Prize Giving 2010

Friday 2nd July saw the end of term Leavers’ Service and Prize Giving.
The leavers had breakfast with the Headmaster before going to the Chapel for the Leavers’ Service. The choir, fresh from their return from America, led the congregation in the first hymn, before singing the Magnificat, written especially for them by St Bede's Director of Music, Mr Andrew Barclay. After a short address by the Headmaster, Dr Richard Maloney, and prayers led by the Rev Charles Hill, the choir sang the anthem The Prayer of St Bede, the Venerable, again in a setting by our Director of Music. After the traditional final hymn God be with you till we meet again the service closed with the final part of Mr Barclay’s music, the Nunc Dimmittis.

After a short musical interlude by the Jazz band, Prize Giving started in the Marquee with the arrival of our guests. On the platform our Chairman of Governors, Maj- Gen Anthony Meier CB, OBE, welcomed all those attending before asking Dr Maloney to give the Headmaster’s Report. The full text of this entertaining and informative speech can be read if you click here.

After further musical items, beautifully performed and with no trace of jet-lag from our musicians, our guest speaker Mr Roger Peel took to the stage. Mr Peel, in his role of Membership Secretary of HMC, had led the inspection team which had recommended St Bede’s admission to this prestigious body. He spoke very warmly of the qualities he had found in the school, and the wonderful facilities recently constructed. The new boarding houses were, he said, the best in the country.

The Head of School, Jack Christie, then spoke eloquently and passionately about what the school meant to him, and how it had ignited an interest in drama which had previously been non-existent.

Prize giving then followed, with ten Housemasters’ prizes, three academic prizes, a creative arts prize and a sports prize for each year group. In addition in the Lower Sixth five prizes were awarded for GCSE, and in the Upper Sixth there were also individual subject prizes. The Headmaster’s Prizes were awarded to Dorine Mwesiga, Sophia Booth and Adam Brennan and the Chairman’s Cup to Jack Christie.