A Memorable Visit: John Parker Returns to Queen’s
By Geoff Bisson

On 22 March, I had the pleasure of welcoming Old Queenian John Parker (1940–50) and his daughter Zoe back to Queen’s for a tour of the school. It was wonderful to see John reacquaint himself with the site and the many facilities that have been added in recent years, including the astros and the new padel courts taking shape nearby.

But while the modern facilities impressed, it was a very special piece of history that John was keen to see—the baby grand piano purchased by his father in 1942 and donated to the school by John himself in 2014. Seeing it again, in daily use in the music department and accompanied by the small plaque commemorating his donation, clearly brought back powerful memories.

The story behind that piano is extraordinary. It survived a V1 rocket bombing raid in 1944 that destroyed the Parker family home in Royston Gardens, Ilford. Several neighboring houses were demolished and sadly residents were killed, yet John and his parents were fortunate to be away, having been persuaded by John to stay overnight in Taunton after Speech Day—a decision that quite literally saved their lives.

It was a poignant reminder, as we wandered through the school together, of resilience, history, and the enduring connections between past and present pupils. Being able to show John the piano he had so generously returned to the school, and to hear his stories first-hand, was a truly special moment.