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HEADMASTER: MR DAVID CRAIG
It has been yet another action-packed academic year at QEGS, as it has been for the Old Savilians’ Club. Under the Presidency of Alistair McKinlay (OS, 1990), the Savs go from strength to strength. As if he didn’t have enough to do, Alistair has been co-opted onto the Foundation Board of Governors, as have fellow Savilians Tim Welton (OS, 1991) and Sam Butterworth (OS, 1999), alongside Spokesman Simon Chamberlain (OS, 1988). These four wise men, like so many old boys before them, continue to lend their wisdom and support to the school long after their A Levels and it is hugely appreciated! Talking of Old Savilians, we were most grateful to Stephen Ridley (OS, 2007) who came back last autumn as Guest of Honour at Speech Day. Not only did he shake many hands whilst dispensing prizes, Stephen delivered a memorable talk and even sang to us from the grand piano under the gaze of Elizabeth I! Quite an achievement for a not so old boy in his late 20s who was nearly late for the proceedings having just hotfooted it back from an evening singing to Vladimir Putin in Russia! Later that term, the same QE Hall was packed to the rafters for the Annual Dinner – our thanks especially to Ian Shackleton (OS, 1980) and Lizzie Hulme for making this happen. Probably the most poignant event of the year was the 20th anniversary gathering to celebrate the life of James Moran (OS, 1988), lost far too soon whilst a Sixth Former at QEGS – thankyou to all those boys who came back to share their memories of this much-loved Savilian and to Father Michael Hall (OS, 1977) for presiding.
Reading through this edition of the magazine, I am reminded just how much QEGS boys (old and young) like to dress up – some might see it as a wonderfully English thing to do! From our most senior brethren – Andy Harter (OS, 1979) in his full High Sheriff of Cambridge regalia – to the Upper VI boys dressed as bacon rashers and bananas at the leavers’ football tournament, you can see what I’m talking about. Certainly the modern generation of QEGS boys will wear the Black and Gold on the games field with as much pride as their forebears. They scrub up incredibly well in black tie for the Leavers’ Ball at the Royal Armouries before returning in their droves (squeezing into that same suit) for the dinners – long may this tradition continue! The daily rhythm of school life seems to quicken each year. GCSE and A Level courses are tougher, so our great band of teachers are working harder than ever. In amongst the daily routine of six 50-minute lessons, we pack in extra clinics, seminars, clubs and societies. On top of this, sport remains our second religion alongside all the music, drama, QED, Duke of Edinburgh, trips, tours, fundraising and the like. Shiny new Chromebooks (laptops) now accompany the boys’ (indestructible) packs crammed with exercise books, pencil cases and textbooks plus guitars, hockey sticks, cricket bats and Northgate pocket money… plus ça change!
Mr David Craig Headmaster
www.qegsonline.org.uk
I write this on the last day of term whilst preparing for our final assembly of the year – School Song, rousing talk from the Headmaster, farewell to retiring staff (including a certain AJ Barraclough after 35 years’ service), Gaelic blessing, Jerusalem!
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Job:140223 WGS The Old Savilian Volume 4 44pp Proofed By: PC Section ID: 3 CyanMagentaYellowBlack Date Processed: 2019/08/21 10:43:01