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Speech
Day and Sky
(19
July 2013)
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SKY
NEWS PRESENTER, AWARDS AND EX-PUPILS WHO ATTENDED THE SCHOOL HALF A
CENTURY AGO MAKE THIS YEAR’S SPEECH DAY AT HERRIES A MEMORABLE ONE
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Sky news presenter, Martin Stanford
was one of the special guests at Speech Day at Herries Preparatory School
in Cookham Dean last Friday and gave a motivational speech to pupils,
staff and parents as well as awarding prizes to the pupils for their
academic, sporting and artistic achievements.
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The veteran broadcaster, who has 30
years’ experience anchoring the news coverage for high profile events
such as 9/11 and the death of Princess Diana, told pupils he had the best
job in the world and that it was like “extreme sports for the brain.”
He said that being part of the first draft of history was “an onerous
responsibility” at times.
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During his speech, Mr Stanford
illustrated to the pupils what it would be like to anchor for 45 seconds
between news stories, inviting some Year 6 volunteers to help him. Alec
Getley was invited to do non-stop sit-ups, Kate Hipkins had to sing and
Sam Martin and another pupil had to hold hands. He told that pupils that
there were essentially six words you needed to be a good journalist and
cover breaking news, and he recited Rudyard Kipling’s “ I keep six
honest serving men”.
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Herries Head teacher, Sophie Green,
also delivered her end of year speech to the audience which included,
school governors, the former Mayor’s wife, Samantha Rayner and two ex-
pupils, Tessa-Jane Webster and Sian Hughes, who attended the Preparatory
School in the 1950s and 1960s respectively.
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Ms Green, who has been at the helm of
the school for the last two years, referred to the recent Independent
Schools’ Inspectorate report which had found Herries to be
“excellent” in six areas and had highlighted the school’s
approach to pastoral care and the spiritual, moral, social and cultural
development of its pupils. The Head teacher, who brings her Labrador, Meg
with her to school each day, said that the school had one simple ethos,
“When children are happy, they learn best.”
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The speeches made by the outgoing
Head-boy, Sam Martin and Head-girl, Kate Hipkins illustrated the affection
with which pupils hold the school. Sam said that he had been at Herries
for 8 years and that it felt like “a big family” to him and Kate spoke
of how she was leaving the school with “lots of good memories.”
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Parents and staff were then treated
to one final performance of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and “One
Short Day” from the recent Wonderful Wizard of Oz production at the
school and afternoon tea. Martin Stanford left the pupils with a couple
pieces of advice. He said that in a world where we are all bombarded with
information, the challenge in the future will be “deciding what
information you actually need.” The news presenter also urged the pupils
against complacency. He said: “When you come back to school in
September, don’t just accept what the teachers have to say, can I invite
you to nag them a little bit and remember Rudyard Kipling’s advice and
ask them why, when, how, where who and how?”
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Herries Preparatory School first
opened its doors in 1947. Did you attend the school at some point? If so,
the school would love to hear from you. Please email: office@herries.org.uk.
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