In 2018, Cranbrook School turned 500 years old, marking the anniversary when John Blubery bequeathed his 'chief mansion' to provide a 'frescole house' for the town's children. Five hundred years later, the school continues to thrive on its original site, providing an outstanding education to 750 boys and girls, including day students from the local area and boarders from further afield and abroad. Few institutions have the opportunity to celebrate 500 years of history, and Cranbrook School embraced this milestone with a series of events throughout the year.

HRH Royal Visit

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visited the school on Tuesday, 12th June 2018, to formally open the new Sixth Form Centre. Following the visit, Cranbrook School received a letter from Buckingham Palace acknowledging the occasion.

Fifth Century Lectures

Throughout 2018, the school hosted monthly lectures by distinguished Old Cranbrookians (OCs) who have excelled in various fields:

• 8th January: Mr. Rob Joyce, Associate Director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, presented "Is our Tax System fair?"
• 25th April: Assistant Chief Constable Tony Blaker, Head of Central Operations at Kent Police, delivered a talk.
• 2nd May: Mike Trueman discussed his experiences on Everest and the 1996 storm.
• 26th September: BBC Weather Forecaster Sarah Keith-Lucas shared insights into her career.
• 9th October: Contemporary textiles artist Ptolemy Mann discussed her work.
• 2nd November: Tim Fenoulhet spoke on "The road from Cranbrook to Brussels: a journey to the heart of Europe."
• 6th November: David O’Brien gave a talk commemorating the 100th anniversary of WWI and Cranbrook’s fallen.

Festival Week

In the last week of June, a marquee on Cornwallis Field hosted major events alongside a unique timetable for students:

• 23rd June: The Quincentenary Extravaganza on Scott Field featured food, drink, and craft stalls from local companies, student performances, tennis coaching sessions by Hotshotz, and the school's first dog show. The event was supported by Savills, NFU Mutual Ashford and Tenterden, and Produced in Kent.
• 25th–29th June: Students participated in off-timetable activities:
• Year 7: Outdoor pursuits week, including geography surveys in Cranbrook Town, maths challenges estimating the height of the Cranbrook windmill, and an ecology field trip to Wakehurst Place.
• Year 9: "Curious Minds" project exploring topics like women's rights, plastic waste, and animal cruelty, culminating in group presentations. The week included workshops led by Sixth Form students and a talk by Mr. Minter from Amnesty International on the refugee crisis in Syria.
• Year 10: Young Enterprise projects.
• Years 9, 10 & 12: House Athletics and House Swimming Gala.
• 25th June: Peter Allen presented "Cranbrook Through the Ages," an illustrated lecture on the school's history.
• 27th June: Old Cranbrookians' Afternoon Tea.
• 29th June: Old Cranbrookians' Association (OCA) Dinner, bringing together over 400 OCs.
• 30th June: Cranbrook School Parents Association (CSPA) Summer Ball, a sold-out event organised by Henrietta King and the CSPA.

Stand-Out Events

Additional notable events included:

• 22nd March: Founder’s Day Service at St. Dunstan’s Church, attended by the Lord Lieutenant of Kent and Bishop Trevor Wilmott of Dover and Canterbury Cathedral.
• 9th May: Fifth Centenary Combined Cadet Force (CCF) Biennial Inspection, presided over by Lt. Col. David Pack (OC) of the Gurkha Rifles.
• 26th May: Annual Prizegiving Day at St. Dunstan’s Church, with guest speaker Vice Lord Lieutenant Richard Oldfield.
• 10th November: Participation in the Lord Mayor’s Show in London, featuring a diverse representation of the school's history and achievements.

For those interested in a detailed account of the school's history, "Cranbrook School – The First Five Centuries" by former Deputy Headmaster Peter Allen is available for purchase. Copies can be ordered by calling 01580 711800 or visiting Barham Reception. The book is priced at £12.00, with postage at £3.95, or can be collected in person.