3:30pm Tuesday 24th November 2009
By Joanna Kilvington
The Prince of Wales visited an historic school today to mark the end of its 500th anniversary celebrations.
Prince Charles was taken on a tour around St Paul’s School, in Lonsdale Road, Barnes, whose alumni include English writers Samuel Pepys and John Milton.
At the all-boys school he was treated to a sneak preview of the students forthcoming play on Mozart and listened to a performance by the orchestra.
Speaking to the pupils, aged between 13 and 18, Prince Charles said: “What a pleasure it is to join you if only briefly for some of your celebrations.
“It isn’t often that a school celebrates its quincentenary.”
The school was founded in 1509 by the priest John Colet and was originally free, although pupils were required to bring their own wax candles - an expensive rule at the time.
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