On November 28th, Earlscliffe joined a small selection of leading educational institutions from the Dukes Education group to welcome esteemed partners to Windsor Castle.
This incredibly auspicious occasion was given to the group via the Chairman Aatif Hassan, who was awarded use of the venue in recognition of his philanthropic contributions. Aatif chose to share this opportunity with those who have helped to grow the Dukes Education community, inviting respected partners from all over the world.
Guests began to arrive on Wednesday evening and were first invited to a traditional English “pub dinner” of fish and chips with Eton mess for dessert. The day then started early on Thursday morning with an invite-only arrival via Henry VIII’s gate and a gathering in the Vicar’s Hall with an insightful speech from Aatif himself. He shared his vision for a group of education institutions that always maintain their own unique identities, whilst consistently putting the needs of the student above anything else. He reached from his own personal experiences as a child and a student, and explained his reasons for wanting to give other young people the very best starts in life.
Professor Mark Bailey then provided the historical context to our meeting, with stories of British Kings and Queens across the centuries who had built the castle that is still enjoyed today. Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world.
Guests were invited on private tours of the castle and across the estate, attending evensong in St George’s chapel and an aperitif in the cloisters. They were then also joined by Senior Royal, Mark Phillips (eldest grandson of the late Queen Elizabeth II) for dinner who again shared his experiences of private education, as well as a few anecdotes from his childhood.
Whilst this event was a truly awesome occasion that was intended to reward those who have significantly contributed since 2015, it also brought insight into the limitless reach of people who “lead with heart”. Dukes Education and all of its unique settings, such as Earlscliffe, believe that an educational company’s success is defined only by the subsequent successes of its students.
As Dukes Education says, “together we are extraordinary”.
Categories: General News
