VISITATION 2025
Friday 4 July and Saturday 5 July
Friday 4 July
Old Big School Gallery Exhibition: showcasing selected Art and Photography work from all year groups as well as the work of A-level Design, Technology and Engineering leavers
1.30pm House Athletics Finals at the Wilmot Track
3.15pm Tea in Skinners' Library
Governors' Interviews
3.45pm Interviews of Upper Sixth boys in the Skinners' Library, HM's Dining Room, Deputy Head Admissions office, the Ogilvie Room, the Smythe Library Classroom and the Chief Operating Officer's office (Governors & Court members who elected to interview, including the All Souls Examiner (ASE).) School will provide full details on each pupil for the panel members
5.20pm All Souls Examiner (ASE) announces Chichele Essay Prize winner in the Marquee on the Upper Hundred (Governors, Court members & partners, essay entrants & their parents)
6.00pm Depart by minibus from the Quad for the Premier Inn North to change for concert and dinner (Dress code is Black Tie) - Return to School at 6.45pm by minibus
Leavers' Concert
6.55pm Guests to be seated in Big School (there will be a reserved block of seats in the centre left of the audience)
7.00pm Leavers' Concert (Guests to exit by the front right exit)
Friday 4 July
Dinner
8.00pm Drinks in Skinners' Library Garden
8.30pm Dinner in the Lowry Dining Room
Toasts
The guests - proposed by the Chair
Response from the Master
11.00pm Return to Premier Inn North by minibus
Saturday 5 July
Chapel Service
9.00am Minibus from Premier Inn North to School
9.30am Governors, Court members & Headmaster meet in Skinners’ Library for robing (button-holes will be issued to all on arrival)
9.45am Party 1 (Court members, all partners, Director of Education and COO) escorted to Chapel by the School Administrator and Deputy Heads of School designate. The party will be directed to their seats according to the seating plan, which will be on display in Skinners’ Library
9.50am Party 2 (Governors) escorted to Chapel by Mrs Priory and the Headmaster's PA and Head of School designate. On arrival the party will be directed to their seats
Saturday 5 July
9.55am Party 3 (Master, Wardens, Chair, Clerk, Headmaster & ASE) led by the Beadle to Chapel and enters the Chapel by the West Door as follows with the Choir leading:
Choir
Choirmaster
Chaplain
ASE Clerk
Third Warden Renter Warden
First Warden
Second Warden Chair Master (Left side of Chapel) (Right side of Chapel)
Headmaster
The procession halts between the ambos, then moves to reserved seats in the stalls on left and right, as directed
10.00am Chapel Service commences
10.40am At the end of the service the processional party exits the Chapel by the West Door as follows:
Choir
Choirmaster
Chaplain
Master Chair
Second Warden
Renter Warden
First Warden
Third Warden Clerk ASE
Headmaster
Governors, Court members and partners to leave the Chapel by the South East door as directed. All escorted to the Orchard Centre Café for coffee where the Chapel book will be available for signing (Master and Wardens to remain robed)
Saturday 5 July
10.50am Governors, Court members, ASE & partners to be escorted from the Orchard Centre Café by the School Administrator/Headmaster's PA to reserved seats in the marquee on the Upper Hundred
10.55am Headmaster escorts Chair, Master and Wardens to the marquee. The Headmaster, Chair and Master take their reserved seats on the dais, with reserved seating for the Wardens in the centre block. Please remain standing
Prize Giving in the Marquee
Order of Proceedings
11.00am The Chair of Governors invites the audience to be seated then welcomes everyone.
• Head of School speaks and provides an introduction to the Master and ASE
• The Headmaster gives his address
• Upper Sixth boys will give brief presentations: Farlie Willett (Sc5) followed by a musical performance from Debare Alade (FH5), William Holden (CH5), Tom Metcalfe (WH5) and Jason Young (Sc5)
• The Second Master announces the award of the Prizes, presented by the Master
• The ASE announces the winner of the Chichele Essay Prize which is presented by the Master
• The Chair of Governors announces the winners of the three Prize Pens, presented by the Master, followed by his address
• The Chair concludes the formal part of the Visitation by inviting all to stand for the final procession and join the Reception. Dais party process down the centre of the marquee to the Reception area
Afternoon Programme
12.30pm Lunch available upstairs in the Orchard Centre for Governors, Court members and partners
An extensive programme of exhibitions, performances and displays which Governors, Court members and partners are welcome to watch while also meeting parents. Please refer to the separate Programme of Events & Exhibitions
Skinners' Day 1923: The Latin Speeches
The Latin Speeches go back to the sixteenth century origins of the School. On Skinners' Day, the Governors would be greeted at the School gates by the boys and would listen to a Latin address (the Oratio Congratulatoria, below) given by the Head Boy, enumerating the main School events of the past year. The Examiner, appointed by the Governors, would reply in Latin on their behalf.
The Latin Speeches
Head of School’s Greeting
En iterum, O Pelliparii, huc ideo colligimur, ut concelebremus et nostram scholam conditam et id studium, eam curam, quam Pellipariorum Societas clarissima nunc et semper nobis confert. Nos vestri discipuli hac festa die vobis maxime gaudentes salutem damus. Et te quoque, O Moderator doctissime, salutamus, et laetamur quod tu nobis adesse potes.
Iterum hoc anno res feliciter ubique gessimus, in rebus et academicis et artificiosis et ludicris. Hoc vehementer speramus, quod vobis, e disciplina quam nobis contulistis, aliquid gaudii accipere licebit, et a nostris rebus gestis et a nostris moribus. Valete.
Once again, O Skinners’ Company, we are gathered here to celebrate the foundation of our School and the continued generosity shown to us by the Skinners’ Company. On this special day we your scholars are happy to greet you. We also welcome you, O Examiner, and are pleased that you are able to be with us.
The School has once again enjoyed success in every field: academic, artistic, and sporting. We hope that, as a result of the education provided to us, you can be proud, not only of our achievements, but also of our characters.
Reply by All Souls Examiner
O Pelliparii, vosque magistri atque discipuli Tonbrigienses, vobis salutem dicit Custos Sociique Collegii Omnium Animarum Oxonii. Maximam mihi praestat laetitiam quod vestram egregiam academiam inviso munere functus inquisitoris Collegii Omnium Animarum.
Nos omnes, quibus fortuna praeclaram eruditionem largita est, iura fructus beneficia semper ante oculos ponere debemus. Beneficia enim una cum officiis servanda manent. Vestrum est hoc officium, ut haec disciplina cotidiana, illa studia superiora sint usui vobis magno, reipublicae maximo.
Denique precor ut omnibus, qui magistri atque discipuli Tonbrigienses vocantur, omniabene fauste feliciter eveniant. Valete.
O Skinners, teachers and scholars of Tonbridge School, I bring you greetings from the Warden and Fellows of All Souls College. It brings me great pleasure to visit your illustrious school in the office of All Souls Examiner.
All of us who have enjoyed a fine education should constantly remember our exceptional privilege. But with privileges go duties. Your duty is to make use of the education you are receiving not only for your own but for the common good. I wish the School every success.
Tonbridge School
High Street
Tonbridge Kent TN9 1JP
+44 (0)1732 904400
admissions@tonbridge-school.org