Exams, Awards and a Day to Remember

Christ’s Hospital in West Sussex welcomed over 500 young and ‘Old Blues’ (former pupils) and their families back to their old school on Saturday 29 April. The day was packed with music, memories, fun activities for children and, for the more serious, visitors to the museum travelled back in time to sit an old entrance exam paper.

One of the highlights of the day included the annual ‘Old Blue’ Special Recognition Awards. The winners of the awards are highly distinguished in their chosen career fields. Christ’s Hospital is proud to recognise and acknowledge alumni who have made an important contribution to society.  Dr Judy Evans from Yelverton was one of the recipients of the award for her achievement in medicine.

Winners in recent years have included James Hooper, one the youngest Britons to climb Everest;  Josh Leakey who was awarded the Victoria Cross in 2015 for his bravery in Afghanistan and Joe Launchbury, England Rugby star.

Winners of the 2017 awards are: Roger Allam, actor on stage, screen, television and radio, he was the first Javert for the original London ‘Les Miserables’ and TV work includes ‘Endeavour’; Professor D Keith Bowen, facilitator of important advances in materials science at the nanoscale; Dr Judy Evans, plastic surgeon and the first woman ever to gain the FRCS (Plast); Major General Buster Howes, former Commanding General of the Royal Marines; The Rt Hon Lord Justice Rupert Jackson, called to the Bar in 1972 (Middle Temple) and Lord Justice of Appeal since 2008; Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, CB, former Principal of St Hilda’s College, Oxford and has undertaken various influential positions in government; Christopher Pearson, former Chairman and Managing Director for a division of Price and Pierce Ltd; Geoff Stearn, management consultant and highly regarded classical musical philanthropist in Australia; Reverend Father Paul Uwemedimo, founder of organisations in the UK and in the Philippines which aim to help children and youth make the church relevant in their lives and Dr Francis Warner, writer of poems, plays and lyrics who has held positions at Oxbridge.

Sir John Daniel, highly acclaimed for his advancement of open learning and distance education in Canada and around the world, also collected his special recognition award on the day. He was a recipient of the award in 2015.

John Franklin, Head Master of CH was delighted to present the awards. He said: “This was the most well attended Old Blues gathering in recent history. It was a pleasure to see so many former pupils and their families return to their old school. Their support of CH and its work is incredible and we look forward to seeing even more return to the fold in the future.”

Pictures:
Christ’s Hospital Head Master, John Franklin presenting the award to Dr Judy Evans
Group picture: L-R – Dr Francis Warner, Dr Judy Evans, Elizabeth Llewellyn-Smith, The Rt Hon Lord Justice Rupert Jackson, Professor Keith Bowen, Major General Buster Howes, Sir John Daniel
Sitting an old entrance exam paper in the Christ’s Hospital Museum
Visitors watching Christ’s Hospital’s school band