The School has been honored with the generous donation of a baby grand piano, courtesy of Caroline Napier.

Caroline's parents, Charles and Margaret Jarvis, gifted her the piano shortly after World War II, and she has played it almost every day since. With the need to downsize, Caroline and her family wanted the piano to find a new home with military connections. As it happens, Caroline's eldest son, Charlie Denning, coaches the Dover U16 rugby team alongside our Alumni Development Officer, with whom he shares a close friendship. What better place for the piano than the School, in the Adjutant General’s room, beneath the board honoring Dukies who earned distinctions in the Great War?

The family’s military ties run deep. Caroline’s father, Charles, served as a Forward Observation Officer at Sword Beach during the Normandy landings, fighting through to Caen. A farmer by trade, he later became Chairman of the National Farmers Union. His obituary can be read [here].

Caroline’s first husband, Colonel Colin Denning, was commissioned into The Manchester Regiment in 1956. He was stationed in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles, specializing in intelligence, which made him a documented target for the IRA. He later joined The Parachute Regiment in 1961 and, in 1962, was deployed to Cyprus during the UN intervention to prevent atrocities between Greek and Turkish Cypriots.

Colin returned to his original regiment and served as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, The King's Regiment from 1977 to 1979, before retiring.

Sadly, Colin passed away in 1994.

One of Colin's sons, Nick served with the Royal Anglians, reaching the rank of Captain.  He served alongside Dukie Phil Messenger in Herrick 6.

The School is incredibly proud to receive this grand piano. Within a week of its arrival, it was tuned and serviced. Charlie was invited to the Regimental Dinner (pictured in the gallery), where JUO Will Desouza expressed gratitude in his speech to the dinner guests. Among those in attendance were the CO, RSM, and Families Officer from 2 Royal Gurkha Rifles, as well as a Flight Lieutenant from the Belgian Air Force.

Thanks also go to The Dukies Foundation for contributing to the cost of transporting the piano to the school from Colchester.