Photo - Alumna Jess Haines and Mrs Mason-McLeod.

A huge thank you to the BGS community for joining us on Sunday 27th March for our inaugural First XI Team v Old Girls’ hockey and netball matches dedicated to the memory of Sarah Raven (née Fisher, BHS 2004), it was fantastic to see such turnout of players and spectators. It was a really special day for everyone who knew Sarah at different times in her life – as a daughter and sister, as a school friend, as a student, as a colleague, as a teacher and as a team-mate.

Director of Sport, Mrs Mason-McLeod, delivered a moving tribute to remembering Sarah, she said: “When you plan occasions like this you never quite know how many people will turn up but it is clear that many stood here today are here to come together to remember a very special person - Sarah Raven.

I personally have so many fond memories of Sarah; we went to school together, played on numerous sports teams together, worked together and travelled on a number of sports tours together. Sarah not only loved her sport she excelled at it and she would have relished in an occasion like this. At school (Bedford High) Sarah played every sport on offer and was annoyingly good at all of them! Hockey, lacrosse, netball, athletics, cross country, tennis, rounders, swimming...” Read the whole speech here.

The BGS First XI Team won against the Old Girls 3-1 in the hockey and 14-4 in the netball. For fun a second netball match was played of mixed teams with the Red Team narrowly beating the Green Team, 12-11. Congratulations to each Player of the Match for their sterling performances: Jess Haines (BGS 2013) the Sarah Raven Player of the Match trophy for Hockey and Ruth Riisnaes (DAHS 1973) the Fisher Cup for Netball.

Thank you also for all the generous donations to Sue Ryder and for those still wishing to donate, please do so directly here.