Commemoration Day

Prize winners, L-R: William Fisher, Penny Foulkes, Mr Matthew Horton, Anna Perrot, Mrs Karen Edwards, Liam Mullan, Headmaster Chris Edwards, Ailsa McQuaid, Mr Geoffrey John (President of the School), Henri Li		Matthew Horton, Edwina Currie, Geoffrey John, Karen Edwards, Chris Edwards		A family picnic
William Haynes, James Attwood, Karl Lockley, Chris Ormonde, Joel Diggins, Nick Williams, Robert Lisle, George Grookes		Katie Murray, Celine Goodwin, Daisy Raine		Helen Fisher, Danielle Curzon, Ailsa McQuaid, Rhiannon Jones
Jenny Taylor, Lyndsay Snell, Sammy-Jo Davies		Mr David Perry, Ashley Hayden, Edmund Westlake, Michael Pearce, Simon Powell, Adam Kanas		Duncan Shrimpton, Sammy-Jo Davies

Every year Bromsgrove School celebrates its re-endowment by Sir Thomas Cookes with a special service held at the Parish Church of St John’s, followed by prize-giving at the school. This year, in his speech to the assembled school, parents, governors and invited guests, Headmaster Chris Edwards gave the most upbeat of messages: witty, profound and full of praise for pupils and staff. The school was full, with everyone looking forward to the new term in September and actively considering the introduction of the International Baccalaureate. A Foundation is being launched to create more scholarships and bursaries so that the school can continue to expand its provision for pupils and future generations of Bromsgrovians. After the speeches everyone enjoyed their picnics and lunches, exhibitions and music within the grounds, which were bathed in sunshine. The climax of the day is Call Over: all schools all have their unique ways of saying farewell to leavers, but does any school do it quite like this? The school lines up to walk up the steps to the Parade Ground, where each pupil shakes hands with the Heads of School and the Headmaster and his wife, watched by the amassed parents, grandparents and friends. The final lowering of the school flag marks the end of the academic year. In the evening the Sixth Form Leavers’ Ball was another great success; well over 200 pupils and 50 staff enjoyed the occasion, with the marquee on Gordon Green the perfect location on a summer’s evening.