Sir Michael Morpurgo attends Speech Day and Pays Tribute

7th July 2025

Speech Day 2025 welcomed beloved author Sir Michael Morpurgo, who delivered a tribute to former pupil Jonathan Bryan and inspired the school community with a message of hope, courage and kindness.

Sir Michael reflected on the remarkable young author and campaigner who passed away earlier this year. “I am a year late in attending prize giving. Jonathan Bryan invited me to visit last year; he is well known to me as a fellow writer and dear friend. This year, I come not only to celebrate Westonbirt, but to honour him.”

Jonathan’s legacy, built on storytelling, compassion and resilience, continues to leave a lasting impression. “Jonathan believed that everyone has potential; he was living proof of that. He lived a fulfilled life, at a school where kindness and empathy were encouraged, and difference respected.”

Sir Michael’s speech encouraged pupils to value what truly matters. “School, and indeed life, is not about success or failure, but about kindness, respect, family and community.” He also highlighted the dedication of teachers and staff who “go about their work quietly but are endlessly vital.”

At the heart of the day was the celebration of the achievements and spirit of Year 13. Headmistress Natasha Dangerfield, in her final Speech Day before stepping down after 13 years of leadership, praised the students for their determination, growth and community.

She went on to share a powerful message: “Fill your souls with awe and wonder. Connect. Open your mind. Go well, be strong, and remember there is a far greater power in what people bring to you. Share that positivity, the world needs you to do that.”

In closing, she quoted Sir Michael Morpurgo himself, offering a fitting message for a class about to embark on their next chapter: “Wherever my story takes me, however dark and difficult the theme, there is always some hope and redemption, not because readers like happy endings, but because I am an optimist at heart. I know the sun will rise in the morning, that there is light at the end of every tunnel.”

The day’s meaning was reflected in the words of pupils and parents. One award winner shared, “It’s such an honour having been here for seven years and seeing this place as a home. Now it’s sad to leave, but I’m happy to have been able to contribute to the school and excited about what’s to come.”

Another student, who received the Sustained Effort Award, offered advice to future pupils: “Just go for it. A school like this, they guide you, and if you get anything wrong, they’re there to pick you up.”

A parent reflected on their family’s experience: “Today is inspiring and reassuring all at once, the breadth of the achievement. We have two boys, and two very different boys, and how the school knows them as individuals is so important. The way these two individuals feel completely at home and nurtured and supported – for us, that is everything.”

Speech Day 2025 was not only a moment to reflect, but also to celebrate. It marked the achievements of this year’s leavers and reinforced the strength of the Westonbirt community, where kindness, ambition and shared values lie at the heart of school life.