COMPARISONS with the Golden Jubilee of 1887 featured prominently in Malvern College headmaster Hugh Carson's annual Commemoration speech on Saturday (June 1).

The speech ceremony, at Malvern Priory, saw Mr Carson reminisce about the time when the college was only 30 years old and two donkeys lived alongside the 197 pupils and 20 staff!

In his address to staff, pupils and guests, Mr Carson also congratulated the college sports teams and educational departments on another successful season, and wished departing members of staff luck in the future.

He used the occasion to criticise a forthcoming government Green Paper on educational reform.

He said: "We are pleased to have been given the opportunity to express a view but it's difficult to be enthusiastic about the proposals, which seem to be based on the premise that a narrow definition of workplace skills is more important than a balanced and enriched education."

Mr Carson returned to the theme of royalty in closing his speech, raising a toast to the Queen.