Scottish Catholic Observer

Former Lord Advocate Dame Elish Angiolini was guest of honour at St Aloysius College’s prizegiving, held at Glasgow’s Royal Concert Hall at the end of last month.

Archbishop Mario Conti of Glasgow joined Dame Elish in attending the event, held to mark the achievements of the school in the last academic year.

Congratulations

“Congratulations, today is your day,” Dame Elish said to pupils, while also using her own personal experiences to remind St Aloysius pupils why they strive to be ‘men and women for others.’

Prior to the prizegiving—and following a welcome from the chairman of St Aloysius College’s board of governers, Dr Frank Dunn—the audience was treated to a concert, given by some of St Aloysius finest musical performers, as the sounds of the school choir singing Handel’s Surely he hath borne our griefs? and Verdi’s Chorus of the Hebrew Slaves, resonated around the hall.

Addresses

The concert provided the perfect lead into headteacher John Stoer’s address, during which he reflected on the events of the previous year, including the college’s exam results, cultural exploits and the dreadful weather which forced St Aloysius to close for the first time in many years.

Frank Reilly, St Aloysius senior depute headteacher, then joined Dame Elish on stage as she presented the prizes, congratulating each of the college’s many promising pupils on their accolades from last year, and wishing them well for this year and their future studies.

Dame Elish then took to the podium herself to address the audience. Her inspiring speech reminded the pupils of why it is important to make the most of every talent, whilst using those skills for the benefit of others. Dame Elish left St Aloysius captains, Lewis Coultas and Sophie Harkins, with the tough task of following her in the vote of thanks—and they duly rose to the occasion with a mix of humour and sensitivity providing the perfect conclusion to the speeches.

St Aloysius were proud to have Archbishop Conti give the final blessing to round off an evening of celebration for the college community.

— martin@sconews.co.uk