Pirate Weekend
“Avast there me hearties,” “Shiver me timbers, Jim Lad,”
“Splice the main brace!” “Pieces of eight!” – this weekend there was no
mistaking the theme at Mowden.
Preparations began in the dining hall, which was
transformed by the Gappies and their helpers into a full-sized Pirate Ship.
Armed with cutlasses, parrots and treasure chests, covered in scars and skulls
and cross-bones, the boarders came to the Pirate Supper dressed to kill and in
the mood for revels. Some bawdy singing and brain-teasing pirate quiz questions
kept the drunken sailors going to the end of the meal, after which an ingenious
pirate ship race took place in the school swimming pool. Floats, awash with
flotsam and jetsam, had to be towed across the water in order to collect as
many silver pieces as they could ferry back to their team, in true “It’s a
Knockout” style!
The evening ended with some well-known
Pirate films.
On Sunday, the 7th and 8th years went to sea (literally – see other report) while pirate games continued at school. A treasure-stealing game on Park Field became extremely competitive; this was followed by a very popular treasure hunt, which took groups to all corners of the school grounds until the treasure was eventually found on the swimming pool steps.
Many thanks to the Gappies, the kitchen staff and all who helped to make this fun for all the boarders on their first weekend in school this summer term.
MWWS