Celebrating Founder’s Day

Founder’s Day is commemorated every year on September 13, the day Claude Martin died. Some of the traditions of this day include an extended formal assembly in the morning with a faculty march, a speech by a prominent guest or alumnus, the playing of bagpipes, singing of the school song and other selected hymns by the College choir, and the laying of a wreath at Claude Martin’s tomb. For the Founder’s Day dinner the entire senior school and staff are treated to an elaborate sit-down dinner in the afternoon. Claude Martin had apparently listed in his will that his death should not be commemorated as a day of mourning but one of celebration of his life. He had also written out a menu for the meal to be served. Although today, the menu does not remain the same, the tradition of the Founder’s Day dinner is still preserved. A Founder’s Day Social is held in the evening for the senior school. Classes are suspended on Founder’s Day, which is generally followed by a school holiday.