LORD Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong, was the principal guest at St Benedict's School, Ealing, prize-giving on Monday.

Alumnus and patron of the school, Chris Patten is Chancellor of Oxford University and a Crossbench member of the House of Lords.

He said: “St Benedict’s made me. It gave me the three Benedictine ideals of moderation, common sense and seriousness.”

Happiness, he added, was not found in material wealth but in excelling at what you enjoyed.

He cited Sir Roger Bannister - his contemporary at Oxford - as an example of someone who had sought excellence and fulfilled his potential.

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This was not only by running the first sub four-minute mile while practising as a junior doctor, but also by making an important contribution to neurological research.

Headmaster Andrew Johnson said: “I strongly believe that a concern for other people, coupled with a wide range of co-curricular interests, helps our young people to be resilient adults, well-grounded and able to make a valuable contribution to society.”

St Benedict’s, he said, helped pupils to find and develop their talents and interests through academic enrichment, sport, music, drama, voluntary service and charity work.

Prize-giving was attended by parents, pupils, staff, governors, alumni and friends of the school.