The Owl 2012 judgment in English Law given by Lord Mansfield in 1772 in the case of the black slave Somersett. Mansfield ruled in the face of every authority, received opinion and vested interest of the day that once the foot of the slave Somersett touched the soil of England he became a free man. So it was not entirely fanciful to feel that the spirit of a school might free up, or empower a child, who hitherto had experienced limitations, difficulties or disadvantages. Or that members of staff who came to work there might be inspired to exceed a potential they barely realised they had. Louis’ colleague headmasters looked on enviously as one after another of his staff ducklings grew into educational swans. When pressed to explain he would quote Dr Johnson “Much may be made of a Scotchman - if he be caught young.” He was more self-denying than self-indulgent. Though his own tastes and lifestyle were modest, he was generous and open-handed. He had a gift for friendship. He loved company, conversation, gossip and high spirits. He told his pupils, “I have as much sense of humour as it is safe for a schoolmaster to possess.” In fact, he had much more. Despite his social skills he had to live alone. That he never married was a mystery to many and, I suspect, a severe disappointment to several. Louis Lord’s story is in essence a story of leadership, leadership that did not flinch in dark days and demanding circumstances. To use two epithets that he would have dismissed as modern illiteracies he was a high definition, stand-out leader. He had vision, presence, style and moral courage. Deeply loyal himself, he inspired loyalty in others. The Governors of the Academy are today saluting and perpetuating the memory of a most remarkable man who was a headmaster Sui Generis. Now if you slept through your Latin lesson Louis Lord would have had some sympathy for you. SVI GENERIS means; in a class of his own. W. M. Sillery
John McGimpsey Prize Awarded On 15 June 2012, at a ceremony in the School of Dentistry, Belfast, the Faculty of Dentistry of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) awarded the inaugural John McGimpsey Prize to Caoimhe McVeigh, a final year dental student at Queen’s University. The late Professor John McGimpsey, a member of the Board of Governors of Belfast Royal Academy and Warden 1990-91, was Consultant in Oral Surgery at the Royal Victoria Hospital, and Director of Teaching and Learning at Queen’s University, Belfast. He was also
Dean of the Faculty of Dentistry, RCSI from 1998-2001. The John McGimpsey Prize is awarded to an outstanding student who communicates with patients and their relatives with empathy and understanding, and who has also achieved excellence in all aspects of the Dental Curriculum throughout his or her training at the School of Dentistry, Belfast. P. McGimpsey ****
COMMONER AND PENSIONER PLACES University of Cambridge Ridwan A Farouki (Corpus Christi) Mathematics University of Oxford Alexsy M Gaj (St Benet’s Hall) John-William J Carey (St Benet’s Hall)
PPE History
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THE VILLIERS PARK TRUST An Educational Trust based in Cambridge which aims to inspire gifted and talented pupils. Selected by the Trustees of Villiers Park for participation in the Annual Series of Reading Parties at Foxton, Cambridge:
Grace E Kenny Anna E McShane Julia C Diamond Tom M J Marsh Duncan M Taylor Jordan R J McClurkin Adam T Purvis Ridwan A Farouki Andrew B McClements Katy McLarnon Zoe C O’Reilly Callum Browne Scott R B McCambridge Gareth J G Gilfillan Luke K Taylor Tom J Hanna Bethany A Queripel Adam P Brice
English Literature French Geography Geography The World in Crisis? The World in Crisis? Neuroscience Mathematics PPE Drama and Theatre Studies Creative Writing History Psychology Engineering Philology Mathematics English Literature Law
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