King’s School Rochester celebrated a heartfelt moment on Speech Day as the Lord Chadlington, Peter Gummer, a distinguished former pupil and long-time benefactor, delivered an inspiring speech to this year’s leavers that captivated the audience. In a touching tribute to his remarkable journey, the Lord Chadlington chose to return to the very place where his public speaking career began – King’s School Rochester in the magnificent Rochester Cathedral.
Peter Gummer first joined the Junior School in 1950, marking the beginning of an enduring relationship with King’s School that has spanned over 70 years. Following his university education, Peter became a successful businessman and philanthropist, dedicating himself to charitable work, particularly in helping with the treatment of drug, alcohol, and gambling dependency.
His legacy to King’s is profound not only through building projects, but also his Chadlington Lecture Series, including esteemed guests such as David Cameron and Baroness Scotland, which has inspired both King’s pupils and those from local schools. Most significantly, in providing bursarial education for local pupils in the King’s Sixth Form through his Chadlington Scholarships, bringing pupils to the school who may otherwise not be able to attend.
In his speech, the Lord Chadlington reflected on his time at King’s School Rochester: “School was a very different place when I was here shortly after World War II. Two things that King’s taught me were the ability to think on my own and ambition. I was taught by people, many of whom had served in the war, who believed that anything could be achieved because they had achieved so much.”
Addressing the leaving pupils, he shared personal insights: “If I could meet my 18-year-old self, I would say to him, life outside school is unpredictable. What you have to do is welcome it and make it your own. How can I make the most of such an unpredictable world?“
He continued with encouraging words: “Don’t be frightened to try things out. You must find something that you really like. I was planning to retire but couldn’t do it because I love working. If you love work, then going to work is never work. When you leave school, you’ll meet people that are better than you. The most important thing is to never give up. Just keep going. Keeping on trying is so important. My motto is ‘Never give up.’ I believe that to be an absolute essential part of life, and interestingly, the same philosophy that Einstein followed.”
He also touched on financial wisdom and importance of mental health: “For your mental health, every night before you go to sleep, count your blessings. It’s important to have someone you can rely on and ask advice from.”
Summarising his speech, Lord Chadlington emphasised four key points:
Work: The importance of doing your very best in whatever you do.
Money: Handle it wisely and don’t let it corrode your general view.
Mental Health: Work hard at it and always count your blessings.
Family: Remember and cherish your family and loved ones.
The Principal, Mr. Charles added an entertaining touch by quizzing Lord Chadlington’s memory from 1961 and breaking into song with Elvis’s number one hit that year, Wooden Heart, further commemorating Peter’s first public speech. Mr. Charles shared, “We are immensely proud of Lord Chadlington’s achievements and his unwavering support for our school. His speech was a highlight of our Speech Day.”
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