On Friday 26 September, the upstairs private 'Green Room' of the charming and stylish Mulberry Bush, filled up with OPs spanning every decade of Princethorpe College's history, and OPs from across our Foundation schools.

It was wonderful to welcome back over 40 OPs for this popular, annual event. Amongst the regulars we enjoy seeing each year in London, there were many new faces reconnecting with their school friends and the College after a number of years. Early on in the evening, the OPs representing the 1980s commandeered a cosy corner to enjoy their reunion, some having not seen each other since their school days. Included in this number were two women who were amongst the first generation of girls to attend the College when the Sixth Form became co-ed.

There was plenty of inter-generational mingling too, with several of our 1970s OPs enjoying lively conversation with Anthony Lock, Class of 2020. The former English teacher, Chris Kerrigan, was a very popular guest and enjoyed hearing the latest from our younger OPs, Jody Hollingsworth (Class of 2023), Georgia Newborough (Class of 2019) and Imogen Butler (Class of 2018), as well as current English teacher, Jess Newborough.

Guests were greeted warmly by the Princethorpe contingent, which included Caroline Spencer - Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Melanie Butler - OPs Secretary, Ed Hester - Foundation Principal, and Steve Kowal - Development Director. OP Committee members, and former pupils themselves, Eddie Tolcher and Peter Rollason, enjoyed catching up with their peers and colleagues, and former longstanding and much-loved OP, teacher and Assistant Head, Alex Darkes, was also in attendance. Alex told us, "It was really nice to catch up with so many people and I also thought it a brilliant venue; a very nice room, warm staff and very good food. It was also very easy for me to get to! It was good that those in attendance spanned a wide age-range, from a few there who are older than me, to those who have recently left. It made for a good atmosphere."

The atmosphere was, indeed, excellent, and we thank all those who made the journey to join us. If you missed out on your chance to join us this year, please do keep an eye out for next year's date and venue, but we have plenty of other opportunities for you to connect with us and your OP peers in the meantime. Please visit Princethorpe Connect's Event Page for details.

Our next OPs Pub Meet is the Local Meet, taking place closer to Princethorpe on Friday 6 March 2026, at The Aviary, 25 High Street, Rugby, CV21 3BW. We would love to see you there!