Final Assembly at King's Bruton for Mr Wilmshurst

June 27th 2025

Rev’d Beverly delivered the words below about the Headmaster at the end of Final Assembly.

It is right and proper that as a community we mark the Headmaster's departure and show our gratitude for all he has done - and I know how much so many of you are keen to do that. I will be brief Headmaster - I promise - for I know the Headmaster has been adamant that he doesn’t want any expensive leaving gift, or fancy event, party, fuss, or celebration - he’d be quite happy just to quietly slip away and drive off at the end of term.

And folks, that is a mark of the Headmaster we have been so fortunate to have at King’s for these past 16 years. Do you see? For Mr Wilmshurst, Headmastering has never been about him - it’s been about you the pupils. Ensuring that you are thriving: doing your best academically, making the most of your talents, and looking after each other. The Headmaster has truly given his life - his whole self - to the School. King’s for him has not just been a place of work, it has been his home where he has lived with his wife Helen, and two daughters Anna and Natalie.

Flickr album: The Headmaster's Final Assembly - 27th June 2025 | Height: auto | Theme: Default | Skin: Default Skin

I know how much the Priory girls have loved having Anna – Miss Wilmshurst – back in house this term as their Resident Tutor. We heard how loudly they cheered for her just now. It’s been a wonderful full circle moment for the Headmaster! Both Mr Wilmshurst’s daughters went through Hazlegrove and King’s - and Mrs Wilmshurst headed up the School’s marketing, ran the school’s events, and was a house tutor amongst many other roles. In short, the School has been for the whole Wilmshurst family a huge all-consuming part of their life! We truly are grateful.

As the 33^rd Headmaster of King’s, Mr Wilmshurst has overseen an extraordinary chapter in the history of the School. Finances have been strengthened, facilities improved and countless areas of school life developed. There have been huge milestones celebrated - as seen with the 500^th Anniversary of the School in 1519 when the Headmaster welcomed Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to open the New Music School - an incredible event that very few schools can boast of.

The Headmaster has sought to strengthen and develop every aspect of the School: academics, music, drama, sport, CCF, DofE, activities, Ten Tors, boarding, catering, grounds - I could go on. For me as Chaplain, I must thank him for all he has done to support the exploration and nurturing of faith at King’s - it has not, and will not, be taken for granted. They say the mark of a true leader is how they deal with the hardest of situations and tragedies. In my time at King’s, as a teacher and Chaplain, I have seen the Headmaster lead the School through COVID, but also during times when very sadly a pupil or recent Old Brutonian has died. In these moments of deep sorrow and raw emotion, the Headmaster’s priority has been the support and welfare of everyone. He has comforted grieving families, led us with the most careful of words, sensitive of actions, and a posture of compassion. In short, we have been blessed with exemplary leadership - not something to be taken for granted in those situations.

I see this too when I meet with the Headmaster each week. At these meetings, the thing he wants to discuss isn’t how the school is running or what events are coming up. No, his main focus has always been pupils who he is aware are struggling at home or at school. The Headmaster knows how difficult and messy life is for so many of you - and he has always focused on how best you can be supported. I put to you that this the real measure of the man. Again, thank you Headmaster.

Finally, I’d like to share two qualities of the Headmaster that I think we can all be especially grateful for, and particularly learn from:

Number 1: his delight in your personal success.

Many Headmasters chase the big headlines and want to be able to publicly boast about percentages of A*s and grade 9s. For Mr Wilmshurst, Headmastering has never been about that. Instead, he has focused on your personal success - whatever form that may take. You overcoming a challenge. You winning a difficult match, performing in a concert for the first time, gaining your first commendation, standing on stage, getting through your first term as a boarder, overcoming a personal loss. As Mr Cupit shared with the staff last week, on results day each summer, Mr Wilmshurst always goes straight to the individual stories: the pupil who exceeded their own expectations, overcame personal challenges, or simply gave their very best. Folks, it is in your personal successes and achievements that Mr Wilmshurst has delighted the most. I ask us all: do we take that same delight when we see others around us succeeding?

Number 2: The second quality I want to thank the Headmaster for and say that we can all learn from is this: Service.

You’ll hopefully recall me speaking in chapel and telling you how the Bible says: to lead, means to serve. True leadership is found in serving others, not you yourself being served. Mr Wilmshurst has modelled this in a myriad of ways. At the end of a Sixth Form Formal Dinner - who is the last person to be found at 11.30pm at night stacking chairs, moving tables, collecting empty glasses and cleaning the loos? The Headmaster. When the Sixth Form Study Centre needs to stay open late so pupils can revise till 9pm for their A Levels - who is the first to volunteer? The Headmaster. When a driver is needed for a minibus of pupils going to the GreenPower racing event on a Sunday, who steps forward to make sure the trip still happens? The Headmaster. When a member of staff is ill and a boarding house needs manning overnight, who packs a sleeping bag and gives up his weekend to look after 60 teenagers? The Headmaster. Folks there are countless examples where our Headmaster has modelled that to lead means to serve. And folks - as you head into the world of work you will sadly rarely see such a model of leadership. We must not take it for granted - and instead I hope we will follow suit in our lives.

Mr Wilmshurst, thank you for all you have done and all that you are. We wish you, Helen, Anna, and Natalie the very best in this next season of your life.

Rev'd George Beverly - Foundation Chaplain