OA Day 2023 & McGill’s 135th Anniversary
13 June 2023
A celebration of Aldenham's past, present and future.With over 180 people booked to attend OA Day and the McGill’s 135th anniversary, we were hoping the sun would shine and indeed it did. OAs returned in droves and gathered for coffee in the Sixth Form Centre, which many remembered as the Tuck Shop and where they bought their first Aldenham School uniform. Gradually the guests drifted over to McGill’s House where they were greeted by Mike Yeabsley (CR2008-Presnt), McGill’s Housemaster since 2014, and some student Ambassadors. The House was a hive of activity with OAs from the 1940s to the 2020’s all sharing stories and reliving their youth. A Service of Thanksgiving brought everyone together in Chapel, where voices were lifted in song and heads bowed in prayer to honour the past, the present and the future at Aldenham. School House Garden then provided the perfect setting for drinks before lunch with some gentle music drifting over more shared memories. Alex Hems, Head of the Aldenham Foundation, took this opportunity to welcome guests and to give a brief overview of her first year at the School. She said that she was delighted to meet so many OAs from across the generations and from several countries including America, Australia, Malaysia and Germany as well as those who had travelled some distances in the UK to join the celebration. James James-Crook also addressed the crowd and announced that he will be stepping down as President of the OA Society at the next AGM after his eight year tenure. He spoke of his pleasure at seeing the changes implemented during his time and the increased diversity of OAs engaging with events and the unique services on offer to members. A delicious two course lunch was served in the Dining Hall and in the Staff Dining Room by the School caterers, Holroyd Howe. Both areas were ringing with constant chatter and laughter as more legends were chronicled and new memories made of times spent with Aldenham friends.After lunch guests spread across the School site to enjoy the views and to watch the annual John Dewes cricket match, played in honour of our one and only England Test cricketer to date, John Dewes (B1940-45). Tea was served in at the cricket Pavilion to mark the end of another wonderful OA Day.