Town Council marks retirement of two school leaders

It is a strange coincidence to see two leaders of Marlborough’s two secondary schools retiring in the same month.  The Town Council is marking the departures with gifts to Dr Patrick Hazlewood (formerly headteacher at St Johns and latterly head of the Excalibur Academies Trust) and the College’s Master, Jonathan Leigh.

The presentation to the Master, Jonathan Leigh took place at Marlborough College earlier today (26 July), where Councillor and former twice Mayor, Nick Fogg, and current Deputy and last year’s Mayor, Mervyn Hall presented the Master with a limited edition print of the Town Hall by Marlborough artist, Colin Palmer.  Nick thanked Jonathan for all he had done for the town, quoting the Mayor, Lisa Farrell, who said “We are thanking him for what he’s done to make the link with the town stronger – he’s brought us a lot closer to the College – he’s done more than previous Masters.”

Dr Hazlewood was at the full council meeting (July 23) to receive a  similar print of Marlborough’s iconic Town hall from the Town Mayor, Councillor Lisa Farrell.  She thanked him for the work he had done to bring the school closer to the town’s community – and for building a school that was such a credit to the town.

Dr Hazlewood first came to the town in 1996 to lead St John’s.  He started Excalibur in 2012 and ceased being the school’s head in 2015. He has now stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of Excalibur.

He told the assembled councillors that he had ‘really enjoyed’ his time in Marlborough: “We’ve had difficult times.  We’ve had wonderful times.”  He thanked the Council deeply for all the support it had given him.

And, looking down at the painting, he added: “I have some very fond memories of Marlborough.”

 Coincidences have come in pairs:  Dr Hazlewood was succeeded as head of St John’s and now as CEO of Excalibur by a woman – Nicky Edmondson.  And Jonathan Leigh is being succeeded by a woman – Mrs Louise Moelwyn-Hughes, who will be the College’s first female Master.