Old boys play for new trophy in memory of Pip

It was a case of past meeting present when football teams from Sackville School and St Thomas' School played in Hildenborough recently.

What was meant to be a 'one off' game seven years ago between the current Sackville School side and former pupils from St Thomas' School, which used to occupy the premises in Hildenborough during the 60s and 70s, has now become a tradition at Sackville's annual family day.

Sackville pupils who played in that first game were so inspired by the enthusiasm of the St Thomas' old boys, most of whom are now in their 50s, that they also reform into an old boys side so that the occasion has now become a triangular tournament between Sackville present, Sackville past, and St Thomas' Old Boys.

Another tradition is a minute's silence before the start of the first game as a mark of respect to pupils and staff from both schools who have passed away.

It was made more poignant this year as St Thomas' Old Boy and former Sevenoaks resident Peter 'Pip' Connolly, who had played since the first Old Boys match seven years ago, lost his battle with cancer at the start of 2011.

It was decided to dedicate a new cup - the Pip Connolly memorial trophy - for the tournament in his honour and this year it was won by the Sackville old boys and presented for the first time by Pip's mother, Yvonne.

St Thomas' School was originally based on two sites in Sevenoaks. The infants and juniors were in South Park, Sevenoaks - a new St Thomas' now occupies the same site - and the senior school was in Farnaby House in Kippington Road, now Farnaby Drive.

St Thomas' school took its chance to amalgamate in one place at the end of the 1960s when 'The Convent of Our Lady School', a girls' convent boarding school in Hildenborough, became available.

St Thomas' later became Foxbush School - named after the original mansion and estate - following a management buy-out by the staff in 1978. When this closed down some years later a new management team took over the site and launched Sackville School.

Sackville has since become part of the Cognita group headed by Sir Chris Woodhead who was Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England from 1994 until 2000.

* For more pictures from the day by Richard Barry click on the Sevenoaks People photo gallery.