As the last pupils and staff departed from School for their well-earned Easter break, Old Bloxhamists began to arrive for the annual Headmaster’s Dinner, a Bloxham School tradition dating back over seventy years.
At the start of the evening OB guests and Senior Prefects joined the Headmaster for a service of Evensong in the Chapel, this year conducted by Old Bloxhamist Reverend Cedric Reavley (Wn 64-69). It was a pleasure to welcome Father Cedric who greatly enjoyed leading the service and said how moving it felt to be back in the School Chapel.
A drinks reception and dinner followed in the Dining Room – a fitting venue, resonating with history, where OBs were watched over by portraits of their former Headmasters. Guests were served a delicious three course dinner very ably prepared by our School chefs.
After dinner, the School Captains, Myles and Daisy, delivered an entertaining speech about life at School which reignited some long-standing house loyalties and rivalries. Cheers could be heard from the OBs as news of each house’s successes this year were referenced!
We were delighted to welcome as our guest speaker, Vanessa Hartley (SH Wf 92-94), who is the third of four generations to have attended the School. Vanessa, who was attending the dinner as part of the 30 Year Reunion for the Class of 1994, spoke powerfully and entertainingly about all that the School has meant to her and her family, referencing both her time at Bloxham and the subsequent experience of her children, Sam and Angelina.
The Class of 1994 were on terrific form and enjoyed catching up over dinner, and a nostalgic trip to The Ele afterwards. Many of the guests stayed overnight in Crake and very much enjoyed revisiting their days of ‘boarding’!
It was an evening of much merriment with Bloxhamists past and present sharing their experiences and memories of School and enjoying each other’s company.
To view more photographs of the evening, please click here.