Founder’s Celebration of the Class of 2018

 

Now an integral and much anticipated event in the School calendar, the Founder’s Celebration Evening took place on Wednesday 27 June to mark completion of study by our Upper Sixth boys. On one of the hottest days of the summer, the boys and their families enjoyed House farewells, drinks and canapés on the croquet lawn behind Aldenham House, followed by speeches and prize-giving in the Bourne Hall. 

 

 After a formal procession into the Hall, the Headmaster, Mr Peter Hamilton, addressed the audience expressing the warmest of wishes, and congratulating the boys on all their achievements during their School careers, as well as acknowledging the contributions of their supportive families and teachers. He explained that as this was also his very last event with them before his own departure from the School it was also a very poignant occasion for him.

 

 

 

Prizes and commendations were then awarded by the Headmaster, the Second Master Mr Matthew Judd, the Senior Deputy Head Mr John Maguire and the Director of Co-Curricular Mr Andy Simm, with all the boys finally coming up on stage to receive a special Habs’ Leaver’s Tie.

 

 

 

As a departure from usual form, our guest speaker Mr Magnus Djaba (OH 1992) Global President of Saatchi and Saatchi and CEO Saatchi & Saatchi UK had found himself, at short notice, unable to be with us. However, the video clip he produced especially for the occasion more than made up for this, as he drew from his own experiences from School and his career to give an excellent, humorous and inspirational speech.

 

 

 

2018 School Captain, Max Goldstone, offered the vote of thanks to Mr Djaba and spoke eloquently about the journey he and his peers had embarked on whilst at Habs. Another thoroughly uplifting speech of the sort we have grown used to over the last year from Max.

 

 

Mr Roger Llewellyn (OH 1983), Director of the Foundation, provided the final farewell to all. He reflected on his own time spent with the Class of 2018, explained what it meant to be an Old Haberdasher and reminded all of the importance of philanthropy in the history of the School, while exhorting all to keep in touch.

 

 

 

Following the ceremony, the boys continued celebrating their successes and achievements with family, friends and teachers. It was a delightfully Haberdashers’ evening; a wonderful occasion!

 

 

We look forward to hearing of many more achievements from the Class of 2018, and to welcoming them back to the School for their first reunion on the evening of Thursday 13 December.