Aldenham School’s Head Boy, Subhan Iqbal, and Head Girl, Sarah Dean, proved to be excellent ambassadors for the School when they attended a Reception to mark the election of the Prince of Wales as a liveryman of the Brewers’ Company. The Prince was certainly keen to know that they were keeping up with their A Level revision despite a hectic set of formal duties, and showed great interest in all they are achieving at the School.
The historical links between Aldenham and the Worshipful Company of Brewers date back over 400 years. Every year pupils from Year 9 are given ‘Beer Money’ from the Master of the Brewers’ Company in the form of a commemorative silver crown at a Beer Money Ceremony at Brewers’ Hall in the City of London to symbolise this connection. According to the terms of the will of Master Brewer and founder of the School, Richard Platt, the Brewers’ Company supported pupils in money and kind. In 1597 when the School was founded, it was much safer to drink beer as the water was foul and dangerous to drink.
According to Subhan any nerves they may have had quickly disappeared as Prince Charles put them at ease straight away when he asked them about sport and music at the School. Subhan went on to say that it had been “an incredible, once in a lifetime experience and one I will never forget.” Sarah added that the 5-minute chat was quite surreal and she will always cherish the commemorative glass they were both given as a reminder of the visit.