Queen's Annual Gathering 2022

Queen’s Annual Gathering 2022

At the end of the Summer Term, we were

able to hold our first ‘proper’ Annual Gathering since 2019, which took place at St Marylebone Parish Church.

We were honoured to have as our special guest, representing the Bishop of London, the Venerable Dr Sheila Watson. Dr Watson is the Preacher at Lincoln’s Inn and she spoke about how our Founder, F. D. Maurice, was one of her ‘scarier’ predecessors in the post – mainly for the breadth and speed with which he accomplished such significant societal changes including, of course, his pioneering legacy in education for women, embodied by Queen’s. Dr Watson spoke of her own experience, as the first female Archdeacon of Canterbury (more than a thousand years since the first – as she said “the Church of England can’t be accused of moving too quickly!”) and as the first female Preacher at Lincoln’s Inn, 170 years after Maurice was appointed to the same post. She advised Queen’s students to harness the pioneering spirit of Maurice and our early alumnae and to ignore other people’s expectations and, instead, be true to yourself. She finished with some inspirational advice from St Francis de Sales (1567–1622): “Do not wish to be anything but what you are, and try to be that perfectly.”

For the first time, our outgoing II Senior Prefects gave their own reports about progress in important aspects of College life over the past year including: Academics, the Performing Arts, Sport, Clubs, Charitable Activities and Pastoral Care. Thank you to our leaving Prefect team of Maya, Sonia, Olivia, Zana, Sunshine and Esme for speaking so eloquently and with such affection for the College.

Both the Principal, Mr Tillett, and Professor Alison While, Chair of the Council, expressed their profound thanks for the exceptional work of the teaching body over the last year who ‘always go above and beyond as a matter of routine’ and for the essential support provided by our dedicated non-teaching staff. They wished leaving teachers all the very best for their new adventures and hoped that they, along with those pupils for whom it was their final day at Queen’s, would keep in touch with the College in the years to come. Mr Tillett also looked forward the next phase of life at Queen’s, with the introduction of the Model United Nations from next year, an added emphasis on academic bravery and the importance of all students learning to argue, debate and disagree without rancour.

The event was also enriched by some memorable music from our pupils including solos from Maria-Stephanie and Marina, as well as fantastic performances by our orchestra, brass ensemble and massed choir.

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