OLD VERLUCIANS RETURN
The School was delighted to welcome back Old Verlucians for the first dinner in over thirty years and with 150 guests, probably the largest in the School’s history. There were OVs from 1981 to 2015 at the event and it was fantastic to have representatives spanning over 35 years of attendance. It was also a pleasure to welcome back so many former members of staff and honorary OVs who remain an essential part of the greater school community.
Graeme McQueen, Head of Development and Alumni, introduced the evening to a packed Thomas Arnold Hall, by warmly welcoming back the OVs. He encouraged them to take an active part in the school community today and also reminded everyone just how important School Swap had been for reconnecting the School with its former pupils and providing Warminster with a higher profile both locally and nationally. The Headmaster also spoke, via a pre-recorded video message as he was unable to attend due to a visit to Kenya, emphasising how pleased he was at the level of interest and thanking those gathered for supporting their school, which received a long applause, even if he wasn’t there to hear it!
The Thomas Arnold Hall was then alive with laughter and stories all evening as those gathered enjoyed a splendid meal provide by our dedicated and talented catering department, led by Alex Rall. The evening was rounded off with a heartfelt vote of thanks by Tim Lewis (OV 98), now a Deputy Head at Hall Grove Prep School in Surrey. Tim thanked the school for providing the OVs with the opportunity to reunite and said that all present looked forward to attending such events in the future. He thanked the Headmaster for his generosity and hospitality and said “The OVs have been very much on the backburner for the last couple of decades and I know I speak for all of us when I thank the School for all the hard work they have put in, to get the old pupils' network going again. It truly is a wonderful thing to return to Warminster, and it stirs so many old memories. I am sure I am not alone in spending much of the last week in some sort of warm, nostalgic haze, particularly given some of the less than flattering photos that have been doing the rounds on social media.”
Tim ended by proposing a wonderful toast to the School, ‘past, present and future’ and to teacher Maggie Frost and her “magnificent 36-year innings” at Warminster.
Jasper Matthews, (OV06) and Head Boy enthused, “I cannot emphasise enough what a fantastic evening it was and I'd like to express my thanks to the Headmaster, Mark Mortimer, for his hospitality and all the staff for what was, a wonderful evening. Can't tell you what it meant to the OVs to be reuniting in the School grounds which, by the way, looked superb!”
Susie Parrack, teacher and former tutor to some of the OVs present commented, “The OV Inaugural Dinner was a fantastic evening. There was so much love, warmth and laughter – it really was magical and one of the happiest events I have attended anywhere in a long while. I was so thrilled to see so many Old Verlucians and incredibly moved and touched by their affection, generous words and fond memories.”
Graeme McQueen, delighted with the success of the event said, “We are delighted with the level of support received for this event. Thank you to all OVs, honorary OVs and staff who have supported this historic reunion, it really was an honour to welcome everyone back and we look forward to many more.”
*To ensure you are up to date with OV events please contact Stella Aldridge