Reunion Weekend a Resounding Success

Friday 15 and Saturday 16 September marked our Old Elizabethan Reunion Weekend.

We were delighted to welcome over 200 alumni back to our School for a variety of events, spanning from the 1954 graduates to the Class of 2023 – an impressive gathering indeed!

The weekend started off with the OE Golf Day at Worcester Golf and Country Club on Friday. A sunny morning greeted 36 players for a shotgun start, with prizes up for grabs, including the coveted Biggs Rodway Quaich, the Longest Drive, and the Old Elizabethans Golf Cup.

On Saturday, we hosted a lively lunch in Eld Hall for OEs from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. The event was a great opportunity for alumni to reunite, reminisce, and celebrate RGS. Headmaster, John Pitt, provided insights into the School’s current activities, and it was heartening for Foundation team Scott MacDonald, Sophie Borillo-McLellan, and Helen Kirk to witness the rekindling of friendships and the cross-generational sharing of RGS stories.

Following lunch, we offered tours of the School, which attracted over 40 alumni. Our current School Captains and Prefects did an outstanding job guiding the OEs down memory lane. Alumni were delighted to revisit familiar places like Perrins Hall, Science, Clock Block, and Stephens Hall, as well as explore newer facilities like Tom Savage Sports Hall, Design Technology, and Computing.

In the afternoon, we set up an alumni gazebo at Flagge Meadow for OEs to watch the RGS 1st XV play against Pate’s Grammar School. Despite the damp weather and Pate’s victory, it was heartening to see so many OEs brave the conditions, sipping coffee and reminiscing about their fond memories on those fields.

Saturday evening marked the grand finale of the weekend with the black-tie OE Reunion Dinner in Perrins Hall. Laughter and camaraderie filled the hall as alumni and former staff came together for a three-course dinner in the splendid surroundings. The evening featured delightful piano performances by our current pupil Sasha, updates on the fantastic support for transformational Bursaries from Foundation Director Scott MacDonald, and insights into RGS today from Headmaster John Pitt. OE Philip Serrell (1970-73) served as our guest speaker, regaling the audience with his RGS memories and reflecting on how his time at the school had positively impacted his life and career.

Several cohorts, notably those from 1989, 1993, and 2003, showed up in impressive numbers.

The fun was so infectious that the planned 11pm departure turned into a midnight farewell, with the last few stragglers reluctantly heading to other town establishments!

From the very beginning to the late-night finish, the entire Reunion Weekend was a resounding success, and we are eagerly looking forward to planning next year’s event. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us.