Blithe Butler

11 December 2025 - Butler

What a whirlwind the second Half Term of the Academic Year has been! The Butler girls have thrown their all at it and have earned themselves a most well-deserved rest.

The festive period kicked off in traditional Wycombe fashion, with the LIV decorating the tree and the youngest member of the House placing the star on the top, and concluded non-customarily, with the LVI joyously wishing us a merry Christmas through the Butler Mons Recorder Ensemble debut!

Between those bookends, Dorm Feasts, Secret Santa, the Butler Bop, House Christmas Lunch, Carol Services and Advent Calendars galore (for older readers of the blog, see Instagram), were very much enjoyed by all, and the girls can now benefit from a much-needed break at the conclusion of the fullest period of the school year.

The Mons have continued to lead the House with warmth and enthusiasm. The Half Term started with their directing of pumpkin-carving in House Families and the LVI are keen to lead more of this type of activity over the course of the year; it is a superb way to bring the House together. The girls have coped admirably with the demands of Sixth Form Progress Tests and continue to amaze us with how they manage to fit everything in, working hard and maintaining their cheer.

Throughout the festive period, the UV were in the thick of mock exams. They handled the pressure with equanimity and aplomb, and I’m sure they will particularly enjoy the downtime that the holidays will bring. LV are to be heartily commended for the zeal with which they entered into the spirit of ‘Dorm Decs’, nursing the UV into the period with generosity and care.

UIV dedicated much time and effort to their House Dance practices and could not have taken their preparation more seriously. The energy and smiles they brought on performance night, alongside some varied and exciting choreography, were admired and appreciated by all, and of course no more so than by the rest of the Butler girls, who could not have cheered more ardently for their UIV. Although unplaced, the girls felt they had won the “people’s hearts” with their routine!

Thanks to some individual drive and determination, the LIV came together and were spurred on to display some fine teamwork and impressive creativity in making their guy (an imaginative and large Fanta can that expired on 05/11/25). I’m told it was one of the best Butler guys in a while, so that’s surely a win?! Bonfire Night was enjoyed by all, and a special word of thanks to Maddy, for organising and leading our charity stall so well.

The famous Butler spirit remained bright, and the first placing of the year was secured by the Butler House Ensemble. Amy (pianist), Scarlett (harpist), Elizabeth (percussion), Vivienne and Yuki (violinists), and Ava (flautist) performed a very beautiful and moving rendition of ‘City of Stars’ from ‘La La Land’ to earn the runner-up position.

And finally: Butler LIV and UIV brought it home in the lip-sync battle. Bravo! However, podium positions or not, the graciousness of the girls in all their competitions has been lovely to see, and the heart and soul with which they support each other make the House staff very proud.

Toastie Tuesday and Crepe Thursday continue to be two highlights for the Butler girls, and they had the pleasure of hosting and making crepes for Mrs Duncan and Mr Woods on two separate occasions this Half Term. Both reported that they had a lovely time!

January isn’t always the easiest month (as explained by another Bilston poem: January – Brian Bilston) but we have our House Dinner to look forward to at the end of Short Leave on Sunday 25 January, and I’m sure it will be a joyful occasion. All the House staff look forward to seeing many of our wonderfully supportive, kind and generous parents and guardians then and, in the meantime, we wish you a peaceful Christmas and New Year break with your loved ones, and look forward to welcoming the girls back, recharged and ready to go again in 2026.