The Record 2014 - 2015

GAUDY, 4TH JULY 2015

A spirit of adventure is often in evidence in the exploits of Teddies people. Last year I told you about George Henry and Will Bull, who cycled from Paris to Gibraltar in a successful charity fundraising venture. On Thursday I met four Fifth Form girls - Immy Higgins, Caitlin Scott, Mia Hammersley and Alexia Demetriou - who tomorrow are planning to complete the Three Peaks Challenge, which means climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon in 24 hours - sounds like a tall order to me. They are climbing to raise funds for Mary’s Meals, the international food charity currently feeding more than one million schoolchildren every day. It is thanks to the outstanding opportunities offered by our North Wall Arts Centre that there are currently a group of OSE enjoying huge success in the fields of film and entertainment. Emilia Clarke is world-famous for her role in Game of Thrones and stars with Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator Genisys . Sebastian de Souza has a major role in the TV drama Recovery Road . Flossie Pugh, who left us last year, has already starred in a feature film, The Falling , which earned her a ‘Best Newcomer’ nomination at the London Film Festival and Pippa Bennett-Warner is currently at the National Theatre in The Beaux’ Stratagem . A week or two ago we welcomed Graham Broadbent back to School to talk to pupils about his career producing films such as The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Welcome to Sarajevo . Moving beyond acting to music and literature. George Fenton is composer of more than 200 film and TV scores including Gandhi , Shadowlands and Dangerous Liaisons , and has 14 BAFTA Awards, including one

for The Blue Planet . George Parris set up the Carice Singers and there are at least four OSE who are professional singers. Several OSE bands are making names for themselves. The Dreaming Spires appeared on the Andrew Marr Show recently and The Glass Animals were at Glastonbury. Local group Wild Swim are writing and recording. Crime writer Robert Wilson has published 12 novels, won the Silver Dagger Award and has two television series on the go. It is always easy to celebrate success, and of course we know more about OSE who achieve prominence than those who go quietly about their business. For our pupils, we value above all else that they find happiness and fulfilment, and so I dedicate an important moment in this celebration of our high-profile OSE to all those I haven’t mentioned; to those who have worked hard, raised families and kept the Teddies spirit alive in countless ways of which we may never hear. It is also important to remember that the path to some of the successes I have mentioned may not have been a smooth one. Life isn’t always easy. One of the things we aim to instil in our pupils is the resilience to cope if things don’t go as expected, so when you tackle the many challenges life will throw at you, hold on to that spirit, that determination, that grit - and you will make it. Today, we send our Leavers out beyond the Teddies community and we wish them enormous happiness and success. Certainly, be inspired by those who have gone before you, but find your own path. And don’t forget to stay in touch and tell us what you do – the big successes, and the little ones - we value them all. Have a happy, successful and enjoyable summer.

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