Mr Harrison and I were able to enter the building and look round its reception room, its kitchen and changing rooms. I was able to admire its lavatory facilities in all their glory and to see the generous storage facilities. As we have always said, the Pavilion will revolutionise the way in which we will be able to use the playing fields. I am certain that, as it comes properly on stream, its many uses and benefits will become apparent. The helpful site foreman felt that we would be able to use the Pavilion before the end of this term, so an official opening in the summer looks extremely likely. Please put Saturday 14th June in your diary as the date for Sports Day and the Official Opening, which we will combine. I was also struck by how elegant the building looks – both modern and traditional at the same time, both handsome and yet restrained, all essential qualities given its illustrious architectural companions so liberally ranged around it. I am so thrilled that it has come into being and is so very close to completion now. We will be writing to you next week about the building and ways in which you may be able to help.

To my way of thinking, Winter ends on 28th February but Winter could not have ended more gloriously than today – a day of frost and beautiful winter sunshine. At lunchtime, the sun was shining beautifully and so I went out into the playground. I was very struck by the enthusiasm with which the boys were using our new equipment. We now have three table tennis tables, and around each one, crowds of people were assembled, waiting their turn to challenge one another. Spins of all types were being effectively utilised and brilliant shots were ten-a-penny. Meanwhile, games of both football and basketball were being played alongside each other with equal enthusiasm, while in another corner two parallel chess games were being prosecuted on the large chess tables. Interestingly, it was the chess match which was the only battle that ended in a handshake. We will have to ensure that such a gesture of respect becomes the norm with the other sports! Meanwhile in another corner people played chase, while very nearby a couple of other boys were reading! I was so struck by the variety of activities being undertaken, and by the happiness and energy shown which reflected, so well, the sunny day!

We were visited this morning by The Revd Stephanie Burette who is the Chaplain of Corpus Christi College. She is very unusual in being one of only three female Anglican Priests in the history of the Church of England and was converted to Christianity and indeed to the Anglican version of it, while staying in Oxford. She spoke to the boys about the relationship between trees and fruits. You could tell a lemon tree by the quality of its lemons. And so, she argued, we should care about our fruits, the fruits of our behaviour. She also talked about the way in which we should appreciate the fruits of other people and what they had to offer. During the course of her prayers she reminded us that we could not fully understand one another and that, therefore, we should, as a consequence, treat each other with kindness and generosity. I thought this was a very striking and important insight.

This morning in Brewer Street, I was privileged to witness a conversation between two parents. One was showing pictures of some planets that he had taken through his telescope at home – they were very striking photos of Jupiter and its moons, of the moon itself and of the very obviously red glow of the planet Mars. At that moment another parent came up, who happens to be the leading astrophysicist in his country. A most interesting conversation about planetary alignments and astrological interpretations commenced, which was followed by a discussion of photography of telescopic images. Never let it be said that my wait on Brewer Street every morning is dull. And on this occasion, I haven’t even mentioned the pupils… That can be for next week!