A Luk
S Ferguson
NEILSON MEMORIAL VIOLIN PRIZE
(Presented anonymously) Not Awarded
ULLATHORNE MUSIC PRIZE (Chorister) (Presented by Rev P Sankey) V Whelan
THE BARNES SPORTSMAN OF THE
YEAR CUP
(Presented by Mr & Mrs Barnes) C Ononye
COMBINED CADET FORCE AWARD
(To the Senior Cadet NCO) Cdt Sgr J Tye
ROYAL AIR FORCE CADET AWARD
(To the best recruit) Cdt R Doherty
THE STAFFORD AWARD
(To the Public Man) C Ononye
Speech Day
25th May, 1985
Our Guest of Honour this year was Mr N T Chinyonga, Deputy High Commissioner for Zambia and father of two of our boys.
The Headmaster opened the proceedings by welcoming Mr and Mrs Chinyonga and Mrs Kamungulu. It had been a mixed year with the weather conditions appalling. The
School had been very sorry to lose Fr Piercy, and now Fr Pargeter was leaving to become Administrator at St Chad's Cathedral, Birmingham. The examination results had been reasonably successful and there had been a 72% pass rate
at `A' Level. We had a good Rugby side which had won 50% of the matches thanks to P and J Goodwin. Mr John Goodwin was then away with the England touring side of New Zealand. There had been an active musical life in the School: Faure's Requiem had been a high-light and `Godspell' had been very well received on Association Day. We owed a great debt to Mr Jones. The boys and girls had been on many outings such as canal trips, CCF activities throughout the year. Improvements in accommodation
had been made and an appeal was to be launched for further improvements. The Headmaster hoped that the parents would support the appeal.
After the presentation of prizes, Mr Chinyonga said how greatly honoured he was to be present. Cotton was now an international school and he was pleased to see the number of Zambian students increasing. This was because of Cotton's traditions, and its achievements were plain for all to see. After the speech a bouquet was presented to Mrs Chinyonga.
In launching the appeal, Fr Pargeter said that he had waited for 27 years to speak from the Hall platform. He gave a brief history of the School which until recently had a two-fold role: the education of Church students and lay boys together. There had then been a change in diocesan policy. There was a lack of priests which had resulted in an increase in the lay Staff. The School must now match the Archbishop's generosity in refurbishing the fabric. Various ways of helping had been listed in the appeal brochure. If the School is to flourish it must be capable of competing with other schools, so he asked for full support.
There was a Garden Party accompanied by various displays. Tea was followed by a concert in the Hall and the day ended with Benediction in the chapel.
