50 Years On (Class of 1976–1980)

On Friday 15 May, we were delighted to welcome back the Class of 1976–1980 for their 50 Years On reunion. More than 40 Old Collegians and their partners returned to the College for an evening of catching up and reminiscing.

The evening began with a tour of the College, and it didn’t take long for the stories to start flowing. There was plenty of laughter as familiar places brought back great memories, along with genuine admiration for how much the campus has evolved. It was great to have former staff members Rex Livingstone, Wayne Milligan and Mike Woodlock join everyone for pre-dinner drinks.

Dinner was a lovely mix of tradition and good humour, with thanks to Gray Wilson, Doug Borne, Bryan Inch and Scarlett Ryan (Year 13) for their part in the Haggis Address, accompanied by Charlie Gregg (Year 11) on the bagpipes.

Richard Hawke did a great job as MC, keeping the evening flowing smoothly. Bryan Pearson and Matthew Cockram both delivered moving addresses with their toasts to Absent Friends and to the College. We also heard from OCA President Zoe Merrick (OC 2014) and Rector Mark Wilson. And of course, a big thank you to Martin and the Catering Team for a delicious meal.

For those keen to keep the weekend going, Saturday night brought another relaxed get-together in the city. A big thank you to Richard for organising this – it was a great chance for everyone to spend more time together, particularly as this year’s College celebration was condensed into one evening due to the clash with the new stadium opening concert.

As the weekend wrapped up, there was a real sense of appreciation, not just for the College, but for friendships that have truly stood the test of time, and for the chance to come back together again. It’s always special to see how strong those connections remain, even 50 years on.

We look forward to doing it all again for the 60 Years On in 2036.