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With the Big Top once again rising on Bigside, the Wellington College community convened for its most treasured annual tradition – Speech Day. With parents, governors, Old Wellingtonians, and special guests joining staff and pupils on campus, the day was a vibrant celebration of the year’s achievements and the shared spirit of the Wellington community.
This year’s event began with two chapel services for pupils across all year groups. Attention then turned to the Big Top for an impressive showcase of musical, dramatic and academic excellence. Speeches from Heads of College, Harry M and Emily S, the Chair of Governors, William Jackson and the 15th Master, James Dahl, reflected on a year of remarkable endeavour and growth. As ever, the presentations of academic, sporting and College wide prizes, from the Lower School to the Upper Sixth, offered a moving reminder of the talent nurtured at Wellington.
The morning programme was enhanced by standout performances from across the arts. From the orchestra and choir’s stirring rendition of One Day Like This to the dynamic work of our dancers, dramatists and musical ensembles, including excerpts from Birdsong and Into the Woods, the energy and standard of performance spoke volumes about the strength of Wellington’s creative life.
Afterwards, the College burst into life around Turf and beyond. House lunches brought families and friends together, while exhibitions in the Art School and Kent Building showcased innovative work across Fine Art, Textiles, Photography, Design Engineering and Technology. Sporting moments featured tennis finals and a spirited cricket match between WCCC and the OWCC, alongside thrilling displays from the Field Gun crew and a cavalry charge on Bigside. The action paused only for the most iconic of Wellington traditions, the Master’s Callover.
New to the 2025 celebrations was a Welly Unplugged stage set in the Woodland Quad beside Elizabeth House. This fantastic addition brought the vibrant student led spirit of popular music to Speech Day for the very first time. With acoustic sets and performances from pupils across all year groups, it was a joyful expression of musical community and creativity.
Another special moment came on South Front during the ceremonial parade, when the Pooley Sword of Honour was unveiled for the first time. This bespoke award will be presented annually to the cadet who demonstrates exceptional commitment to the CCF. The inaugural recipient was Royal Marines Cadet Sergeant Caitlin H, recognised for her outstanding support of the Contingent since 2021, a truly deserving winner.
As the day drew to a close, it was left to the Master to call over each and every pupil’s name, connecting today’s Wellingtonians with generations past and those still to come. It was a celebration not just of individual success, but of the strength and unity of a remarkable school community. Speech Day 2025 was, as ever, a fitting tribute to the spirit that defines Our Wellington.
