OP SOCIAL EVENTS AND REUNIONS
DINOSAUR CLUB LUNCHEON 2025
In a change to the usual venue, the Dinosaur Club luncheon was held at Pocklington School for the first time since the event’ s inception in 2011 and proved to be a great success.
Held on Thursday 25 September 2025, this biennial gathering welcomed 48 guests, including 30 OPs, along with spouses, staff, and volunteers. The event is open to OPs who left the school 50 or more years ago, and this year’ s attendees spanned several generations. David Richardson( 46 – 53), the founder of the event, was the most senior OP present, while Dominic Peacock( 66 – 74) attended for the first time as the youngest OP guest.
The day offered an excellent opportunity for OPs to meet the new Head, Becky Lovelock, enjoy a guided tour of the School led by the Prefect team, and explore photographs and other materials specially curated from the Archives.
Following a delicious lunch, David Richardson proposed a toast to the School. In response, the Head delivered a thoughtful and well-researched address, referencing events and memories from the OPs’ school days. David Wood( 47 – 54) then offered thanks to the OP & Development team for organising the event, before introducing David Dyson, Volunteer Archivist, who spoke about the important work being done to review and correct the Roll of Honour for OPs who lost their lives in WWI and WWII.
After lunch, guests were invited to go on a School tour or stay and browse the archives over coffee. The afternoon unfolded in a relaxed and convivial atmosphere, with OPs sharing their reminiscences and stories of their time at School.
Jonathan Shorer( 63-71) said:“ Many, many thanks for a wonderful lunch yesterday. The arrangements were impeccable and the food excellent. I greatly enjoyed chatting with Sheena and the Head as well as my contemporaries. The walk around the School was fascinating and the pupils were outstanding.”
Bob Woolsey( 53-61) added:“ Thank you for a most enjoyable dinosaurs’ lunch yesterday … I was very pleased to make Mike Horner’ s( 47-56) day by remembering how, playing for the 1st XV in 1955, he scored a great individual try in the last minute to win the match against Barnard Castle. I was most impressed as a cheering 13-year-old spectator – and now, after 70 years, deserved recall!”
The next Dinosaur Club luncheon will take place in September 2027. OPs who left in 1977 or earlier will be eligible to attend – keep an eye out for further details closer to the time!
OP DRINKS HONG KONG FEBRUARY 2025
The 2025 Hong Kong drinks reception was a memorable event where members of the Pocklington School community gathered to reconnect and forge new friendships.
Senior Deputy Head, Laura Powell, and External Relations Director, Sheena McNamee, hosted a Pock Connects drinks event in Hong Kong recently, uniting members of the Pocklington School community, both past and present.
The event was held on Friday 21 February 2025 at the panoramic 188 o Lounge on the 41st floor of the Harbour Grand Hotel. Amongst the guests were several OPs as well as current and prospective parents and students.
The OP attendees were: Eric Ho( 90-95), Roger Leung( 90-98), Weizhao( William) Li( 99-01), Jonathan Yeung( 03-06), Jasper Poon( 05-10), Emma Haughton( née Hawcroft, 04-11), Ray Tang( 07-12), Bill Wu( 12-14) and Jeff Tse( 14-19).
Reflecting on the evening, Laura Powell remarked,“ It was fantastic to see so many familiar faces and hear about their journeys since leaving Pocklington. The sense of community and shared history among our former pupils is incredibly special. It was also wonderful for our current families to have the opportunity to engage with them and share in their experiences.”
Sheena McNamee added,“ The event was a tremendous success with a characteristically warm and welcoming atmosphere- a true“ Pock” experience. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening, filled with lots of reminiscing and meaningful
conversations. A huge thank you to everyone who attended and made the night so memorable.”
For those Old Pocklingtonians( OPs) interested in joining the‘ OPs in Hong Kong’ Facebook or WhatsApp groups, please contact the OP office for more information.
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