Thought For The Day – Wednesday 26th March 2025
Black And Gold Heart(s)
Today is Sixth Form Charity Day. This is one of the great highlights of life in the Sixth Form at TBSHS.
Sixth Form Charity Day is a unique tradition which has transcended time and, now, space. Today, we continue this legacy at Beaumont Avenue.
Thank you to: Mr. Munro; the Sixth Form Management Team; the Senior Student Leadership Team; and the Sixth Form as a whole, for all they do for TBSHS, including on this very important day.
There are generations of former students who always remember these two special days experienced in the Sixth Form. It is very interesting to reflect, that, whilst students may not ever have such dedicated and distinctive days as a community quite like this again, the awareness, emotions, memories, moments and photographs last a lifetime, and more. Like school itself.
On Sixth Form Charity Day: the girls and young women will be respectfully dressed as soldiers; the boys and young men will be respectfully dressed as pink fairies. Everyone in the Sixth Form participates. Everyone in the Sixth Form is included.
There is the most moving and poignant of stories behind today. This history is the reason for, and the purpose of, the day.
Caroline Johnstone and Alex Cheer, two brilliant and outstanding students and citizens, both passed away from this life whilst they were in the Sixth Form of TBSHS. Caroline passed away from this life in June 2008. Alex passed away from this life in November 2009.
Very notably, both students, Caroline and Alex, joined TBSHS in the Sixth Form. They were truly “Black and Gold”. They made the greatest impact. They were, and are, us. We were, and are, them.
Caroline’s favourite colour was pink. Caroline was known as “Fairy Caz”. Caroline studied Drama, German and English Language. Caroline was planning to read English at Newcastle University. Alex studied Film Studies, Psychology and Philosophy. Alex was a devoted Army Cadet. Both students were so very loved in the Sixth Form and beyond.
So, at that very challenging time beyond words, the Sixth Form students set up this day many years ago, and since, to remember and respect. Brilliantly, they decided to swap what each sex and gender wore, being far-sighted in challenging sex and gender stereotypes and, even more importantly, honouring Caroline and Alex. Also significantly, money is raised for associated charities as part of the day.
The Bishop’s Stortford High School Sixth Form remembers Caroline and Alex on this day every year. We continue their legacy of love. We keep their families in our deepest thoughts and prayers this day and every day.
Thank you to all former students: those leaders who set up this day in memory at the time; all who have continued this legacy ever since. We stand on their shoulders, but especially on the shoulders of Caroline and Alex even more so and totally.
Very importantly, today, and every day, we also remember the wonderful students, and their outstanding families, who have passed away from this life in their time at TBSHS and since.
We continue to remember the outstanding Will Scutts, who so personified, and personifies, the School’s values, who passed away from this life on 24th March 2023. We keep Will’s family in our deepest thoughts and prayers. Year 13, formerly Year 11 two years ago, can also be so very humbly proud about how they have paid the greatest tribute to, and continued, Will’s truly outstanding legacy.
Those students of TBSHS who have passed away from the life, and their families, are The Bishop’s Stortford High School. They will always be TBSHS. They have the very highest place in the School, as do their families. They are our inspirations. They are our, and the, “Black and Gold Heart”.
