Rector’s eNews 37: 26 November 2025

Last week was one I will never forget. In between Board Meetings on Thursday and Friday, we marked the re-opening of the re-imagined and refurbished Farfield with a ribbon-cutting ceremony late on Thursday afternoon. Amongst others who were present for this special occasion was Mr Nick Grice, our School Architect over the past three decades; Nick has re-shaped and redeveloped Michaelhouse over this time always with an eye to the retention of the traditional, but adding his own flair and space to the buildings which have been introduced to complement and enhance those of old. Tributes were paid to Nick for his brilliant work at the reception after the event in Farfield: Mr Gordon Bruins, who had chaired our Board’s Buildings, Grounds and Environment Sub-Committee followed the speech of Mr Jason McCormick, our Chair of this group, at Farfield, by enumerating all the projects with which Nick Grice had been intimately involved over so many years. His impact on Michaelhouse has been critical in enhancing the beauty of our school.

And then, on Friday, after our meetings, there was a Chapel service at which the Bishop, Nkosinathi Ndwandwe, the Board, staff and boys, bade Brigitte and me farewell. It was a quite extraordinary occasion and immensely emotional for us as the boys sang a new song which had been created by the Head of Music, Mr Gareth Dry, to honour us and then, with the staff, formed a Guard of Honour to mark our departure.

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