Pupils, parents, staff, governors and members of our alumni community gathered on Thursday 9 November for the School’s Annual Speech Day. This formal occasion, and a highlight of the School year, is an event which formally acknowledges and celebrates the remarkable achievements of our pupils over the past academic year.

This year’s Guest of Honour was Sir Graham Brady, Member of Parliament (MP) for Altrincham and Sale West, and Chair of the 1922 Committee. Sir Graham, a grammar school pupil himself, addressed pupils, presented public examination certificates, and celebrated individual remarkable achievements by awarding prizes for academic success, progress and service to the School. We thank Sir Graham and our other distinguished guests who attended, including the Mayor of Southend-on-Sea, Cllr Stephen Habermel and Mrs Anna Firth MP.

We have so many wonderful photographs of this special event and far too many to include here. We will, before the end of this term, make contact with parents of individual pupils who collected awards and/or certificates in order to share any photographs taken of their son/daughter. Thank you to all those pupils, parents, staff and friends of the School who supported our Speech Day this year.