Edward Colston remembered


At Colston's we celebrate Colston Day on the day of Edward Colston’s birth, which was the 2nd November under the old Julian Calendar, and the 13th November under the Gregorian Calendar which was introduced in this country in 1752. However, as the 13th falls on a Saturday this year, the traditional acts of remembrance took place on Friday 12th November.

	The portrait of Edward Colston in the entrance to the Bishop's Palace at Colston's School

Edward Colston (1636-1721) was a wealthy merchant who was born in Bristol but later moved to London and died at Mortlake in Surrey. He used much of his wealth to found almshouses (in King Street and on St. Michaels Hill) and schools : the major one being Colston’s School, originally called Colston’s Hospital. He gave money to the Society of Merchant Venturers to run the school, which opened in 1710 in the Great House on St Augustine’s Back (roughly on the site of the present Colston Hall). It moved to Stapleton in 1861. Edward Colston was elected MP for Bristol in 1710. When he died in 1721, he was buried at All Saints Church in Bristol. There are statues in memory of him in the City Centre, and in the School. Portraits of him hang in the School Dining Hall and in the main entrance to the Bishop's Palace.

As is customary at Colston's we held a service to give thanks for our school and its founder, and a reading about Colston’s life was read by the Head Girl, Kerala Drew. A wreath was then laid by the Head Boy, Matthew Thatcher, and the oldest (Matthew Willson-Forrester) and youngest pupil (Isaac Simpson) at the statue of Edward Colston in the Bishop's Palace.

	Laying the wreath at Colston's statue in the Bishop's Palace

The Headmaster and and Head Boy and Head Girl then travelled into Bristol to attend another Colston Day service at St Stephen’s Church, together with members of the Anchor, Dolphin and Grateful Societies – who lay a wreath at Edward Colston’s tomb in All Saints Church.

	The Headmaster, Mr Peter Fraser, with Head Boy, Matthew Thatcher,  and Head Girl, Keral Drew, with the wreaths to be laid at Colston's statues with other School Prefects Melissa Smith, Tom Appleby, Zak Bond and Phillipa Bassett
	The Headmaster saying a prayer in remembrance of Edward Colston

There are four Bristol Societies in memory of Edward Colston : the Colston Society (which still celebrates Colston Day on 2nd November), and the Anchor, Dolphin and Grateful Societies, which celebrate it (traditionally) on the 13th November.

	Head Girl, Kerala Drew, Head Boy, Matthew Thatcher and Head Girl of Colston's Girls' School, Laura Britton lead the procession of members of the Anchor, Dolphin and Grateful Societies to the tomb of Edward Colston in All Saints Church
	The effigy of Edward Colston in All Saints Church
	The Lord Mayor of Bristol in the procession behind the Head Boy and Head Girl of Colston's School and the Head Girl of Colston's Girls' School

The School held a casual clothes day on the previous day to raise funds for the Colston Societies.

Links to web pages of the Colston Societies

Dolphin Society

Anchor Society

Grateful Society