Lord Puttnam speaks at Centenary Dinner

Lord Puttnam was the guest of honour for a gala dinner at Eltham College last night.  David Puttnam, whose 1981 film “Chariots of Fire” won the Academy Award for Best Picture, was delighted to return to the school.  The hero of that film, Eric Liddell, attended Eltham College while his parents were missionaries in China and then went on to win the Olympic 400m Gold medal in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

30 January 2012 is exactly 100 years since the School for the Sons of Missionaries, including Eric Liddell, moved from “The Old Barn” in Blackheath Village over the fields to Fairy Hall in Mottingham Village and opened its doors as Eltham College.

The Centenary Day’s celebrations commenced with services in the school Chapel. Pupils were encouraged to remember the values from our missionary foundation which still underpin life at Eltham College and a hymn specially written for the occasion was sung with a brass and percussion accompaniment.

In the evening Old Elthamians, staff and others who have all had a long relationship with the school were invited back for the dinner, one of many commemorative events during this exciting year.  Lord Puttnam delighted all the guests with stories from his career and urged us all to reflect on the values that Eric Liddell stood for and challenged us to act on what we believed was right.

Here are some more images from the dinner: