Wellington School is celebrating 50 years of co-education and held a spectacular commemorative Gala Dinner to mark the occasion!
Fifty years ago, on April 22nd 1972, Anne Darby walked up the Chapel steps and bravely took her place in the pews amongst 522 boys. What a moment that was for Wellington School, and what courage it must have taken to have been the first and only girl in the School.
The Headmaster at the time, Mr James Stredder commented; “A school should be co-educational because education must prepare students for life”.
The masters still called the boys by their surnames and addressed Anne as “Miss Darby”, with the exception of a few who addressed her as “Honorary Gentleman”.
At first apprehensive, she entered into the community and dissolved the barriers of mutual inhibitions.
Now half a century later, we are celebrating this historic milestone and commemorating the benefits that a truly co-educational environment can provide girls and boys.
This week has seen the Sports Hall being transformed into a spectacular venue for a Gala Ball, when 350 parents, current and former staff, governors and Old Wellingtonians gathered to celebrate fifty years of Wellington being a co-educational school. Friends old and new travelled from all across the globe to be part of the celebration, including the first girl, Anne Darby herself! The guests enjoyed a delicious dinner from the school catering team, singing from former pupils, singing waiters, dancing to a live band and a fabulous auction. All funds raised will go towards the 1972 Bursary Fund, which will enable children to access a Wellington education.
When Wellington School welcomed the first girl through its doors in September 1972 it heralded a new era of success and growth for the School. There is a very happy coincidence in the timing of this celebratory event, as Wellington School current pupils have also been in the vanguard of a very significant change in Wellington’s history – the creation of co-educational Houses.
As Wellington celebrates 50 Years of Co-education and looks back on some of the exciting and progressive developments, they also look ahead to the next 50 years, and very much look forward to seeing how the future unfolds.
