Pupils' success applauded at annual Mary Hare speech event

A packed hall at Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore Common, heard presentations from chairman of governors Mike Granatt and principal Peter Gale before 40 awards were handed out.
It was Mr Gale’s first speech day as principal and he told the audience “apart from Wayne Rooney” there was only one
person he wanted to invite as his special guest to present the prizes – former pupil Amanprit Johal.
Miss Johal, 28, who was born profoundly deaf, joined Mary Hare aged 11 and, after a gap year travelling around the world, studied a degree in geography and planning at the University of Birmingham.
She has had a cochlear implant and is now a global research and policy project manager with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS).
Miss Johal explained how she represents RICS on a global scale and commissions and project manages market research into the organisation’s potential role in sub-Saharan Africa.
She has also conducted an influential piece of research into the demand of real estate and constructional professionals in India by 2020.
In an inspiring talk, Miss Johal spoke glowingly of her years at Mary Hare and the education she enjoyed there.
She remembered Saturday shopping trips to Newbury and showed several jolly group photographs of what she called her Mary Hare “family”.
Head boy Pavundeep Johal – Amanprit’s brother – and head girl Alexis Findlay both gave amusing and powerful speeches before proposing votes of thanks to Miss Johal and Mr Granatt.
Incoming Newbury Weekly News editor Andy Murrill, who was in the audience, said: “It was wonderful to hear from these highly aspirational young people.
“Newbury is proud of the children at Mary Hare and I hope they will remain proud of Newbury long after they’ve left the school to pursue their ambitions in the world.”
Before the presentations began, pupils performed modern dance and two bands rocked out with reggae and pop songs.