A gentle reminder to Christopher Page about our forthcoming 50th anniversary rather rebounded on me, and I somehow found myself organising the celebrations.
The first task was to track down as many members of our year as possible. In the end, I managed to contact around 75 contemporaries by phone or email, and most were delighted to join what quickly became a lively WhatsApp group. It proved an excellent way to rekindle old friendships and break the ice before we met in person.
Forty-nine of us gathered for a wonderful dinner at the Savile Club in Mayfair. We are extremely grateful to Julian Malone-Lee (OS 75), the Club’s Secretary, whose assistance made the evening possible. Christopher Page said Grace, and throughout the evening there was a genuine warmth and camaraderie born of our shared experiences at Stonyhurst. One of the highlights was recreating a photograph of the front row of the First XV—50 years on.
The following day, a dozen of us attended Mass at Farm Street, celebrated by Fr Nick King SJ (OS 66), who then kindly hosted us for coffee afterwards. Lunch followed at a nearby pub, giving us more opportunity to catch up.
A smaller group, including several who had been unable to attend the dinner, then travelled to Stonyhurst, where we attended Sunday morning Mass. The organ sounded every bit as magnificent—and perhaps even louder—than we remembered.
Enrique Valles Tormo had arranged for a number of trees to be planted in memory of the 11 members of our year whom we know to have passed away. Following Mass, a plaque was unveiled and blessed in a moving ceremony that provided a fitting opportunity to remember absent friends.
We then enjoyed a buffet lunch in the Bayley Room and had the pleasure of meeting the new Headmaster, Mr William Doherty. Jo-anne Brown, the Association Manager, who had so ably coordinated our visit, then arranged a tour of the school, followed by a fascinating visit to the museums with Dr Jan Graffius.
After an exhausting, memorable and highly successful weekend, the unanimous feeling was that we should not wait another 50 years before meeting again.
Written by the organiser of the weekend, Simon Baer OS 76
