A bright March morning saw more than 260 Tavistock College students walking through the Meadows en route to St Eustachius Church for the annual Founders' Day service.

The students did their best with the hymns, which for some were quite unknown apart from the recent practices.

The roles were reversed when the Year 8 band (pictured right) played, with great gusto. Many of the staff thought it was an original performance – only to be told by younger members of the congregation after the service that it was a current pop tune!

The Gospel Choir's performance was equally well received and the readings about the foundation of the college were listened to attentively.

The readers, musicians, and ushers enjoyed refreshments with the official guests in the Parish Rooms, served by their peers who acted as waiters and waitresses.

All the students were a credit to themselves and the college, a sentiment echoed by many staff, guests and members of the public.

Among comments made by the students were the following:

'It makes me proud to be educated in such a historic school' — Michaela Clark.

'I thought the Founders' Day service was interesting. I found out things I didn't know about the college. I wouldn't say it was the funniest thing in the world, but it was okay and it was better than I thought it would be!' —Katy Hill.

'I thought all the performers and readers made the service just that little bit more special' —Annabel Longdon.