A stirring rendition of "Once in Royal David's City” opened the 2007 Boys' Division Christmas Festival.  The opening two verses were sung by the School Choir and then the packed audience - standing room only again – offered their voices for the remaining verses.

The Reverend Dan Howard of St Mary’s, Deane, offered an Invitation to Worship and then the Chamber Choir beguiled the Great Hall with their rendition of “Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow”.  Headmaster, Mr Mervyn Brooker, gave the first reading from  Isaiah 2; further readings and reflections were interspersed throughout the night from pupils from all year groups. 

Throughout the night, the choirs sang out true and strong, with a number of fine solo efforts as well as pieces from the Junior Choir and Chamber Choir.  During the evening, audience participation was called for and the Great Hall resonated to rousing renditions of “Mary’s Boy Child”, “While Shepherds Watched”, “O Little Town of Bethlehem”, “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!”, “Shine Jesus Shine” and, finally, “O Come, all ye Faithful!”.

The Headmaster and Reverend Dan Howard both paid tributes to the two Sixth Form students, Jonathan Sharples and Daniel Harrison, who last week tragically lost their lives in a car crash.