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supportive parent body. The spectacular flowers on show today were arranged by parents. Thank you.

The inspection report rightly found Governance at the school to be excellent. I would like to thank Nick Shepherd, Chairman of Governors, for his unerring support and wise advice. The Chairman is supported by two excellent Vice-Chairmen and a fantastic Board, who are generous with their time and expertise.

The inspection team threw down some challenges. We have been working hard on creative teaching methods, a spirit of adventure and enquiry, a love of learning, as well as proficiency in taking exams. With this in mind we have formed an academic discussion and policy group, named after a legendary St Peter's teacher of the 19th century, Mr George Yeld. The Yeld Group will spear-head academic innovation and improvement.

As the Chairman remarked, our wide-ranging whole school consultation this year, has generated a new clarity about our values and aims. We feel confident that we have captured the essence of St Peter's and set it in a fresh and forward-looking way. This is a vision founded on the sure rock of the school's traditional Christian ethos, and looking to a future of openness and invention. We will be launching the Three Schools new aims in September.

The Upper Sixth who leave us today embody so many of these values - friendship, compassion and care for others, trust, roundedness, work ethic, humility and hope. You become Old Peterites today - and, from the various dinners and events I've enjoyed attending this year, many of these in the good company of the President and Secretary of the OP Club, I believe you are joining a very fine club indeed. Those following behind you in the years below can look up to a year group that has been true to the values of the school - hard-working, honest and great companions to one another, as was strongly evident at the excellent Leavers' Ball last week.

And amongst this excellent year group, I must single out our Head Boy, Ben France, and Head Girl, Polly Fairbank - they have been great ambassadors and advisors. They have answered every question asked of them; they are tremendous examples of what the school stands for and I thank them for all they have done. The monitor team has been superb too - this really is a vintage year by all accounts.

Commemoration is about honouring and sharing our vision - it's about looking back and looking forward; a day for the rear-view mirror and for the road ahead. And, if our guest speaker today will kindly forgive the pun - it's about motion.

Albert Einstein said: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving". Schools are, by their very nature, always in motion - new pupils arrive and staff come and go, new questions are asked; new answers found. Our motto, Super Antiques Vias, 'over ancient ways', has motion implicit in it. This is a moving school, a school that is about balance - about encouraging our pupils to grow in mind, body and spirit, to be rounded. And, of course, our school is a place of preparation, a place where questions are asked and answers sought.

In his first letter, St Peter, our patron, exhorts us to get ready, to be prepared. Peter writes: "Therefore, prepare your minds for action". Prepare your minds for action. As we commemorate today the values of our school, and all the endeavours, achievements and friendships of Peterites down the years, I really hope that our Leavers feel prepared to act.

To our Leavers, we say farewell. We thank you for all you've given to this school. We are grateful. We wish you a life of learning and friendship. Keep asking questions. And don't lose touch.

LW

Friends of St Peter's Chairwoman's Report

The Friends of St.Peter's covers many areas and it exists for the absolute benefit of pupils in school. Any profits we have as a result of events we organise in school are shared between requests from various departments, which we now call 'bids', and our nominated charities. We exist because we volunteer our time and efforts and take pride in the results of our endeavours. Without groups like these in schools there would not be the extra equipment provided or the extra initiatives or opportunities to have a lot of fun organising important school events.

For instance, we join in a welcome tea for new parents of Boarders each September. It is a wrench to leave children behind at school; tea and biscuits does not help too much, but a friendly and understanding face can. This year has been no exception for FOSP and we are pleased to report our success in supporting many departments throughout the school.

We welcomed the new Head Master in September last year and I think, because he came so willingly to our second meeting, we must have made a good impression. We promised to keep to our Agenda, which is very difficult when there are so many excellent ideas around the table and as much as we wanted to try new ventures in new pastures, we took guidance from Mr Winkley and we glided gently through the school year supporting and organising what we have come to do best.

The first event was joining in with St. Olave's and Clifton Prep at Mulberry Hall in York for a Shopping Evening. Temptation • beyond belief. Then at the end of the Autumn Term we worked with the Drama Department and organised the drinks receptions for the nights of the school musical production "Dream a Little Dream". Friday night was the superb Gala Night. Black Tie dress code. First class entertainment. FOSP as supporting cast.

Our work continued through the Spring Term and at our very productive meetings we fine tuned the Committee, invited bids to the table and discussed the possibilities and potential of future events. At these meetings I was hugely indebted to the work of Wendy Shepherd, our FOSP Staff Representative. A bastion of St. Peter's, a tireless and committed Friend, an unconditional guide to me and an indomitable spirit. She is a remarkable example of pure determination and I owe her many thanks. My Vice Chair, Diana Widdicombe, has no equal in the world of Raffles. She can galvanise, organise and make a profit selling ice to the Eskimos. Diana has increased our profits many fold and is an irreplaceable, hard-working and supportive colleague. My year as Chair would have been difficult without her. Sara Mason is an expert Secretary, produces superb minutes, keeps the Committee focused and forecasts almost exactly how many bottles of wine to buy. Jenni Bartram, our Treasurer, keeps expert accounts and calm counsel and has been a stalwart Friend for many years. The rest of the committee has provided vital support, ideas and solutions for which I am extremely grateful. It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one.

We supported another superb Cabaret Concert this year with the bar and marvelled yet again at the standard and musical abilities of students at St. Peter's. The Cabaret is certainly a highlight of the FOSP Agenda. All our functions would not be possible without the excellent help from the Catering Staff, the Maintenance Teams, including those at St. Olave's, the patient St. Peter's Office Staff, the Headmaster's Secretary, the Bursar and all the other backup staff who do so much to ensure slick and seamless events.

We have divided our profits this year to plants for Dronfield gardens, Big Band Stands for the Music Department, a Coronado Personal Solar Telescope, floats for the new swimming pool, equipment for the Science Department and a bench for dedicated - and tired - parents to use down by the Tennis Courts. As well as our continued support for the Leavers' Ball.

I hand over this year to Diana Widdicombe and wish her well and urge parents to remember the work of FOSP. We need more support as the years go by. Remember too, we exist purely for the added benefit and enjoyment of pupils, staff and parents at St Peter's and another way of looking at it is this:

Forward thinking

Outstanding

Special

Partnership

Dawna Goss, Chair, Friends of St. Peter's

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Jeffrey Daly

When Jeffrey asked me if I would speak about him at today's leavers do I felt a pang of worry as I was not entirely sure what tone I should take. However John Darmody alleviated my concerns by describing the decision as less of the "Sublime to the ridiculous" but more the" Divine to the Profane".

So with this in mind here I go; Jeffrey came to us in 1996 as both Chaplain and Head of RS, which at this stage comprised the treasured job of teaching GCSE to stroppy teenagers and a very fledgling A level department. In many walks of life retirement brings with it special recognition of service to the community that goes well beyond the norm; in this vein I believe that he deserves some sort of medal for dealing with the disaffected masses with the patience and good humour that he has done so, for so long. If ever there was evidence that miracles can happen, just look at the B grade he managed to secure for my son Will two years ago!

As our pupils grow up and mature, they really start to properly appreciate Jeffrey's unique intelligence and care for them. His development of A level RS, (morals and philosophy), has been a great success and was really where his intellectual strengths were most effectively used. I well remember the boys in the Manor (Big

Pete Townson et al), who were in one of the first groups to study to A level, discussing issues in house that he had brought up in class; this positive engagement was testament to the way Jeffrey taught and to the way he wanted his pupils to learn independently and to think for themselves. He certainly enjoyed the more informal nature of the A level and was never afraid to surprise the pupils with his knowledge of recent events in school!! The success of this style of teaching has benefitted our pupils not only here but also at University. The fact that Jeffrey and has made the A level part of our academic landscape is a lasting legacy to his time with us. However lasting this legacy is it will not deflect from, as TMS say , Jeffrey's champagne moment; the naming of Hope house after our former Archbishop.

As Chaplain he has had a central role in our community for 16 years. He has christened our children, married others and sadly presided over the memorial services and funerals of former staff, old Peterites, colleagues and pupils. That he has retained the very important role of chapel at the very core of the school is a great personal achievement. In all these years as chaplain Jeffrey has spoken to us three days a week for 38 weeks a year; in all well over 600 hours of chapel. During this time we have learnt about his love of Greece , and of good food and wine, the place of the King James Bible in our culture, all about platform 9 % , the perils of Intelligent Design and I could go on and on. In that time, those of us who have at some time run a house know that there are recalcitrant chapel attenders who lead us a merry dance with plausible excuses, unexplained absences and so on but the proof of the pudding is in the eating and I would tell only one story, of many, to show why this part of our community is so vital and why we owe Jeffrey so much for maintaining it for us. When the tsunami hit on Boxing Day 2004 a recently left OP and his girlfriend died. At their memorial service held in the chapel were hundreds of family and friends, including a former pupil and member of the Manor. He had come all the way from Portsmouth and was returning directly after the service; he told me that he desperately wanted to come back to say goodbye to Robert and it was the only place he knew he could do it property, without feeling embarrassed. As far as I am aware this was one of only two occasions that this young man ever came to chapel voluntarily, the other was the Leavers' Eucharist! Jeffrey has made this specific service a pivotal cog in the leaving process, a fact I can readily attest to having shared it only recently with both Jeffrey and my son.

Jeffrey has also sat through hundreds of HoD meetings, housemasters' meetings, SCR meetings and all the other initiatives we have been a party to over the past 16 years. In all this time his contributions have always been measured, well considered, thought provoking, utterly professional and kind. Even when Jeffrey is in disagreement with a point of view he always does the courtesy of listening to it and properly considering it; we will miss his sage advice and quiet dignity.

Dignity and his real sense of occasion have allowed us to deal properly with the poignancy of Remembrance Day and to end each Christmas term in the Minster with a Carol service that shows the school off at its very best. Each service is different and yet retaining the traditions that make it such a privilege to be part of St Peter's on those days. He has also managed to keep the best parts of Commemoration and again gives us the chance to end our academic year and say goodbye to our leavers with a real sense of our place in the history of this school.

However I must finally refer to Jeffrey as the colleague who transformed Red Nose Day and put the fears of management into perspective. Those of us who remember Jonny Depp arriving with all guns blazing will never forget it; many of the pupils really thought it was Jonny Depp and not our very own Chaplain. Since then of course we have also been treated to a Pantomime Dame and the "tremendous Yorkshire accent" of our most celebrated OP, Guy Fawkes. The thought and care put into these services was appreciated by all and meant that Friday Chapel on the day was a centre point of the school's celebrations. There will be a little more of this in but a second, for which we will need to thank David Spencer and his trusty group.

However to finish; Jeffrey we will miss you as an academic colleague of great intellectual strength, as a Chaplain who has looked after us all from christenings to confirmations, from marriage to memorial and as a friend who has given quiet and kind advice without ever breaking confidence. We wish you all the very best in your retirement, God bless you.

P.Stephen

Claire Wike

I still recall the shocked silence in chapel. One could sense each and every one of the students and many teaching staff not quite believing what they had just heard. 'Did the Rev actually just say that school will be closed on Saturday?' A moment's hesitation, then the cheers and applause.

Claire made in her new role. Only fools, however, would be deceived into thinking our new leader would take the easy, crowd pleasing course. On the contrary, Claire proved on numerous occasions during her two terms at the helm that she is a leader with great strength and conviction who tackles issues head on. Claire will not shy away from a difficult decision.

Those of you who have been associated with St Peter's for some time will know that Claire has been part of our community for years. Joining the Mathematics Department in 1995, Claire threw herself wholeheartedly into the life of the school. It has always been clear that Claire thoroughly enjoys the classroom environment and her pupils have thrived as a consequence of the high quality maths teaching she delivers, always with care of the individuals in her classes. Unsurprisingly it was not long before her pastoral strengths were recognised and in 1997 she was promoted to Housemistress of Clifton House. As a tutor in Clifton myself, I know how much Claire supported and encouraged the students in her charge, allowing them to thrive in their school environment.

In 2003 Claire was promoted once again, this time to the role of Senior Teacher, which was a new Senior Management position. This involved her taking on a number of significant tasks including the development of the School's Performance Review and Support Programme for all staff. Her success in this post meant that when the school needed an Acting Deputy Head in 2007 she was the natural choice. It was no surprise when she was selected as the successful candidate when the position became permanent. Her many qualities ensured that she was extremely effective, gaining much respect for her straightforward, honest approach.

Claire is very family orientated and her two children, Helena and Tristan, came through the school. This gave Claire a valuable insight into a different side of school life, enabling her to understand issues from both a staff and parental angle. Tragically, early in 2007 Claire's husband Steve lost his long battle with leukaemia. Claire and her children showed tremendous dignity and strength during this unimaginably sad time and it is testament again to Claire that she remained fully committed and utterly professional earning deep respect from many of her colleagues. Helena and Tristan are now young adults on the cusp of beginning their careers and both are a great credit to Claire and Steve.

When the previous Head left, Claire stepped up to the mark, becoming Acting Head for two terms. Those who do not know Claire could be forgiven for thinking she would merely keep things 'ticking over'. Not Claire. Her two terms of office was a time when the school continued to move forward. It was also an exciting time for Claire personally as she became engaged to Mark. Of course, becoming Acting Head of St Peter's took Claire into new territory, and typically she threw herself wholeheartedly into all aspects of the role. A frequent visitor to other areas of the school, she was to be seen supporting sports' fixtures, concerts, community action events, pre prep nativity plays - the list goes on.

Claire has a great sense of fun. Who could forget her majestic performance in the staff pantomime, nor indeed when the Deputy Head's legs were the first to appear on stage when the staff entered the Inter House Singing Competition! Always quick to volunteer to take part in musical tributes to leaving colleagues, Claire has that rare quality of being able to command respect from those she is in charge of whilst also being very much in touch with what it is like 'at ground level'. It is clear that Claire considered her Senior Management role one that included all aspects of school life, whether taking part in the Beverley 10K, for example, or participating in the school trip to India. Such contact has ensured her genuine understanding of important issues. Claire's nature is also to be extremely approachable, and many staff have valued this quality, which has also assisted her in being an extremely effective link between the Senior Common Room and the Senior Management.

It is with very great sadness that we say goodbye to such a respected member of staff, and on a personal note I will miss her strong and valuable contribution to the Mathematics Department. We all wish her the very best, certain that a teacher of her calibre and strength will find a new and fulfilling chapter ahead. Never could it be more true to say that our loss will most definitely be someone else's gain.

David Spencer

Clive Hodsdon

Clive joined the school in 1990 and one of his primary tasks was to steer the department -and the school- out of the dark ages and endeavour to modernise, not only the equipment, but the methods of teaching within the MFL department. He was ahead of his time when he introduced technology into the department and he also courted controversy and broke years of tradition by employing a woman! His tenure began quite painfully since he spent a good part of the first year on his back - not because of his love for fine, red wine but due to an excruciating slipped disc. However by the end of that academic year most of the pain had subsided and the Language department had moved into the revamped Grove block which now boasted computers, videos - all

hi tech at the timeand the "piece de resistance" a large, tracking satellite dish on the roof.

The department has expanded beyond recognition, it has doubled in terms of the teaching staff and almost doubled in the number of rooms needed for teaching. The MFL department acquired SH1 and SH2 in 2002 and now CO4 is being used more often as a teaching space and room L has had to be equipped for language teaching. He also changed the methodology of teaching where he allowed and encouraged pupils to work independently on the essential skills needed for language learning and has continued to do this consistently over the past twenty years.

Clive has always sought to push the pupils beyond their comfort zone to improve the learning experience and one of his greatest achievements was the management and running of a successful exchange programme for seventeen years. He never tired of watching the pupils' reactions as they left the comfort blanket of home and had to quickly adapt to their new surroundings upon arrival in France. It may not have always been a pleasurable occurrence for all those who took part in the exchange over the years but it was an experience that they will certainly remember well into their adult lives. It also gave the pupils the opportunity to make close contacts with French families and there are a number of pupils who have remained lifelong friends with their French correspondents.

Clive has been a faithful and devoted tutor who has worked in the Grove from his arrival in 1990, a rare event in this new environment of change, and has worked his way through six housemasters, including Paddy Stephen twice. He has helped out and supported school events: D of E, he was a regular on the Geography field trip when Derek Paterson was at the helm, helped out as a marshal on the St Peter's half marathon and he and Judith have been keen spectators at many musical and theatrical performances. St Peter's is the school where his two children, Laura and Matthew, started their educational journeys however it is obvious that the son learnt very little from the father as he has now also become a teacher. They do say that the apple doesn't fall very far from the tree.

Clive does not intend to slow down or go to seed. He is sharing his knowledge of technology by helping out at Silver Surfers in Haxby. He will be sharing his knowledge of French with The University of the Third Age and would also like to get involved with the organisation of Area 8, which organises important language conferences. His love of cars will be kept up to date as he becomes part of the committee at Malton Motor Club. He will also be keeping himself fit and lithe with a bit of ballroom dancing - I've heard that he is a dead ringer for Gavin Henson when he whips his shirt off. If you put all of these together: the cars, the bevy of beauties, the gadgets, fine wine and cultured conversation, I think we may have found ourselves the replacement for Daniel Craig when he decides to hang up his bow tie.

The last comment has to come from the pupils because, from a teaching and learning point of view, it is probably the pupil who knows best as they are the target audience and they can certainly judge when they are being well taught. One current Upper 6th pupil who is not well known for giving praise lightly said to me at a recent meal "I like Mr Hodsdon both in the classroom and when he gives advice because you can trust his judgement, when Clive tells you everything will be alright you feel confident because you know that you are being told the truth."

We all wish Clive a long, happy and stress free retirement.

M. J. Duffy

Jean Green

It is a particular pleasure for me to offer a few words of thanks, to try to do justice to all the hard work Jean has put in to this place and to ensure that she knows just how much we value that contribution despite unforeseen early retirement. After all, it is rare for both parts, Teaching and Administrative staff to join together to express our thanks, jointly, but for someone like Jean it is both appropriate and heartfelt.

Being the longest serving teacher amongst us, I can reflect on the unique position that the Head's Secretary holds.

Over the last thirty five years we have had eight different backsides fill the chair behind the Head's desk. During that same time we have had only three secretaries to the Head.

The School has changed out of all recognition, from one of just under 400, mostly boarders and with a handful of girls in the 6th form, whose parents were rarely seen and never heard, to a

place bursting at the seams with some 550 boys and girls, mostly day, whose parents are definitely seen and who have quite a lot to say.

Part of this change is reflected in the expansion of the Administration side of the School. Whole new departments have been created, then doubled and even trebled in size, but during this time, though ably supported by the School Office, we have only had one Head's Secretary.

They are the glue that sticks this whole place together, they ensure the smooth running of both sides: teaching and administration. As well as keeping a close eye on co-ordinating everything, to ensure no clashes occur and that this whole complicated jigsaw puzzle fits together and works together.

Jean has been at St Peter's for over 20 years. Five as Secretary to the Bursar and then fifteen as the top secretary, to four different Heads, ensuring they don't lose their "Heads"!!

Her skills in this post are legion and her professional approach has ensured exceptional levels of hard work, organisation and coordination, confidentiality and loyalty.

All the Teaching Staff, particularly those in the pastoral side of things realise we have been very lucky to have someone with Jean's ability, whose hard work often goes un-noticed but whose many qualities have been tested these last few months , since her services were no longer required. Such is the level of her professionalism, few would have realised.

I could go on but I do not wish to cause further embarrassment as we all know of Jean's modesty.

We are all very sad to see her go and wish her all the very best for the future.

J. Owen Barnett.

Graham Metcalf

Graham joined St. Peter's in 1974 as Senior Laboratory Technician, having already gathered invaluable experience working at, amongst other places, Vickers Instruments and Leeds General Infirmary. He has been a vital member of the Physics department, designing and making with great skill many pieces of apparatus; without him the Physics Olympics competition could not have happened and he has of course been the key member of the staff team in the Great Egg Race every year. has successfully led workshops, passing on his skills to the next generation of technicians.

All of us in the department rely on him hugely on a daily basis and if ever he is away there is a bit of a panic and the department almost grinds to a standstill.

On a wider level Graham was in charge of all things audio visual throughout the school before the IT team arrived and he recorded the sound for many school events including the Carol and Commemoration Services in the Minster for many years. At one stage or another almost everyone has been along to ask him to try to mend some broken item of theirs and he has always done his best to help in any way that he can. He goes about his job in a quiet and unflappable manner and I would like to thank him for putting up with us and those before us with such good grace for the last 37 years. We are all going to miss him not only as a colleague, but also as a friend and an integral member of our team. In this day and age it is rare that people stay in a job for such a long time so I thank him for the loyalty he has shown to St Peter's and for the continuity that he has provided, particularly to the Physics department.

Graham has many outside interests; he is heavily involved in music and is a highly talented musician playing a variety of guitars, including the banjo and singing semi-professionally almost continuously since the age of 17. He has a passion for railways and enjoys photography, genealogy, water colour painting, caravanning, astronomy and the list goes on, so I don't think that he will struggle for things to do when he has finished working. I hope that Graham enjoys a long and happy retirement with Eileen. I also hope that he will continue to keep in touch with all of us here and he will certainly always be welcome back at St Peter's.