School Songs & Hymns

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Carmen Thornensis

(As sung from 1930 to 1974. See below for a translation of the Latin text and for the 1974 English version adopted when the school went comprehensive.)

NUNC CANAMUS ADMIRANTES
PROPTER FLUCTUS AESTUANTES
STANTEM TE THORNENSIS
ALMA MATER TE BIBAMUS
TUI CALICES POSCAMUS
HANC SENTENTIAM DICAMUS
FLOREAT THORNENSIS

ADSINT CHORO GRATULANTI
ADSINT CHORO DI PRECANTI
TE IUVENT THORNENSIS
AUFERAMUS POST LABORES
E COLEGIIS HONORES
TUI MANENT HINC AMORES
LATIUS THORNENSIS

ORNET INCONCUSSA VIRTUS
RARA FIDES, HONOR CERTUS
TE COLANT THORNENSIS
HINC PER SAECLA SAECULORUM
FAMA CRESCAT; VOX TUORUM
UNA SURGAT LIBERORUM
FLOREAT THORNENSIS

Words anon, Music by Lawrence E.Ward.
Copy supplied by Olive Bell


Translation of the Latin Version provided by Anne Jackson (Martindale)

Now let us sing in admiration of you, as you stand above the heaving waves of the years, Thorne.
Dear mother, let us, your offspirng, drink to you and demand our goblets (?); let us voice this sentiment -
Long may you live, Thorne.

May the gods be present along with the chorus praising you, praying for you, may they aid you, Thorne.
May we gain as a result of our work, may we gain honours from our schooling, may our love for you be long-lasting and spread further, Thorne.

May your unbroken strength, rarely-seen faith and firm sense of duty nourish you, Thorne.
From this point on through all the ages, may Farmer Crescat walk to Orum (er, make that, may your fame increase), and may the voices of your children raise as one : long may you flourish, Thorne.

That's the best I can do - it's the Latin equivalent of doggerel and Ship took a few liberties here and there. Marty


School Song

From the Speech Day programme of 1974:

Thorne our School, to thee we render
Songs of praise and gratitude -
Much we owe to thee,
God bless the school, and all who work here,
Raise in us, throughout each year
All-inspiring hopes to guide us,
Floreant Thornenses.

God the Master - we, the servants,
Pray to Thee our work to prosper,
Pour Thy grace upon us;
Shed Thy light upon our portals,
Make us feel that we, as mortals,
Must serve Thee and school together
Floreant Thornenses.

Words by J.S.
Music by L.E.W.


Lord, behold us with Thy blessing
Once again assembled here;
Onward be our footsteps pressing
In Thy love, and faith, and fear;
Still protect us, Still protect us
By Thy presence ever near.

For Thy mercy we adore Thee,
For this rest upon our way;
Lord, again we bow before Thee,
Speed our labors day by day;
Mind and spirit, Mind and spirit
With Thy choicest gifts array.

Keep the spell of home affection
Still alive in every heart;
May its power, with mild direction,
Draw our love from self apart,
Till Thy children, Till Thy children
Feel that Thou their Father art.

Break temptation’s fatal power,
Shielding all with guardian care,
Safe in every careless hour,
Safe from sloth and sensual snare;
Thou, our Savior, Thou, our Savior,
Still our failing strength repair.


Lord, dismiss us with Thy blessing,
Thanks for mercies past received;
Pardon all, their faults confessing;
Time that’s lost may all retrieve;
May Thy children, May Thy children
Ne’er again Thy Spirit grieve.

Bless Thou all our days of leisure;
Help us selfish lures to flee;
Sanctify our every pleasure;
Pure and blameless may it be;
May our gladness, May our gladness
Draw us evermore to Thee.

By Thy kindly influence cherish
All the good we here have gained;
May all taint of evil perish
By Thy mightier power restrained;
Seek we ever, Seek we ever
Knowledge pure and love unfeigned.

Let Thy father-hand be shielding
All who here shall meet no more;
May their seed-time past be yielding
Year by year a richer store;
Those returning, Those returning,
Make more faithful than before.