AN
OVERVIEW
OF
LIFE
AT
KING
EDWARD’S
WITLEY
Issue 32 Spring 2017
pupils from many decades ago. It was great seeing how strong the school’s links with the City of London are. A truly unique and unforgettable experience”.
Happy returns to the City of London King Edward’s returns to Southwark to remember 150 years since the move to Witley. King Edward’s celebrates its sesquicentennial relocation from Southwark to the Surrey Hills with a year of memorable thanksgiving events. Anniversary celebrations began on Tuesday 14th March with a triumphant Bridewell Day thanksgiving service at Southwark Cathedral, close to the School’s former location. Pupils and staff were joined by HRH The Duchess of Gloucester GCVO, President of King Edward’s, the Bishop of Southwark, the Rt Reverend Christopher Chessun, Percentor Canon Gilly Myers and School Chaplain The Reverend Dr David Standen. Her Royal Highness chose to process with the School and was joined by the Mayor of Southwark and the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City in their splendid scarlet robes. The 1000-strong congregation included all 420 day and boarding pupils from King Edward’s and Year 8 pupils from our partner school, Barrow Hills. Guests included local Surrey mayors from Haslemere and
Waverley, Governors, alumni and parents who gathered to pay tribute to the school’s rich history which dates back to 1553 when King Edward VI granted Bridewell Palace near Fleet Street to the Lord Mayor of London, creating the school’s parent foundation, Bridewell Royal Hospital, as a place for the education of poor children. In his sermon, the Bishop of Southwark emphasised change and continuity. He drew parallels between the School’s journey from Bridewell Palace to Southwark and then to Witley 150 years ago, with Southwark’s changes through the century, and our own journeys through life. Today King Edward’s is a co-educational boarding school that in particular welcomes diversity, something that was echoed throughout the service by the Bishop of Southwark and similarly reflects the diversity in the borough. King Edward’s is renowned for excellence in music, and its acclaimed Chapel Choir and Brass, conducted by Stasio Sliwka, Director of Music, reflected the magnificent occasion with suitable pomp and ceremony in hymns including the National Anthem and anthems by Parry. Choir and congregation were accompanied by the organist Mark Wardell, former Assistant Organist at Chichester Cathedral and now Director of Music at Barrow Hills School. Dylan Cutifani, Head of Grafton said, “It was a fantastic day connecting with old pupils and meeting old Grafton
Malta Be Active
Pride and Prejudice
Successful visit to Malta for the Senior Netball Girls on their first ever King Edward’s Netball Tour.
18th century England is brought to life by our Senior School pupils in their word perfect performance of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.
PAGE 6
PAGE 5
Following the service guests and pupils were invited to attend a lunch reception in the Guildhall’s magnificent Old Library. Her Royal Highness met and chatted to pupils from King Edward’s and Barrow Hills before she presented medals to new Bridewell Fellows - generous supporters of the school’s bursary fund - from all sections of the School community: governors, alumni and staff, past and present parents and charities, representing the breadth of support for the School’s founding mission that is still alive and relevant today. Sheriff of the City Peter Estlin, the first Old Witleian to have held that post in almost five centuries, paid tribute in his speech to these new partnerships, and the Head Boy, Oyinbebe Kalabare gave an inspirational speech echoing the day’s themes. The Headmaster, John Attwater said, “Today has been a wonderful reminder of how far we have come as a school, not just in miles from London to Witley but our transformation from a Tudor orphanage to the worldclass school we are today, while still maintaining our fundamental ethos of diversity and commitment to the needs and education of the children we serve.” Celebrations are continuing, most recently the planting of 2 commemorative holly trees, one in the grounds of King Edward’s, followed by a planting ceremony in the grounds of St Bride’s Church, Fleet Street, symbolising the School’s presence there as a Tudor orphanage when it was originally founded in the City of London. For news and further information on our anniversary celebrations please visit www.kesw.org.
“What we build in King Edward’s is a community, one where we care and love for each other”
INSIDE
Courtesy of Southwark Diocesan Communications’
1