KING WILLIAM’S COLLEGE HOUSEMOTHER IS A FINALIST IN INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Wendy Lang, the Housemother (Matron) of Colbourne House at King William’s College, has been selected as a finalist in the Boarding Schools’ Association Awards.
The Awards celebrate the achievements, hard work and dedication of schools and individuals to boarding in both independent and state schools in 35 countries across the world.
Wendy is one of three finalists for the Stephen Winkley Award, which is the longest running BSA Award, commending the achievements of an individual who has made a significant contribution to the cause of boarding.
A Housemother of the boys’ boarding house for 12 years, Wendy is an integral part of the KWC boarding community and is fondly remembered by many who have passed through Colbourne House.
The last 12 months have brought new challenges for our boarding students, both local and international, and Wendy has continued to be an unequivocal supporter of boarding in a time when it could easily have changed so much. During the first lockdown when the College was told to close the boarding houses, Wendy was instrumental in ensuring that the boys were cared for with various families around the island. As they then returned home to various corners of the globe, she kept in touch with them all, continuing to care, support, advise and encourage from afar.
With the boarding houses reopening in the autumn term, Wendy was key in planning the students’ return and the first to volunteer to manage the boys’ quarantine. She and one other colleague ran the Colbourne quarantine “ship” and steered a steady course to normality, managing anxious parents and bewildered students as they transitioned from the strict restrictions of their home nations to the “normality” of life on the Island.
After Christmas quarantine was again required for our returning students and Wendy, once again, was front of the queue to help. This challenge almost became a nightmare when one person tested positive on day two, followed by more positive tests on day 13. The result was a five-week quarantine for everyone in the House until all had returned a negative result. Wendy took this in her stride and managed the pressures of student anxieties, students suffering from Covid and the helplessness of overseas parents. This, of course, in addition to the day-to-day tasks in the House.
Stuart Corrie, Deputy Head Pastoral, nominated Wendy for the award: He said:
“Throughout everything Wendy has kept the students in Colbourne House buoyant. As always, she has shown pure love for the boarding community, doing so much behind the scenes without a fuss and has been selfless in her dedication and determination to “her boys”. We are delighted that she has been selected as a finalist for the Awards.”
The award winners will be announced at the BSA Annual Conference for Heads, taking place virtually on Wednesday 5th May.
