Our Tradition with Orange Day
Orange Day is a special tradition unique to our school, with a history that stretches back over a century.
It began with Mr William Spencer, Headmaster of Beverley Wesleyan Day School (founded in 1840) and later Spencer School, where he dedicated 39 years to education. He believed strongly that learning should be for everyone and left a lasting impression on all who attended his school.
Even after retiring, his connection to the school remained strong. In 1908, he made the generous decision in his will to leave £100 to provide oranges for the pupils, to be given on the school day closest to his birthday.
To this day, we continue to honour his legacy, celebrating Orange Day and remembering the values he stood for.
Our Orange Day Service
An article from the Beverley Guardian.
Friday, 20th April 1973
Israel oranges save old school tradition. Rising prices have nearly put paid to a traditional ceremony at one of Beverley’s primary schools. A former headmaster of Spencer School, Mr William Spencer – who was Mayor of the borough from 1999 to 1902 – left a sum of money to be invested and directed that from the interest each pupil should be given an orange on the nearest convenient day to his birthday.
Now Spencer School is closed, and the pupils attend the modern Swinemoor County Primary School on the new estate. But the interest from Mr Spencer’s will didn’t keep pace with the rise in the cost of oranges, and it looked as though the old custom would go by the board. TO THE RESCUE But a daughter of Mr Wilfred Bolton, the headmaster, is teaching in a kibbutz in Israel and through devious means Mr B. Hawker, regional marketing manager of Citrus Marketing Board of Israel, heard of the school’s plight and came forward with the offer to provide the oranges so that the tradition could be maintained.
So “Orange Day” was held as usual last week in the new school, and among the guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Beverly (Ald and Mrs Eric Beilby), ‘Ms G. E. Hawkins (widow of a former governor of the school and Mr Hawker.The pupils were addressed by the Mayor who in turn was presented with a cheque for £18 for his Old Folks’ Fund. The money had been raised by various means by the children.
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” It’s a really good school with high achievers and high standards from the pupils. Very helpful if I’ve had a problem.”
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