At the AGM on Monday 15 June Methody Collegians were delighted to elect Peter Wilson as our President.

Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a position we never quite expected. That certainly happened to me on the evening of Monday 15 June when, at the Methody Collegians AGM, I was appointed President. I probably should have seen it coming. After all, I had served as Vice President for the past year. Even so, it was still something of a surprise that the Collegians actually wanted me as President!

I have big shoes to fill. Our immediate Past President, Judith Cochrane, has provided outstanding leadership over the last two years. She has combined vision with boundless energy and an unrivalled knowledge of our former pupils and not forgetting her bumper book of contacts. Judith has been instrumental in developing our members' database, growing our membership and extending our reach across the global Methody community. We owe her a tremendous debt of gratitude, and I am delighted that she will continue to serve on Council.

At the same AGM we welcomed both returning and new Council members. I know that together we will work hard on your behalf: creating events that you will enjoy, strengthening connections between Collegians and continuing to grow and develop our Association in the years ahead.

Finally, a few words about what Methody means to me personally.

Ten weeks after my sixteenth birthday, I lost my father, some might say ‘how clumsy of me’, but throughout that difficult time Methody and its pupils wrapped me in a blanket of care, kindness and compassion. They gave me the space to grieve while helping me build friendships that have endured ever since.

For me, Methody has always been a place where everyone belongs. That feeling was reinforced during May and June this year, as events in Northern Ireland reminded me just how much the school's diverse and multicultural community shaped my outlook. It strengthened my belief that respect, inclusion and friendship matter, and deepened my sadness at seeing racism emerge in parts of our society.

As President, I want Methody Collegians to reflect the very best of those values: friendship, inclusion, generosity and lifelong connection.

And if anyone has any suggestions for persuading my family to start calling me "Mr President", I'd be delighted to hear them!

Peter Wilson (Class of 1980), President Methody Collegians