On Friday 3 October, pupils and staff from both the Senior and Prep Schools gathered at St Mary’s Church in Harrow-on-the-Hill, the burial place of our founder John Lyon and his wife Joan, for our annual Founders Day service.

Held to commemorate John Lyon and his legacy, this year’s event held particular significance as the School also celebrates its 150th anniversary, adding an extra sense of occasion to this long-standing tradition. The service was attended by The Worshipful the Mayor of the London Borough of Harrow, Councillor Anjana Patel, along with several Old Lyonians. It was led by the Rev’d James Mosher of St Mary’s, who spoke about John Lyon’s life and the values that continue to shape the School today.

A moving part of the service was the Laying of the Wreath, with pupils from Year 5 through to the Upper Sixth taking part in honouring John Lyon’s memory. Music played an important role, with performances from the School’s Motet Choir and Chamber Orchestra, including I Vow to Thee, My Country, the School Song Stet Fortuna Domus, and the National Anthem.

As we begin a year of celebrations to mark the School’s 150th anniversary, we will be reaching out to the Old Lyonian Community to share information on the launch of our online archive and how you can support in this milestone year.