This week, two prize-winning pupils were given the ride of their lives when Old Viking George Graham honoured their success with a helicopter flight.
On Tuesday, Harvey Groves-Raines and Carter Jennings of Year 10 were this year’s recipients of the Eaton Prize, an award given to the pupils who show the most academic improvement. The award has been offered to pupils for several decades since Lord McAlpine inaugurated the prize, before the tradition was passed down to his son Sir William McAlpine. More recently, Old Vikings Bill Eaton and George Graham have accommodated the prize.
The helicopter, a Bell 407 GXP, was built in 2015 and costs roughly $3,000,000! With only three in the country, this truly was a special occasion for Harvey and Carter, as well as Matron Lynne Fairbairn, Reverend Stephen Cousins and Marketing and Communications Officer Tom Strudwick, who all accompanied the prize-winners to fill the empty seats.
The flight lasted roughly 30 minutes, while the helicopter reached altitudes of 1200ft and speeds of 120 mph! George flew his passengers high over Shiplake then over to Henley and beyond where he pointed out Danesfield House, an elegant Tudor-style mansion built in 1901, before flying back to School.
21-year-old George has been flying from a young age, and once he had landed, was greeted and welcomed by matrons and teachers alike. George left Shiplake College in 2014 and has since become a commercial helicopter pilot. Many remember him; the Rev included, for his family farm, something that he is still involved in today. Big thanks go to George for taking the time to come back to Shiplake and giving Carter and Harvey an excuse to miss their English lesson!