Celebrating HM Queen Elizabeth II

In 2022, the nation both celebrated Queen Elizabeth II's phenomenal 70 years of service and mourned her death later that year. 

Explore how RGS marked both events.

The Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022 Logo

RGS Celebrated the Platinum Jubilee, June 2022

As one of only a handful of Royal Grammar Schools in the country, we are incredibly proud of our heritage and especially our connection with the Royal Family. In 2022, our school celebrated the staggering 70-year reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.  

Stepping back in time, the whole school community reviewed some of the key developments at RGS, and in the wider world, in each of the seven decades of The Queen’s reign.  Pupils were encouraged to reflect on some of the facts and think about the incredible service performed by many of the individuals mentioned, and how they could support friends, family, the broader school community and wider city.   

Activities took place across the school and in our local community, culminating in a special assembly to which we were honoured to welcome the new Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Mrs Karen Robinson, only the second female Lord Mayor of our City.

Below, you can explore some of the many activities we held to celebrate, including:

  • Our Platinum Jubilee films, covering each decade of the Queen’s reign and key events in RGS’s own history over the last 70 years
  • Fantastic performances from our RGS Jubilee Concert, opened by the Queen's representative, Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Mrs Susan Winfield CVO OBE CStJ.
  • Planting a tree as part of the Queen's Green Canopy
  • Our Year 12 Day of Service
  • A new stained glass window

RGS Newcastle through the last 70 years

The 1950s

The 1960s

The 1970s

The 1980s

The 1990s

The 2000s

The 2010s

The 2020s

The Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Susan Winfield CVO OBE CStJ visited RGS

 

RGS Jubilee Concert 

 

Overture to ‘Royal Fireworks Music’

By George Frideric Handel arr. Richard Meyer

Performed by the RGS Symphony Orchestra

Zadok the Priest

By George Frideric Handel

Performed by the RGS Community Choir, Senior Choir, RGS Symphony Orchestra and Organ

If ye Love Me

By John Dowland

Performed by Amelia Lewis (soprano)

RGS's New Stained Glass Window

To celebrate the Jubilee, RGS commissioned a new stained glass window, made by the acclaimed artist Maralyn O'Keefe of Glass and Art Gallery in Consett.  It is proudly displayed in our school Library.

 

 

RGS and the Queen's Green Canopy

Y12 Day of Service

On Friday the 27 May 2022, all Year 12 students engaged in a service activity in our wider community following discussions on the vow that Queen Elizabeth II made in 1947, where she promised that her life would be devoted to service. Many already give freely of their time and volunteer in a wide variety of different ways, for others this activity may be the start of a journey. 

Activities ranged from learning about dementia care, to litter picking in Jesmond Dene; from friendship conversations with refugees, to supporting primary school students; from helping at the People's Kitchen, to assisting at Ouseburn Farm - as well as many others. 

Paying Tribute

Queen Elizabeth II died on 8 September 2022. The school mourned her death and marked the solemn event with a special assembly. Letters of condolence were written and sent to the royal family, and a memorial book was signed by individuals across the RGS community. The book is accessible in the RGS Archives. 

At a special assembly on Friday 16th September 2022, RGS students paid tribute to the life and service of Queen Elizabeth II.

RGS pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II