A Short Essay about those who left Giggleswick in 1997

A wise man once said "In spite of one of the bleakest summers on record Giggleswick has had a successful term with a wide range of achievements". Some people may agree with that statement, others may not. Certainly for most leavers, their last term before becoming OGs is one they will remember for a long time to come.

At The Leavers’ Service, which took place in the afternoon before the Leavers’ Ball it was clear that some were glad to be leaving and some perhaps not. The service was led with the usual expertise we had come to expect from Rev. Mordecai. How sad that we only had the benefit of his wisdom for one year. His uplifting and insightful services were always enjoyable and he will be greatly missed. But he is not leaving so I am not allowed to talk about him. The Leavers’ Service began with our American exchange student Kevin Rodent reminding us of how he had spent most of his year at Giggleswick. While he was blowing his horn we passed the time by gazing in wonderment at the mosaic and playing the new found game of "Which Angel is the fittest?".

Having spent the whole year claiming that Abide With Me was an evening hymn and hence not suitable for Sunday morning services we were pleased when the Chaplain told us that 5:30pm was deemed to be sufficiently late that is was safe to sing Abide With Me: truly a hymn among hymns.

But when the hymns were all said and sung, the highpoint of the service was the tribute given to the school by Peter Hunt. I have always looked up to Peter. When I had the honour of playing in the same rugby team as him, it was he behind whom I hid when it looked like I might have to make a tackle (How it pains me at this point to reveal to Nowell 3^rd form that, no, I was not the hardest person in the school). So I found myself surprised when I saw Peter start crying in front of the whole Upper 6^th. Not the Peter we were used to seeing speaking in chapel. Perhaps it took this for some of us to realise quite what our time at Giggleswick had meant.

It was when the service ended that I realised what a fine Head of School Rex Mellor had been. As we left the chapel it was pouring with rain. I got wet. I would have been dry, but only days earlier the new Head of School, Charles Ford, had lost my umbrella. This was five days after officially taking over the post. In a whole year as Head of School, I knew that Rex could always be counted on for fairness, trust and intelligence.

But this year’s leavers have much to look forward to. Seven pupils gained the grades to go to Oxford or Cambridge. Indeed Russell Yeadon gained his five A’s whilst only 17 years of age. All the other leavers will be going to much less important universities.

Many of those leaving Giggleswick will not be going straight to university, but will instead take a year out travelling or working or both. Nick Bowater is spending time in India directing a play. Liz Seed, having filled us full of baked goods, will help chimpanzees in Cameroon. Deborah Gibson is doing something with Project Trust in the Sinai Peninsula. She did explain it to me, but I didn’t understand. Other people are doing gap years, but they’re not going abroad and hence are not worth mentioning.

Kevin Rodent has already completed his gap year, of course. He is going to Middlebury College in Vermont. Nobody knows what he is going to study since he already knows everything there is to know about everything.

The Leavers’ festivities had already begun in the Spring term, of course, with the Leavers versus Staff football match. Inexplicably the Leavers chose to field an under strength team and were beaten 3-2. Their loss would surely have been greater but fortunately the most talented staff footballer, Dr. Peek, chose to referee the match.

For most Upper 6^th their last night at Giggleswick was the Leavers’ Ball. Nominations for best moment of the night include John Swindells and Mrs. Thomas taking to the dance floor together, and the dramatic announcement of the birth of the Whites’ second baby earlier in the day. Peter Hunt redeemed himself, by giving a tribute speech to Mr Rose followed by some gratuitous insults of the Headmaster. Neither subject seemed to be able to raise him to tears though. The food on offer looked expensive and, despite being prepared by the regular kitchen staff, some of it was edible. Much as I hate to admit it, I must confess I actually enjoyed some of the ice cream.

The dinner was followed by the usual "disco" type thing that the young people seem to so enjoy nowadays. Although Mrs. Thomas wasn’t the only teacher type person who seemed to enjoy reliving their youth.

And so it was on Saturday morning the Upper 6^th tearfully departed their alma mater and bravely stepped into the world beyond. Except those who had to come back for design exams the next day, of course. As a wise man once said "I wonder how many of us would like to have our school days again."