It is safe to say that today’s pupils probably cannot recall the outpouring of intense grief from fans when Take That disbanded - nor, probably, can some of their teachers.
But staff at the King’s Rochester school in Kent have performed their own rendition of the band’s hit Back for Good for the return of students to school today.
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The video, featuring headteacher Ben Charles, prep school head Tom Morgan and head of nursery and pre-prep Catherine Openshaw, serenades students returning today with the lyrics: “Whatever we said, whatever we did, we’ve been through it, we just want you back for good.”
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“We’ve carried you along, we’ve had to be strong and we’ve done it, you’ll be right and understood,” they add, singing that they hope “we will never be locked down again”.
The video also features school chaplain Father Padfield, and has been tweeted by Take That band member Gary Barlow himself.
❤️this xxx https://t.co/OHwgklfp9d
- Gary Barlow (@GaryBarlow) March 6, 2021
https://t.co/sP0nzUcCis
- Tom Hourigan (@TomHourigan) March 7, 2021
While some have commented on the slightly less than polished performances, including the teachers occasionally looking down to check their lyrics, others praised the team for “showing vulnerability” and said it had helped to raise their children’s spirits before the return to school today.
Leadership. Showing vulnerability, taking risk and having fun. Love it great work guys.
- Simon Paine (@simonjpaine) March 7, 2021
This put such a smile on our sons face and has made his return to school tomorrow so much easier! We are very lucky to have such amazing teachers there!
- Matthew Gill (@mattgill1980) March 7, 2021
As the fab five (now three) once sang, in these testing times, everyone will need to have a little “Patience”...