A Lieutenant General who has served in the British Army for 36 years was the guest of honour at King’s Ely’s prize-giving ceremony this year.

Lt Gn Philip Jones joined staff and students at Ely Cathedral for the annual event which saw dozens of awards presented.

With over 15 international deployments, including three secondments to the UN and two to NATO in leadership roles, he gained operational experience in most of the major military campaigns of the past 30 years – including over three and a half years in Afghanistan.

Positions included brigade commander in Northern Ireland, military attaché in Washington D.C., the first chief of staff to the new UK Joint Forces Command within the Ministry of Defence, military advisor to the UN in Afghanistan, and chief of staff for NATO’s allied command for transformation, NATO’s strategic military command. He was awarded CB and CBE for his service.

The ceremony was followed by a service of thanksgiving and a performance by King’s Ely’s all-boys a cappella group, the King’s Barbers, who were crowned UK Youth a Cappella Champions in April.

Potticary medals for the heads of school were awarded to Oliver Hutchinson and Paige Grey this year.