‘The British are Coming’ as R-MA prepares for 125th anniversary

Randolph-Macon Academy announced details of its year-long 125^th anniversary celebration, beginning next month, at a recent Rotary Club of Front Royal meeting where Public Relations Director Celeste Brooks highlighted a free public on-campus, three-day event April 28-30.

The Brits are coming to R-MA as school prepares for 125th anniversary celebration. Photo/Roger Bianchini

Described as “Founder’s Weekend,” the local party to which all are invited is preceded by a formal dinner – the 125th anniversary gala – at Westwood Country Club in Vienna, Va., the idea being that the out-of-town location would be more accessible to alumni from the metropolitan area, Northern Virginia, Baltimore and Richmond.

Meanwhile, R-MA is preparing to welcome this weekend, for a 10-day stay, a group of eight British 9^th-grade-equivalent students from the historic (circa 1585)  Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School of Ashbourne, Derbyshire, 130 miles north of London.

Long time R-MA British Exchange Coordinator and Director of Student Life Michael Williams, with wife Sherry, on earlier school trip. Courtesy Photo

A similar team of R-MA students will go to England on their exchange visit in June.  The exchange between the two schools began in the year 2000, was interrupted by 9/11, and then began a decade of exchange trips until 2013.  The British Exchange recommenced this year under a new R-MA president, Brig. Gen. David Wesley, and a new Queen Elizabeth’s principal, Ann Martin.

Exchange organizer Michael Williams has included on the children’s 10-day schedule official visits to the White House and Capitol Hill.

Two R-MA students with then trip-chaperone Brian Barbour in front of Tower Bridge, London, several years ago. Courtesy Photo

Each of the British students will be accompanied by an R-MA cadet and, on campus, will audit classes.

Brooks said the rest of the anniversary year will include not only a “Community Celebration” in April, but a special 125^th graduation ceremony in May; a community service day in September; and 125^th homecoming ceremonies October 6-8.

The April 28-30 public event will feature a day of home sports events, including soccer, baseball, lacrosse and tennis; a 5K run; an on-campus appearance of Amazing Grace, the area’s movie star celebrity mule; Turbo, the flying dog; hay rides, face painting and music.  A public chapel service will be held Sunday, April 30, followed by refreshments, and, at 4 p.m. the R-MA band, chorus and hand bell players will present a Spring Concert. The public is invited to all events.

R-MA is seeking sponsors for some of the planned events and for booths. Contact is Jay Smith at jsmith@rma.edu or call (540) 636-5343.