MALVERN College's annual prize-giving ceremony was interrupted when a figure in a top hat and ragged clothing entered the stage during the headmaster's speech.

Hugh Carson was in the middle of speaking at the Forum, Malvern Theatres, when the intruder strode about haranguing him and the audience of parents, staff and pupils.

But anarchy had not broken out, it was a put up job in the form of Ed Ford from the Upper Sixth who delivered an appropriate part of the speech he had previously given in the college's production of Hamlet.

Mr Carson said that Speeches, as the prize-giving is called, would be "different" this year and that if it worked he would take the credit and if it did not, everyone should blame Mr Kunaratnam, the modern languages teacher responsible for the day's organisation.

Later Eleanor Nichols, a Grade 8 flautist, played a flute solo accompanied by director of music Iain Sloan.

Prizes this year were presented by individual members of staff and Lord MacLaurin, chairman of the College Council, drew attention to the considerable achievements that had been made under Mr Carson's headmastership and paid tribute to the part played by his wife, Dr Penny Carson.

He also mentioned the International Baccalaureate (IB), which had been driven forward alongside the A-levels, school numbers which had increased substantially and the fact the college has one of the best sixth forms in the country. It is now appearing high in the league tables of the national press, he said.

A recent government Ofsted report had made no recommendations whatsoever as to how the school might be improved.

Mr Carson, who retires at the end of the summer term, thanked his staff for all their considerable efforts, passing on much of the credit to them, and congratulated the pupils for their achievements.

He also asked that the work of his predecessor, Roy Chapman, who launched the IB at the college should be recognised.