Private School News

Hoop, hoop, hooray at King’s School Ely

There were thrills and a few spills at this year’s Hoop Trundle as King’s and Queen’s Scholars – all sixth formers at the King’s School Ely – bowled traditional wooden hoops along a 100 metre course by the south door of Ely Cathedral.

The Hoop Trundle is one of the most fiercely contested events in the school calendar. Four heats preceded each final and in their bid to be first to cross the finishing line a few of the scarlet-gowned sixth formers came a cropper. But every one of the 16 completed the course, their hoops and dignity intact.

Jonathan East won the King’s Scholars’ race and Queen’s Scholar Rosie White won the girls’ race.

The Hoop Trundle commemorates the re-founding of The King’s School Ely by King Henry V111 in 1541. Having dissolved Ely monastery, which had educated children for centuries, he gave the school its first royal charter and established the 12 King’s Scholars (boys). One of the privileges he allowed them was to play games, including the bowling of hoops, in the Cathedral precincts.

In 1970, the school admitted girls for the first time in its 1,000-year history, and three years later the King’s Scholars were joined by Queen’s Scholars (girls) at the request of Queen Elizabeth 11 during her visit to the school in 1973.

Pupils are nominated as scholars in the Sixth Form for their academic achievement. They become members of the Cathedral Foundation and also qualify for other privileges.

Caption: Hoop Trundle winners Jonathan East and Rosie White with the wooden tankards which are theirs to keep for the year.