CLASS OF 2020

Welcome to the

Class of 2020

Head Boy Team and Savile Scholars

The School career of the Class of 2020, sadly came to an abrupt end at the end of March 2020; no exams, no fancy dress final assembly or leavers’ ball. However, the stoical way you approached these disappointments was testament to your maturity and character and we’d like to give you all a special welcome to the Old Savilians’ Community.

As you leave QEGS, you become an Old Savilian. Affectionately known as Old Savs, there is a community of over 5,000 Old Savilians, living all over the world, doing all manner of jobs, each with their own experiences, but bound by the same foundation - an education at QEGS Wakefield. As you move onto the next chapter of your lives, we hope you will stay true to the friendships you’ve made, cherish the many experiences you’ve had along the way and remember that whilst you are no longer entering through the School gates every day, you are still very much part of QEGS.

Our Old Savilians have an abundance of experience, goodwill, skills and resources and I am sure that you will both benefit and contribute to it in the coming months and years.

Perhaps you will return to school for the Old Savilians’ Annual Dinner 17th December 2021!

Floreas Wakefieldia! Zaid Abrar Haroon Alyas Michael Anderson Oliver Appleyard Faiq Aziz Stevan Balac Edward Booth Alasdair Braidley Rowan Buxton Jack Cherry Tanaka Chidziva Anish Chowdary Aaron Daley Georgio Demetriou Harry Duke Matthew Enright Oliver Farrar Jordan Forster Amai Ganjam Omer Gelli Cavan Gilbey Stevie Goodman Laurence Harkin Max Harrison James Harwood Matthew Hudson Tobi Irelewuyi Matthew Jenkins Mihali Joannou Alfie Kirton Stephen Ledger Harry Longworth Niza Machona Patrick Maher Athieshwar Manoharan Adam Marwood Daniel McNair Sam Meredith Conor Nichols Thomas Noble Rahman Pervaiz Samuel Piper Adam Priest George Purves-Bennett Timothy Ramshaw Michael Rogers Jack Royle William Saunders Sam Selka Yousaf Shahzad Hugo Sinclair Deegan Smith Luke Smith Ethan Stuckey Cameron Taylor Ryan Taylor Sam Tipler Robbie Watson Lucas Webster Thomas Williams Matthew Wood Max Wotton

As Head Boy of QEGS during the year 2020, I thoroughly feel almost speechless in regards to what has gone on this year. One would expect me to be cursing Covid-19 over the disastrous end to what has been a glorious career at QEGS, with the noticeable omission of the May Ball as well as many other parties celebrating the end of our time at QEGS. However, I am writing this review today with no feeling of regret or frustration, but instead with gratitude and absolute happiness.

Despite enduring the controversy surrounding our final grades at both GCSE and A Level, I believe that every boy who is leaving QEGS will feel honoured to have been a part of something so special. For me, the reality of not returning back to QEGS has not sunk in yet, but I am sure that in the coming month when I have departed for Edinburgh, that reality will hit home. I cannot contemplate the fact that never again will I listen to another Mr Craig assembly; never again will I be able to wear the famous Black and Gold on the rugby field; never again will I laugh and joke around in the canteen with my mates; but possibly the thing I will miss most will be the relationship between the staff and the students.

QEGS is built on respect, hard work, and friendship, and this academic year has really put these core values to the test. Covid-19 meant that our careers ended on a slightly abrupt note however this does not take away from the sterling job that the Deputy Heads and Prefects have carried out this year. A special thanks must go to my close friends and deputies Amai Ganjam, Luke Smith, Rowan Buxton, Hugo Sinclair and Edward Booth - all of whom have made my role of Head Boy significantly easier. Even though we have faced many challenges throughout the years, there is a major sense of cohesion and love in our year group and for that, I am truly grateful… of course Janine must be included as she is the fairy godmother of every Year 13 that passes through QEGS. Specific mentions must go to both Mrs Palin and Mr Fitzsimons for keeping me and the team on our toes... constantly! Mr Rees and Mr Jones have guided our year group through the turmoil of Coronavirus with their virtual assemblies that kept us up-to-date on all things political. Many thanks to the office and in particular Mrs Grafton who is ready to help us in any way, shape or form. A huge thank you to Mr Craig for granting me the honourable position of Head Boy, and also for being a fine mentor and a person to aspire to and to learn from. Mr Craig along with Mr Barker and Mr Dean, are people that I look up to on a daily basis and their influence and guidance has moulded the character that I am today. Finally, my personal thanks goes to Mr Palin who is a great role model and an even better friend. Having experienced my fair share of ‘stern words’ from Mr Palin in my earlier years at QEGS, I have come to realise that it all originates from a place of care and warmth.

Having had one of the very best experiences of school possible, I am able to leave QEGS with fond memories and lifelong friends. We have not ended our school careers in a very conventional way, but I sincerely hope that this is not the end for my relationship with QEGS and I know that I will be attending the Old Savs Dinner for many years to come. Although it pains me to say this as it means I am acknowledging the end of my time here, I want to congratulate Swapnil Sahoo on becoming the next Head Boy and I wish both him and his team the very best of luck. Once more, a massive thanks to the staff and students of Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School who have contributed to my 6 outstanding years as a QEGS lad.

Finally, all that remains to be said is ‘Turpe Nescire’!

Adam priest (OS 2020)