Below is an excerpt from my words to the school which I thought I might share with you:

In preparing for the assembly, I looked back in my file at some of the things I have talked about this term: be it events like the Queen’s death, Remembrance, or even Halloween and the World Cup; important concepts like respect and consideration; or vital topics like wellbeing and anti-bullying. I hope that you have learned something from our time together in this room. In fact, I do more than hope; I can see evidence of it around the school. We don’t get it right all the time; who can?  But I am seeing with my own eyes the bond of community that we all feel: the trust in each other, the joy in each other’s company. I hope that you and staff can feel it too. I am proud to be a Pilgrim, and I hope that you are too.

It is quite easy to be proud to be a Pilgrim at this time of year: there is so much to take pride in!

The Monday before last was one of the busiest days I have seen in 11 years at Pilgrims’.  We had LAMDA exams, a Pre-Prep Nativity dress rehearsal, an ex-Prep School Headmaster in to do interview practice with our Year 6s, and a swimming gala for our 7s and 8s at Twyford. Oh, and we had the final interviews for the new Head! Those two days of the final round of Head’s interviews were a very exciting time, especially for those of us closely involved in the process. Seeing the candidates interact with the boys (I personally watched three assemblies), and with the staff too (coffee with them must have been both a thrilling and terrifying experience) was fascinating and uplifting.  I’m sure it was exhausting for the candidates, but all of them spoke to me about how much they enjoyed meeting our wonderful children. The Governors had a difficult task, and I know that news is embargoed for a period now, but I believe they have made an excellent appointment, and I am looking forward to supporting our new Head next year (and beyond!) from my Second Master chair.

What followed that incredibly full Monday was another very busy week which included the Pre-Prep Nativity performance, Year 8 Parents' Evenings, the LAMDA showcase, the School Council, Chamber Choir Carols, the Quiristers in a concert at St Cross, and then the first rugby fixtures against Horris Hill on Saturday.  Phew!  Oh, and Christmas jumper day and Christmas lunch on Friday.

This week, the pace did not relent. There was a Pre-Prep pantomime at Pilgrims’, a trip out to the theatre for the Juniors (oh, yes, they did!), a Year 3 Outreach Concert, Pre-Prep Open classrooms, various singing commitments for our professional singers, and several opportunities for our musicians to shine on the stage at the Christmas market.  I am sure that I’ve probably missed something. 

This past Tuesday was the annual Boarders' Dinner and Cabaret, and I would like to tell you a bit about that, as it is probably something that few know much about.  Every year, on the final night of the Christmas term, the boys and staff dress in black tie and are provided with a feast. After Santa’s visit (delivering the inevitable flying balloons – no one got me this year!), and the traditional post-dinner toasts, we retire to the Pilgrims’ Hall for a Cabaret provided by the Year 8 boarders and some staff acts too (they made a welcome return this year). It is usually with some trepidation that one enters that room, I have been to ten, and I can tell you that the entertainment value has varied. This year it was a hoot. The first act was a take-off of various teachers which was so side-splittingly funny that I felt compelled to invite them to perform in the final assembly the following day (I think the day boys quite enjoyed it too!).

Of course, the last day of term is all about the final assembly and the Carol Service. I’m sure you know my feelings about the Carol Service from my other communications, but it was extra special for me this year. Why? Well, partly because I had the privilege of reading the seventh lesson, and partly because as I was waiting with the clergy in the side aisle for our cue to enter, the most magical moment occurred as I heard the first few lines of Once in Royal David’s City drifting through the Cathedral to where we were standing. Unforgettable.

For the staff, our term ends on Wednesday night with a dinner and a chance to say goodbye to leaving staff. Often that is just the GAPs (this year’s crew did us proud with their speeches), but this year we also said goodbye to two long serving members of the team: Debbie Wood, our cleaning manager who has been with the school for 22 years, and of course Mr Shroff. It was an emotional send-off for all as we thanked them for their service to the community.

May I wish each of you a wonderful Christmas break, and I look forward to seeing you all again in January, ready for another successful term to unfold. 

Alistair Duncan
Interim Head