Charitable giving is a focus for the Lightmongers and we are proud to have a long affiliation with Mary Hare School for the deaf, where in addition to financial grants, we provide other support such as arranging events and experiences for the students.

Lightmongers were honoured to attend this year’s Annual Speech Day at Mary Hare School where the Principal, Robin Askew, and his team had organised a packed agenda that gave us a flavour of the great work going on at the school and provided opportunities to meet some of the pupils as they went about their school day.

Our day kicked off with a tour of the senior school where we visited one of the newly opened boarding houses, the very impressive art department and one of the science labs where we were all delighted to join in with the year 8 pupils as they learned how to view the elements of a leaf through their microscopes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Master joins in the search for the elusive stomata in the Science Lab.

Then it was off for the visit to the new Primary School building, opened as recently as September 2023, with its cheerful, colourful and light-filled rooms built around a D-shaped courtyard.  What a joyful learning environment Mary Hare has created!

Past Master Hugh Ogus, MBE, Past Master Stephen Thomas, Robin Askew, Principal of Mary Hare School, The Master Peter McVeigh, Liveryman Bob Kronman, special guest and Benefactor Prue Lane-Fox, Immediate Past Margaret Fitzsimons at the entrance to the new Primary School that opened in September 2023.

Principal, Robin Askew points out the very clever design of the kitchen classrooms where work surfaces can be raised and lowered to accommodate the varying heights of the year 1 – 6 pupils.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And what child would not enjoy spending time in this wonderful reception classroom?

After a delicious two course lunch served by the pupils in the primary school dining room, we moved to the auditorium for the Presentation of Prizes and Certificates by guest speaker Victoria Williams, Founder and CEO of Terptree.

The first award of the day was made to Mohammad Ahmed, a year 13 student who was the recipient of the Lightmongers’ Science and Innovation Award for the best project – an innovatively designed desk lamp.

The Master, Peter McVeigh presenting the Lightmongers Science Prize.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was followed by a wide range of Awards being presented to Students, recognising their fantastic achievements in the 2022/23 academic year. This included further awards sponsored by individual Lightmonger members, i.e., the Sports’ Endeavour Prize sponsored by Past Master John Rowsell and the Award for Post Graduate Success sponsored by Past Master Hugh Ogus, who was on the board of Governors of the School for nearly 40 years, serving as Chairman of the Governors for his last 16 years.

After yesterday’s Trustee meeting, he and Mavis posed in front of the Christmas tree for a festive snap.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Past Master Hugh Ogus and Mavis Ogus

All Lightmongers should be very proud that an important portion of their charitable donations is ear-marked for Mary Hare School where the pupils who start life with great challenges are given every opportunity to overcome them and emerge as confident and resilient young adults ready to achieve in further education or in the workforce. Speech and language are a vital part of the curriculum as profoundly deaf children are prepared to be able to hold their own in a hearing world.

The Master Peter McVeigh commented “I left the schooling feeling impressed, inspired, privileged to have attended and more motivated to continue and build on the support the Lightmongers have provided for many years”.