Prize Giving and Speech Day 2018
Prize Giving and Speech Day 2018/19 On Saturday 22nd June 2019, blessed with a beautiful summer’s morning, the St Edmund’s community gathered in the Butler Hall for the annual Speech Day and Prize-Giving ceremony. Mrs Peirce began proceedings by leading the prayer of St Edmund, before the Chairman of Governors Mr Patrick Mitton, Headmaster Mr Durán, and Headmaster Designate and Guest of Honour Mr Mostyn took to the stage. As well as being an opportunity for the Chairman and Headmaster to reflect on the year that had been, it was also a suitable occasion for Mr Mostyn to reflect on what lie ahead, as he prepared to take over as Headmaster in September. Following the speeches, the prizes for academic achievements and endeavours were awarded. Congratulations to all the prize winners, whose names you will find in the following pages, for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence. This was followed by the eagerly anticipated results of the 2018-19 Grand House Challenge and awarding of the trophy. Congratulations to Challoner House, who edged out the competition and seized victory in Mr Cunnah’s first year as Housemaster. Congratulations, too, to Talbot House for winning the Arts Plate. The final part of the ceremony, before refreshments in the sun, was the handover of the coveted blue and red sashes, and the formal appointment of the new student prefect body. The Head Boy and Head Girl, along with their deputies, were presented with their sashes by the Headmaster, with the student House Captains awarded theirs by their respective Housemasters.
Headmaster’s Report 2018-19 "I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, … who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold, and what they do not, who know their creed so well, that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it…”
Reverend Father(s), guests, staff, governors, members of the Friends Committee and Edmundian Association, fellow heads and incoming Head Mr Mostyn, parents, families, students and leavers, welcome to prize giving 2019. Newman’s words have always inspired me in attempting to map out a path for our school, to provide our students, be they Catholic or not, with the foundations of a Catholic education and the confidence to articulate and defend what they believe, ever more important in this age of soundbites, trolls and fake news. As we look back on the academic year of 2018/19 we take pride in a school and community that sends young men and women out into the world with that mix of confidence, quirkiness, character, service and charity that marks out on Edmundian; and what a year it has been! One that has paid due and proper homage to our history, but also points to an exciting and successful future. Welcome prize winners, especially if this is the first time you will be receiving an award. Remember that each year group receives the same book; these are not subject specific; what we have chosen is to offer you is a classic work or collection of literature in a hardback edition with the hope that, in the years to come, will be something you keep and reread with pride. Only a few weeks ago I received a letter from a former pupil who informed me that it was opening up his copy of Penguin’s Poems for
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