Prize Day 2015

Prize Day 2015 proved a fittingly full and exciting end to a busy year for the pupils, staff and parents at Christ College. The day began with a packed Cathedral buzzing with anticipation. The Bishop gave a wonderful homily and the choir’s renditions of ‘Hail Gladdening Light’ by Charles Wood, and of John Rutter’s ‘The Lord bless you and keep you’ were rousing and poignant in their turn.

The Music Department continued to provide entertainment and inspiration with an excellent concert in the Neuadd, featuring the string orchestra, chamber choir and Crescendo Orchestra. Soloists Gwen James and Aaron Lau gave a particularly sparkling performance of Vivaldi’s double violin concerto in A minor.

After drinks in houses and picnics in the sunshine, the prizes were given away by Lord Lisvane, KCB, a crossbench peer in the House of Lords with four decades of experience in the House of Commons service.

His speech was accounted ‘very funny, actually’ by Head of School, Paul Pascall Jones, who gave the vote of thanks, and his congratulations to the prize winners were accompanied by equal praise for those who did not win prizes, but who ‘provided the stiff competition that ensured the prize winners had to produce their very best’.

The Prize Winners of 2015 were: Prize-Day-Programme-2015—Final.pdf

After a cup of tea, the Leavers of 2015 led the annual Leavers’ Service in chapel, with Kelly Tavener overseeing the hilarious and sometimes tearful memories of the Upper Sixth, and with a sprinkling of thoughts from Mr Johnson, all rounded off by prayers led by Josh Denton and Mr Grant.

The day was rounded off with a highly enjoyable Summer Ball in the grounds of the College, in glorious sunshine and with the music of ‘The Oxford Beatles’ to ensure the dance floor was never empty. A traditional (if not very musical) rendition of the Te Deum brought the evening to a close. The end of another Prize Day and a good send off for the Class of 2015 on their very own Independence Day, July 4th.