A Leaver’s Poem, by Rose

Each year our Year 8/UVIth Leavers write a poem, summing up their time at Hanford.

This year we were particularly struck by this beautiful poem by Rose, perhaps all the more impressive as Rose is not a native English speaker. We hope you enjoy it!

The Best Adventure

When I’m asked, What was the greatest adventure of your life?
I smile and say, Hanford.

And then I think back to all the moments that made Hanford
such a unique and unforgettable place:

Caring for the horses during break,
Ping pong matches echoing in the common room,
Lazy afternoons lying on the lawn, gazing at that breath-taking view,
Cuddling the guinea pig in quiet moments,
Running to dinner just to claim the best seat,
Movie nights with friends, huddled under blankets when it got scary,
Playing Marco Polo in the pool on sunny weekends,
Writing a hundred silly birthday speeches—always at the last minute,
Camping under the stars at the end of term,
Flipping pancakes—and eating them warm just moments later,
Swinging high on the old brown rope swing,
Whispering the week’s gossip to my best friends for hours,
Petting the dogs during maths (yes, really!),
Trips to Splashdown and Go Ape,
And galloping through the fields at sunrise with Guy or Polo.

When I look back at the laughter, the joy, the freedom of these past three months,
I’ll know just how lucky I was to be part of something so special.

And I’ll quietly say:

Thank you to my parents for finding this little gem,
Thank you to Mrs. Philips for letting me in,
Thank you to the girls in my class for welcoming me with open hearts,
Thank you to the teachers—for showing me a new way to learn,
with patience, kindness, and care.
Thank you to Mouse, my favourite pony,
for every ride and every moment.
Thank you to the staff,
for the adventures, the support, and the fun.

Thank you, everyone, for making Hanford feel less like school
and more like home.
Even though I’m excited for what comes next,
a part of me will always long for this adventure—
and wish I could stay just a little longer.