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What does the RGS have to do with the Olympics? 

Come and find out on Monday 12 March at 7.00pm, now in the UPPER LIBRARY. (Please note change of venue!)

 The year was 1948 and Olympic rowing and canoeing events were both held at Henley. Some 600 beds were needed. An approach was made to Bucks County Council who “helpfully agreed to allow the Committee to have the use (rent free) of three schools in High Wycombe”.  RGS was chosen as the central HQ for operations and the Organising Committee decreed that “an Olympic flag will fly at each school” along with the flags of the resident nations.

A week before the 1948 Olympic Games were opened by King George VI at Wembley Stadium, a rather smaller ceremony was held at the RGS.  At the time, future England rugby international, Ted Woodward, was an already outstanding schoolboy rugby player and cricketer but he also excelled in athletics, and had recently won the 100 yards race for the RGS at the English Schools Championships in Bath.  The Town Clerk wrote to Woodward explaining that he was to raise the flag for Wycombe and the Olympic Committee... The rest, as they say, is history.

As part of our series of community lectures celebrating our 450th Anniversary, the Royal Grammar School High Wycombe is hosting sports broadcaster, historian, and RGS alumnus Philip Barker, who will be giving a talk on the forthcoming 2012 Olympics on Monday 12 March 2012 at 7.00pm in the Queen’s Hall at RGS. Refreshments will be available to purchase, provided by the RGSPA.

All are welcome to attend this free inaugural lecture and you can reserve your tickets by emailing the Development Office  - ime@rgshw.com