Last week saw the official opening of the Aldwickbury School Sports Hall. After 50 years of service to the school the old gymnasium was knocked down in July 2021 to make way for the new purpose-built sports facility. Completed in the Autumn of 2022 the sports hall features a multi-use games area, 4 cricket practice lanes, basketball nets and 3 badminton courts. A climbing wall is due to be installed later this year.
The new building was opened by former Headmaster, Vernon Hales, whose vision for the project was brought to fruition before his retirement from the role in 2021.
Speaking at the event Headmaster Paul Symes said, “We stand here today the envy of most stand-alone prep schools across the country with a facility that will help create many lasting memories, sporting achievements and friendships, and where many boys will learn lessons in both victory and of course defeat.”
The opening event coincided with the start of Aldwickbury’s 75th Anniversary celebrations and to mark both occasions a Time Capsule was buried at the entrance to the new sports hall. Containing a variety of mementoes and photos that demonstrate life at the school in 2023, the time capsule was buried by our Section Captains who were accompanied by the Town Mayor of Harpenden, Lisa Scriven. The time capsule is designed to be opened in 2048 during the school’s centenary year and also contains a letter to the future Head of the school from Mr Symes.
Special thanks must go to all those who have contributed to the build of this wonderful new facility at Aldwickbury – to former Headmaster Vernon Hales whose vision for the project got the ball rolling, to our Governors who supported the project, to our architects MEB Design Ltd, to the project team GPF Lewis plc, AKSWard Limited, QODA Consulting, Ainsleys and Partners, flooring provider Dynamik Sport and of course to all the Aldwickbury team who worked on the project and around the project!
Plans for the next development project are already underway with a new STEAM building proposed to further enhance our facilities and demonstrate our curriculum commitment to science, technology, engineering, arts and maths. We look forward to sharing further news on this in due course.
