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| 21 May 2025 | |
| Alumni News |
‘A longstanding member of St Philip’s, Stubbins, Mr Dunne is known for his pastoral wisdom, encouragement, and deep commitment to lay ministry’. (Lord Bishop of Manchester)
On Thursday 17th April 2025, Philip Dunne, a member of Derby House (1965-72), attended the Maundy service at Durham Cathedral to receive Maundy Money from King Charles III. He was accompanied by his wife, and BGS Old Girl, Margaret (née Davenport).
Recipients of Maundy Money are nominated by their local dioceses for outstanding and tireless Christian service and for the difference they make to the lives of people within their local community.
Philip has given over 50 years service to his local church St Philip’s, Stubbins, and his wider local community. In fact, he became a member of the parochial church council at the age of 17 whilst studying for his A Levels in the Classical VI. A rarified accolade and a tremendous honour, the nomination came as a complete, and yet very touching, surprise to Philip, who views his service to his church and local community as simply part of daily life.
The Royal Maundy service is a traditional ceremony dating back over eight centuries, with the first recorded Royal Distribution in 1210 and the number of people chosen is dictated by the age of the monarch, in this instance 76 men and 76 women.
Maundy Money refers to the coins distributed by the monarch in a ceremony that drew inspiration from Jesus Christ and the commandment or ‘mandatum’ he gave after washing the disciples' feet at the Last Supper, ’that ye love one another’ (John XIII, 34).
During the ceremony, His Majesty placed two small leather string purses in Philip’s hand and thanked him for his service. The white purse contains a set of specially minted silver Maundy coins, amounting to the same number of pence as the years of the Sovereign’s age. This year the red purse contains a £5 coin commemorating The Queen Mother, and a 50p coin which features stories of WWII.
The School and wider alumni community would like to congratulate Philip on this great honour.
