Lancing Portraits

From the moment I joined Lancing as Head Master, I was struck by the remarkable strength, warmth and diversity of the community that surrounds and sustains our College. Lancing has always been shaped by its people, and it feels entirely fitting that one of our first projects this year has been to continue the Lancing Portraits into a second collection with the further collaboration of the acclaimed British portrait photographer Fran Monks. The inaugural portraits were commissioned as part of the 175th Anniversary in 2023/24.

The aim of the portraits is to highlight a few of the many individuals that have made or are making a major, positive difference to Lancing and the world. Standing in conversation with the portraits of our Founder and many benefactors, these community leaders remain a testament to how Lancing College has evolved over its 177-year history. The original series of portraits quickly became more than an installation; it became a conversation about who we are, what we value and the many different ways individuals contribute to life at Lancing.  Extending the Portraits into a new phase allows us to recognise even more people whose stories and service enrich our community. These portraits bring together OLs across generations as well as current and former colleagues and students, forming a beautifully diverse collective portrait of Lancing today.

Within the exhibition catalogue below, you will find the stories behind the portraits. Each is unique; each reflects a different thread of the Lancing experience. Yet what binds them all is a shared sense of belonging to a community that inspires, challenges, transforms and unites.

I hope this exhibition inspires you to reflect on the community that surrounds us, and the many ways in which each of us contributes to the ongoing story of Lancing.

Dr Scott Crawford
Head Master

Details of the inaugural set of portraits and portrait holders, commissioned for Lancing’s 175th Anniversary in 2023/24, can be viewed through the link below: