The end of term is always an emotional rollercoaster and pupils leaving the Shiplake family for new adventures and endeavours find it particularly so. A beautiful Leavers’ Assembly was organised by the Rev, to celebrate the departing year and wish them well with their futures. An annual service, pupils head to the Church to enjoy a moving service of speeches, hymns and readings.
The service opened with a welcome from Greg Cooke, who also did a wonderful job of steering the service throughout, introducing speakers and readings. The opening prologue, read by Head Chapel Warden Dominic Allen and Deputy Head Chapel Warden Guy Pollard, was a fitting poem from T S Eliot about voyaging forward – ‘not farewell, but fare forward, voyageurs’. This was followed by several hymns, prayers and readings from College Prefects and Heads of Houses. The Valdedictum, read by James Gaunt, was a beautiful speech about moving on and facing new challenges; about rising to challenges that could have been unforeseen, but going fearlessly in the direction of hopes and dreams. Mr Gaunt, a fellow leaver at the end of this academic year, was clearly emotional, but had a touching and evocative message for all of the leavers; that Shiplake has been warm and welcoming, and provided not only a firm foundation from which to grow, but also a homely place to which one can return.
Following the service, the teachers – in their annual tradition – lined up outside the church, shaking hands with all of the leavers individually. Many were tearful and the weather seemed to reflect this! It was a very tender moment. Please see below for further photos from the event.