Past Event Reports

This year’s President’s Luncheon was held on Thursday 5th March in the wonderful surroundings of the Library at The Travellers Club, hosted here for the second year running. The Club was founded, in 1819, 'for gentlemen who had travelled out of the British Isles to a distance of at least five hundred miles from London in a direct line'.

A memorial to celebrate the life and times of Reg Spicer, former Head Porter at Brighton College, was held on 18th January 2015.

The 1st XI continued their preparation for the 2015 season with the annual friendly match against the Brighton College Old Boys on Wednesday evening. Returning from their New Year's pre-season camp at Manchester City's Academy training facility, they were keen to put what they had learnt into practice under the floodlights at Whitehawk FC. The Old Boys had brought down a strong team, featuring two past 1st XI captains (Ben Hornby and Harry Herbert) and players who graduated from the College over the last 6 years.

It was a cold December afternoon when we congregated at The Jones Family Project (a restaurant owned by OB Duncan Watts (Ry. 1979-84)) to enjoy a festive feast for the 2014 Pioneers Club London Luncheon.

It was a chilly evening in November when the class of 2004 congregated back in the College in the newly renamed Scott's Café (previously the Café de Paris). Just past seven o'clock the first few Old Brightonians intrepidly made their way across the threshold, through the (currently scaffold-ridden) gateway and across the quad – ten years since they left as pupils.

A reunion for those who left Brighton College 60 years ago brought together a number of OBs who had not seen each other since schooldays. 

We were very fortunate to have three successful Old Brightonians return to the College to share their knowledge and experience with current 6th form pupils last Thursday at a Media and Marketing careers evening. Jamie Thomson (Ha. 1972-75), writer, publisher and Dark Lord extraordinaire, spoke about writing as a career and the routes into getting published.

Brighton College OBRFC won the National U21s Cup in 2005 & 2006 and we are delighted that former Captain of the 1st XV Tom Strange (Le. 2008-2013) is putting together an Old Brightonians team for 2014.

The last time we were together at the Bristol, on our last day of school, the Channel Tunnel had just opened, Nelson Mandela was two months into his Presidency, and the Apple that had fired Steve Jobs was failing to convince the world that it needed a portable digital assistant known as the Newton.

The Society took on the Brighton College Masters in the Inaugural Event staged at the West Sussex Golf Club on Sunday 10th June.

What wonderful weather and what wonderful company we all enjoyed at the Pioneers Club on Thursday 15th May.

BREMF Trustee Gavin Henderson CBE (Le. 1960-65) has been ‘resident trumpeter’ at St Bartholomew’s Church for fifty years; to celebrate this golden jubilee, and to mark Gavin’s retirement from playing, a concert is being given to raise funds for endowment of the music at St Bart’s – the trumpets especially! Those taking part are giving their services for a programme that is all Purcell.

An exquisite evening of merriment and nostalgia was enjoyed by guests on Saturday at the 40 Year Anniversary Celebration Dinner of Co-Education at Brighton College. We were delighted to welcome back Lucinda Harris (Fe. 1974-75) and Rowena Maynard (Fe. 1973-75); two of the seven very first girls to enter the male preserve of Brighton College in September 1973.

St Christophers would love to welcome back any alumni to their Spring Fair this Saturday, 12th April. 10.30AM - 2.30PM.

As part of our celebrations of 40 years of Co-Ed on Saturday, a group of Old Brightonians returned to the netball court and rounders pitch to challenge the "Newbies" in a friendly competition.

A terrific short film from "In At The Side Media" of this year's tournement, and the College's win!

The Old Brightonian USA group held its fourth annual dinner at the beginning of April at the beautiful Lotos Club on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Around 20 OB's and their guests enjoyed a first class 5 course dinner in the company of the Headmaster, Richard Cairns and the Deputy Headmistress, Jo-Anne Riley.

The OBGS annual Spring meeting was held at West Sussex golf club as an early preparation for members of the Halford Hewitt squad. 

Wednesday's Charity Gala at the BADA Fair in London turned out to be something of an Old Brightonians' reunion... as seems so often to be the case!

A man of few words, Steve Radojcic threw himself into the evening on Friday 7th March, holding court with his usual style and panache. He has asked the OB office to pass on his thanks to all those who helped organise the match, namely Teds Littlewood (Ry. 1990-95), Dan Heal (Ry. 1990-95), and Tom Aiken (Al. 2003-08). Special thanks to Stephanie Littlewood for coming up trumps with a cake, despite the fact it was neither Rado's birthday nor the end of season match against Hurstpierpoint.

The inaugural President's Luncheon was held on Thursday 6th March at The Travellers Club, Pall Mall. The Club was founded, in 1819, 'for gentlemen who had travelled out of the British Isles to a distance of at least five hundred miles from London in a direct line'.

John Spence (L. 1975-80) gave an inspiring HM Lecture about his multi-million dollar business yesterday evening, regaling the gathered audience with amusing tales of his early working life and experiences, and latterly his success with starting a business from scratch on the beaches of Goa.

If ever a venue was most likely to draw a big attendance for one of the regular OB London Drinks evenings it was surely the Paramount Sky Bar on the 32nd floor of London’s Centre Point Tower. The attendee list was appropriately over-subscribed – a terrific indicator for the New Year.

Dr Victoria Baines never intended to have a life of crime. Twenty years ago, when she was studying for her A Levels, she fully expected to have a career in acting or academic research. But one thing led to another, and after getting a PhD in Roman Literature she suddenly found herself working for the police as an intelligence analyst. She has helped to dismantle international drug trafficking networks, investigate police misconduct and protect children online.

Dear All,

Below are pictures from this year's Luka's Memorial Walk. It was lovely day and we all enjoyed it including passing Dragon boat race and resting at Grange Park on Luka's bench. We hope to see you next year.

Best wishes, Slavo

Dear Old Brightonians

At Walton Heath on Sunday 22nd September, Brighton College once again prevailed in the annual competition between Hurst, Lancing and Eastbourne.

The Cup was retained in dramatic fashion in a putt-off against Hurst as dusk was settling. The OB Team comprised your Secretary, Roly Ainsworth (D 1992-97), Julian Tate (D. 1982-87), Petri Hitches (A. 1984-86) , Freddie Pett (H. 1999-2004) and Michael Mudie (H. 1998-2001).

The College welcomed back Heads and Deputy Heads of School on the evening of 14th September, stretching from 1951 up to the present date for a Heads of School Dinner.

On a glorious summer's day, Peter Miller (C. 1945-1949) and school friends met for lunch at the wonderful Denbies Wine Estate, nr Dorking, one of the South of England's premier vineyards.

For those of you that came in to collect your A-level results yesterday, we hope that you are enjoying the Graduation 2013 Photo Book that we put together for you.  If you weren't able to come in don't worry, we will be posting them out to you!  The exam office is providing us with a list of who came in, so we will post them out in the next few days. 

Head of Performance Drama at Brighton College, Dermot Keaney, is directing the one –man show 'Running With The Firm' at the Edinburgh Festival. Performed by James Bannon, it is the true story of how an undercover policeman went native after infiltrating a Millwall hooligan firm. Bannon was the man behind the 1995 film "I.D.", which was supposedly fiction but was actually based on his own real experiences. The film was I.D., the book is Running With the Firm, and this is the true story told by the man himself.

Rachel Hunter (W. 2005-10) is taking a show up to the Edinburgh Festival this year, with a group from Cambridge University Footlights.

A warm welcome to our newest members of the Old Brightonians; our leavers of 2013. 

The 6th Form Careers Evening at the College on Thursday 25th April had a small but enthusiastic turn out, and the assembled pupils, parents and staff enjoyed a fascinating and informative evening on careers in investment banking and banking. Our speakers engagingly explained the various different roles in their industries and routes into them, and also on key aspects to be aware of in the financial sector when choosing different career paths. After the talk and an insightful Q&A session the group retired to the PAC for an opportunity to have an informal chat with our speakers.

The inaugural drinks for Oxbridge OBs were held on Thursday 18th April at the Oxford & Cambridge Club. Hosted by Old Brightonians President and Hon. Fellow of Pembroke College, Cambridge, Sir John Chilcot (H/S. 1952-57) the drinks were a great success, proving to be a jocular evening with much bating between OB Oxford & Cambridge graduates.

Brighton College's annual fashion event, The Fenwick Fashion Show, went off in grand style this year. The theme was James Bond, so tuxedos and stunning dresses were the order of the day.

On the eve of the Brighton Marathon, on Friday 12th April we were lucky enough here at the College to have a visit from Gerard "GP" Pearlberg (BCJS 1971-75, S. 1975-80), who delivered an inspiring talk on "How to run Faster, Longer, Easier...". Cameron Dashwood, Head of School, who went on to run the marathon that weekend, was there, as were many of our pupils, parents, OBs and teachers and a handful of runners from Rockinghorse (who GP was running for himself that weekend).

The Old Brightonians Vice-Presidents Luncheon was held on Thursday 7th March in the splendid Library of The Army & Navy Club, Pall Mall. Our usual host, Peter Miller (C. 1945-1949) sadly could not join us as he is re-cooperating after a major operation. However, our thoughts were very much with him and he was duly very much talked of and missed by the Old Brightonians in attendance.

It is with great sadness that we report that the much loved Rev Canon C J (Bill) Peters (Chaplain, 1950-69) has died. The College held a Memorial to celebrate his life on Saturday 2nd March 2013.

On the back of a record number of offers from Oxford and Cambridge for pupils in the current U6 (a total of 23, with 14 offers from Cambridge and 9 offers from Oxford), the OBs who are currently studying at these two universities came together in the spacious surrounds of Lady Margaret Hall on the evening of Friday 22nd February for the annual Oxbridge Dinner.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow. But in the library of the sumptuous Lotos Club Old Brightonians found warmth and wonderful company at the OB New York Dinner, on Saturday 9th February 2013. Fortunately, some OBs had arrived before the snowstorms swept in and Brighton College staff had moved heaven and earth, well flights from New York to Philadelphia, and braved planes, trains, and automobiles to be present.

Well, what a turn out... what a venue! Last night's London Drinks really was a cracker! Home House was a new experience for me - a beautiful spot in W1 that many might fairly describe as "swanky".

We had a pleasant evening together at the Waterfront on a lovely summer evening,with the heat of the day giving way to a cool early evening.

Globe trotting Headmaster Richard Cairns clearly has taken a shine to Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. No sooner had he hosted an excellent evening at the China Club in late September than he was planning a return visit in December! This came to pass and we convened for dinner in the Peking Room at the American Club in Central.

Preceding the College Chamber Orchestra performing the piece "Rosa Mundi" by OB Paul Lewis on Wednesday 21st November at the Autumn Concert, Paul very kindly came in to listen to the ensemble on Monday and spoke to the pupils about the inspiration behind the hautingful beautiful piece, a tragic love affair and a beautiful Rosa Mundi rose that bloomed outside his window as he worked on the arrangement.

On Friday 26th October, Georgina Millar (F. 1990-92) and I (with quite a lot of help from a long list of others) organised a reunion and fundraising dinner to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Bali bombing, in which our friend, OB Daniel Braden (R. 1987-92) was killed. It coincided with 20 years since we left Brighton College.

Headmaster Richard Cairns hosted an extremely convivial drinks reception at the China Club in Hong Kong on Saturday 22nd September.

Once again the sun shone on the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion as the Head Master welcomed some 100 donors and supporters of the project to enjoy an afternoon of sport, on Saturday 8th September, at the recently re-named Jubilee Ground. Some had not visited the ground at East Brighton Park for many years – 72 years in the case of Old Brightonian Richard Batt (H 1936-40), who joined the College shortly after the school acquired the playing fields in 1926. Others were more recent and frequent spectators, being current parents at the school, and some admitted that their donations were made from 'enlightened self-interest' as they celebrated the fact that the Diamond Jubilee Pavilion would afford some welcome shelter from the elements on rather less glorious days!

The first Saturday of term, Saturday 1st September saw the Peter Rumney Memorial Match join forces with the Sam Griffiths Foundation to send out an OB rugby side against the formidable Old Wellingtonians RFC.

In a season during which sunshine has been a rarity, it shone on the Home Ground for the first round of the Cricketer Cup. Electing to bat on a sound but slow wicket the Old Brightonians made a promising start with Adam Davies (18) and Alisdair Wilson (24) batting with comparative comfort against steady medium pace bowling from Tonbridge.

Some of these evenings atract a huge gathering, others a smaller one. This was the latter... but I cannot remember laughing so hard and so long!