Celebrating Seventy Years: A Walk Down Memory Lane with College Foundation Students

Saint Kentigern College celebrates its seventieth anniversary in 2023. The school has undergone significant changes since its early days, now offering education for boys and girls from preschool to Year 13. As part of the anniversary celebrations, foundation students Bryan Haggitt, John Corban, and Graeme Little were invited back to the school to reminisce about their time at the College.

On their first day, the foundation students recalled lining up in front of a lone prefab building while Headmaster Reverend Adam MacFarlan and his small team of staff greeted them. After an assembly where they recited the Lord’s Prayer, they dove into classes like Classical Studies, Greek, and Latin. The students fondly remembered their First Form Master, Mr Ross Perry, as well as their respect for Reverend MacFarlan, who played a significant role in their parents’ decision to enrol them in the school.

The foundation students chose Saint Kentigern College because it offered the opportunity to join a new community and explore an open-minded and creative education system. Their parents trusted Reverend MacFarlan’s reputation and believed the school would provide the best environment for their children’s growth.

During their discussion, the three foundation students shared detailed and fond memories of sporting events, lunchtime adventures at the creek, and their favourite subjects. They particularly cherished the first rugby game against King’s College, where student Scott Henderson’s winning penalty kick with an old, wet leather ball left a lasting impression. The passion for sports exhibited by these former students has become ingrained in the school’s culture, with a significant number of students still attending the annual Saint Kentigern College vs. King’s College 1st XV game.

Bryan, John, and Graeme have maintained their connection with the College by attending milestone celebrations and keeping the bond alive. Since their time at the school, Saint Kentigern College has experienced substantial growth. From a third-form class of forty students in 1953 to an expanded fourth form and approximately five hundred students upon their departure, the College has consistently increased in both size and enrolment. In 1959, the Boys’ School Remuera campus was established, and today, the Shore Road campus is home not only to the Boys’ School but also the Girls’ School and Preschool.

This College’s history marks the beginning of Saint Kentigern as we know it, and the College is proud to have served education for seventy years.