Even summer hailstorms and bands of torrential rain could not dampen the spirits of the 350 guests at Westonbirt 
School on Saturday May 11.
They had come to celebrate its 85th year as a private girls’ school in style, with a circus themed party, dodgems and live music.
Westonbirt girls from all stages in the Schools’ history partied all night long.
Guests were greeted by Study One prefects, a flame juggler and stilt walker, magician Philip Ringland, circus acts by Lucy and Truan from Greentop and a delicious glass of Thomas Panton’s pink champagne.
Outside, while the skies continued to threaten the worst, young and old enjoyed the bright lights, laughter and excitement of Albert Rogers dodgems, while inside there was plenty of entertainment dancing to the Abstracts in the Great Hall.
This wholly English event, in a stunning house with a spectacular history, was a roaring success.
1926 saw the end of the 400 year Holford era for Westonbirt House, with the death of Sir George Holford. Onto the 
scene came Percy Warrington, a man with the vision to turn country houses into private schools (Stowe, Wrekin, Harrogate Ladies College).
Within eight weeks of buying the House in 1928 he had found a headmistress and enough girls to call a School photo. 85 years and eight heads (including one headmaster) later and the School is going from strength to strength, now under the headship of Mrs Natasha Dangerfield (formerly of Harrogate Ladies College).
The 85th Anniversary Party gave everyone a great excuse to reunite with friends, past and present. The huge cake, kindly donated by the in-house caterers Chartwells, branded with the School logo and ‘Happy 85th Anniversary Westonbirt School’ was a central feature of the party, with the youngest pupil at the School involved in the cutting ceremony.
The celebrations for the Schools history don’t end there. On June 10 2013, a visit to Bowood House is being organised for pupils who were at Westonbirt School during WW2, when the Air Ministry requisitioned the House.
Members of the School’s Alumnae Association who spent their school days at Bowood House will be able to meet 
with the Archivist from Bowood, have lunch, tour the House and re-live their salad days.
Westonbirt School prefects, Study One, are also invited and are keen to see how the important links with Bowood House connect with the history of the School and define the relevance of co-operation in times of need.
This is a School not only with an important history but also with a great future.