As another academic year drew to a close, the Trent community paused to celebrate two individuals whose contributions have quietly shaped generations of pupils, colleagues, parents and alumni.

Peter Sherwin, from the Gardens & Grounds team, and School Secretary Sharon Moulds were invited as the Head's Guests of Honour in recognition of their extraordinary service and commitment to the school.

Although their roles have been very different, both have become familiar and reassuring faces to countless pupils, colleagues, parents and Old Tridents returning to campus over the years.

Peter Sherwin. 47 years caring for the grounds we all enjoy

Long before he joined the Gardens & Grounds team in 1979, Peter Sherwin already had a connection with Trent. As a teenager, he stood beside Trent's sports fields watching Derbyshire play Kent in 1975. Just a few years later, those same grounds became his workplace.

For the next 47 years, Peter helped create the beautiful setting that generations of pupils, staff, parents, alumni, friends of the school and local community members have enjoyed.

"What I'll miss most isn't the grounds, it's the people."

Affectionately known around school as “Pete the Sweep", his work has often gone unnoticed in the best possible way.  Beautifully prepared sports pitches, immaculate flower beds, sweeping avenues and the changing colours of the campus throughout the seasons have all reflected his quiet pride in the school.

Yet when asked what he will miss most, Peter's answer isn't the grounds themselves. It's the people. The morning greetings from pupils, conversations with colleagues, chats with parents and the pleasure of welcoming Old Tridents back to a campus they instantly recognise, have always made every day worthwhile.  Clearing leaves after autumn storms, he admits, perhaps a little less so!

During his Speech Day address, Headmaster Bill Penty paid tribute to Peter's remarkable service before inviting him onto the stage to receive a retirement gift that perfectly reflected his affectionately earned nickname, a Golden Broom.

After almost half a century of service, everyone at Trent thanks Peter for the enormous contribution he has made to the school community and wishes him a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.

Sharon Moulds. The reassuring presence at the heart of Trent

For 23 years, Sharon Moulds has been much more than Trent College's School Secretary.

For thousands of pupils, parents and colleagues, she has been the reassuring voice, the friendly smile and often the first person to turn to during moments of celebration, uncertainty or challenge.

Her final week at Trent reflected exactly how much she has meant to the school community: Her office overflowed with flowers, gifts and cards while a constant stream of visitors arrived simply to say thank you, share a hug or reminisce about the countless moments of kindness she has shown over the years.

Earlier that week, almost 50 former and current colleagues surprised Sharon, accompanied by her husband Dennis, with a retirement celebration, recognising not only her professional contribution but the friendships she has built across more than two decades.

Then, on her final day, pupils gathered to form a guard of honour, cheering as she walked through a tunnel of raised arms before presenting her with a bouquet of flowers.

Schools are built on relationships and community, and Sharon has been at the heart of ours for 23 remarkable years.

Beyond her role in the school office, Sharon's kindness inspired one of Trent's recent best-loved traditions. Her annual Macmillan Coffee Morning grew from a modest fundraising event into a highlight of the school calendar.

Each year, staff, parents, pupils and boarding houses embraced the occasion with enthusiasm. Home-baked cakes arrived in abundance, boarding pupils organised baking sessions in their houses, families contributed their favourite recipes, and colleagues competed to produce the most tempting treats. The café itself became a bustling hub throughout the day, bringing the whole school community together over coffee, conversation and cake, all in support of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The popularity of the event grew year after year, driven by Sharon's warmth, enthusiasm and unwavering commitment to making everyone feel involved. Over 11 years, the Trent community raised more than £12,500 for the charity, a remarkable achievement that reflected not only generosity, but the sense of community Sharon inspired.

Whether reassuring a nervous pupil, supporting a colleague or encouraging the school community to bake another tray of cakes, Sharon had a gift for bringing people together. That ability to make everyone feel valued will be one of her greatest legacies at Trent.

Overflowing with flowers, cards and visitors wanting one last hug, a reassuring conversation or simply the
chance to say, 'Thank you'

As she begins retirement, Sharon hopes to continue helping others by volunteering in care homes and hospitals; a fitting next chapter for someone whose instinct has always been to care for those around her.

When we asked Sharon about her time at Trent, she told us: “I would like to think I have made a difference to all the pupils, colleagues, staff and parents by being there for them, for 23 years.

I remember starting Trent all those years ago and was made to feel so welcome by everyone and made a decision that I wanted to do the same for everyone else.  I hope I have made a difference.

Thank you to all staff past and present for being so thoughtful on my last weeks at school, I will miss you all, but look forward to staying in touch”.

On behalf of the Old Trident and wider school community, we thank Sharon for everything she has given to Trent College. While she will be greatly missed, we look forward to welcoming her into the alumni community and wish both Sharon and Dennis every happiness in retirement.

The People Who Make Trent, Trent

Schools are remembered not only for their buildings or traditions, but for the people who quietly make them feel like home. Generations of Old Tridents will remember Peter for the pride he took in the beautiful campus, while many will also remember Sharon's office as a place of reassurance, where a listening ear and an emergency bar of chocolate were never far away. Those small acts of kindness, repeated day after day over decades, are every bit as much a part of Trent's story as its buildings and traditions. Together, Peter and Sharon have given 70 years of service to Trent College, enriching the lives of countless pupils, colleagues, parents and alumni. We thank them both for their remarkable contribution to our school community and wish them long, happy and well-deserved retirements.