Please join us as we come together to support our beloved Old Verlucian, Sophie. These special fundraising events are organised in honour of Sophie, who holds a cherished place in our hearts and community.

Our next event is Busking for Soph on Wednesday the 22nd of January at 2pm at St Lawrence's Church in Warminster. Please come along and enjoy the atmosphere!

We are so grateful to friends, staff, OV’s and pupils, for taking part in our ‘Spin for Soph’ and 'Shine for Soph'. Spin - Each participant spent at least 26 minutes on a piece of gym equipment - spin bike, rower or ski machine. Shine - Mr Crinion set up a carwash station outside the TA Hall and the cars were staggeringly shiny - hats off to all the shiners who worked so hard in challenging conditions! Our wonderful musicians were involved in keeping the upbeat music going throughout and our PE staff were on hand to lead activities. We were delighted to welcome The Brass Holes Brass Band - A brass party band based in Hampshire and Devon, formed from members of the Royal Marines Band Service, who were absolutely fantastic and the joy on their faces when Rich Ward, Sophie's husband joined us for a spin was so heartwarming! We are also hugely grateful to the team at Studio Belle for lending us spin bikes and the staff who lead the activities with unbridled enthusiasm.

Old Verlucian, Sophie Ward (nee Bourne) left Warminster in 2016 to study music at Chichester University. She was a boarder in Northdown and Stratton House, a school prefect and a stalwart of the music department. Sophie joined the Royal Marines Band Service in 2020 and served as a flute and saxophone player in Collingwood Band. She met her husband, Rich, in training and they married in April 2023.

After some concerns about her health in 2023, and some lengthy investigations, sadly Sophie was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in January 2024, aged just 26. She has been incredibly resilient and defiant of her diagnosis, never giving up and never letting its progress get in the way of enjoying life. However, the speed of her deterioration is shocking, and Sophie is now restricted to blinking to communicate.

Funds will be split between the Royal Marines Charity (RMA) (70%), Dorothy House Hospice Care (15%) and Motor Neurone Disease Association (15%)