HAWKING BUILDING NAMING & PRIZEGIVING
On Monday 18 September, we were delighted to welcome Dr Jane Hawking, the former wife of Professor Stephen Hawking CH, CBE, FRS, FRSA (OA 1959), to officially name The Hawking Building, formerly known as the Science Block. It has recently undergone state-of-the-art renovations courtesy of generous donors. Also in attendance were Dr Hawking’s husband, Mr Jonathan Hellyer Jones, Mrs Olive Bolton and the Mayor of St Albans, Cllr Anthony Rowlands.
The event began with a tour led by the Headmaster of new developments across the School site. This included a visit to the new Science labs, and the new Astronomy Club where there was a demonstration of Professor Hawking’s telescope which has kindly been donated to the School by Stephen Hawking’s family. The tour concluded with a display of a number of items from the School’s Archive relating to Professor Hawking.
Following the tour, Dr Jane Hawking unveiled the plaque to officially name The Hawking Building in honour of one of our most famous alumni. Following the naming event Dr Hawking was the Guest of Honour at the School’s annual Prizegiving ceremony in the Abbey where she presented the prizes and gave an inspirational address.
The annual Prizegiving Ceremony held in St Albans Cathedral celebrated the achievements of pupils from the last academic year 2022-2023.
The Ceremony also celebrated different aspects of pupils’ activities and learning, with a musical performance and some pupils and members of staff addressing the audience in addition to the Headmaster about the inspirational example of Professor Hawking.
Along with the numerous subject awards and achievement prizes, there were also awards for pupils who have been exemplary in upholding the School’s values.
The speaker this year was Dr Jane Hawking, the former wife of the late Professor Stephen Hawking (OA 1959). She grew up in St Albans where she attended St Albans High School for Girls. Dr Hawking is an author, with a PhD in medieval Spanish poetry, her autobiography Travelling to infinity: My life with Stephen inspired the film The Theory of Everything.
