To begin the celebrations for our Founder’s and Benefactors’ Day, the Chair of Governors, John Kitmer, paid tribute to the School’s founder with a visit to the grave of John Hymers in Brandsburton, where he laid respects on behalf of the entire school community.

Students across the School played their part in the celebrations. A break-time doughnut sale proved immensely popular, raising nearly £400 (at quite some speed!)  for the John Hymers Bursary Fund before breaktime was finished.  Founder’s and Benefactors’ Day once again brought together tradition, community spirit, and reflection,celebrating the legacy of John Hymers and the continued dedication of those who shape the School today.

We were delighted to welcome back many Old Hymerians for lunch, featuring a series of musical performances by our students. Our young history students also shared their personal passions for the subject, engaging our guests with their enthusiasm and insight. The Heads of School joined the occasion, enjoying the opportunity to connect with alumni who experienced Hymers in a different era.

This year’s celebrations concluded with a whole-school service, where we were honoured to welcome Sir Peter Williams, distinguished physicist, former Vice-President of the Royal Society, and proud Old Hymerian, as our guest speaker. Sir Peter reflected on the School’s rich history and on the enduring importance of intellectual curiosity, innovation, and service -values that have been at the heart of Hymers since 1893.

Thank you to our guests that honoured the day with a donation to The John Hymers Bursary Fund. 

Below is a poem that was read as part of the Founder's and Benefactors' Day service. 

The World Is My Canvas, Lemn Sissay

Standing our ground on solid foundation,

We rise through the skies through education.

The world is my canvas from here I stand.

By the mountain, I learn to read the land.

From there, I was taught to translate the sky,

How to study the moon and stars on high.

The sky is everywhere and there I studied time,

With others whose heads tilted upwards like mine.

The world is open from where I stand,

On the beach by the surf with hope in hand.

Answers depend first on the question: 

How could I harness the waves’ intention,

Turn waste into fuel and fuel into dreams,

Make seawater clear and the air clean?

Find the energy in me to grasp the hour.

If education is strength, knowledge is power.

Whatever your will, whatever the way,

There is a route to the future today.

The hairdresser, mechanic, the lawyer, the writer,

Stylist, boxer, online designer, 

The health worker, trainer, zoo keeper, 

Beautician, retailer, and teacher,

Sous chef, mechanic, restaurant waiter, 

Hotelier and carpenter, the signer, and baker, 

The astronaut, the farmer, your Edge Foundation.

A full life is an education.