Penelope Keith opens Tormead School’s new £3 million Performing Arts Building.

Miss Keith, Chairman of Governors - Mr Herbert, Head Girl, Mrs Crouch-Smith

On Wednesday 13^th February, our new £3 million JCS Building was officially opened by Penelope Keith. The new building, predominantly for the Performing Arts, was the original idea of Jean Crouch-Smith, a former headmistress of the school, and is named after her. The building, which was started in the summer of 2006 was completed and in use by September 2007.

Mrs Crouch-Smith together with honoured guests, staff and pupils attended the opening ceremony. Following an address by the Chairman of Governors, Mrs Crouch-Smith thanked the Mrs Marks for having the vision to bring her idea to fruition and said that she was honoured to have her name associated with the building. Mrs Crouch-Smith also said what an honour it was to have Miss Keith perform the opening ceremony being such a role model for showing how one could develop ones skills with such talent!

During her address Miss Keith reported that she had just heard that the Government wanted ‘school children to have 5 hours of high culture every week’ and that it was jolly good that Mrs Crouch-Smith had realised this years before! Miss Keith then went on to relate her own school drama experience when they had to use the gym hall for their performances and where sheets were used as curtains!

After the ceremonial unveiling of a commemorative plaque, Miss Keith, Mrs Crouch-Smith and guests were escorted on a tour of the building where pupils were performing drama and musical pieces and where displays of archive photographs covering music and drama performed over Tormead’s 100 year history were in evidence.

During the afternoon guests and parents enjoyed further excellent performances ranging from High School Musical, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Flower duet from Lakme – Delibes.