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The last day of June, and the final day of their school career, Friday 30th will live long in the memory for Wellington’s class of 23. The 234 graduating students started their day with a Chapel Service that was full of emotion and full of poignancy.
As Senior Master, Matthew Oakman, himself leaving College after 25 years of unbroken service, observed in his address to the Leavers, the Chapel holds a special place in the heart of Wellingtonians, so what better place to start their last goodbye. Favourite hymns – Jerusalem and I Vow to Thee My Country – were sung, prayers were offered, and Sixth Form leaver, Daniel H, gave the Valedictory address. “ I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you’ve actually left them”, he quoted, a sentiment shared by all who had gathered to celebrate and remember those good times.
Applauded out of Chapel by the rest of the school, our newest Old Wellingtonians joined their parents for lunch in the Dining Hall before congregating in the GWA for the actual Graduation Ceremony. For many this was the most nerve-tingling moment of their whole school career as they faced their respective HMs on the Annenberg stage to hear their contribution to the school summed up. They needn’t have worried: the speeches were full of warmth, love and respect, confirming not only how well the HMs knew their young charges, but also that it had been a shared journey for them all.
The formalities of the day over, the celebrations began: champagne receptions in the seventeen Wellington Houses, and then a sumptuous Black tie Dinner and Ball, and one last chance to dine and dance together, an opportunity embraced with enthusiasm by one and all, and a reminder of the sheer energy that this special year group had brought to everything they had done over the past few years. What a day they had had, what a time it had been. Good luck and Godspeed to them all!
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