OP SOCIAL EVENTS AND REUNIONS
ANNUAL LONDON BLACK TIE DINNER
From World War II to post-millennium, OPs spanning 70 years attended a successful London black tie dinner held at the RAF Club on Friday 25 November 2016.
Following the dinner, guests returned to the Churchill Bar to round off an excellent evening.
The date for this year’ s dinner is Friday 24 November 2017 and the venue is the Cavalry and Guards Club.
RAF Club member, Chris Smith( 71-76) sponsored the event which took place in the newly refurbished Ballroom; a fabulous setting for the 60 guests including OPs, current teaching staff, Governors, former teaching staff and their guests. A group of’ 76 leavers took advantage of the event to celebrate 30 years since leaving school and a number of other year groups got together for a catch up at the dinner.
The evening started with a pre-dinner drinks reception in the Churchill Bar before guests moved to the Ballroom for the dinner. The Headmaster, Mark Ronan, gave a welcome speech in which he updated OPs on progress with the construction of the new Art & Design Technology building and thanked OPs for their tremendous support for the fundraising campaign.
After the dinner, the OP President, Andrew Wilson( 89-99) proposed a toast to the school and spoke of two OP events that had been personal highlights for him; the Leavers’ Day Assembly introducing the new cohort of OPs to the OP Association, and the Dinosaurs Club Luncheon, for OPs who left the school 50 years ago or more. He emphasised the vast experience of OPs and how the OP network could support younger OPs and sixth formers through the mentoring programme and providing assistance with careers.
L-R: Patrick Dare( staff), Bill Wu( 12-14), Alex Engler( 39-44).
NEWCASTLE DRINKS
A successful OP drinks event was held in Newcastle on Wednesday 15 March 2017. OP Committee rep, Steven Kyffin( 70-77), Teacher and Housemaster Patrick Dare and OP Liaison Officer, Rachel Dare, hosted the event which was held at‘ As You Like It’ in Jesmond from 6.00pm to 7.30pm.
Newcastle and Northumbria are still two of the most popular university destinations for Pocklington School students, so there were plenty of recent leavers who came along to have a break from their studies and to catch up with each other. Also at the event were Jack Arthurs( 82-89) and Michael Weeden( 54-69) who live in the area.
Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening and are already looking forward to the next one. Watch this space!
The full list of those who attended were: Michael Weeden( 54-59), Steven Kyffin( 70-77), Lynn Kyffin, Jack Arthurs( 82-89), Lucy Snowden( 06-13), Matt Besford( 15-14), Charlie Boyes( 07-14), Lily Laverack( 06-14), Toby May( 07-14), Jack Rhodes( 13-15), Becky Adamson( 14-16), Poppy Bell( 11-16), Tash Leach( 09-16), Will Oughtred( 05-16), Amy Rehead( 06-16), Ryan Sun( 11-16), Dan Tunnicliffe( 09-16), Ted Weeks( 09-16), Ed Wightman( 15-16), Matthew Wilde( 05-16), Emily Wright( 08-16).
SUMMER REUNION 2017
The annual Summer Reunion got off to a great start with numerous OPs descending on the archive room to look through old photographs, magazines and sporting records. This was particularly pertinent for the leavers of’ 67,’ 87 and’ 97 who were all reuniting for their respective 50-year, 30-year and 20-year school leaving anniversaries.
After lunch in the dining hall, during which the headmaster, Mark Ronan, gave a warm welcome and brief address, cricket resumed, tennis matches started and school tours got underway.
Chemistry teacher, David Dyson, led the tour for the’ 97 leavers whilst former Head of Art, Peter Edwards, was pleased to take the groups into the Art & Design Centre to say a final farewell to the‘ fun palace’ before it was demolished to make way for the new Art & Design Centre. Everyone seemed impressed with the changes and improvements to the campus that have taken place over the last few years and as the tours progressed, the reminiscing was in full flow!
After tea in the dining hall, guests departed, happy that they had taken the plunge and returned to school for the reunion. Hope to see many of you there next year!
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