FOUNDERS' WEEKEND

FOUNDERS' DAY 2012

After weeks of rain in April and May we fully expected Founders’ Day 2012 to be a wash-out. ‘Wet-weather’ plans were put in place with refreshments being served in the Chapel rather than on the lawn, and this, of course, guaranteed that the weather would improve. The sun duly shone as parents, pupils, governors and visitors arrived to join the annual service and prize-giving ceremony.

This year’s visiting speaker for the Founders’ Day service was Dr Peter Briggs OBE, Master of the Company of Educators in the City of London. He gave a speech about the many interesting people including politicians and judges that he has met in his one year term of office. He then went on to present prizes to pupils.

Our new Director of Music, Alison Butler led the senior choir in two polished performances during the service. Firstly ‘Tree Song’ a Croatian folk tune and later ‘As you go, may God go with you’ by Elinor Cross. The second song was capably accompanied by Dabin Shrestha on guitar. In a break during the prize-giving, the 2012-13 Music Scholar, Sixth Form student Lydia Goodwin-Matthews gave a moving performance of Adagio & Alla Breve from the Flute Sonata in B Minor, Op.1 No 9, by Handel.

Drinks and canapés were served following the service and this provided a great opportunity for our visiting Old Scholars (including one who has never been back since he left in the 1950s) to catch up with each other and also to talk to current staff and pupils.

Junior Prize Giving

Each year there is a Junior Prize Day in addition to the Founders' Day service when Senior Prize Giving takes place.  Here is the speech made by the Head of the Junior Department Dr Ines Salman in 2012 at Junior Prize Giving.