Hello! I thought I’d share a prom story with a difference… My daughter and 70 of her friends were banned from their prom.
Here’s what happened. In 2010, somewhere in England, my daughter and her friends were excited for their prom. Unlike in the US, prom was still a new idea, but schools were starting to hold them for Year 11 students.
The school had a long-standing tradition called the Burger Run. It was famous in our town — parents, local shops, and the whole community got involved. Every year, the Year 11 students would give a secret signal at the end of their last morning lesson. Once the signal was given, they’d all run out of school, jump on a train to McDonald’s in the next town, grab a burger, and somehow get back to school within an hour in time for their first afternoon lesson. Locals cheered them on, McDonald’s was ready, and everyone loved it.
The year of my daughter’s prom, the head teacher announced that anyone taking part in the Burger Run would be banned from prom. She gave no reason and upset a whole year group of bright, funny, hardworking kids.
They were 16. They were going to do it anyway. So off they went, supported by everyone in both towns… except their school. As promised, the head teacher banned them — 70 kids in total.
So… I held an alternative prom for them! We had a singer, a band, a double-decker bus to bring the kids to my house, and the traditional fancy cars driven by local business owners who wanted to support them. During the night, kids who hadn’t done the Burger Run showed up after hearing what a great party it was. Even a few teachers came too.
The party is still talked about now. I’m seen as a legend, even though those kids are all 32 now, some with children and some with great careers.
I held that party the same year my very abusive marriage finally ended. It made me happy to see so many kids enjoying themselves in a house and garden that had once caused me so much pain.
In a twist, it turned out the head teacher who banned them had a daughter who, twenty years earlier, had done the very first Burger Run. I’m sure her daughter grew up with a lighter spirit than her mum.