Prize Giving and Speech day

Prize Giving and Speech Day 2018

Prize Giving and Speech Day 2018/19

On Saturday 22nd June 2019, blessed with a beautiful summer’s morning, the St Edmund’s community gathered in the Butler Hall for the annual Speech Day and Prize-Giving ceremony. Mrs Peirce began proceedings by leading the prayer of St Edmund, before the Chairman of Governors Mr Patrick Mitton, Headmaster Mr Durán, and Headmaster Designate and Guest of Honour Mr Mostyn took to the stage.

As well as being an opportunity for the Chairman and Headmaster to reflect on the year that had been, it was also a suitable occasion for Mr Mostyn to reflect on what lie ahead, as he prepared to take over as Headmaster in September. Following the speeches, the prizes for academic achievements and endeavours were awarded. Congratulations to all the prize winners, whose names you will find in the following pages, for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence.

This was followed by the eagerly anticipated results of the 2018-19 Grand House Challenge and awarding of the trophy. Congratulations to Challoner House, who edged out the competition and seized victory in Mr Cunnah’s first year as Housemaster. Congratulations, too, to Talbot House for winning the Arts Plate.

The final part of the ceremony, before refreshments in the sun, was the handover of the coveted blue and red sashes, and the formal appointment of the new student prefect body. The Head Boy and Head Girl, along with their deputies, were presented with their sashes by the Headmaster, with the student House Captains awarded theirs by their respective Housemasters.

Headmaster’s Report 2018-19

"I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, … who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold, and what they do not, who know their creed so well, that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it…” Reverend Father(s), guests, staff, governors, members of the Friends Committee and Edmundian Association, fellow heads and incoming Head Mr Mostyn, parents, families, students and leavers, welcome to prize giving 2019. Newman’s words have always inspired me in attempting to map out a path for our school, to provide our students, be they Catholic or not, with the foundations of a Catholic education and the confidence to articulate and defend what they believe, ever more important in this age of soundbites, trolls and fake news. As we look back on the academic year of 2018/19 we take pride in a school and community that sends young men and women out into the world with that mix of confidence, quirkiness, character, service and charity that marks out on Edmundian; and what a year it has been! One that has paid due and proper homage to our history, but also points to an exciting and successful future.

Welcome prize winners, especially if this is the first time you will be receiving an award. Remember that each year group receives the same book; these are not subject specific; what we have chosen is to offer you is a classic work or collection of literature in a hardback edition with the hope that, in the years to come, will be something you keep and reread with pride. Only a few weeks ago I received a letter from a former pupil who informed me that it was opening up his copy of Penguin’s Poems for

Life, some years after I had given him with very little excitement on his part – he hated English A Level and poetry at the time, that led him onto the path to becoming a successful and published playwright. So, hold on to your prizes as well as your memories, you never know!

All of us here wish all of you a great day and thank all those who have made our celebrations possible; Sandra Chadwick and her team. I thank Kate MacDonald and Adrian Petty for overseeing the awarding of prizes and ensuring today runs like clockwork. Adrian, you aren’t leaving us just yet but no doubt you will be thinking about your first prize giving as Head next year and we congratulate you again on your appointment as Head of St Nicholas, Harlow. Huge thanks also to Juliet Edwards for liaising with our wonderful librarian Julie, and preparing the books, bookplates and programme with such care and pride.

We are delighted to have as our guest of honour, Mr Matthew Mostyn, our incoming Head, with us here today and thank him for taking the time out of his schedule; he has been a regular visitor to St Edmund’s since his appointment and all of us here have enjoyed working with him to ensure that a thorough and smooth handover; if only our politicians and civil servants could say the same about their responsibilities!

When I stood here last year, we were but a few hours away from the quite extraordinary celebration of Edmundian talent, commitment and community that was St EdsFest. Those of us who were there will never forget it and I thank everyone who made this event possible. Mel and Linsey, people said it couldn’t be done but you achieved the impossible, you got me to go to an outdoor music festival. I thank all the Governors for backing the idea, it was a brave thing to do. As the sun set and the fireworks went off the shared feeling of pride, as well as relief, was extraordinary. So many memories live on: the prayer tree, the scale of the whole enterprise, the community coming together, but the joy of seeing our students perform on the main and acoustic stages, being given the freedom to be themselves was what it was all about.

Barely had the dodgems been packed away our children were zorbing, sambaing, high wiring, creating and thinking their way through our inaugural Enrichment Week before hundreds of students then set off on the many and varied summer trips and excursions that carried on well into July. I thank all the staff who give so freely of their time to make these trips possible, but you will understand, I’m sure, if I single out just one person at this juncture, like so many great figures throughout history, known simply by one name: Mohana.

How does one pay credit adequately to an individual who has been so transformative in his teaching, pastoral care and, of course, his pivotal role in setting up and running our yearly expedition to Bangalore, where in the course of ten days they take in an extraordinary range of sights, visits and experiences. Sir, we cannot thank you and Usha enough for all you have done for the children, staff and families of the Prep and College. [medal]

How wonderful that in our anniversary year we should also achieve historic, record breaking results: 70% A*-B; 100% in Chinese, Drama, Further Maths, German, Italian, Russian and Spanish; 92% A*-B in English; value added the highest in over seven years; at GCSE 21 students achieved 10+ A*/A or equivalent; 70% A*-A for our triple scientists; 46% overall A*-A, 10% above predictions. A huge well done to all our students, past and present, who worked so hard, but I stress again the commitment of our staff, offering revision sessions outside lessons and at weekends, the smart use of data overseen by Tammy Holt, the stretch and challenge programme, our teaching and learning student and staff champions and so much more.

Now, today is prize giving and we want our prizewinners to feel proud, but let us also salute those who have not won a prize today. One of the things I look forward to most each week is when students come to sign the Headmaster’s Book. I have the book here with me now – students sign it for a number of reasons, but ultimately because a teacher feels they have done themselves credit through their effort in class, care for others, being good ambassadors of the College, showing Edmundian spirit! A

quick read through the list of reasons gives you some idea of what we are about as a school:

Starting in 2014 we have Ciaran signing for consideration to others, Millie for courage; Joseph for hard work & good behaviour; Alice for taking part in a remembrance parade; Maddie for a vampire poem!; Shannon for Art: sea turtle; Lewis for a Lego castle; Megan for completing National Citizenship Service; Anita for being a fine student librarian; Charlie 2016 for helping on open day; Sophie for mentoring, these are just a few of the 1207 students who have signed so far in my time here as Headmaster; wonderful testament to our students giving of their best in and outside the classroom!

Add to this this our students excelling in the Chemistry Analysis Competition at the university of Hertfordshire, our visiting authors and book club trips, Physics Poster completion, Chemistry Olympiad, French spelling bee, workshops at Glaxo, public speaking competitions, UKMT Maths challenge success and so much more and you get some sense of just how much academic endeavour and enjoyment is part and parcel of our working weeks. Had you been in the Ambulacrum this week you would have been met a group of staff and students, with a display of books that have inspired them, many dressed and made up as characters from these works, exhorting us all to read more widely, with the slogan: ‘today’s readers become tomorrows’ leaders!

We wish our examination candidates of 2019 every success and also take this moment to thank and wish well Andrea Brady, our examinations officer, who leaves us at the end of this summer; a long, happy and healthy retirement globe-trotting awaits! And we still haven’t got past the summer! The demands of our Summer School programme make summer refurbishment a complex operation, even for the team of magicians led by Stu Winfield, Ivan Tranter and their teams, but when we came back in September we had Douglass and Poynter Houses ready, the final two parts of the house refurbishment programme. I thank again the Edmundian Association for the financial support with the last push and those who have donated so generously to make these much needed improvements a reality. So barely had we taken breath when it was time to set off on our own D Day on September 29th 2018, to join up with the advance party of College musicians and sportsmen and women as well as a coach load of Old Edmundians, all coming together to celebrate our 450th. The Longest Day? A (motorway) bridge too far? You tell me, but it was an extraordinary celebration. What remains particularly satisfying is that one of the things that most stuck with our friends in Douai, and they still talk about this, was the conduct of you, the students. And I mean conduct, not good behaviour, this should be a given. It was the way you mixed with each other, the staff and other adults around you, you good cheer was exemplary, you did us, and William Allen, proud with your Edmundian spirit, well done to all of you!

Remembrance was revisited with especial poignancy this November with the installation of our 86 perspex Tommies in the College Chapel so that our students and staff could sit with these spectral yet very real reminders of the Edmundians who fell during WWI. One of the most moving moments was seeing our boarders help pack away the silhouettes at the end of the period of installation, carrying our fallen, one by one, with reverence and curiosity, out of the Chapel pews that they too would have sat in. Who will also ever forget the installation of poppies outside the Chapel, thought up and executed by our amazing D&T department? Of such moments, of such dedication is our community built.

Continuing with the theme of community we recognise and thank the Edmundian Association, for all its great work and it is lovely to see Jo, O Beate, Beatty here with us, Old Edmundian and former alumni officer and thank her for all her hard work and note the superb job being done by Linsey, no apostrophe Edmunds in this role. We thank the association for sponsoring all the Rhet 2 prizes as well as the Association awards and urge all our leavers to stay in touch and hope you will make it to this November’s St Edmund’s Sunday to share memories and perhaps make new, Old Edmundian, acquaintances.

My lingering memory of St Ed’s Sunday 2018 George Stack OE the night before at the Friends Ball at the former Poles Convent and then some twelve hours later toasting the Association with him from the President’s Cup, brought down from Ushaw and probably not used for such a purpose since its Douay Days. Both the ball and the Sunday were a great celebration of community and I thank the Friends for all their support also over the years. You won’ t miss me badgering you for money, but I will miss you and only hope that my next PTA will be as helpful and committed as you.

2019 saw a record number of applicants for Elements, translating into 108 students starting next September;

11 boarders; huge thanks to all involved in the process of bringing in these future Edmundians and great to have with us today Sarah Hebbs, our Admissions Officer for 5 years, who left us recently for a new chapter of her life in Devon and thank Amy Howard for taking over and doing so well and Barbara Tucker for her sterling work with international admissions. It is great to see so many of our Prep School students coming through and we look forward to seeing them arrive and thank Mr Cartwright and his team at the Prep for all their dedication.

As we moved further into 2019 a looming deadline became ever clearer: big characters vying for attention, frenzied, last minute, behind the scenes preparations. I refer, of course, to the College’s production of School of Rock, another outstanding demonstration of the talent we have here at St Edmund’s. One will never confuse the plot line with the mature work of Dostoevsky, but the message of children wanting to be heard above the noise of parental and societal pressures, to ‘stick it to the man’ was deceptively powerful and the quality of musicianship on and off stage was superlative. I don’t think we have ever had a production that was as truly ‘collegiate’ it was especially wonderful to see so many of our Elements involved; a number of whom were on stage, of sorts, again this week with our student led production of the Lion King.

I think I genuinely lost count of how many rock bands we have at our Summer concert, but that was just one facet of an evening full of talent and commitment across so many genres and periods; thank you and well done to all, but what a great send off to Karen Salter Kay; how proud you must feel Karen, to know you have been a key driver in fostering so much talent. We thank you for all your service in and outside the music school and note also the significant contribution made by Ian and Kathryn to the richness of our musical life, not least in our liturgy. While it is true that possibly, just possibly, Sir Elton or even Taron Egerton, might have offered a slightly more polished version, there was no doubting the sincerity, love and respect, in the dedication of ‘Your Song’ to you by your colleagues. A recent visit by one of our Diocesan advisers exhorted us, and in particular Paula Peirce and the team of staff and students in and around the Chaplaincy, to ‘carry on being brilliant’ with the variety, ambition and witness of our Catholic Life. Thank you Fr Peter for all you do for us, your patience in Douai was a thing to behold, and the Mass celebrated here to close our anniversary year was a special moment shared with great intimacy and reverence. We had a record number sleeping out in the Galilee Chapel this year and Charity Week 2019 raised nearly 17 thousand pounds, bringing to 56k the total we have raised over the years for Noah’s Ark. We were overwhelmed by the generosity of our parents with prizes for the silent auction as well as providing for a bbq on Clock Quad among the many activities. The students really do show themselves at their best during this week with their efforts, big and small, to raise money for others. Br Andrej, I’m not convinced you’ve ever forgiven me for comparing you to the Fonz, but that really is the highest accolade someone of my generation can give to another. We thank you for all you have done this year; you have been a quiet inspiration to the students and staff through your witness, (scary) intelligence, work ethic and good nature. You will make the most wonderful priest We weren’t sure you would take up the Easter bunny challenge, but you did so very gamely, thank you; what your dogs will make of this tradition, Mr Mostyn, remains to be seen!

I never spend as much time in boarding as I would like to, but each year the boarders’ leavers dinner is a highlight. In some ways it is a very low key event, but breaking bread with the boarding staff and Rhet 2 leavers in the Parlour really brings home to you what is so special about boarding, the camaraderie, the looking out for each other, the opportunities. As a way of building resilience and independence, the ability to step outside one’s Google bubble and rub shoulders with students outside your usual circle of class, House or year group, boarding is hard to beat. It is, judging by all the comments deleted from the draft pages of the leavers’ yearbook, great fun. A good number of our day students who have moved to weekly and flexi boarding have never looked back, even when their parents want them to come home, appreciating the structured opportunities for study and also the

community feel. It is wonderful to see so many of our prize winners from the boarding community today and parents who have flown in to share this day with them, thank you! Our thanks to all the boarding staff and farewell to Debbie Wilkinson as she moves off to Swtizerland; you have been outstanding in all you do and we wish you every success. I have particularly enjoyed our talks on your BSA programme and am sure one day soon you will be running your own school. Julie Fletcher Dyer also leaves us at the end of term and thank you for everything. I will always remember observing your lesson; a real masterclass; in boarding you always put the children first and were always ready to give of your time to younger staff; the very best of luck as you move to Royal Berkshire, just look out for reversing Range Rovers! Blanca and Marta, Nicolas and Alfsonso – you have been a stellar presence in boarding and so many areas around the school; we wish Blanca returns to Spain to take up a teaching post and we are delighted that the majority of you have voted to remain. Goodbye also to our German and French asssistants Fay Ren and Marie Scheppens for their work in the languages department and boarding. Both of you have done so much more than simply be an assistant; please do keep in touch as you progress further with studies and career choices. Another year of lots of sporting achievement and activity and I commend all those students who turn up, week in week out, properly turned out and the staff who work so hard to set these standards. I know that there will be clashes and other demands on your time, but to play for your school should always be considered a privilege; well done to all of you, in victory or defeat, who have worn our school badge with pride. This year the department has added a link with Hoddesdon Swimming Club to its roster of activities, a win-win that allows us to share our pool with talented young locals but also tap into the coaching credentials of the club for the benefit of our students. We also hosted two Saracens rugby coaching camps this year and look back on a rugby season where we won 68% of matches, with our Elements and Rudiments squads unbeaten.

Our senior girls won the netball county cup, our U13s took home the County Plate and our girl footballers were county cup runners up. Our girls hockey U16 squad were County runners up and finished joint 3rd in the regional finals.

We now have had a Cricket Coach assist in training our Elements and Rudiments sides, part of our new Prep to College cricket programme. The Elements are a strong side going forward with County players and District representatives. They have qualified for the Semi Final of the County Cup. The Grammar side are in the Quarter Finals of the County Cup. Across the year groups we have won 11 of the 15 matches played, with the weather rarely on our side this term.

We keep an eye out for and commend all the elites athletes in our community excelling in their personal sporting ambitions: in sprinting, shooting, skiing, horse jumping and dressage, girls football and more. How you manage to do so well at school and keep to such demanding training schedules does you huge credit and do always keep us updated of your progress.

Thank Rhydian, for his two years as a PE Gap assistant, in particular his support with rugby and his dedication to boarding; James Adams stays with us to start his teacher training.

The postponement of Sports Day this week meant that we closed the week with a glorious day of competition and celebration; well done to all of you who took part and supported each other with such good spirit. There is, occasionally, an individual who will take the spirit of inter House competition a bit too far, get a bit over excited, but to fair to Ali Dunning she was the model of restraint yesterday.

Ali, you will be missed, but we cannot say that we have not get our money’s worth out of you: according to isams so far you have given 14 years, 9 months and 21 days of dedicated service as an inspiring teacher and Head of German, a tireless Head of House and latterly doing a great job as Acting Assistant Head pastoral. Ali, you have

touched the lives of hundreds of students and staff, setting an example of what it is to be a teacher. Exeter School is very, very lucky to be getting you and we all know you will be brilliant in your post there of Deputy Head. I know Talbot did not carry the day yesterday, but you have led Talbot to so many successes and deserve a medal yourself.

As the sporting season closes so too our staff transfer window and we say goodbye to some of our signings who move on to other teams, national and European. We thank Kerry Evans for her inspirational teaching of English and exemplary commitment as a tutor wish her and her family as they move south of the Thames. We thank Mark Connor for all his great work as an inspiring teacher, Director of KS4 science, Rhetoric tutor and boxing enthusiast. Nick Cairns moves to Madrid and we thank for all his great work in the classroom, with DoE, Lego, CCF, and, like Mark, for his amazing Open Day experiments; how many children wiil be starting here next year having been inspired by your enthusiasm? Gemma Fanning has led the EAL department with great zeal and her insight into supporting students from abroad has been particularly helpful. She too moves to Madrid, to take up an Assistant Head post and I am sure they will as impressed as we have been with her intelligence and dedication. Katharine Moore leaves us after a short stay, but impressed us all and we wish you and your family well. Lisa Barley has been a key part of the learning support team for 7 years and has worked with empathy and dedication, will be missed by students and staff alike. (MEDAL)

So let us address the elephant in the room: are we saying goodbye to an unusually high number of good staff? To a degree, yes – the school does not build what it builds by employing poor teachers, but the number of staff leaving this year is pretty much on a par with the average over the last seven years; when you include how the school has grown over that period then it drops as a percentage. length of service is considerable – between Ali Dunning, Mohana and Karen Salter Kay we have over 50 years of dedicated teaching and care. And change is essential for any institution to grow and develop.

It was Father Pinot who once said to me that there are no such things as coincidences. The first time I gave my address as Headmaster he lay in his hospital bed on the Isle of Man and passed away the next morning, with typical lack of fuss and grace on the Sabbath, Father’s Day 2012. All the more lovely, therefore, to finally bring to fruition the memorial garden in his honour thanks to the hard work and creativity of Dan Walker and his team, Mrs Scott, Jim Milner OE. The triskelion sculpture reminds us of many things, not least the Isle of Man, the trinity and the gothic tracery of our Chapel, but it also points to the constancy of change and movement. Interestingly it is a common motif in the region of Spain I am going to. No such thing as coincidences indeed!

As a leaver, just a few words to our remainers: don’t take this school for granted! Seizing the day, every day, is exhausting but try not to miss too many of the amazing opportunities that the location, buildings, history and, crucially, the people here can offer you. They say nature abhors a vacuum, although I quite enjoy hoovering, so as others move on seek out responsibilities and opportunities. Don’t come to the end of your time here with too many of those dreaded ‘if only’ or ‘I wish’ es.

So leavers, keep in touch! Your days at St Edmund’s are coming to a close, but you will be an Edmundian forever; take with you not just your memories, your selfies and signed shirts, but keep in your hearts and minds the values this school was built upon as you go out to shape the world. And don’t think you cannot make a difference! Think of Greta Thunberg and the impact she is making; to address the UN on climate change at the age of 16; think of Selah Schneiter, who climbed El Capitan at the age of 10 – incidentally a five day climb that took a year to plan. I’m not trying to make some corny cliché about following your dreams and they will all come true, simply that each and every one of us does make a difference, whether we like it or not sometimes, we just have to think how and what. Don’t be that person standing infront of a piece of modern art, for example, saying ‘I could have painted that!’. So why didn’t you?

Estimados padres, alumnos y profesores [oops, sorry, wrong school!]. So, as I start to pack up for sunnier Spain allow me a few moments to look back.

My application letter for the headship of St Edmund’s, in November 2011, for this post started with the quote from Newman you heard at the start of this address; let me quote further as we come to the end of my tenure:

My vision for the College is, to a great extent, my vision of the College: I see a truly Christ-centred education that is rigorous yet humane, fully Catholic and offering something vital to Catholic and non-Catholic alike,

summed up in a Mission Statement that is not just a statement of intent, but a true summary of what we actually provide at St Edmund’s.

There is, of course, much to be done: as a Catholic institution we are increasingly ‘counter-cultural’ and need to work that much harder to convince state and individuals of our validity as well as ensuring that the themes of witness, vocation and communion are clearly articulated and held up to our students; as a fee-paying institution we need to keep building on our academic success as well as continuing to develop the sporting and extra-curricular life that offers our students so many complementary areas in which to shine.

We all know too well that the world of education never stays still for long, but even so there are a number of challenges ahead that, either individually or acting in combination, could alter the landscape of education quite dramatically. ‘Free’ schools, the quickening pace of academy conversion, the future of A Levels and vocational education and university funding are the most salient features, but these may yet become truly academic points if some of the predicted financial scenarios come to pass; at the very least we face a decade of slow growth and severe fiscal restraint. Holding on to the College’s identity and core values will become harder in such a climate, but we should not be too fearful and remind ourselves that we are an institution that saw its way through the Reformation and the French Revolution by keeping to its Gospel values and being inspired by our saints and martyrs. Their example will see us through as long as we continue to demand the very best for and from our students; last year’s visit of Pope Benedict was a source of great inspiration and I would seek to build upon this momentum to ensure that our Catholic education is as rich and inspiring as it can be through our prayer, academic, sporting and artistic life.

I will always be grateful to the College for the trust it has placed in me; to be able to carry on earning that trust as the Head of the College would be an even greater and humbling privilege, but it is one that I feel ready and able to assume. A recently read quote sums matters up for me rather well: ‘Education is the point at which we decide whether we love the world enough to assume responsibility for it…’. Not the shortest of letters perhaps, but it did the job!

After ten years at St Edmund’s, seven of them as Headmaster it is hard to say goodbye, hard to look back and think of all the what ifs, maybes and ‘what on earth was I thinking?’, but the overall feeling is an enormous sense of pride and privilege to have worked with the staff and students here and be able to look on all we have achieved together. Have I loved every day? Of course not, but I have loved, and will always love this school.

‘Happy to go; sad to leave’ is the best way I can sum up my feelings. Alice, Inés and I are moving to what I consider one of the most beautiful parts of Spain; Galicia, if you do not know it, is a land of beautiful beaches, mountains, rivers, seafood, poetry, smugglers and witches, the best steaks in Spain, small spicy green peppers, bagpipes, the home of the Zara fashion chain and, of course, the resting place of St James.

I will be taking over a school that is barely 10 years old, offering a British curriculum and modelled on the educational values that I benefitted from as a student and have always aligned myself with as a teacher. It is a job made for me, but I would never have found myself in this position were it not for everything I have learned, my successes and my failures, and I thank all of you who have helped me along my pilgrim’s path.

Matthew, it will be your turn soon to take over House Edmundia and it is clear that you have already fallen under its spell; a great future awaits you and the community here, of that I have no doubt and I know that at St Edmund’s will give you the same great support and trust I have enjoyed.

My congratulations and thanks to all of you and save me a seat for the 500th anniversary! Until then, Avita Pro Fide!

PAULO DURÁN, HEADMASTER

Prizes 2018/19

ELEMENTS

THOMAS BASS Geography ANNA BURTON Drama and Religious Education SAMUEL HAY-CAMPBELL Design and Technology and Music THOMAS CRESCI Information Technology and Mathematics ZARA DEMETRIOU Physical Education (Girls) EMMA DENNY English, French, History and Mathematics ANNABELLE DOWNES English and French NKECHINYEREM EZUMA Design and Technology SCARLETT GALE Drama, Information Technology and Religious Education KIANA HAWES Food Technology and Science AMELIA HUDSON Food Technology and Science HARVEY KASS Art and Design LOIS LAWRENCE Physical Education (Girls) JOSHUA LUKE Physical Education (Boys) JOE RADFORD Physical Education (Boys) LUCIAN TORUŃ-SHAW History GABRIELA TWISS Art and Design and Geography JEMIMA UZOKA Music

RUDIMENTS

SYLVIE ALLEN Food Technology KIAN BARTON Design and Technology HOLLY CELANO Italian and Religious Education FABRIZIO CIRAOLO Religious Education BETHANY CURTIS-COPELAND Information Technology and Science HENRY DUNN Physical Education (Boys) HESTER EVANS Drama and Spanish KEIRA FERNS Physical Education (Girls) MUINGA GINGA English AMY GUJRAL Special Award for Design and Technology, Food Technology, English, Spanish, Geography and Mathematics ABIGAIL HALLAM History RONAN HAWES French, German and Mathematics MARIO IHEANETU Geography TOBEYA IKEYINA French EVIE KELLY Drama WILLIAM LANG Mathematics SANYA MOUNTFORD Music RUITING NI English as a Second Language OLIVER PARKES Physical Education (Boys) RIAN PATEL Italian ANABELLA PITTALUGA History, Physical Education (Girls) and Spanish IVAYLA RUSINOVA Art and Design and Design and Technology LENNY SCHWARZ English, German and Music MEGAN SIME Art and Design, Food Technology, Geography and Science QIKAI ZHAO English as a Second Language and Information Technology

GRAMMAR

FRANCIS ARIWAODO Latin BRENDAN BALDEH German SARAH BONNELL Biology CHARLES BUSH Physical Education (Boys) JUSTINE CLARKE French JACK CLEMENCE English and Spanish ISABEL CRESCI Art and Design and Italian JOSHUA CROOK Drama OLIVER EDMUNDS Chemistry, Food Technology, History and Physics MOLLY GAUGHAN Music ALEJANDRO GONZALEZ URQUIZA English as a Second Language ALASDAIR HUNT History BROOKE JOHN Physical Education (Girls) DILLON JONES Information Technology JOSHUA JONES Physics

JAKE JORDAN Art and Design CHARLES KEELEY Geography ALICE KING Music PHOEBE LEE Chemistry, English, Geography and Religious Education LISA OGUTU Biology and Spanish MAYURA PUSPARAJAH Italian and Religious Education LEONARDO RUMALEAN Special Award for Biology, Chemistry, Design and Technology, French, History and Physical Education MILLIE SCOTT Physical Education (Girls) DAISY TORUŃ-SHAW Latin JOSEPH SHENOUDA Physical Education (Boys) YU WAI TANG German and Mathematics AMY TAYLOR Design and Technology WHITNEY UDIGWE Drama and Food Technology ISABELLA UZOKA French HARRISON WAINWRIGHT Design and Technology YUBO WANG English as a Second Language and Mathematics JOSEPH YAGUDAEV Information Technology

SYNTAX

OLUWATONI AKINOLA Biology and Mathematics JODIE BAILEY-HO Chemistry, Italian, Mathematics and Physics GRISH RUNESH BARLA Religious Education NINA BAYFORD French, History, Physics and Spanish OSCAR BLAKE Art and Design GIORGIA BURAGLIO Music ALESSANDRO CIRAOLO Biology, Computing and Music YUTAO FENG English as a Second Language ISABEL GARDNER Business Studies, Italian and Sports Studies JOSEPH GARDNER Drama BENJAMIN GIKUMA Chemistry and Design and Technology MARTINA GIORDANO Latin OTIS GRIFFIN English AYLA HESLOP-MOORE Physical Education (Girls) SHANNON HUNT Physical Education (Girls) FREYA KAVANAGH Drama and Information Technology FINLAY KELLY Sports Studies NIKITA MISTRY English SCARLETT MITCHELL History ADEOLUWA OKUFUWA Spanish OGORCHUKWU OZOR Business Studies, French and Religious Education LEWIS PARRY Computing Art and Design, Geography and Latin JESSIE ROBERTS Geography CONNOR ROCHE Physical Education (Boys) JAVIER SÁNCHEZ ESQUIVEL German JOSHUA SOWTER Physical Education (Boys) MARTIN STEFANOV English as a Second Language WILLIAM TAYLOR German and Information Technology SAMUEL WILLOUGHBY Design and Technology

POETRY

TOBENNA ABANA German NANA ADJEI French LANA ALDEN Chemistry KYPRIANA ANGADI Biology CALLUM BIGGS Design and Technology ELLA BUENAVENTURA Physical Education (Girls) and Sports Studies FRANCIS BUTTERWORTH Chemistry HARRIET CAUNT Latin RORY CHICK Drama and Physical Education (Boys) LUCY EDMUNDS Art and Design MILLIE FLANNAGAN Sports Studies JONATHAN FRY Computing

Prizes 2018/19

OLIVIA GEORGE English, Geography and Information Technology ANDRII GUNIA English as a Second Language CHLOE HOBAN Drama and Physical Education (Girls) MARIE JACOVIDES English LEWIS JARVIS Geography ABBIE-MAY JONES Art and Design and Business Studies HARRY JORDAN Design and Technology EVA CAMILLA KNUTSEN Business Studies RUOPAN LI Special Award for Biology, French, Geography, History, Computing and Mathematics XINYIN LIU Mathematics ETHAN MACKENZIE-YAPA Physics EDWARD MARSHALL Music SORAYA OMOTOSHO History and Information Technology SOPHIA O'SULLIVAN French and Religious Education ENZO PICCIRILLO Mathematics and Religious Education ANTONELLA PITTALUGA Spanish CASPIAN PLUMMER Biology, German and Music SOPHIA PRICE ROSS Computing, History, Latin and Physics JAMES ROSE Physical Education (Boys) TESSIA SILVA-KIRSAKYE Italian YOSSAPHOL SONGSRI Special Award for Art and Design, Biology, English, Spanish, Geography, History and Mathematics EMMA TUAILLON Spanish JAMES WATSON Italian

RHETORIC I

KATHLEEN BARRETT Spanish ISOBEL BIRCHALL Art and Design LUCY BOYLING Music IMOGEN BURTON Drama LEO CARR Politics HILLARY CHEUNG Media Studies LARA CHICK Physical Education (Girls) and Theology MAXIMILIAN COOPER Design and Technology COURTNEY FERNS Sports Studies BETH GARDNER Geography EDWARD HARTLEY Further Mathematics and Physics SHENGYI HU English as a Second Language CHIKOYE KASOLO Business Studies SAIF LATIFI Computing OLYA LINKINA German OLIVER MARTIN English and History KARA MICHAELSON Mathematics and Psychology DOMINIC NEGRI Physical Education (Boys) CHINENYE ODO Chemistry MAIREAD SHEEHY Economics NADA TADROS Biology CATHERINE WHITE French

RHETORIC II

OLUWASEUN AKANNI Computing Prize CLAUDIA BROOKER Extended Project Qualification Prize LUCA BURAGLIO Higley Prize for Music FREYA BURKE Media Studies Prize JOSEPH CANAVAN Canon Parsons Prize for Chemistry Westwood Prize for Mathematics Canon Parsons Prize for Physics THOMASINA CASS Paul Rogers Prize for English EMILY CONNOR JHW King Prize for Politics OLIVER CORLEY Gilbert Prize for German YI DING Higley Prize for Design and Technology MOLLY GARDNER JHW King Prize for Psychology ALEXANDER HOLDEN DS Lindsay Prize for Sports Studies

CAITLIN KEITH Ivor O’Mahony Prize for Business Studies SHAOHAN LUO Paul Rogers Prize for English as a Second Language FIONNUALA MARSHALL Gilbert Prize for Spanish GLORIA MUGABI Bishop Butler Prize for Theology TAYMEN SARGUSINGH Ivor O’Mahony Prize for Economics JHW King Prize for History DS Lindsay Prize for Physical Education (Boys) MONET SCRIMALI John Gillham Prize for Art and Design, Gilbert Prize for Italian ARYAMAN SOLANKI Gilbert Prize for French Purada Vongnum Canon Parsons Prize for Biology Stephanie Winfield JHW King Prize for Geography DS Lindsay Prize for Physical Education (Girls) Ruidi Zhu Westwood Prize for Further Mathematics CHARLIE PONTING Computing Prize CHARLIE ROSE Higley Prize for Design and Technology ALVARO SANCHEZ MARTINEZ Canon Parsons Prize for Biology Canon Parsons Prize for Chemistry SICILY SCRIMALI Ivor O’Mahony Prize for Business Studies Gilbert Prize for Italian JHW King Prize for Psychology POLLY STATEVA Westwood Prize for Mathematics NGA CHUNG LIANE SUEN Paul Rogers Prize for English as a Second Language FIOLA TARIANG John Gillham Prize for Art TIMOTHY WORSLEY DS Lindsay Prize for Sports Studies

RHETORIC II BOOK PRIZES HAVE BEEN KINDLY DONATED BY THE EDMUNDIAN ASSOCIATION

COLLEGE AWARDS

Edmundian Association Award Thomasina Cass

D J K Walters International Prize Yi Ding

Governors’ Plate for Academic Endeavour Caitlin Keith Royal Society of St George Award for Personal Achievement Madeleine Purser and Ella Wansell CCF Regimental Sword Jack Rydqvist Patrick Cullinan Salver for Contribution to Sport Taymen Sargusingh Mary Woodcock Prize for Mathematics at University Teddy Sumsion Headmaster’s Cup for Progress Willem van de Ven

Edmundian Association Award Purada Vongnum

Keith Latham Cup for Mathematics Ruidi Zhu

Reverend Father, Chairman, Headmaster, Mr Mostyn, and my fellow Edmudians.

On behalf of everyone here today, and all the students here at St Edmund’s, I would like to welcome Mr Mostyn to Edmundia and thank you for coming here today to talk to us all. I know everyone is very much looking forward to your start in September and have every confidence that you will enjoy your time here. On behalf of the College, we would like to present you with a token of our thanks.

The Edmundian cycle stops for nobody. Another year has passed by, another Elements cohort are ready to begin and the current Rhetoric 2 are soon moving on. Today we say goodbye not only to all the Rhetoric 2’s but to some other important faces too.

I started St Edmund’s back in Elements, September 2012 as one of the most shy and scared students of the year. I remember turning up to school, probably about an hour early in true Marshall style, in my oversized blazer, which was intended to last me till Poetry, and a father who wanted a million different photos of me stood on the steps of school on my first day. Mr McCauley was our head of year and I remember him telling us all that the only advice he had for us regarding behaviour was, ‘If it would shock your nanny it’s probably not best to do it’. And so that’s where my journey began. I’m pretty sure my time throughout St Ed’s can be summed up with moments of tears. From crying at my entrance exam, during my interview, on my first day, at every exam since and of course on my last day here I haven’t really been one to keep my emotions in very well. Mrs O’Neill still reminds me of this on a daily basis and maybe one day when I return to school, I’ll be able to greet her without being asked ‘Have you cried yet today?”.

St Ed’s has played a huge role in my life over the last seven years. I seem to have spent my life here and on the A10 whether from weekend college production rehearsals or boarding this year. It really has become my second home. All the staff in boarding have been so welcoming this year and my only regret is not trying it sooner! I can remember the first ever email I received from Mrs Fletcher-Dyer this time last year, inviting me into boarding and to my almost royal ‘grace and favour’ room! You and Mrs Wilkinson are honestly some of the loveliest women I have ever met in my life and thank you for everything you have done. I’d like to thank some of the unsung heroes in Edmundia who also seem to spend their lives here. The College could not function without the ground staff, the catering team, the cleaners (especially the poor ladies who have had to clean my room in boarding!) and the all-time Rhetoric favourite, Ana in the coffee shop!

I’d also like to thank my parents for always being my taxi service over the past 7 years and wish you luck for the next 7 as my little brother Patrick begins next year. The trip here won’t look so bad after you’ve had to drive me to University! Also, my Nanny and Papa, who are here today and at every school event to cheer me on. Good luck Patrick, you’re going to love it! My advice to you and everyone else here is just to join in everything and enjoy every moment! Maybe pay more attention in Food Tech too as I’m not quite sure what I’m going to be eating come September!

Over the last week, I calculated that since starting Elements, we have each attended over 8000 lessons, 410,000 minutes of teaching, 1500 period 7 activities, 250 chapel prayers, 7 St Edmund’s Days, 7 Prize Givings, and as a year group have attained over 4142 Merits and 866 Detentions. I can safely say I didn’t contribute to a single one of those detentions but these numbers alone show how much we really have been through during our time at school!

As I say goodbye to St Eds, I ask myself what I have really learnt. Of course the academics have been important but I will take away some other life lessons too such as when I head of to university next year, if I am asked to go on a

five day DofE canoeing trip to Inverness again, the answer is most definitely no. As many of the teachers here know, school trips for me have often ended in a bit of a disaster. From skiing accidents in Austria followed by Miss McShane making a vlog of us travelling down the mountain in a skidoo both of us screaming but for different reasons, breaking my wrist on not even a real ski slope in activities week or freezing to death in the middle of a Welsh lake the week after snowfall last year on DofE. I have also learnt that the best singing on choir trips happens when the teachers aren’t in charge. Singing a mixture of Fauré’s Requiem in four part harmony, For the Beauty of the earth, which has become a St Eds anthem and Christmas carols, in July, on a Golden Boy bus on the way home from Pontigny was great. I think the bus driver was pretty impressed with a free private concert too. It also wouldn’t be fair to forget about all the amazing friends I’ve made on Bus 15 through the years and our termly bus sing-along. More sound has made on that bus singing Sing England’s Sons and O Beate mi Edmunde than I have ever heard in any chapel service during my entire time here!

Over the past two years Maths has basically been my life, or in fact what has taken over my life. Mondays will never be the same without quadruple Mr Mohana and quadruple homework to match. Mohana, if you have decided to turn on your hearing aids today, I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for dragging me through further maths until the bitter end. I would like to apologise for never quite learning your rules for integration but I have learnt that indeed as you have told me, Maths is not my grandfather’s property. I will be sure to ring you one day when I am invited to the Paris Mathematical Institute for the new Fionnuala theorem!

I would also like to thank you for really enriching my experience at St Edmund’s. You have gone above and beyond. The India trip last year will be something I will never ever forget. Teaching Indian children in the schools the ‘Football’s coming home’ song during the world cup will always be remembered, even if it never did! I’m pretty sure St Ed’s is probably one of the only schools to get away with charging extortionate prices for pizza and drinks all in the case of charity but being situated in the absolute middle of nowhere really does call for some times of desperation in your wallet. I will miss your stories about life in India and Kenya so much as I’m sure purposely trying to get a professor to talk about his life experiences won’t be so easy next year. I don’t think I have ever known a teacher so committed to helping their students and I know you will be greatly missed here.

Mr West, my maths teacher who knows how to cheer up a class with bags of doughnuts. Most old Edmundians will know him as the previous head of Pole. Today however, he has claimed a new role as the figure at the end of the corridor making you reconsider your life choices. For further clarification, a statistical study, using our “cup of tea mathematics”, shows that children of Edmundia are more likely to walk the long way around school, even in the rain, instead of meeting you without a lanyard around their neck. I think your introduction by an Elements student on Open Day as “Head of Security” fits a lot better than Assistant Head. It is also very tempting to return in the future, without my lanyard, just to relive your lockdown once again. How much more fun would it be with Rhetoric students running around with paint guns. Now that’s an idea for student council…

Dr Eves has always been a character around school but this year, teaching me Physics has been something else. I’m not quite sure how he gets the most boring topics to be fun in class, or whether it’s just his high pitch exclamation which makes us laugh when one of us can’t recite from memory the well-known value of e squared. Sorry to say sir, but I still don’t know what it is. The boys I’m sure will also always appreciate your pickup lines and dating tips. I’m sure one day the gravitational forces of attraction will come up in a pub conversation and one of them will use it! Mrs Jauncey, you have also been able to make Physics lessons fun in some strange kind of way. Using playdough in Rhetoric two to model atoms or even better, the chocolate chip muffin lessons have been so fun.

Spanish has become one of my favourite subjects thanks to the passion and commitment of my teachers here. Mrs Franco has been an absolute rock throughout A levels, always there to support us and make learning about Spanish culture fun. My favourite lesson was definitely at the end of the year as we finished our teaching with a classic lesson on Spanish music, of course involving an impromptu practice of the Macarena! Weekly speaking lessons with Mr Soler also kept my sane within my weekly timetable with no frees (or King Room study sessions as Ms Marrinan would like to think!) However, I can never forget learning about Spanish culture in a proper way with Mrs MacDonald’s numerous amount of Spanish food brought back from her little trips away. I don’t know what I will do without my constant flow of Spanish fashion

magazines next year! Although I am and secretly always will be slightly petrified of you, you have really made my experience at St Ed’s wonderful. I am also very happy that you’ve never been my Irish dance teacher as after one practise in front of you at school, I’m not sure my pointed toes or jumps would ever have been good enough for you!

Our link with Stella Maris also allowed me to spend a summer abroad, working in Spain. Whilst there I had to opportunity to meet some of the past seminarians that have worked at St Edmund’s as well as the current Brother Andrej. These Brothers have been so important at St Edmund’s whether it was Brother Fernando playing football on the back field in Grammar or deep philosophical debates with Brother Rafael or Brother Andrej in Rhetoric. The Chaplaincy has also been very important during my time here. I will never forget the Sleep Outs in the freezing cold Galilee Chapel and especially the candlelight hymn singing around the organ at night. There is something really special about our College Chapel and I’m not sure how Christmas will properly begin this year for me without singing Adeste Fideles at the Carol Service.

CCF has been an exciting activity where I learnt how to fly a plane before I could drive a car. CCF trips will also be some of my fondest memories. The Douai trip last year was a favourite where our school was made to carry the Union Jack in a procession through the town… right next to the EU flag. A bit awkward to say the least. Mr Jones and Mr Gledhill have become the Chuckle Brother duo of the school, seemingly unable to agree on anything, especially directions, but loved by everyone. I will miss all the hilarious stories and memories made on CCF trips but can happily say that I am never voluntarily signing up to sleep in a tent at the front of school and get chased by cows in the field on night patrol again.

The College productions will be something else that I will never forget. All the memories back stage in the lead up to the show and the many weekends spent sat on the floor of Douay hall rehearsing created bonds between all the years. On stage I have successfully drenched myself with rain in Singing in the Rain, thrown basketballs into the music pit in Hairspray and tripped over a revolving stage floor in Les Mis. However, I was the proud big sister when Ed managed to get on stage, in his Elvis Presley wig, trying to pump some iron on roller skates in Starlight Express. Having never turned up to a PE lesson in his life, he wasn’t fooling anyone! I think I can speak on behalf of all students in the Music Department that Orchestra and Schola will never be the same again. The legend of Mr Benham, of who I am sure we have nearly driven crazy with the amount of talking in rehearsals allowed Period 7 orchestra rehearsals on a Monday to create some of the funniest memories. Threats of emailing your form tutor for too much talking in rehearsals really don’t go too far when none of your form tutors have ever checked their emails so to all my previous form tutors out there, I thank you.

Mr Connor, as my form tutor throughout Rhetoric, you have been so supportive and caring. Although I still don’t understand a word about your champion league talks with the boys on a Monday morning, I wouldn’t have swapped this for anything else!

Mr Cunnah, you are probably one of the few members of the sports department to know me by name and have been a great new Head of Challoner house. Unlike Taymen, after 7 years I still can’t throw, hit or catch a rounders ball to save my life and I count my blessings that I will never have to do anything like the Bleep Test or Cooper run ever again. Although I do seem to have gained the reputation for being unsporty, this is actually far from the truth. Back in Elements and Rudiments, I was a very overly embarrassingly proud member of the B team in hockey and netball and can still remember scoring my first ever goal. I was even more proud of myself however, after not playing hockey probably since that date of going out to represent Challoner in senior hockey and not actually coming last! Mr Hounsell, you were our day one Housemaster and I still can’t believe you’ve demoted yourself… to Pole. You always had a great sense of humour, and were always up for a joke, but I think perhaps this was one step too far!

Mr Durán, you have also been here as Headmaster since we began. Our timelines have coincided and as a year group we have come to the conclusion that St Eds just wouldn’t be right for you without us! I wish you all the best of luck for the future and hope to see you at Edmundian reunion events in years to come. Monday morning assemblies will never be the same without your Douai/ Douay French pronunciation lesson and I would like to thank you for all the wonderful things you have brought to St Edmund’s during your time here.

However, I wouldn’t have got through this year without my amazing partner in crime, Taymen. You have honestly been an inspiration and such an amazing Head Boy. It has

been so fun working with you this year and forming a bond which I hope will continue for years. Being Head Boy and Girl during the 450th Anniversary was such an honour and we can now definitely say that we will be going in the history books! Avita Pro Fide!

Fionnuala Marshall – Head Girl 2018-19

Head Boy’s Speech 2018-19

Reverend Father, Chairman, Headmaster, Mr. Mostyn, ladies and gentleman, my fellow Edmundians, Mum and Dad.

Writing a speech like this is difficult as it is almost impossible to compress years’ worth of memories and thanks in one small document. To gain inspiration I went with pen and paper into the Chapel hoping I would be filled with the Holy Spirit and the ideas would just start flowing. But that was not the case. I thought perhaps I will start with my story. Both my parents attended this school, I guess I am as Edmundian as you get. I do particularly remember my first interview here, thinking the whole place looked just like Hogwarts. I brought the biggest book I could find to look more intelligent although I hadn’t got past page 1 and probably still haven’t. For me, Elements comprised of getting lost, making friends, and consistent L1s in art. Even after all this time, I believe my stickmen deserved at least an M but you move on. How many of you remember the Induction camp, eating marshmallows around a fire and singing, whatever we were singing. I can tell you, those were stress-free days, the days where getting a merit made you feel like a king, I miss those days.

Well, Rhetoric 2’s, we made it. As street poet and philosopher…Drake once said, started from the bottom now we’re here. Think about how far we have come, individually and as a year group. Looking back to Elements it seems like it was just yesterday. There was the first lesson, the first prize-giving, the first girlfriend, the second girlfriend, the third girlfriend... I will stop there. I guess it is great to have seen all of us progress from young shy individuals to the leaders of tomorrow and for much of it, we have the school to thank. But let’s not forget our parents. To all the parents, I was once told being a parent is a full-time, underpaid and thankless task so thank you, your support does not go unnoticed.

Fortunately, I have had the privilege of being both a day pupil and a weekly boarder at the college. ‘Boarding is great’. Perhaps the showers could be a little hotter but it is great. I will never forget the Monday and Thursday night football matches I have played in this very hall. All the nutmegs, rainbow flicks, and failed bicycle kicks I have inflicted on the opposition. However, the sense of community is unchallenged, it has been so interesting to learn about all the different cultures and languages, from all areas of the globe. Although, what I will remember most is how to curve in Russian, Spanish, or even Mandarin. I must give credit to the boarding staff who give up a lot of their time and ensure we have fun by organising multiple obstacle courses, and themed evenings such as ‘Australian evening’ where only the bravest of us attempted to eat the smoky BBQ roasted crickets, did I…of course not.

I do love my sports and consider myself blessed when looking at all the sports facilities the school offers. Upon leaving, I am delighted I never have to play cricket again and have lost count of the number of times I have been screamed at for being too close to the cricket square during break. I have played so many Rugby games in the rain, mud, and snow over the years and have learned so much but the highlight will always be Mr. Cunnah, whose poetic team talks are more like a scene from a romantic comedy, sending me onto the pitch with a poetic mission rather than in the zone. I cannot tell you the number of times Mr. Cunnah has said to me and I quote “you need to hit the gym more” but as you can

see I never listened. I was lucky enough to captain the football first XI this year and it was a good season, unfortunately, we lost in the semi-final, and I would like to blame the referee but I cannot forget nor forgive Addy’s own goal from a corner, it was diabolical. However, I do thank the master tactician, Mr. Jones for all his coaching throughout my time here. I wish all the sports teams good luck for next year and I hope you bring back some silverware.

St Edmund’s is a great place and I will never lose the ‘Edmundian spirit’. I have countless memories I will never forget and I can always say I studied at the oldest catholic school in the country which has a nice ring to it. Having travelled to Douai, Douai I can never remember the right or wrong pronunciation but it really was a good experience. I felt like I was experiencing the shared history of the college and are thankful to have been a part of that. However, that mass service was the longest I have ever been in and certain individuals never seemed to recover from having to wake up at 4:30 am. Such as Chikoye who I had to personally drag out his bed in boarding as he had forgotten to set his alarm and was asleep for most, if not all of the trip.

Another strong memory I will never forget is when I did a sponsored haircut for charity week. My first mistake was trusting my friends to cut my hair and I never will again. The razor broke in my hair and I was left with so many bald patches, it was a horrible experience. You would think by raising money for charity your friends wouldn’t comment on the ‘bad trim’ but no, I was consistently called egghead, baked bean, peanut and it definitely didn’t bring me much female attention. Anyway, on the charitable aspects of the college special thanks must go to Mrs. Pierce who has done so much to ensure we fulfil our Catholic mission.

I would especially like to thank the best Head Girl, my right hand and partner in crime Fionnuala Marshall. What a great speech, but I expected nothing less. Fionnuala has on multiple occasions kept me in line, led by example, and brought great positivity to the position. Her organisational skills are unmatched and have been a great credit to the college. I would still like to think I was the better head student but I know she’d disagree. Fionnuala, I was supposed to have brought you some champagne as a celebration but honestly, it must have got lost in transport. Considering you have a further maths on Monday it might not have been the best idea anyway. I think we will both never forget all the speeches have had to present together and I realise now my constant teasing of “Are you scared yet? Look there are so many people…” did not help the nerves.

Being a prefect comes with many perks, but the best thing about being a prefect has to be the food at prefect meetings and dinners. From cakes to muffins to steaks, it is endless. However, I did find if I arrived late to meetings Anthony, Buchi, or Addy might have eaten my share. To the prefect team this year, thank you for all your help and teamwork you showed. What a talented team we were, from a flurry of beautiful signers – Alexia, Claudia, Fionnuala, and Freya. To musicians in Tamsin, Teddy, and Emily and a modelling career on the horizon for Addy. Although I fancy my chances in politics in my later life, Oliver Car is undoubtedly a future prime minister in the making. Mr. Petty on behalf of all prefects, thank you, your constant commitment to hold prefect meetings to ensure our ideas were heard was great. I would also like to thank all those in the headmaster’s corridor, who consistently helped us with events this year, we are all grateful.

One of the best things about this school is the friends you make and the memories you keep. Harrison Kelly, I wish you good luck on your plans to be a millionaire by 24 and have a Yacht by 30, it won’t be easy and who knows maybe I will beat you to it. I thank you for the free taxi service, it will be missed. Giovanni, I guess you are going for the ‘Jesus look’ but you really do need a haircut. Oliver Corley, this is your intervention, picture this, a man who drinks 3 cans of diet coke a day, it is not good for you so please stop. Then we have someone who doesn’t need much of an introduction, you hear him before you see him, built like a rock, Anthony Nlewedum. I am grateful for the constant competition we have had since year 7, it did help us achieve all we have, but for your sake, I won’t go into AS mocks. If I remember correctly I got my first ever detention from arm wrestling him on the refectory tables but the win was worth it. When in Rhetoric most people are so desperate to drive to school and over the last two years I have enjoyed teasing Andreas Harkos for his shocking parking, no wonder he won worst parker in the yearbook. Remmi Page, we all thank you, the big sister of Rhetoric 2, never lose your caring and positive traits, they will always brighten everyone’s mood. One person I had to mention is George D or as he prefers ‘G-Money’. He once told me during a driving lesson he accidentally

turned right at a roundabout into incoming traffic as opposed to taking the third exit, it came as no surprise when his instructor quit on him. Inter-house competitions can be very intense, especially football and Paddy I am forever sorry for that one time I fly kicked you in the jaw trying to win the ball, it really was an accident.

Every adult in this room will remember their school days, some will remember them with laughter, joy, and good times others may not. But I can assure you they can all recount certain memories with their teachers. To all the teachers who have helped me and the college throughout my years here…thank you. Maybe you have not been credited enough for your work. You equip young men and women to be ready for the outside world. Mr. Mohana I have probably lost count of the number of times you have called me ‘buddharam’ which I think is the English equivalent of an idiot but your maths skills are unmatched, you really are a genius. Mr. Hounsell your sarcasm will be missed and who knows one day I will actually buy you a cake. I would especially like to thank the man-machine, Mr. Brett. I thank you for your great enthusiasm in History classes over the years and I have noticed your profound coffee addiction, no wonder you can mark a class worth of essays in one night. Some of you may be like me and really struggled to grasp languages and thus I am so grateful to Mrs. MacDonald who scared me into a good work ethic in Spanish GCSE, ‘Merci’, no wait that’s French, ‘Gracias’. Mr. Stokes no matter how many times I speak to you, I always have to pause for a moment and think about what you’re saying. I will never come to grips with the welsh accent. Mr. Mandizha, what a guy, the people’s champion. Economics…could not have done it without you, sir. From beating you at Kahoot to sharing stories with problems at home, thank you. Mr. Ellen is always going to answer questions with other questions but you’ll get used to it.

As I look to the future, I realise the importance in Rhetoric has had on my own progression, it is such an important part of your life, you are preparing to embrace the change that comes with going to university or whatever path you may choose. Leaving behind free accommodation, home-cooked meals, and financial stability. It will be tough but I am looking forward to it. The job Mr. Powell and Ms. Marrinan do as heads of Rhetoric are so important. If it wasn’t for Ms. Marrinan I might now have got into any university as I was too obsessed with perfecting my personal statement, I forgot to add my A-Level subjects and AS grades to my application. The encouragement you have provided has gone a long way.

It is sad to see Mr. Duran leaving knowing all he has achieved at the college. I thank you for all you have taught me and all the stories we have shared over multiple meals. I remember we were in about a potential Sargusingh wing, so if the last thing you do is ensure these plans go through that would nice. I welcome the new Headmaster and wish you good luck for next year. I already know the incoming prefects will be fantastic. Ollie is a great leader and suits the position, I know many of you remember his outstanding performance in school of rock this year, he was a beast. I know Nada quite well and her caring and campaigner traits will be an inspiration to all. She has a mission and is ready to embrace the position.

Every student has experienced a fair share of disappointment and upset, including me. Things might not always go the way you have planned, but you’ve got to stay persistent and determined. I for example did not get my top choice university but you can’t let failures drag you down, it is how you respond to them becoming better and stronger that’s important. Having just finished an extensive period of revision, you realise how much can actually be achieved every day.

Over the summer if you cut back on 45 minutes a day of watching TV or lying in bed you will create 50 hours to do something different. 50 hours to ensure you get that job you want over summer, invent that product you dreamed of or even conquer that book you never got round to reading and prepare for your future. Every one of you has the potential to change the world. While the idea of material success does influence our lives heavily, I ask you to follow your dreams and do what makes you happy. Be phenomenal or be forgotten.

Thank you

Taymen Sargusingh – Head Boy 2018-19

Prize Giving and Speech Day 2019/20

With the College closed to students due to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was no Prize Giving ceremony at the end of the 2019-20 academic year. However, it seemed fitting to end the Trinity Term in the same way it had begun…online! Head Boy Oliver Martin and Head Girl Nada Tadros were invited into the College Chapel to address the Edmundian community alongside the Headmaster, with their speeches recorded and distributed to families online.

Headmaster’s Report 2019-20

Your Eminence, Chairman, Governors, Ladies and Gentleman.

I find myself itching to write a strongly worded letter. This time last year I was in the final stages of the handover from Paulo Durán. I had done everything I possibly could to prepare myself for the Headship of St Edmund’s. I had completed every one of the numerous courses which new Heads are expected to complete, in order to be ready and prepared for absolutely anything which they might face. And not one of those courses even mentioned in passing what to do in the event of a global pandemic sending the world into lockdown halfway through your second term. In normal Speech Day circumstances I would now be launching unashamedly into a very long speech to a captive audience, but the trouble with doing this online is that at any moment you could lose the will to live and switch me off, and given that we have yet to hear from the Heads of School and the Cardinal, I promise to keep this short in the hope that you will stay with us.

It's been a strange few weeks during which your experiences have ranged from the agony of loss to the joy of family love, and against all the odds it has become increasingly and delightfully clear over the last couple of weeks in particular that Edmundians in all year groups have made better academic progress since March than we could ever have imagined possible. It is a credit to your children and to the staff who teach them.

Some of those staff are leaving us today. Katie Ayettey in Art, Natasha Vock-Betton in RE, Naomi Christie in EAL, Gillian Helks in Learning Support, our Stella Maris GAP Assistants Nacho Cespedosa and Marta Barberan and our language assistants Melanie Rölli and Célia Van Trong Houng, you only came to us for a year, and what a year it has been. But in spite of everything, your contribution to St Edmund’s, your dedication to your pupils and your constant good humour have been truly exceptional. Brother Juan returned to his community a few weeks ago, but in his absence we thank him for all that he has done for us, and his constant kindness and support. Nicholas Gallego has been with us for two years now and has become as much a part of the music department as he has of the boarding house. After this year of all years we will miss you all more than we can say and we wish you every happiness and success in your future endeavours.

Lizzie Tucker – don’t think I have forgotten you. Lizzie joined us 4 years ago as Head of Geography and has made a staggering contribution. I suspect that all of you who have been taught by Ms Tucker would agree that she is a truly exceptional teacher, and those of us who have worked with Lizzie have seen first-hand what an exceptional Head of Department she has been. She is also an accomplished sportswoman, and has made a terrific contribution to our sport, especially in the early part of this year when she agreed to take responsibility for this area of life whilst Mrs Dunhill was away on

maternity leave. Lizzie is moving to be Assistant Head at St Angela’s Ursuline School, and they are very lucky to get her. Thank you, Lizzie, for all that you have done. This is perhaps also a good moment to mention another member of the teaching staff who is NOT leaving. Quite the opposite in fact. I know that he will not want a fuss to be made, but I know that you would want to join me in congratulating English teacher John Hayes who today completes 40 years of teaching at St Edmund’s. Mr Hayes, we salute you. And given that even after 40 years you still have a reputation as being one of the finest teachers we have, I hope there will be many more years to come.

As for our leavers, they have all been replaced with new faces, but I’ll spare you the introductions until they are actually here. Suffice to say, however, that we have some seriously impressive new staff joining us, and they will be contributing next year to what I really feel could be a vintage year in the history of Edmundia. We must pray fervently that the virus continues to retreat and that we don’t get hit by a second wave. Because if not, then let’s for a moment think about what September could look like.

We won’t be entirely back to normal, but we will at least all be back at school. And how often does a new school year begin with 630 pupils who are all genuinely delighted to be at school? And 130 teachers who are absolutely desperate to be back in their classrooms with their pupils? And as for the legacies of lockdown, if you had told me during my sleepless nights in April just how well St Edmund’s would cope with the biggest crisis the world of education has ever known, I would never have believed you. Remote learning has worked. Teaching from home has worked. Your children have worked. The vast majority have not fallen behind, and in fact some have made better progress in lockdown, when they have been forced to get organised and dig deep, than they were making before this started.

And as an institution, too, things could have been a whole lot worse. Like all businesses we have had to tighten our belts, and that will need to continue for a while, but the bottom line is that whereas far too many independent schools have had to face the agony of closure, St Ed’s lives on to fight another day. Pupil numbers remain very healthy indeed and all the evidence from enquiries, to open day, to visits, suggests that our reputation and popularity both here and overseas is growing exponentially. And I am not surprised. Because as I said to you this time last year: this place is a hidden gem. Time and time again over the last twelve months I have remarked upon what I am seeing here every day: exceptional teaching and learning, being delivered by exceptional staff, to exceptional pupils in a school with exceptional moral values. And above all in an atmosphere of exceptional cheerfulness and positivity. It’s a powerful recipe. I really have never experienced anything quite like it in 26 years of teaching in 4 leading public schools, and difficult as this year as been, not a day has gone past when I have not thanked my lucky stars that I am here. Have a wonderful summer.

Head Girl’s Speech 2019-20

If someone had told me last September that the last three months of my final year of my 15 years here at St Ed’s would be spent at home, with the most important exams of my life being cancelled and that I would be doing my prize giving speech in front of a screen, I most definitely have assumed you were unhinged. And yet here we are. However, given everything I still thank God for my good health and the health of those around of me and I hope all who watching this are keeping well. So, I’m going to try and compress my appreciation for the last 15 years here into 5-10 minutes. And to be honest if you know me, I tend to talk quite a bit so you’ve actually escaped a waffle of a speech. Regardless I’ll try my best to keep it short.

I would firstly like to thank all the people behind the scenes. The people that make this school function the way it does but don’t always get the recognition they deserve. These include the groundsmen, the cleaners, the admin staff, all those in marketing and accounts and everyone else who work so tirelessly and are always willing to go out of their way to help.

Next, I would like to give a huge thank you to everyone at the Prep School. Having started my journey at the Nursery in 2005, the school and its amazing people really shaped me in my early years. To Mr. Duddy and Mr. Cartwright. To Mr. Hull, the Goodfellows, Miss Roper, Miss Dee and to all my other teachers, I would most definitely not be the person I am today without you and although I wish I could have visited more, I am forever grateful for your kindness, generosity and the time you invested in me.

Before I continue, I would just like to say it would take me hours to talk of all my experiences and to thank everyone the way they deserve but since I don’t have that time, I will mention just a few of those who had an impact on me.

To the Science Department. They have supported me the whole way through my journey. From lower school to GCSE to A-Level, I couldn’t have achieved what I have without them. To Ms. Towns, my Biology teacher, who said to me in Rhetoric I that she was hoping I’d be Head Girl just so that the Bio department could finally get a shout out. I’m sure this isn’t exactly what you envisioned, but here you go! Your creativity and consistent willingness to help never went unnoticed. Also, to Mrs Davies who always provided the food. You’re the best. The thoughtfulness of Ms. Towns, Mrs Mallabone and Ms. Marrinan really was unmatched. I’ll never forget Vanessa and I being gifted two books that I had mentioned I’d wanted to read to help our medical applications. It was at times like this that I realised that we were cared more about than just for our grades.

And to Chemistry, a subject I claimed I would never touch again after GCSE but proved to be quite enjoyable in the end. I want to mention Mr. Chapman as probably the sweetest man alive. He was always kind and considerate to us. He’s also a bit of a human encyclopedia, always giving us fun facts but still shutting Rishi down who was usually simultaneously annoying and entertaining us. And to Dr Heslin who is such a lovely, patient and caring woman. You always supported me through my time and your help went beyond Chemistry and the classroom. I would also like to thank you for always responding to my successful attempts to distract you from teaching. One question about something unrelated and we were sorted. Another victim of my master of distraction was the angel that is my old Maths teacher, Mrs Dunhill. Definitely the most stylish teacher in the school with many of our lessons consisting of me asking where she got her clothes from...oh, and of course doing Maths. She always believed in me from the start, from encouraging us to do our GCSE early to always being there for me with any problem I had. And of course, for always being willing to show me pictures of her beautiful baby. The Maths department as a whole has been amazing. From Dr Banahan, one of the best teachers I’ve ever had, to Mrs Fraser who helped me from the beginning, to Mr. Hounsell, who I apparently still owe cake from like 3 years ago. It has always been such a friendly environment for me and one where I know I was fully supported. And now to Rhetoric and our Heads of Year. Ms. Marrinan, one of the most warm-hearted and caring women I know. She helped me through my stressful medical application and was there to support me through it all. Your dry humour and sarcasm never failed to cheer me up. Your concern always went beyond our work and our achievements; you really looked out for me as a whole. Always telling me to sleep more. Which I never did. But still I’m very grateful for all you have done. Mr. Powell, living legend. Always going above and beyond to help anyone and everyone. He personally helped me through a lot and his support and care never went unnoticed. You are one of the most hard-working and selfless people I have ever met and I will forever appreciate everything you do and continue to do. Ms. MacDonald, who is and has always been a sweetheart and to all those watching I’m here to publicly claim she is not scary at all, so I hope by the time I come back to visit this reputation has gone. And to Mr. Curran and Mr. Mostyn. I can’t imagine how stressful your first year of being at the school must have been with our good friend coronavirus disrupting everything, but you have both dealt with it admirably. You are both amazing additions to the school and I trust that you will have a hugely positive influence in the future years. Another mention has to include Mrs Applegate, my GCSE Art teacher and form tutor. I’ve always said Miss was like a school mum. She was always there to pick us up when we were down or to give us an attempted

telling off when we were misbehaving. I really did love my Douglass form. From getting annoyed by Max Davies singing and dancing 24/7, to looking at Izzy’s amazing art work, to Ed Hartley trying to explain complicated Maths to me that I didn’t and still do not understand. I loved everyone in my form and growing up from Year 8 with them was such a blessing.

I also want to give a huge mention to my Netball team. It has been such a significant part of my journey here. Before I joined the team, I already knew Beth Gardner and having been netball friends since day dot, from there our friendship blossomed and stayed strong for six years. Six years playing with more or less the same team has really been an honour. Yes, we have been very successful...making the school look good if I do say so myself, but it got to the point where it was never about the actual netball anymore. It was about my team, my closest friends. From trips to Brighton, Leeds and Exeter, to meals out. It was about being stupid at tournaments and enjoying each other’s company. It was about winding up Miss Hebdon, but still aiming to make her proud of us, to repay her for all her faith in us. Her confidence and her belief that we could do it. A lot of teams had amazing players, but few had the chemistry and bond that we had. My memories from netball are one of my fondest and I will hold onto forever. Also guys, watch out for Courtney Ferns. That girl is going to play for England.

To all my friends, I’m so sorry I can’t mention everyone. To Mairead and Beth Sherlock, my social activist friends. I could always rely on you for a good rant about the problems of this world but also good laugh. They were always there to cheer me up and put a smile on my face.

And also, a massive thank you to Vanessa. Medical applications were tough and stressful, but without this girl by my side the whole way through, always there to encourage me through it, I most definitely would not have survived. She is also one of the most intelligent people I know and I’m certain she is going to make the most amazing doctor. And lastly to Kate, my best friend from Year 4. Our friendship started a bit rocky with me not liking you and all, but soon I realised we clicked and since then we’ve been going strong for 10 years. She’s always stood by me, supported and believed in me and my entire school experience would never have been the same. She really is my right hand and my sister. And also, a shoutout to my second family, the Barrett’s who have always been there for me. And to all my closest friends, who know who they are, I love and appreciate and will miss you all. I would also like to thank Olly. He is annoyingly talented and good at everything. I mean everything. And although our year as a duo got cut short, I appreciate him through it all. I just want to publicly apologise to him for doing everything at the last minute. I know this man will achieve amazing things and I hope he still remembers me when he’s big and successful. To my amazing family. I would firstly like to thank my Dad, otherwise known as my personal ATM. Always ready to give me extra money for my ‘travel expenses’ aka my three-course meal. You work so hard, and your resilience and perseverance continues to inspire me every day. I would not be in the position I am today, nor would I have the motivation or strength to follow my dreams, if it wasn’t for you and your sacrifice. To my very big brother, Karim. My 6ft 7 bodyguard, who is always there to protect me and make me laugh. He really is my best friend, and we are scarily alike...he better take that as a compliment. But I will admit that I’m also jealous of him, because the Maths department clearly preferred his skills to mine. He’s also a bit infamous at this school, remembered for being that guy who exceeded everyone’s expectations by achieving 2 A*s and an A with about six weeks of revision.

And lastly, to my guardian angel: my mother. Now a lot of people watching will know my Mum, most probably for her addiction to taking pictures. And her determination to overcome any obstacle to get them. I know she’s devastated that she couldn’t get her front row pictures from this year’s prize giving. She’s also lucky that I don’t have the time to embarrass her! The only thing I will say, is that if you know me you’ll know I’m not the best at being on time. This is most definitely because of my Mum. Always late. It’s easy to get frustrated, yes. But when she’s late it’s not because she doesn’t care, it’s not because us Egyptians seem to have a gene that makes us predisposed to being late to every single event. It’s never because she’s lazy or she’s involved with her own life, it was always because she’s busy putting others first. She’s overcome her own adversity, she’s tackled personal difficulties all while supporting everyone around her. Her wisdom, generosity, kindness and selflessness are the reasons this woman is my absolute inspiration. My parents have sacrificed so much and have worked so incredibly hard, Nothing I have achieved would be possible without them. Or Karim.

Most importantly though, I give all my glory to God. There’s no denying that school has been stressful and that there were times when life was very overwhelming. But to be in an environment where anywhere you look there’s a cross, and to be in a school with such a beautiful Chapel, was something that I always appreciated. And a huge thank you to Mrs Peirce who is so selfless and loving. School and charity would not function or be the same without her.

You might think that it would be easy to take all the credit for my achievements; my biggest one clearly being getting into medical school without actually doing any A-Levels. But it is what goes on behind the scenes that makes all the difference. It's the teachers who have been invested in me from beginning to end. It's the effort, the personal, tailored support and the reassurance and encouragement. It’s the open, safe and friendly community within the school. I know when I look back that I will be so thankful that this is the place I grew up in, the place that has shaped me. I have made amazing memories here, from trips abroad to making friends for life. I will forever appreciate this place I call my second home. Now if you have got to the end of this video, or if you got bored midway and just skipped the end, I just have one last thing to say. If the coronavirus pandemic has taught me anything it’s to appreciate everything ten times more. Life is fragile, life is uncertain and life is unpredictable. I’ve heard the saying “2020 is cancelled” too many times recently and at first I agreed. But soon after I read a poem that basically said what if this is the year where we finally accept the need for change. In a world of injustice and suffering, this is the year where we need to declare change. Work for change. Become the change. This should be the year we finally come together instead of pushing each other further apart.

It’s often very easy to focus on negatives, easy to point out problems and easy to take people the school for granted. I know I have in the past. But this year has been a reminder that must do all that we can to focus on what we do have instead of what we don’t and how we can use this for good. Thank you for watching and I hope everyone stays safe.

Nada Tadros – Head Girl 2019-20

Head Boy’s Speech 2019-20

Your Eminence, Governors, Headmaster, Staff and Students.

I’d like to begin with a postcard sent from a student at the college on Sunday 9th August 1942. It reads: “Dear Pam, I have had a lovely time at St Edmund’s. I don’t think I’ve ever concentrated for such a long period as I did last week. I have been sleeping in a dormitory with twenty other girls, some from Hull, and Tunbridge Wells, and the rest from Walsall. It is nice and quiet here as there are no air raids. Together we have had simply lovely lessons and the country round the college is very beautiful.”

Despite being in the midst of the Second World War, a crisis with global ramifications somewhat comparable to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this postcard typifies exactly the kind of optimism and sense of place that the St Edmund’s community elicits in all its students. It demonstrates that the community spirit that has endured for the last 452 years is unique and resilient and I hope that the St Edmund’s community will continue to impact student’s lives in the same way in years to come. It goes without saying that this is not how I envisaged my final year at St Ed’s playing out. What I have long associated and expected for this year of my life was largely embedded in the romanticised stereotype that following six months of intense suffering, we would all emerge from the final exam hall feeling triumphant and liberated. However, the idea of ‘staying at home’ for six

formers and indeed people all around the globe has come to fruition in a rather different way than what we expected. Looking back at photos of my year group in elements, despite some questionable haircuts (mine included) and being classified by the Collin’s dictionary as generation ‘snowflake’, throughout our seven years at the college we have show great resilience. Nobody would have guessed that together we have lived through the age of fidget spinners, meme culture and Covid-19. When I was writing this speech, it was inconceivable not to mention COVID, this one invisible enemy that for us Rhetoric II’s created the illusion that everything we had worked for, stressed for and grafted for had evaporated and it felt almost surreal. Many of us left school, exams cancelled, feeling cheated, as if the purpose of our whole school career had dematerialised overnight. But then the next week began and we embarked upon our first experience of online school and despite what had happened, it felt as if nothing had really changed except that those same people I had been seeing everyday were now behind a screen rather than in front of me. Reflecting on this, I realised that perhaps I had allowed my view of this year in my life to become myopic, that in my over-zealous graft to achieve in exams, I had overlooked the true significance of my time at school: that it is the people who constitute a community, and the community itself which imbibes upon its young people the values and lessons with which they embark into life. Therefore, I’d like to dedicate the remainder of this speech to different parts of our community and the people within each segment that make St Ed’s such an exceptional place to grow up. Before I begin my personal vote of thanks, on behalf of all students, I’d like to thank all teachers, parents, families and support staff for everything you’ve done and continue to do. So, how can we define a community? I believe a successful and thriving community is a group of people that can be defined as having four predominant characteristics. Firstly, a community supports its members. Secondly, a community works towards a common goal. Thirdly, a community acknowledges its own strengths and weaknesses. Finally, a community strives to be better.

To begin with, a community is a group of people that support each other. A community supports and encourages its members to take risks, to try new things and to cope with both successes and failure. Therefore, first of all I’d like to than my own family: Mum, Dad, Nanny and Alice for ceaselessly supporting me in all of my endeavours and encouraging me to pursue all of my academic, musical and sporting interests. Secondly, I’d like to thank the music school community. It was Leo Tolstoy who said “The goal of the artist is not to solve a question irrefutably, but to force people to love life in all its countless, inexhaustible manifestations”, and due to the endless support I’ve received from those whom I’ve acted with in School of Rock and Les Mis, sung with in Schola, performed with at St Ed’s Fest and jammed with in rock band, I cannot think of a group of people who better epitomise that sentiment. Thank you for your support and for your friendship. I’d like to recognise the support of a few people in particular. To paraphrase Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”: “the hero[es] we need, but don’t deserve”. So, thank you to Miss King for five years o early lunch passes and more importantly for having an open door and an open ear and to Mr Coombs and Mr Waters for inspiring me every week and teaching me to love the guitar as much as you. Guitar lessons were always the highlight of my week. It is the support and dedication of people like you that have made investing my time in the music community so rewarding. The second characteristic of community is that is works towards a common goal. Within the wider St Edmund’s community, this involves educating the whole person in body, mind and spirit. Working on more of a tangible day-to-day basis, I’d like to thank this year’s prefect body who have collaborated towards a common goal, that is, aiming to improve the academic and social experience for all pupils. Together, we have helped to confront and tackle some of the major issues that students face in our school community such as mental health awareness and student welfare, as well as finally managing to sort out the lunch queue. In particular, I’d like to thank Nada for possessing such fortitude in leadership as Head Girl. Nada, I’m confident that you will succeed in everything you put your mind to and Leicester Medical School are lucky to have you. Thank to my deputies Leo and Max, it has been great working together this year, to Ed Hartley for never failing to turn up ten minutes late for every meeting but always in time to eat whatever is left of the cake and Will Roberts for putting up with me since action tots. I’d like to take the opportunity to wish next year’s

prefect body all the best as they begin their journey as official student leaders, in particular my successor Pub who will commence his tenancy as Head Boy. I am confident that together you will continue to build on what we have achieved this year as a fundamental tenet of the community. Moving on to the third characteristic, a community must be something that recognises its own strengths and weaknesses on both an individual and group level. Therefore, I’d like to thank all the teachers I’ve had the pleasure to work with, but in particular my A-Level teachers who help all their students to build on their existing skills and address their areas for development. Thank you to Mrs O’Neill for ameliorating my love for Shakespeare and to Mrs McCann for pacifying my loathing for Jane Austen. The enthusiasm you both have shown has meant that literature, in all its forms, will be something I continue to engage in for the rest of my life. Thank you to Mr Brett for sharing your passion for Victorian politics and along with Mr Stypinski, inspiring me to pursue history at university. Thank you to Miss Sargent and Mr Mandizha for your passion for economics and for creating a haven for debate in the classroom, and to Mr Duignan for all your hard work and dedication. Finally, I’d like to thank my tutor Miss Moloney and Mr Powell not only for your help with UCAS but for your irreplaceable pastoral work within the sixth form community and Mr Hounsell for leading an unforgettable trip to India, being a fantastic head of house for five years and for your invaluable work during every college production. Finally, the fourth aspect of community is that together in its totality, it strives to be better with hope for the future. Therefore, this last part is dedicated not only to those who would have been rewarded today for their hard work and erudition but to all Edmundians – past and present. Optimism is not always easy, especially given the innumerable challenges we face as a modern society including but not limited to racism, social inequality, climate change and global disparities in wealth and prosperity. That said, be confident in yourself and in the knowledge that your communities will continue to support you, bring out your strengths, confront your weaknesses and work with you towards our common goals and together we can strive for better. “Be the change you want to see in the world”. Thank you to everyone who makes the St Edmund’s community what it is. AVITA PRO FIDE

Oliver Martin – Head Boy 2019-20