The Parish Church of All Saints, Kingston, was packed with parents, pupils, staff and governors past and present on the evening of Friday 20th November for the annual Prizegiving Ceremony, in the presence of the Worshipful the Mayor of the Royal Borough of Kinston upon Thames, Cllr Ian McDonald. The Guest of Honour was Mr Peter Bennett-Jones, Chairman of Comic Relief. 

The Head reported on the highlights of the previous academic year and commented on the warm and friendly reception she had received on taking up her position and the many qualities she had found that the School possessed.  

After distributing the prizes, Mr Bennett-Jones, the founder of Tiger Aspect Productions and producer of countless hit television shows, spoke of the important work that Comic Relief had done in its twenty years, raising half a billion pounds and funding 9,000 projects around the world, using the power of television entertainment to make the world a fairer place.  

Mr Bennett-Jones spoke too of the importance of making the most of the talents that those assembled clearly had in abundance. He stressed the value of following one’s instincts, interests and talents to further the causes nearest to one’s heart and said it was vital to seize opportunities. He then broke with tradition on such occasions by showing video highlights of Comic Relief from the last twenty years, before concluding that each of us had a duty to make a contribution, however small, and to help make the world a better, fairer place. 

School Captain Molly Hanson-Akins, concluded the formal part of the evening by proposing a vote of thanks to Mr Bennett-Jones for his inspirational address.