The Chairman of the Governors, Mr Timothy Andrews, welcomed everybody to Speech Day and gave special thanks to the Committee of the Parents' Amenities Association for all their work for the social side of the School.

The Headmaster welcomed The Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP, as the Guest of Honour, who later would congratulate the Prize winners handing to them their book prize and afterwards addressing the audience in the Marquee.

A minute’s silence was observed for all to reflect on the London tube trains and bus bombings.

The Headmaster spoke about this being the School’s Diamond Anniversary. The previous week he and his wife had hosted an Old Pupils’ reunion - one of whom claimed to be the first ever boy to have walked through the white front door back in 1945.

He gave a brief résumé of the history of Holme Grange (as outlined on this website). In the early days the boys (for there were no girls in the School until 1975) had to carry out estate work using scythes and machetes! Certainly these would not be allowed in today’s health and safety conscious era.

Mr Brodrick produced a copy of The Times for May 8th 1945, giving the audience a flavour of what could be bought, for example an attractive country residence - 10 bedrooms, 2 cottages, 5 acres etc - all for £7,500.

Returning to the present he hoped that all parents and children had been happy this past year. The School tries very hard to please, but no-one is perfect. Unfortunately some schools and certain teachers can be on the end of unjustified criticism. Staff at Holme Grange work hard and for long hours - many give of their free time especially to run School trips.

Members of staff were thanked for their work and support during the year. Congratulations were given to those who had achieved Academic, Sport and Music Scholarships and Exhibitions at the following schools: Bearwood, Luckley-Oakfield, Leighton Park and Reading School. A big thank you and best wishes for the future were given to leaving members of staff.

The Headmaster acknowledged the hard work of the PAA Committee for their sterling work organising fund raising and social events and thanked those who had been working to make the next day’s Ball a success. The mothers who run the Thrift Shop, organised the Cycling Proficiency, the office staff, the grounds/maintenance staff and the kitchen ladies all received acknowledgements.

For the future, the exciting extension of Little Grange to be opened in September; the further upgrading of the ICT facilities and the introduction, for the first time ever in the School’s history, of two Year 7 forms.

Holme Grange is a School where individuals can shine, but through sports days and examinations children also learn that some will fail - not everyone can win a prize.

Sadly, too many of today’s children are cocooned in their antiseptic centrally heated world, abandoned to TV and computers. The hardest aspect of parenting is taking the time to help children grow and develop. This means teaching right from wrong, informing them that you will support the School as a matter of principle. Today’s children should be allowed to play on swings, fall over in the dirt and collect tadpoles in jam jars - without an adult in sight, rather like things were 60 years ago.

Following the Headmaster’s address, the Rt. Hon. John Redwood MP, presented the prizes and then spoke to the School. Mr Redwood said that a school is here to give people a taste for life. It was a marvellous result that the UK would be hosting the Olympics in 2012. This meant that pupils of the School who were over 10, could be looked towards, to win some of the prizes. Our generation had brought the Games to London, but it was their generation who would win the prizes and show how it is done. ‘How do you do it?’ Mr Redwood asked. 'You just have to really want it - then work hard for six years. Take Jonny Wilkinson - he went out and kicked a ball over a post for six hours a day.'

To be a success and ‘super cool’ required hard work, but the rewards were there for those prepared to put in the practice.

The morning concluded with refreshments and a further opportunity to view the Art Exhibition.