Over the past 15 years the Worshipful Company of Lightmongers has been supporting two schools for young people who have sensory impairment of sight and/or hearing.

New College Worcester (www.ncw.co.uk) for those aged 11 to 19 who are blind or vision impaired, and Mary Hare School, Newbury (www.maryhare.org.uk) for deaf children aged 5 to 19.

The schools are two of the main beneficiaries of the Lightmongers Charitable Trust.

The May court dinner is therefore an important evening in the Lightmongers’ calendar when we are joined by senior representatives of both schools as well as their head boy and head girl and senior students, who are presented with an annual award that recognises their exceptional achievements.

This year, Principal of New College Worcester, Nicola Ross, had to make her apologies as she was in the middle of an OFSTEAD inspection, but the school was ably represented by Lorna Philips, Marketing Manager and Kevin Hateley, Head of Fund Raising.

This year’s awards for exceptional achievement at New College Worcester went to the two Senior Students.  The first Mustafa Abbas is photographed collecting his award from the Master Martha Page, last year’s winner, accepted the second Senior Student Award on behalf of Asriel McKenna who was unable to attend due to illness.

It was a very special evening for guests from Mary Hare School.  Peter Gale was attending his last Court Dinner as Headmaster and CEO of the School due to his impending retirement.  He gave an amusing and very well received address and made the toast to the Company.  He has built a strong relationship with Lightmongers over the years and will be sorely missed.  We wish him a long and happy retirement.

Peter Gale, Headmaster of Mary Hare School.

We were, however, delighted to meet his successor, Deputy Head Robin Askew, and we look forward to many years of working with him.

This year the Awards for exceptional achievement at Mary Hare were presented by the Master, Margaret Fitzsimons to the Head Girl, Fransesca Viney and Head Boy James Kerr.

Head Boy, James Kerr, receiving his award from the Master, Margaret Fitzsimons

 

Head Girl, Fransesca Viney, receiving her award from the Master, Margaret Fitzsimons

The awards for both schools are generously sponsored by Past Master, Hugh Ogus, MBE.

Our congratulations to the Award recipients from both New College Worcester and Mary Hare School.