A wonderful morning of celebrations
A dash of Olympic excitement and a sprinkling of Diamond Jubilee sparkle were added to this year’s Speech Day and Prize Giving celebrations at Bishop’s Stortford College.
In between the Junior and Senior School Speech Day events, hundreds of the College community lined Hadham Road to cheer on the second of the Olympic torchbearers running through Bishop’s Stortford. Please click here to see a gallery of photos as it passes the College.
The atmosphere was fantastic. The comings and goings of the emergency support vehicles and the advance party of police motorcyclists high-fiving outstretched hands adding to the sense of anticipation as everyone waited for the procession to appear at the top of the hill. Cheers went up and flags were held high as the torchbearer ran down the hill waving to everyone as she passed.
(The next day, former pupil Fran Jones (00-08) had the honour of carrying the torch in Cambridge. Click here to read a report.)
Once the procession had passed, pupils, parents, staff, governors and guests gathered on Middle Green near the Memorial Hall to watch the planting of a commemorative tree to provide a lasting momento of the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen. "We were delighted that the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Countess of Verulam, was able to join us both to watch the Olympic torch procession and to be our guest of honour at the tree planting ceremony," said College Headmaster Jeremy Gladwin.
More than two hundred prizes were presented during the two annual Speech Day events, in which the endeavours and achievements of College pupils were recognised and celebrated.
Junior and Senior School musicians played beautifully in their respective events, including the recipient of the Senior School’s prestigious Piano Prize, Woody Lin. 
Woody gave an outstanding solo performance in honour of special guest and sponsor of the prize, Old Stortfordian Mr Roger Heath.
The Heads of School, Tom Firmin and Roisin Devine, gave uplifting speeches about their time at the College.
Roisin recalled one her first lessons after joining at the age of eleven: “It was one of courage. The courage to take a leap of faith into unknown territories; the courage not to avoid challenges, but to seek them; the courage to face fear and trust my instincts.”
Thinking of what the future held in store for his fellow Sixth Form leavers, Tom said: “The future is very much in your hands, It is not a question of where life takes 
us, but where we take life...This school will continue to build a great foundation for life in every pupil here, so wherever you may go with your life, use it to the best of your abilities, work hard, never give up and you will be successful”.
They then introduced a wonderfully funny short film, masterminded and produced by Louise Croft and Josh Carpenter and featuring an assortment of courageous staff and students. It exalted 2012 leavers ‘Never To Forget’; a fitting end to a memorable morning of celebrations.
| Please click here to see a gallery of photos of the Olympic Torch Relay as it passes the College. |
