70th Anniversary Luncheon for ‘New’ Boys of September 1944
11 September 2014
It was 70 years ago, in September 1944, that 16 ‘New Boys’ stepped into the Headmaster’s Drawing Room, now the Whitbread Room, for the first time as they were welcomed to Aldenham School. This first time meeting was the beginning of some lifelong friendships as the School House contemporaries journeyed through school life and beyond. 50 years later, John Handcock (SHE1944-47) decided to replay the first day at school and organised a reunion lunch back at Aldenham. This occasion was repeated in 2004 for a 60th anniversary celebration and again John called the group together for a luncheon on 8th September this year.John supplied Champagne for the reception, when current Housemasters, Senior Teachers and Business Managers popped in to welcome these ‘Old Boys’ back to their School. The Headmaster, James Fowler, joined the celebratory lunch, as did The Development & OA Manager and Assistant, Ann Saffery and Jackie Wilkie. It was a delightful occasion with lots of storytelling and laughter along with a little sadness as glasses were raised to ‘absent friends’.Plans are now afoot for another get together, but the consensus was not to leave it another 10 years until the next celebration, just because it was so much fun!