For OPs Andrew Beckett (62-69), Bruce Spaven (59-69), Fraser Whitehead (62-69) and Peter Holden (62-69), the newly refurbished Gruggen Room, formerly the dining room of School House boarding house, seemed like the perfect venue to host the group for their latest leaving anniversary celebration.

Andrew said, “Many enjoyed our 50-year reunion in 2019 and we thought we ought to do another whilst we can! When Jenny and Rachel from the OP & Development office proposed using the Gruggen Room, we thought it was an excellent idea.”

Sheena McNamee, External Relations Director said, “We were delighted that Andrew and his peers chose the Gruggen Room for their event. Not only did it give them the opportunity to visit the School again, but it also gave us the chance to see how the space works for future dinners and events.”

Once a date for the reunion had been decided, the OP office sprang into action working with the team to make the arrangements and send out invitations to other members of the year group. Twelve OPs and their partners attended for what proved to be an excellent evening of nostalgia, fun, friendship, and laughter.

The format for the evening was relaxed and informal starting with afternoon tea as guests arrived. Student tour guides showed the OPs around the School to see the many changes that have taken place as the School has evolved over the years. Following the tours, the group continued catching up over drinks and canapés before taking their seats for supper prepared by the School’s catering team and accompanied by carefully chosen wines kindly supplied by Fraser. The enjoyment was palpable as the conversations and stories flowed well after supper had finished with the group eventually retiring to The Feathers Hotel to round off a wonderful evening.

Andrew commented, “Thank you very much for a superb evening. I’m sure you saw how much we were all enjoying it – and that wasn’t solely due to Fraser’s wine! Thanks also to your team of bright Sixth Formers who conducted the tour with aplomb and to the catering team who gave us an excellent dinner.

“If we were ‘guinea pigs’ for future events in the Gruggen Room, I think the whole event gave it a ringing endorsement. Indeed, if enough of us survive to our sixtieth leaving anniversary, we’d love to repeat the formula!”

If any OPs are interested in organising a similar reunion event at school and you cannot make the Summer Reunion in June, please contact Rachel in the OP office to enquire.

Header photo L-R: Bruce Spaven, Phil Wilkinson, Andrew Beckett, John Foster, John Buchanan, John Machin, Fraser Whitehead, Stephen Wolley, Peter Holden