Long Service Awards – Mr Willis

The final day before half-term saw the coming together of staff to celebrate and highlight the wonderful dedication that so many of the Abbey staff have made to the school. Awards for 10 years, 15 years, 25 years, and even an incredible 40 years of working at The Abbey were recognised. 

Mr Willis, a proud recipient of the 25 year Long Service Award, shared some thoughts about his time at The Abbey and what his favourite moments have been so far. 

What’s your favourite thing about The Abbey? 

The ‘work hard, play hard’ ethos that balances formality with letting your hair down in style. In other words, while standards have always been high, it has always been great fun working here. 

What has been your favourite moment in the last 25 years at the school? 

All the overseas concert tours (run annually – apart from this year since 1999)…or all the productions…or conducting the world premiere of Bob Chilcott’s wonderful new choral work ‘Dancing in Memory’s Stream’ at the 135 celebration concert held jointly with the Junior School at The Hexagon in 2018. 

What part of your job do you enjoy the most? 

Conducting the school’s wonderful musicians in phenomenal places (St Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Florence Cathedral, Salisbury Cathedral, Guildford Cathedral, St George’s Chapel, Windsor, the garden of Puccini’s house in Tuscany) 

If you didn’t teach Music what would you have done?

 It would have always have been something to do with music, but I got a place on a teacher training course straight away when I was 22, so never thought about anything else. There are other things I could consider now but I have never really find time in my life to think about it!! 

Three other things I love are travelling, languages and family history. So a travel guide or a family history researcher are all possibilities because of the extensive experience I have gained running music tours and digging up skeletons in my own family. But as a music teacher you get the chance to do all sorts of extraordinary things, so there is never a dull moment. 

Mr Willis, Head of Music

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