By: Usman Fambuleh
Freetown, Sierra Leone — The President of the Old Princewaleans Association (OPWA), Samuel John, has officially unveiled the Gilpin Archway Toll-Gate at the Prince of Wales School, marking another significant milestone in the continuing transformation and preservation of the historic institution.
The newly unveiled archway stands as a lasting symbol of generosity, family legacy, Princewalean brotherhood and commitment to the development of the school.
The project was sponsored entirely by distinguished Princewalean Dr Walton Gilpin and Gilpin Family at home and abroad sponsored the gate
Dr. Gilpin a former student of the Prince of Wales School and former Chairman of the school’s Board of Governors.
The unveiling by the current OPWA President places the project within the broader tradition of Old Prince Waleans giving back to the institution that shaped generations of Sierra Leoneans.
The Gilpin family has a longstanding connection with Prince of Wales School, with generations of male members of the family attending the institution.
It is against this background that the archway bears the Gilpin name, making the structure more than an entrance point to the school. It is a physical reminder of a family whose history is closely connected to the Princewalean story.
For Dr Walton Gilpin, the project represents an opportunity to contribute something permanent to the institution that played a role in his own development.
His contribution also continues a pattern of support for Prince of Wales School and its students.
Prince of Wales has a long history of alumni engagement. The school was formally established in Freetown on April 6, 1925, when it was officially opened by the then Prince of Wales. Since then, generations of Prince Waleans have gone on to contribute to Sierra Leone and the international community in fields ranging from law and medicine to business, education, public service and sports.
By unveiling the Gilpin Archway Toll-Gate, OPWA President Samuel John has placed the association’s institutional leadership behind a project that reflects the enduring relationship between Princewaleans and their alma mater.
The occasion also provides an opportunity to celebrate the principle that an Old Boy’s responsibility to his school does not end when he leaves the classroom.
Rather, the Princewalean tradition has continued to encourage former students to support the institution and contribute to its development.
The new archway therefore becomes part of a wider story of alumni commitment.
For students entering the school today, the Gilpin Archway may simply serve as the main entrance and toll-gate.
But for generations of Princewaleans, it carries a deeper meaning.
It represents a connection between the past, the present and the future.
Every student who passes beneath the archway will encounter the name of a Prince Walean family that chose to leave something tangible behind for the institution.
It is also a reminder to current students that their time at Prince of Wales School is part of a much larger legacy.
The school’s centenary publication describes Prince of Wales as an institution whose alumni have played significant roles in Sierra Leone and beyond, producing professionals and leaders across numerous fields.
The unveiling of the Gilpin Archway Toll-Gate demonstrates how private contributions can become lasting landmarks within historic institutions.
Gilpin Family at home and abroad sponsored the gate100 percent sponsorship of the project, coupled with the formal unveiling by OPWA President Samuel John, gives the structure both a personal and institutional significance.
The Gilpin Archway now stands at Prince of Wales School as a tribute to family, service, philanthropy and the enduring spirit of Princewalean brotherhood.
For the Gilpin family, it is a legacy. For OPWA, it is another chapter in the preservation and development of the Princewalean tradition.
And for generations of students yet to come, the archway will remain a visible reminder that the greatest Princewaleans are not only remembered for what they achieved after leaving the school, but also for what they returned to give back.
