We all know that snow at Christmas can be a rare sight, practically across most of Britain. In Dorset, it is not a likely spot in the country to see snow. When snow appears, it is a pretty sight for those romantic souls, who like to admire what beauty they can see in the snow. For others, it creates a sense of fun, a rare opportunity, a ‘Winter Wonderland’ for making snowballs for snow fights, snowmen, and creating snow angles amongst the untouched snow.
The Canfordian magazine 2008-2009 features an article by a pupil: sportsmanship in snowball fights (among other things).
‘One would have had to have been on Mars / in a nuclear bunker / buried in snow, or a combination of any of the above, to have missed the spectacle which has recently transformed the school. I am of course speaking of the blanket of snow which has recently covered Canford. If by, any chance, you had been buried in snow, then it is likely that you were aware of the millions of flakes of frozen water; you were just unable to enjoy it. I awake at six o’clock on Monday morning to hear the pre-pubescent screams and squeals of Court House Shells as they woke to discover the snow. They could have been a bit quieter about it. Whilst making my way around the campus today, I have observed (and been involved in) the throwing of spherically compacted snow flakes, with the intent of hitting others in the hope of humiliating and /or slightly injuring them, in order to release some sadistic endorphins within me. All in the pursuit of fun, eh?’
This article features a wonderful photograph, a rare moment, capturing pupils enjoying the snow on campus, in the winter of 2008.
As you may know, we recently had a snow day in Dorset in November 2024. It was an opportunity for pupils to engage with snow, by making snowballs for snow fights. I spent some time searching through the archive of photographs, for other occasions of snow at Canford, which revealed some stunning photographs of campus during snow from as early as 1938 to the present date.
We welcome any pictures you may wish to share of snow at Canford, please get in touch via archive@canford.com.
As one of the last few articles for the Canford Chronicle in 2024, I send all our readers best wishes for the festival season and the new year.
Sarah Stevens, Archivist
Post your own comment