Prize Giving Speaker 2023 Announced

Wednesday 28 June marks the end of the 2022-2023 academic year and with it will be the traditional Prize Giving and Speech Day. The ceremony not only celebrates the achievements of all pupils across the year but is also a farewell to senior pupils. All parents, pupils, staff and governors are warmly invited to attend this significant occasion, which will take place in the Prize Giving marquee that will be located on Front Field.

In addition to pupils from across the year groups being given awards for a variety of individual successes and addresses from the Headmaster, Chair of Governors and Joint Heads of College, the proceedings also include a Guest of Honour to deliver a thought-provoking and unique address to the Shiplake community. This year, we are delighted to announce that joining us is co-founder of Henley-based luxury watch manufacturer Bremont Watches, with a passion for engineering and aviation, Nick English.

During Nick's teens he spent many hours flying and displaying historic aircraft with his father, Euan and his brother, Giles. Qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 1996, he went on to work in corporate finance. Nick, however, was involved in a horrific vintage plane crash whilst practicing for an air display with his father. Realising that life was too short to waste, Nick and Giles left the city and started a business restoring and maintaining historic aircraft, also setting up and running a digital media distribution business alongside. From tragedy to triumph, we expect to hear more about the extraordinary origins of Bremont Watches and how their chronometers, proudly made on British shores, are now sold all over the world through high-end jewellers and Bremont's own boutiques. It is a story worth listening to.

The timetable for the 2023 Prize Giving Ceremony is as follows:

• 10.45am: Guests are requested to take their seats in the Prize Giving marquee
• 11.00am: Prize Giving ceremony commences
• 12.25pm: Prize Giving ceremony concludes
• 12.30pm: Canapé lunch and drinks reception on Front Field
• 1.45pm: Event ends

Please note the dress code is smart and there is no not need to rsvp. All pupils are expected to attend and are welcome to arrive with their parents and go directly to the marquee, although school buses will be running in the morning, with registration taken at 8.00am as normal, if preferred. Other than prize winners, pupils should sit with a parent (or friends' parents) for the ceremony. There will be no return bus service.

Year 13 and their parents, along with any leavers and parents from other year groups, are invited to a special Leavers' Service in the Parish Church at 9.30am on Wednesday 28 June, prior to attending the Prize Giving ceremony, to mark the end of their time at Shiplake.

We once again look forward to celebrating another fantastic year at Shiplake College.