Imagining what Wilson’s School might have been like 400 years ago is very challenging. Today Camberwell is a very lively and populous district of South London, whereas in 1615 it was a small village in the country which was popular with retiring merchants and officers attracted to the peace and quiet (and the company of sheep, horses and geese). We find it equally hard to know what our founder was like: we have no pictures nor recorded memories of him. But respect for Edward Wilson’s faith and spirit of generosity is an essential part of the school’s ethos and Year 7 pupils recently celebrated a special Founder’s Service in his honour at St Michael’s and All Angels Church.

 

This was a very enjoyable event, with excellent performances from the Chamber Choir, the presentation of the banner by the CCF and Lieutenant Colonel Burton to The Reverend Canon Angela Gbebikan, an address from the Headmaster, and rousing renditions of the School Song and Jerusalem.

 

Reflecting on the school’s long history, we can take inspiration from its success in overcoming some great challenges and in the courageous decisions that have allowed the school to survive: the total closure of the school and its re-formation in 1880, the relocation of the entire school during the Second World War, and all the other threats to the school’s existence and character that have been overcome – including the one that required the school to move to Sutton borough in 1975. We can learn something about resilience from being part of a school that has survived such hardships and Wilson’s School’s history lends credence to the old saying: “This too shall pass”.

        

We all share a direct link to the school that Edward Wilson founded in 1615 and this contributes to the special character of togetherness and equality at Wilson’s. We hope that Edward Wilson would be proud of us too.