There were thrills and spills at King’s Ely’s Hoop Trundle – one of the school’s most historic events.
Crowds gathered around the East Lawn of Ely Cathedral after Prizegiving on Friday for the event, which sees the school’s King’s and Queen’s Scholars racing each other while bowling traditional wooden hoops.
Each year, up to 12 students in Year 12 become King’s Scholars (boys) or Queen’s Scholars (girls) on the basis of academic excellence.
They become members of the Cathedral Foundation, strengthening the special link between King’s Ely and the cathedral, and they also qualify for other privileges throughout the academic year.
Distinguished by their red gowns, the King’s and Queen’s Scholars went head-to-head in the Hoop Trundle, which commemorates the re-founding of the school by King Henry VIII in 1541.
Having dissolved Ely monastery, which had educated children for centuries, he gave the school its first Royal Charter and inaugurated the 12 King’s Scholars.
Principal of King’s Ely, Sue Freestone, said: “The Hoop Trundle is as silly as it gets and it’s great to see everyone, Scholars in particular, having such a fantastic time.”
The winners of this year’s Hoop Trundle were Oliver Wilkinson and Alice Keeling, who were each presented with wooden tankards by the Mayor of Ely, Cllr Ian Lindsay.
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