Establishing Tradition: Founders Day

Sixty-four years ago, Saint Kentigern Boys’ School was established to provide education to boys from New Entrants to Form 2 (Year 8). The generosity of the Wilson family, specifically John Martyn Wilson who bequeathed Roselle House to the Saint Kentigern Trust for use in education, is why the incredible establishment exists today.

To celebrate the beginning of the Boys’ School, an inaugural Founders Day service was held on Tuesday 7 February. Although sixty-four years is not a jubilee, the importance of this day could not go amiss for another year. Therefore, to kick off the 2023 school year, the 64th anniversary of the school was celebrated by staff, students, and distinguished guests invited to the occasion.

Among the addresses, perhaps the most memorable was from student number twenty, Mr Peter Nelson, a foundation student of the school. Since his time on Shore Road, a lot has changed, with the growth of the school population and the buildings being the most apparent. With a twinkle in his eye, he recalled several less obvious differences between a school day in 1959 and the present. The current students’ eyes bulged as he described the use of the cane, the uniform, Roselle House for teaching rather than administration, and how few students there were – 190 in total. Nowadays, with a roll of 647, onsite buildings that house specialist classes, and separate classroom blocks for the juniors, middle school, and seniors, it is incredible to see the development of the school over sixty-four years.

What ceremony is complete without cake? To conclude the service, the House Prefects, Head Boy, and Deputy Head Boy, cut five cakes – four decorated for the Houses (Cargill, Chalmers, Hamilton and Wishart) and one for the Boys’ School. Everyone was given a slice to enjoy with their lunch.

Founders Day encourages current and old boys to remember the past, appreciate the present, and look forward to the future. We are thrilled to establish this celebration in our annual calendar.