Old Alleynian Association Awards

On Monday 13 October the second annual Old Alleynian Association Alumni Awards took place at an assembly of Year 13 students here at the College.

The  under 40 award went to Hammad Jeilani (09-16) and Chris Law (11-16) who jointly co -founded Apian, a logistics startup based on the development of drones to deliver faster, smarter and greener healthcare. Their mission, along with ex-Google Health entrepreneur Alexander Trewby,  is to build a NHS drone delivery network that will allow patients, staff and the wider healthcare industry to benefit from instant, autonomous logistics. Hammad spoke passionately about the company’s  journey and the skills of resilience and determination he has acquired over the last five years that has seen Apian expand rapidly, allowing the  integration of  drones, ground robotics and software automation into healthcare systems and making medical logistics invisible and intelligent. Everyone present was left in no doubt that Hammad and Chris were worthy winners.

The Lifetime Achievement medal was awarded to actor, director and producer Chiwetel Ejiofor (90-95). Now a household name for his roles in 12 Years a Slave, The Martian, Dr Strange and the most recent of the Bridget Jones films, Chiwetel began his career here on the stage of the Edward Alleyn Theatre. Former Director of Drama, Peter Jolly, remembers Chiwetel’s  time at Dulwich. ‘As soon as Chiwetel walked into the foyer of the Edward Alleyn Theatre in 1990 for his audition for Measure For Measure I knew something special was in the air. I was proud that he used his early career to make very specific choices about which films to act in. Amistad, Dirty Pretty Things and Greenwich Mean Time revealed his deep social conscience and interest in issues relating to the black experience in the UK and further afield - an interest he has continued with and developed’. 

Although Chiwetel could not be at the College in person to receive his award he had recorded a very personal tribute to the time spent here at Dulwich, mentioning in particular the lifelong friends he has made and the debt of gratitude he owes to the Drama, English and History Departments in particular.