EVENTS & REUNIONS
SUMMER REUNION 2023
This year ’ s OP Summer Reunion coincided with the inaugural Pocklington Festival . Organised by the recently relaunched Friends of Pocklington School committee , the addition of the Festival created an excellent whole school community event with something for everyone alongside the traditional OP reunions , lunch , tours , archive visits , cricket and tennis .
Once the cricket was underway , School Archivist , Angie Edwards , and Doc Dyson ( Former staff , 88- 18 ) hosted archive visits in the Library and Archive room with a record number of OPs calling in to browse and reminisce , while Sheena McNamee , External Relations Director , took the 2013 leavers on a tour of the school as part of their 10-year reunion celebration .
A roast dinner was on the menu for the OP lunch with several year groups booking tables to mark their special leaving anniversary or just to catch up . These included the 1971 leavers led by Duncan Williams ( 64-71 ), and the 1973 leavers led by Iain Biglin ( 70-73 ) ( and Adrian White ( 66-73 ) who sadly was unable to attend on the day ) who were celebrating 50 years since leaving school .
The most senior OPs attending were David Richardson ( 46-53 ), founder of the biennial Dinosaur Club Luncheon , and David Wood ( 47- 54 ), whose nephew , Lewis Wilson ( 14-16 ), was playing in the OP cricket match .
At lunch , Toby Seth , Headmaster , and Joan Gough ( née Sawyer , 75-77 ), OP President , welcomed everyone to the school and thanked them for coming before the campus tours started in the afternoon . A welcome addition to this year ’ s tours were the Sixth Form prefect tour leaders , who did an excellent job of guiding OPs around the school with lots of interesting stories and experiences shared along the way !
Meanwhile , up on the astroturf courts , the Edmund- Loten mixed doubles tournament was underway with eight pairs taking part in what proved to be a challenging afternoon of tennis with the strong wind ! Out on Fentons school field , the Pocklington Festival was in full flow , with entertainment from the swing band , several pupil soloists , and a classic rendition of
‘ Happy Hour ’ by Trevor Loten ( 70-80 ) and the staff band amongst other rousing numbers ! Other activities included an inflatable assault course , bouncy castle , welly wanging , and more . The stocks proved popular with the opportunity to throw a wet sponge at both the Headmaster and the OP President who were both good sports ! Craft and food stalls were also available including a barbeque and a candy floss stall .
For OPs returning from school tours or playing sport , the day finished with afternoon tea in the dining hall and a final wander around the Festival before guests departed having enjoyed an excellent day at their alma mater !
Thank you to everyone for coming and see you next year ! The date for next year ’ s event is Sunday 23 June 2024 .
OP CITY DRINKS
LEEDS
MANCHESTER
NEWCASTLE
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