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With College looking its absolute best and the Big Top ready and waiting, the stage was set to celebrate the highlights of another fine year at Wellington. Speech Day dawned to cloudless skies and glorious sunshine, but for many it was the previous day’s Eve of Speech Day Jazz Concert that saw the school at its most relaxed, with parents and pupils enjoying the unique atmosphere of Princes’ Quad as afternoon gave way to dusk. Earlier on, the official opening of the Potter Pavilion, refurbished, repainted, and renamed to honour the extraordinary contribution that Chris Potter has made to so many walks of Wellington life, set the ball rolling against the traditional backdrop of cricket on Turf.
Speech Day itself started early for the Sixth Form, with sparkling breakfasts enjoyed in house groups, before moments of reflection and thanksgiving in traditional Chapel Services confirmed the College’s Royal and Religious Foundation. The two-hour Big Top show, enjoyed by an audience of nearly 4,000 saw speeches from William Jackson, Chair of Governors, and James Dahl, the 15th Master of Wellington; prizes for Academic and Co-curricular success; and spell-binding performances from the singers, dancers and musicians who do so much to enrich the College’s cultural life.
Picnic lunches in the House Marquees that girdled Turf gave HMs an opportunity to recognise the successes and contributions of individual pupils, before Sir David Scholey, former Chair of Governors, planted an Oak Tree to commemorate the Coronation of King Charles III. The afternoon’s entertainment continued with exhibitions in the Art and DT Departments, matches contested by current and former Wellingtonians, and the Field Gun run, this year taking place on Bigside for the first time.
And then it was all but done, the Chapel Bell summoning all to South Front to see trophies for the CCF, a peerless performance from the Drum Corps, speeches to the school from Emilie and Zak, the outgoing Heads of College, and finally the Master’s Callover, where Mr Dahl recited the names of all 1095 current Wellingtonians in a ceremony that not only recalls the very first days of the school, but also acknowledges the unique link at Wellington between past tradition, modern practice, and future promise.
View Speech Day gallery HERE.
View Eve of Speech Day Concert gallery HERE.
View Potters Pavilion Opening gallery HERE.
