Dignitaries attend school ceremony to present senior pupils with prizes

Dignitaries from the City of London visited Christ's Hospital on Saturday, May 28 for Speech Day.
Annual prize-giving ceremony at Christ's Hospital. Pictures by Toby PhillipsAnnual prize-giving ceremony at Christ's Hospital. Pictures by Toby Phillips
Annual prize-giving ceremony at Christ's Hospital. Pictures by Toby Phillips

The school welcomed the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Alderman the Lord Mountevans and the Mayoral Party who joined over 800 guests for this special annual ceremonial occasion.

Alderman the Lord Mountevans presented prizes and awards to senior pupils, recognising academic achievement, leadership, international relations, outward bound activities and creative writing. He also gave a response to the Head pupil’s oration.

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Earlier in the day, visitors had to dodge the showers as they watched the March Past by the school’s 880 pupils to the accompaniment of the band.

Head Master, John Franklin said: “The pupils took an obvious pride in marching for their boarding house and for the school and once again, the band was outstanding. At the prize-giving ceremony in the afternoon, the highlight was the oration given by the Senior Grecian (head pupil), Isobel Pelling and the response of The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to Isobel’s speech.”

Praise was also given to junior pupils, Grace and Tommy, who marched across the quad in front of the crowd to present the Lady Mayoress with a posy of flowers.

The day finished with a buffet lunch and an opportunity for visitors to see the Year 13 ‘Grecians’ art exhibition.

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When Christ’s Hospital was founded in 1552, it was the Lord Mayor of the day, Sir Richard Dobbs, who gathered a committee of thirty to raise money following Edward VI’s move to establish Christ’s Hospital in London to house, feed and educate needy children. The School moved to Horsham in 1902 and continues to be one of the leading charitable boarding schools in the country.

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