Republic Square ( Maltese : Misraħ ir-Repubblika ) is a piazza in Valletta , Malta . The square was originally called Piazza Tesoreria or Piazza dei Cavallieri , since the treasury of the Order of Saint John was located in the square. After a statue of Queen Victoria was installed in the square in the 19th century, it became known as Queen's Square or Piazza Regina ( Maltese : Pjazza Reġina ). Although its official name is Republic Square, it is still commonly referred to as Piazza Regina.
27-471: Originally the site was a square called Piazza dei Cavalieri , but during the British period Governor Gaspard Le Marchant enclosed the space to create a British-access only orchard . Some photos of the orchard form part of a historic photograph collection of Malta. At one point, Le Marchant moved the statue of Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena from Fort Manoel to the middle of this piazza. In 1887 this statue
54-628: A post office until 1849. Over the years, La Casa del Comun Tesoro also housed government offices, a hotel and a cinema. The building was damaged in World War II , but it was repaired and it now houses the Casino Maltese . Some parts of the ground floor are occupied by cafés and shops. The southeast side of the square, facing the Casa del Commun Tesoro, is the National Library of Malta , commonly known as
81-957: A visit from Queen Elizabeth II . To commemorate the visit, the school's main hall became Queen's Hall and bore an engraving to mark the occasion. In 1997 a new building was erected (the Language Block) entirely dedicated to the teaching of languages , which was opened by the Duchess of Gloucester . There are several Royal Grammar School sites in the UK, of which High Wycombe, Colchester , Clitheroe and Lancaster have maintained their grammar school status, whilst Guildford , Newcastle upon Tyne and Worcester are now privately funded, private schools . In 2006, tabloid accusations against then-headmaster Timothy Dingle led to an independent investigation. The school's governors concluded that he should be dismissed for "gross misconduct", but he had already resigned to take
108-490: Is an on-site Combined Cadet Force . Other activities include the Public Speaking Society, music and orchestras , drama , social service , fencing and other sports . The school has two playing fields. The RGS also has its own .22 25 yard indoor range which is used by the shooting team of the school. In 2013, planning permission for an All Weather Pitch was granted, and in 2014, work began raising £1m to fund
135-627: Is part of the Grandmaster's Palace , while the southwest side is a shopping arcade. In 1858, a bronze statue of António Manoel de Vilhena was moved from Fort Manoel to the centre of the square. The statue of de Vilhena was later relocated to the Mall Gardens in Floriana , and it is currently in Pope John XXIII Square , also in Floriana . A statue of Queen Victoria was erected instead of
162-565: The Victoria Cross during the Second World War and First World War respectively. RGS has a sixth form. Boys from other schools can join the sixth form but need to have achieved eight GCSEs at grades 5–9 with a grade 6 or above in seven of those (including mathematics and English). The following subjects are available for A Levels: A music centre was opened in late 2004, so that the school can offer A Level Music Technology. There
189-464: The outports . He then served a term as Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (1852–58) and as Governor of Malta in 1858–64. While in Malta, he had some portrait photos taken of him and his daughters by Maltese photography pioneer Leandro Preziosi . He also had Valletta's then Piazza Tesoreria fenced off as a private orchard, and he had the statue of António Manoel de Vilhena moved from Fort Manoel to
216-446: The 11 plus, an exam that some primary schools administer. In February 2011, the school became an Academy . Established by Royal Charter in 1562 (originally established as a school in 1551), it is situated on Amersham Hill to the north of the town and has a capacity of about 1,370 boys aged between 11 and 19, open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 3:30pm and later for co-curricular activities. The school has boarding facilities and
243-436: The 11+) also take the school's own entry tests, consisting of a test in both their Mathematics and English subject abilities. Though primarily a day school, some pupils have boarded at the school since the 1800s. For most of the 20th century, boarders were lodged in one of three boarding houses: School House, a purpose-built residence on the school premises, and Uplyme and Tyler's Wood, two converted private houses located near
270-598: The 85th Foot in 1845, and the 11th Foot as colonel in 1862, holding the latter post until his death. He was appointed as a Knight of the Order of Charles III by Isabella II , Queen of Spain in 1838, and was knighted and granted permission to use his Spanish knighthood in Britain. He was also a Knight Commander of the Military Order of St Ferdinand. In 1847 he reluctantly accepted the governorship of Newfoundland . Le Marchant
297-675: The Bibliotheca. The building was commissioned when larger premises were required for the Order's library. It was designed by the Polish Italian architect Stefano Ittar , and was completed in 1796. Due to the French occupation of Malta , the library did not open until Malta became a British protectorate . It was officially inaugurated by Civil Commissioner Sir Hildebrand Oakes in 1812. The library has remained there ever since. The square's northeast side
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#1732872916209324-933: The National Festival of Music for Youth having been the National Youth Choir of the Year in 2014. In 1947 Bernarr Rainbow directed the first of the Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy operas to be performed at the school. These continued until at least 1976. Its alumni founded the town's local rugby club High Wycombe RFC , originally known as Old Wycombiensians FC. Sporting alumni include golfer Luke Donald , 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Matt Dawson , 1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens winner Nick Beal ., 400 metres hurdles athlete Martin Gillingham , England Hockey Captain Jon Wyatt , and
351-569: The RGS are known as Old Wycombiensians, or OWs, and include Chris Grayling , former UK Secretary of State for Transport , the singers Ian Dury and Howard Jones , the comedian Jimmy Carr and the philosopher Roger Scruton . The Old Wycombiensians' Committee hosts an annual reunion dinner for Old Wycombiensians at the RGS. Notable sporting alumni include former England rugby union player Matt Dawson , Ryder-Cup winning captain golfer Luke Donald and sprinter Martin Gillingham . T. S. Eliot taught for
378-534: The age of seventeen, he was commissioned into the 10th Foot as an ensign . In 1821 he transferred to the 57th Foot as a lieutenant and later transferred to the 98th Foot , in which he was promoted major. In 1835 he became adjutant-general of the British Auxiliary Legion in Spain with the rank of brigadier-general . He transferred to the 20th Foot in 1837, the 99th Foot as lieutenant-colonel in 1839,
405-559: The centre of it in 1858. The square was reopened to the public in the 1870s. In 1865 Le Marchant was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army before he retired in 1868. Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe The Royal Grammar School, High Wycombe , is a selective boys' grammar school situated in High Wycombe , Buckinghamshire , England . As a state school, it does not charge fees for pupils to attend, but they must pass
432-784: The creation of this 3G floodlit pitch, a new grass pitch, which was completed in April 2016, and to renovate the 100-year-old Main Block classrooms. In 2019 the Stage Lighting and Sound Team (SLST) could be joined by some boys at or after, Academic Year 9. The Combined Cadet Force has Navy, Army and RAF sections open for boys in KS4 & 5 (Years 10 and above) where they learn skills such as field-craft, map and compass, drill, leadership and first aid, while also taking part in activities such as weapon handling, sailing and flying. Senior groups have featured at
459-611: The cricketers Phil Newport and Saif Zaib . The school has an active rowing club called the Royal Grammar School High Wycombe Boat Club which is based on the River Thames at the Longridge Activity Centre, Quarry Wood Road. The club is affiliated to British Rowing (Boat code HWG) and produced two junior national champion crews at the 2014 British Rowing Junior Championships . Alumni of
486-529: The de Vilhena statue in 1891, giving the square the name of Queen's Square or Piazza Regina . The statue was restored in 2011, and it is often a resting place for pigeons. Today, the open space of the square is used by open air cafés and restaurants. 35°53′54.5″N 14°30′48.5″E / 35.898472°N 14.513472°E / 35.898472; 14.513472 John Le Marchant (British Army officer, born 1803) Lieutenant General Sir John Gaspard Le Marchant GCMG KCB (1803–1874)
513-477: The position of head at a private school in Argentina. Dingle did not take up the position. In 2016, the school made national headlines after a question set in a practice maths test by a volunteer (a retired teacher) was deemed homophobic after it stated "marriage is between one man and one woman, as God intended when he made humans male and female". The school immediately withdrew the practice test when informed of
540-451: The question by students. Headmaster Philip Wayne apologised "on behalf of the whole school community of governors, staff and boys" and said the volunteer who set the question would not be returning. The current headmaster is Philip Wayne, who was Headmaster of Chesham Grammar School for eight years before joining RGSHW. He succeeded Roy Page in September 2015. In order to gain entry to
567-499: The school's current location). It was based in the buildings of the former Hospital of St John the Baptist in the town centre until 1883. After the old hospital was demolished, the school was moved to new buildings nearby for a short time, and was moved to its current location in 1915. The school expanded greatly under the headmastership of Edmund Tucker from 1933 to 1964, celebrating the 400th anniversary of its Royal Charter in 1962 with
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#1732872916209594-474: The school, pupils from primary schools in the local area are invited to do an entrance exam, the eleven-plus exam . RGS admits 182 day boys each year and 10 boarding boys. Entry for boarding is somewhat different, with the school having extra requirements for applications such as interviews beyond the 11+ exam requirement. Prospective boys who did not take the 11+ (e.g. those who join in later years or those who come from different counties or countries not taking
621-442: The school. In September 1999 the entire boarding facility was consolidated into the newly built Fraser Youens Boarding House . It incorporates en-suite bedrooms, communication technology, three resident Housemasters and a committee of House Tutors. It has room for 70 resident boys, who stay throughout the week and return home for weekends. The house is named after alumni Ian Edward Fraser and Frederick Youens , who were awarded
648-556: Was a British Army officer and governor of Newfoundland from 1847 to 1852. He later became the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia (1852–1858) and Governor of Malta (1858–1864). Le Marchant was the son of Major-General John Le Marchant and the younger brother of Sir Denis Le Marchant, 1st Baronet , and was educated at High Wycombe Royal Grammar School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst . In 1820, at
675-572: Was a DfES -designated Language College until 2010. From 2007-2010, it was also a Mathematics and ICT College . OFSTED gave it a Good ranking in its 2019 inspection. Originally established by the mayor and burgesses of the town in 1551, in the ecclesiastical premises previously acquired by Sir Edmund Peckham (c. 1495 – 1564) during the Dissolution of the Monasteries , the school received its Royal charter in 1562 (which still survives today at
702-466: Was moved to Floriana , and replaced by a statue of Queen Victoria in commemoration of her Golden Jubilee . The northwest part of the square consists of a large building originally known as the Casa del Commun Tesoro . The building housed the accounts, contracts and records of the treasury of the Order of Saint John . The first post office in Malta was opened in the building in 1708, and part of it remained
729-500: Was opposed to the idea of responsible government and condemned local merchants of amassing wealth in the Colony and then returning to England. After the fire of 1846 funds were collected for the victims and Le Marchant, acting upon Robert Law 's recommendation that no further money be given to victims, then directed funds to the repair of public buildings and construction of roads in St. John's and
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