Since Queen Victoria established Gordon’s School as a fitting National Memorial to General Gordon after his death in 1885, HM The Queen has remained the school’s longstanding Patron. She last visited the school with HRH Prince Philip in 1985. In the run-up to The Queen’s ninetieth birthday celebrations, three members of the Gordon’s School Equestrian Team competed in the Land Rover HRH Services Class at Royal Windsor Horse Show in May. Gordon’s School had never competed in this class before and was selected as one of only four schools in the country to take part.
The Gordon’s team finished second in their section (out of 16) and third overall (out of 30). Students rode with professionalism, maturity and class in front of HM The Queen and their success will remain a school legacy for many years to come. Celebrations continued at the school during The Queen’s birthday weekend with a special Queen’s birthday parade attended by guest of honour Major General Tim Sulivan CB CBE DL. With a handful of staff members and parents, four students travelled to London to attend the Patron’s Lunch on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace. There were 10,000 other guests, all of whom were from organisations and charities HM The Queen supports as Patron.