BGS Prize Giving - report

Adam Shergold

The Boston Grammar School Prize Giving 2014 took place on 18 December at the Centenary Methodist Church, Boston. The guest of honour was Adam Shergold, an Online Sports Journalist at the Daily Mail.

Music for singing and for musical interludes was provided by the Boston Grammar School Jazz Band and other musicians from the school.

John McHenry, the headteacher of the school gave the welcome and Phillip Bosworth the Chairman's Address.

The prizes notably included two new ones marking the retirement of well loved members of staff. The NW Wainwright Award for outstanding sporting achievement went jointly to Zurna Olali and Stuart Wharff. The Anderson Prize for German went to Louis Holland.

Head of School, John Lisle, gave the vote of thanks to Adam Shergold as the guest of honour.

The event was closed with the usual singing of the school song and the national anthem.

BGS Prize Giving - report

The Boston Grammar School Prize Giving 2013 took place on 20 December at the Centenary Methodist Church, Boston. The guest of honour was Charles Hart, the father of Manchester City and England goalkeeper, Joe Hart.

Music for singing and for musical interludes was provided by the Boston Grammar School Jazz Band and other musicians from the school.

Paul Marsh, the principle of the school spoke of the school's excellent academic and sporting achievements throughout the year, particularly noting that as a small school, BGS "punches above its weight" in sporting competitions.

In his address as Chairman of the Governors, Cllr Stephen Woodliffe, told of his original involvement with the school as a mathematics teacher for 18 years, how having left to teach elsewhere, retired and become a Boston councillor, he became involved again with the school as a governor, and eventually became Chairman of the Governors earlier this year, just before the Ofsted inspection which showed that the school had improved significantly since the previous inspection in 2010. He noted that the recent flood was probably the biggest challenge for the school in the last 50 years but showed hope that it would recover well.

The prizes notably included the new Trevor Page Sports Prize, donated by Trevor Page (BGS 1949-55) - two of his father's sporting trophies, originally won in the 1920s or 30s. The junior prize was won by Jack Henton and the Intermediate prize by Stuart Wharff.

Following presentation of the prizes, Charles Hart spoke of how his son, Joe, achieved his goal with support from his family and by putting in the extra effort which allowed him to rise to the top in his chosen field, football. Charles invited those present to do likewise, for each to put in the extra effort to achieve to their potential: in sport, engineering, politics, or whatever their chosen goal.

Head of School, Ellis Potter, gave the vote of thanks to Charles Hart as the guest of honour and presented him with mementos of the day including a prefect's tie and badge.

The event was closed with the usual singing of the school song and the national anthem.

Prize Giving - Part 2

John Cridland CBE,
Director General of the CBI,
who awarded prizes at the 2012 prize giving

I attended the Boston Grammar School prize giving today at the Centenary Methodist Church.

Unfortunately I didn't get to hear the BGS Jazz Band, which played before the event started, but various musicians from the school accompanied Christmas carols and played a number of musical interludes which punctuated proceedings.

The main BGS news was that the school will become Boston Grammar School Selective Academy on 1 January 2013. This will mean the end of the Boston Grammar Schools Federation, although an umbrella governing body will still exist for matters where the two schools can usefully coordinate - Boston High School will also become an academy on the same date.

Prize Giving

I've accepted an invitation to attend the school prize giving at the Centenary Methodist Church on 21st December. Don't worry, I'm not making a special journey; I was going to be in town anyway, as I was last year. It's not a bad event with some music, and this year's guest is John Cridland, Director General of the CBI. If you're also there, then do say "hello".

What are your memories of prize givings / speech days past? How many prizes did you receive? What famous person's hand did you get to shake? Maybe you were the special guest? Of course, I'l post a report from the prize giving after the event.