Speeches and splendour
Local dignitaries joined the Headmaster, staff, pupils, parents, governors and OLs to celebrate the school’s annual Speech Day in the splendid surroundings of the Ashton Hall. The Guest Speaker this year was Peter Ireland OL, Dean of Education at the University of Buckingham. At LRGS, Mr Ireland excelled at rowing and History, gaining an unconditional offer to read History at New College Oxford. He later became Headteacher of Nelson Thomlinson School in Cumbria, which he transformed from a school with falling rolls into an oversubscribed school rated ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.
The Headmaster’s speech, his 11th and last, covered the sporting, academic and cultural highlights from the previous year, including the high level of success achieved by boys applying to university at a time of ever-increasing competition and the school coming second in the Sir Garfield Sobers international cricket tournament in Barbados. Mr Jarman specially commended the boys’ charitable fundraising efforts, ‘working selflessly and imaginatively on all sorts of schemes and scams throughout the Lent Term … I was able to present each of our eight chosen charities with a cheque for £2500. It’s a fantastic amount of money. We should congratulate them all.’
He recalled the process of Academy conversion, a fraught period, but said that it is now ‘business as usual’, and described the newly-built City View building on Quernmore Road as ‘a real investment for the future and a tangible statement of architectural intent.’ He said the building ‘stands proudly as a beacon of confidence about the school’s long-term commitment to building excellence’.
Peter Ireland then regaled the boys with humorous anecdotes from his school career and spoke about the value of the school’s motto, Praesis ut Prosis which he translated as: ‘Be the leader so that you can act on behalf of others’. He said: ‘Leadership is about deeds … but leaders’ deeds are most potent when they are reinforced with words.’ He went on to recount a story about Lord Nelson who generated the love and respect of his men by his words as well as his actions. ‘When he was presented to George III, the king blurted out “You’ve lost your right arm!” and Nelson immediately replied “But not my right hand!” and presented his 1st Lieutenant.' Mr Ireland finished in traditional style by asking the Headmaster to grant the boys an extra half a day holiday.
Head of School James Elliott concluded the speeches with a vote of the thanks to the Guest Speaker. He advised the boys that that the qualities that would lead them to success at school were showing respect for each other and valuing their friendships.
Among the distinguished guests were the Mayor of Lancaster Councillor Paul Woodruff; Peter Mileham DL, High Sheriff of Lancashire; Eric Ollerenshaw OBE MP, and Professor Paul Wellings OL, Vice Chancellor of Lancaster University.
At the reception afterwards, Peter Ireland (58 - 65) was reunited with fellow OLs Robert MacKenzie (58 - 65), Chris Nelson (59 - 65), Brian Ashton (57 - 62) and Paul Bradburn (58 - 65).
