the deckchairs, to additional seating areas for Housestaff and their families. This was certainly a night to remember at Downe House.

The Lower School and Upper Fourth watched their film first as the sky grew darker and the fairy lights and food truck lights took over. High School Musical was certainly a crowd favourite as some of the older girls, who had arrived for their dinner, decided to stick around for the end of the film, having picnics with friends on the grass at the back of the festival. At 8pm it was time to switch over, with all hands on deck as staff, their families and the Headmistress set about rearranging the seating and providing fresh blankets for the older girls to settle in to watch Grease.

Headmistress, Mrs McKendrick began her weekly correspondence with staff, “As I write this High School Musical is playing outside my window, a lot of popcorn is being consumed and there is great excitement amongst the girls. It is a very happy sight and with Long Exeat round the corner, spirits are high. It is lovely to see.”

Head of Co-Curricular Activities, Mrs Hannah Pilgrim said, “It was just so wonderful to see the girls’ faces full of delight and the squeals of excitement! The festival-style food was a huge hit and the pictures of the girls in their bubbles in colour-coded blankets look fantastic. We are already looking forward to organising our next major whole-school weekend event.”

After Saturday evening, we cannot wait to see what that event will be.