Dear Parents,
We’ve had a lovely week back here in Crowthorne again. What a difference the sunshine makes! Pupils and staff have found the first week tiring but so fulfilling and it has been wonderful to be back together as a school community. I am touching every piece of wood I can find, but we’ve even managed to get through the first week without any cases of you-know-what, although we’re not taking anything for granted for obvious reasons.
The Upper Sixth looked so glamorous in ball gowns and black ties last week for their dinner to mark the start of their final term as Wellingtonians. They have all grown up so quickly and, although there are a few challenges to get through in the coming weeks, we can’t wait to give them the send-off they deserve this term, culminating in Speech Day and Graduation on Friday 2 July. If you missed my end-of-term letter back in March, more details are there.
This past week has also seen the transition of leadership responsibility from the Upper Sixth prefects to the Lower Sixth, the annual handover which turns the page on the next chapter of Wellington’s history. Mrs Henderson and I had a brilliant first meeting with them on Friday. As well as helping create a new Wellington Pupil Charter to encapsulate what it means to be a Wellingtonian, they want to focus on reconnecting the community through socials, the co-curriculum and fun activities, as well as driving Sustainability, EDI and Mental Health provision forward. They’ve made a terrific start!
Another highlight of the past week has been the return to Chapel and the Third Form should be commended for putting together such a wonderful service last night with less than a week to prepare. The year group choir sang no fewer than three different pieces, all beautifully, including a stunning solo from the Combermere’s Flo Hardwick in Dyson’s ‘Nunc Dimittis’. He wrote the piece when he was Director of Music at Wellington College (1921-1924). The organ was played superbly throughout the service by Lower Sixth Former, Benedict King – bravo!
Saturday afternoon was uplifting, too, as we saw the playing fields come back to life with our first block fixture of cricket matches since 2019! Playing against Harrow is always a challenge, but to win four of the eight fixtures was a great return. There were so many brilliant individual performances, but we did feel sorry for Fergus Thompson who was run out for 99 on the final ball of the innings in the Junior Colts 2 match.
There remains, however, one thing missing from life here at College and that is you, our parents. Fingers crossed it will not be long before we can welcome you back to concerts and plays, to sports fixtures and outdoor social events. We have really missed you and…
WISH YOU WERE HERE!