FIVE HUNDRED YEARS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26478, 4 June 1947, Page 5

FIVE HUNDRED YEARS

ETON COLLEGE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEF Special Correspondent Rec. 8 p.m. LONDON, June 3. Eton College. whicLi was founded by King Henry VI in 1440, is to hold its delayed 500th anniversary celebrations this week. The war. prevented the celebrations from being held in 1940, but as the provost of 'Eton, Sir Henry Marten, points out in an article on the celebrations, the present year is .not inappropriate, for .it was in 1447 that the college had for the first time its full complement of- 70 scholars and 16 choristers. It also marked Henry- Vi’s first visit with his Queen, Margaret of Anjou, to the school for a religious ceremony in the historic chapel, which was then still uncompleted. The King and Queen will attend a service in the chapel this month to mark the anniversary of this first royal visit: The chief feature of the celebrations will be an exhibition in the school hall of ancient documents, prints, pictures, plates, and relics illustrating the long history of the college. The exhibition, which will remain open until June 25, will include the original charter granted to Eton by Henry VI.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester will visit the college on Wednesday, and during the day the Duke will tak? the Duchess to visit the house in which he boarded when a pupil at Eton. The Duke’s name is carved on a wall of the upper school. . A water carnival, culminating in & fireworks display, will be held on the Thames at' Fellows Eyot in the evening. : ;; j

The school now consists of 1100 bdys. all of whom are boarders. Of these, 70 are King’s scholars selected by competitive examination and who,, if their means are slender, may get their education and boarding completely free. The remainder are known as “Oppidans,” and are distributed among the 25 houses which make up the college boarding establishment.