This year’s OBA annual dinner was as popular as ever and the evening did not disappoint.
There was a great mixture of regular and first time attendees, current and former pupils and staff – with one party of first-timers asking to reserve places for the next dinner!
A group of former pupils: Joe Bridge, Joe Ashworth, Joe Barnes, Nat Cunningham, John Martin, James Henaghan, Theo Roberts with older brother Oliver and Josh Gaffney with his older brother James, attended the dinner for a mini-reunion whilst home from their first term at university. Josh and James’ Grandfather, Henry Senior (OB 50-57), also in attendance, was made an honorary 2017 leaver for the evening.
It was great to see a number of current sixth form pupils at the dinner, some of which took an active role in the night’s events. Alastair Simmons said Grace, Anas Ganchi and Head Girl Lucy Hargreaves delivered the ‘In Memoriam’ section. Three pupils wrote and delivered their own reports: Head Boy Harry Newman (School Report), Deputy Head Boy Thomas Logan (Boys Sporting Report) and Deputy Head Girl Sophy Fletcher (Girls Sporting Report). The OBA would like to take this opportunity to thank them for their contribution and to thank all the current pupils who attended the dinner. They were a credit to themselves and to school and should be justly proud.
Amongst our special guests this year was The High Sheriff of Lancashire, Robert Mitchel Webb JP DL, who gave the Loyal Toast, Professor Abigail Woods (OB 88-90) who, before delivering the Toast to School, gave us an insight into a schoolgirl’s life at QEGS’s sixth form in the late 80s, and how the girls tamed and trained the boys. Chief Guest was Richard Bowker CBE (OB 79-85), Senior Independent Director, English Football League and Chairman, UK Athletics. Richard has been generous with his time and supported school and the OBA many times before and it is always a pleasure to hear him talk about his days at QEGS and regale us with stories from his varied professional life.
The OBA Annual Dinner is open to all former pupils and staff and is thoroughly enjoyed by all who attend. If you haven’t been to one before, don’t be shy, get in touch, we’d love you to join us.
