STUDENTS, staff, parents, dignitaries and friends of King’s Ely came together in Ely Cathedral this afternoon (May 3rd) for one of the highlights of the school calendar – Senior Prizegiving.
Hundreds of people packed inside the magnificent cathedral for the ceremony – an annual celebration of students’ academic achievements and outstanding successes in everyday school life, such as music, art, drama and sport.
Academic Prizes are awarded to several students in each year group; there are awards for Most Improved Students and those who have provided an Outstanding Contribution to School Life. There are also King’s Scholar and Queen’s Scholar Prizes, Prefect Awards, King’s Ely International Scholar Prizes and Potticary Medals for the Heads of School; which went to Felix Hawes and Maria Campbell this year.
Long-standing awards and medals which celebrate historical achievements at King’s Ely, such as the Bennett Prize, Dimmock Reading Prize, Shepherd Cup and Winkfield Cup, to name just a few, are also presented at Prizegiving, which is followed by a service of thanksgiving.
Guest of Honour at this year’s ceremony was Old Elean (former King’s Ely student) John Browne, Lord Browne of Madingley, best known for his role as the chief executive of the energy company BP between 1995 and 2007.
He is a former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and since 2001, he has been a crossbench member of the House of Lords. Lord Browne is a former Partner of Riverstone, which is co-owner of Cuadrilla resources. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Cambridge and later attended Stanford University.
Senior Prizegiving was even more poignant this year as it was the last one for our Principal, Sue Freestone, before she retires in August after 15 years at the helm.
Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and support what was a very memorable afternoon.
