Herm School Nativity. The Three KIngs, Taigh Watson, 7, Charlie Knight, 8 and Jack Noble, 9. Honey Noble, 5 as the Inn Keeper. Mary and Joseph, Bethany Hollett, 8 and William Knight, 9. Shepard Elliot Knight, 4, Maya George, 5 as the Angel Gabriel.
Christmas starts on Herm with the performance of the island school Nativity in St Tugual’s Church. Preparation for the production begins three weeks before when peripatetic music teacher, Christine Anthony, comes to Herm for the day to go through the music with Herm schoolteacher Mary Carey and the children. The music is put onto audiotape so that the children have something to sing along with. There weren’t as many rehearsals as Mrs Carey would have liked due to some very windy weather meaning the Trident ferry was cancelled and so she couldn’t get across to be in school. Instead the children practised at home and everything was ‘alright on the night’. The eight pupils did an excellent production of the Nativity which was enjoyed by their very proud parents and all the other islanders.
For four-year-old Elliot Knight, who is in reception, it was his turn to star in the annual event after having watched his two big brothers, William and Charlie for the past 4 years. He was a very good Shepard who kept the audience entertained with his animated face pulling. For Bethany Hollett, 8, it was her final performance in the school play having starred for 5 years. It was a fitting end to her time in Herm School. She has now left the island with her parents Peter and Lynnette and 3-year-old brother Ross to start a new life in England.
After the Nativity there was a farewell party for the Hollett family. Islanders had gathered together a selection of photos from Peter and Lynnette’s time on Herm – almost 16 years – from their carefree days when they first met each other to the beginning of parenthood when Bethany and Ross arrived. Everyone enjoyed seeing a good collection of photos of islanders past and present.
Ross, Bethany & Lynnette
make their way down to the harbour. |
Ross and Elliot have a farewell hug. |
It was a sad group of Hermites on Sunday 10th December when we all gathered on the harbour to say goodbye to Peter, Lynnette, Bethany and Ross. They will be missed by many but leave in the knowledge that they have made the most of their years on Herm. Peter and Lynnette both said they would miss the community aspect of the island and that the more you put into life on Herm the more you get out of it. They hope to soon fit into life in the village of Bugle, Cornwall. Their talents and knowledge of gardening and ‘all things sweet’ are a loss to Herm but a gain to Cornwall. They both hope to start their own businesses – Peter in the gardening line and Lynnette in puddings/celebration cake making.
December 2006