The Abingdonian 2019

97 www.abingdon.org.uk House Reports Geographic South Pole. The message speakers such as these gave about the importance of teamwork, of staying focussed on your goals, and of being resourceful and resilient will certainly stand the boys in good stead as they move up the school. In the last week of term we welcomed Paralympian Talan Skeels Piggins as our guest at the annual Be the Best Celebration to hand out the end of year prizes. Academic Prizes were awarded to Jack Veal (1G), John Cairns (1M), Oliver Veal (1P), Philip Kimber (2C), Tom Woodrow (2H) and Toby Pinnington (2J). Matteo Bignone, Harry Gee, Philip Kimber, Thomas Mennie, Dillan Patel and Khadim Sagna were presented with Baker Awards. The Broadbent Cup for Sporting Excellence went to Jack Veal, the Lower School Fencing Trophy to Harrison Blumfield, the Cooper Cup for Excellence in Reading to Alexander Lees, the Dillon Cup for Service to Olly Tibble and the Woodgett Cup to Addison Hill. As ever it was when compiling the citations for these awards and on noting how many boys had been awarded colours ties and other awards over the course of the year, that one realised just how much the boys do inside and outside the classroom. The departing second years have certainly made the most of all the opportunities on offer to them during their time in Lower School and fully embraced our “be the best you can be” ethos – I am sure that they will continue to do so in Middle School. The first years have also had a strong start to their time at secondary school and are well placed now to help the new first years settle in in September. My thanks go to all the boys for helping our first year in the new houseroom be such a positive one and to the amazing team of tutors who give up so much of their time to support and guide the boys so skilfully. Adam Jenkins