Speech Day 2011 saw West House Old Boy, Robin Dyer, return to the school as Guest of Honour after an absence of some forty years. Mr. Dyer, who played first class cricket for Warwickshire between 1981 and 1986, is currently Second Master at Wellington College and made the journey in spite of a number of other commitments on the day, arriving with no more than five minutes to spare before the formalities commenced!

After presenting the cups and prizes and offering words of encouragement to all the boys present, Mr. Dyer invited them to consider how golfer Rory McIlroy may have felt after losing his convincing lead in the US Masters, to finish some way off the pace. He went on to point out that rather than giving up and dwelling on his demise, McIlroy was not only full of praise for the eventual winner, Charles Schwartzel, but also put his disappointment behind him to bounce back and win the US Open only a few weeks later.

Mr. Dyer emphasised the fact that harnessing such spirit was a vital ingredient of what independent schools offer and his important message was well received by boys, parents and staff. The traditional West House tea followed, before Mr. Dyer headed back to the conclusion of the Wellington Festival.

The day also saw Mrs. Diana Lowe presented with a spectacular bouquet of flowers in acknowledgement of her 23 years of service to the school, ending in her retirement at the end of the Summer Term.