The year of 1659 features heavily around our school. Walter Bigg left Wallingford as a young man to make his fortune in London as a merchant and politician. He eventually became Sheriff of London in 1654 and Master of the Merchant Taylors’ Company for 1654 and 1655. Towards the end of his life he returned to Wallingford and when he died in 1659 he bequeathed in his Will a sum of money to support the education of young people in the town. It is through Walter Bigg’s legacy that the rich and deep relationship that Wallingford School has with the Merchant Taylors’ Company exists and it is a connection which is perhaps just as relevant to, and beneficial for, our school and young people today as it was in 1659.
The support of the Merchant Taylors’ Company for our school is all around us. Last week we had 30 new sewing machines delivered to our Design Technology department which were funded by a grant from the Company; by Monday morning when I popped into a Year 11 GCSE Textiles lesson they were already in action with students using them to work away on their projects. During next week’s half-term break we have further work taking place on our Science Biodiversity area to restore it to its former glory. It couldn’t happen without the grant from the Company to remove the old shipping container which was blocking the entrance. We are also about receive a trolley of laptops for use in our SEND department and again this is supported by a grant from the Company. It is support which we appreciate and which makes a real and tangible difference.
Equally, it’s been a pleasure this week to welcome a team from the Merchant Taylors’ Company to work over three days with all of our Year 7 students in a series of sessions on the history of the Company, the City of London and much more. They have been great opportunities from which our students have taken a huge amount and which reflect the close relationship which we highly value between the Company and Wallingford School – and underline why the date of 1659 is so prominent within our school community.
