IT’S been 131 years since Portsmouth High School was officially opened.
And last week the school, which is based in Kent Road in Southsea, held a moving service at Portsmouth Cathedral to mark the occasion.
The cathedral was packed and all the girls wore daffodils, the school flower.
The service was attended by The Lord Mayor of Portsmouth, Councillor Frank Jonas, the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight, Major General Martin White, the Mayors of Gosport, Havant and Fareham and Portsmouth North MP, Penny Mordaunt plus many Portsmouth High School alumnae, parents and girls.
Headteacher Jane Prescott said: ‘Founded in 1882, the ethos of the school remains the same as it did then, to provide a good education for girls and young women.
‘During the war, the school was evacuated to Hinton Ampner and Adhurst St Mary. We hold very dear the connections with these houses.’
The girls took part in readings and sang.
Joan Wright is a Portsmouth High School alumna who left the school 60 years ago in 1953. She still lives in the area.
She said: ‘I was in school in 1952 when the announcement of the King’s death was about to be broadcast.
‘As a sixth-former we were allowed up to Guildhall Square to hear the announcement first-hand. It was so exciting. And then, a year later, 60 years ago this June, I had finished my A-levels and made the trip up to London to be part of the crowd for the Coronation.’
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