Speech Day

This year, we enjoyed our first proper Speech Day and Prize-Giving since 2019. Our last two have been remote (completely, in 2020, and mostly in 2021, with only Year 8 and teachers present). It was absolutely wonderful to see boys, teachers, support staff, parents and governors all together in the Great Hall to help celebrate our boys’ academic achievements of the year. We also reflected on all of the extracurricular highlights of this term, in our Final Assembly (which was a marathon affair, showing that our boys have achieved so many impressive things). Between the two celebrations, we have recognised most of the brilliant things which boys have achieved, with the recognition that, despite the school’s very best efforts, some impressive exploits of the boys have slipped under the radar.

Our Guest of honour at Speech Day this year was Alex Waller. Alex has crafted a career for himself playing rugby for Northampton Saints at an exceptionally high level for the last 13 years and over 330 appearances. He attended Wellingborough School, and has played with ex Bedford School boys throughout his career. He has captained Saints, lifting the premiership trophy and the European Challenge cup in that time. He has also represented England Saxons and has been in the England squad. He holds the record for the most consecutive appearances in the premier league history, not bad for a man playing as a prop in the front row cauldron.

Alex spoke to the boys about his career and offered them some advice on achieving success. To paraphrase: Firstly, figure out what you want to do, then work hard—harder than anyone else. And importantly, when you experience a knockback—which you will— accept what has happened, learn from it, adapt and move forward. He also advised them to “control the controllables but don’t waste time or energy worrying about the things you can’t.”

Alex also shared the advice he gives to young players joining the Saints Academy from school who, like our Y8 boys, are going from “being the big dogs to the puppies” as they move up. “Be confident, be respectful, but don’t hold back. Just because you are the youngest, it doesn’t mean that your opinion doesn’t matter. It doesn’t mean you haven’t seen a different or better way to do things.”

Head Boy, George Knight, also delivered a seriously good and heart-warming speech. In it, he skillfully summarised the events of the year, reminding just how brilliant Bedford Prep School boys have been this year. He finished by exhorting his own year group (and all boys in the school) to take control of their lives and grasp their opportunities. He quoted that great philosopher, Arnold Schwarzenegger who advised that, “You can’t climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets”. George suggested that we “grab all the opportunities on offer next year and start climbing that ladder.”

Talking of boys who grasped their opportunities, five other Year 8 boys had important roles at Speech Day. Three of our musicians showcased their talents. Harry Brown and Charlie Gibson confidently sung “Consider Yourself” by Lionel Bart, and Aryan Sohanpal played, beautifully, The Cascades on piano, by Scott Joplin. Our two Deputy Head boys finished the event with readings of excerpts from two university commencement speeches. Josh Lincoln read a section about empathy from JK Rowlings’ Harvard Commencement speech, and Advik Mishra read from Denzel Washington’s Commencement Speech at University of Pennsylvania, about the importance of learning from failure.

SPEECH DAY 2022

WORDS BY Mr Ian Silk, Headmaster

Our prize winners celebrate their success