THE CURTAIN will come down on a year of celebrations to mark the 150th anniversary of a well-known county college with a concert at Worcester Cathedral.
Staff and volunteers at New College have marked the anniversary throughout 2016 and the year will come to a close with a Christmas Concert on Friday (December 16).
Students who are blind or partially sighted will perform alongside former students of the college and staff in what promises to be a delightful afternoon of Christmas music and carols.
The college dates back to 1866, when Worcester College was established for the ‘blind sons of gentlemen’ at the Commandery.
The need for more space led the college to move in 1887 to a house in Powick, and in 1902 Worcester College gained a permanent home on the Whittington Road site, where the college is based today.
There has been a host of celebratory events and activities throughout the year including a fabulous Jubilee Day in April and an oral history project in which current students, to create an audio record of nostalgic memories, have interviewed former students.
Mardy Smith OBE, Principal of NCW, said: “We have had a wonderful year of celebrations. It is a tremendous achievement for a special school to have lasted for 150 years, and wonderful that so many young people have benefited from being at NCW over that period.”
Mrs Smith retires this Christmas after 27 years of service at NCW, and the concert will be an emotional day.
“It will be a day of mixed emotions for me – it will be a wonderful end to the year but also a sad day for me personally as it will be my last as Principal,” she said.
“I have worked with amazing students over the years and have very happy memories.”
All are invited to come along to the concert and anyone wishing to attend will need to be seated by 1.15pm.
