Portsmouth High School celebrated its 144th Birthday just before half term with a resounding service at Portsmouth Cathedral.
The service was led by The Reverend Canon Harriet Neale-Stevens, Vice Dean of Portsmouth Cathedral and Governor of Portsmouth High School. The service included singing from the Prep School pupils as well as a performance by the Senior Choir of There is Another Sky written by pupil Aoki, Year 12, taken from text by Emily Dickenson.
The school was founded on 21 February 1882 opening at Marlborough House in Osborne Road and moving to Kent Road in 1928. In 1939, as the war started, the school was evacuated out of the city to Hinton Ampner and Adhurst St Mary; two country houses in Hampshire. The school returned to Southsea in 1945. Many of the alumnae who were at school during that time still keep in touch and return to the school.
Alumnae who came to the Birthday Service included: Mrs Ann Clark (née Williams, Class of 1965), Mrs Pamela Snow (nee Sorrell, Class of 1956) and Mrs Jean Scarborough (nee Waterfield, Class of 1956).
Mrs Snow said of the service, ‘What a joyous occasion it was for Jean and me to be in the cathedral and with PHS yesterday. Looking around the school, I reminisced back to ‘the ghosts’ of those we had known both pupils and staff over so many years and thought of the futures of all those girls from age 5 to 18, speculating on what sort of lives and friendships they would develop.’
Mrs Scarborough continued:
‘Thank you very much for making us so welcome yesterday. It was good to see you again at a lovely happy occasion and made us proud to be “Old Girls”.’
In 1909 the school adopted the daffodil as their school flower. Perhaps this was because of the gold colour; perhaps it was because the school’s birthday is in February, when few other flowers are available. Since then, daffodils have been a part of birthday celebrations, on cards and in decorations. All the girls also enjoyed a crème egg each which are traditionally given to all pupils to celebrate the school’s birthday.
‘Celebrating the school’s Birthday is a very special time for Portsmouth High School,’ said Head, Mrs Sarah Parker.
‘Long‑standing traditions such as the daffodils and crème eggs are fondly remembered by our alumnae and remain integral to the school’s culture. These enduring customs reflect our commitment to high-quality education, personal responsibility, and a robust work ethic.’
