Wellington School celebrates Headmaster’s Last Prize Giving
Pupils, parents, staff and governors were surprised and delighted as outgoing Headmaster, Martin Reader, opened the end of term celebrations with his own rendition of the Madness hit ‘Baggy Trousers’.
Mr Reader drew gasps from the audience as he sang ‘Headmasters breaking all the rules’ while pupils, who had acted in ‘Our House’, this year’s musical, performed a flash mob, getting out of their seats and dancing around the marquee. Mr Reader then used his address to suggest that questioning rules can lead to progress, citing examples from his early days at Wellington.
After the excitement of Mr Reader’s introduction to proceedings, Commemoration continued in its traditional format with students being presented prizes for their achievements throughout the year.
This year’s guest speaker was Dr Jon Copley, Senior Lecturer in Marine Biology at Southampton University and the first British person to dive to over 3 miles deep in the ocean. Dr Copley is an old Wellingtonian, having studied at the school in the 1980s.
Tributes were then paid to Mr Reader, who leaves the school at the end of this academic year to take up the post of Headmaster of Cranleigh School in Surrey after eight years at Wellington School.
Mr Reader received a standing ovation from the packed marquee as pupils, parents, governors and friends of the school showed their appreciation for all he has done for the school.
Find out more about Wellington School by visiting www.wellington-school.org.uk