On Saturday 7 September we were delighted to welcome to the College some of the ‘Old Girls’ from St Mary’s Priory, the school on the Princethorpe site which was run by Benedictine nuns before the College was founded. The group are affectionately known to us as ‘Very Special Old Princethorpians' (VSOPs).

The annual get-together allows for plenty of time to chat, reminisce, and take a wander around the College, to see how it has changed over the last seventy years. Father Teddy O'Brien MSC, Wappenbury Parish Priest, also conducts Mass for the guests, enabling a time of reflection in the beautiful setting of the Princethorpe Chapel.

As in previous years, the day began with tea, coffee and pastries as the guests arrived and enjoyed some time to catch up with old friends and make new acquaintances. Alumni Relations and Development Officer, Caroline Spencer, welcomed the guests and introduced Headmaster Grove du Toit to say a few words of appreciation and update them on the life and workings of the school today.

Princethorpe Foundation Archivist, Jo Wong, had set up a display of artefacts charting the fascinating story of how the Benedictine nuns came from France and eventually arrived at Princethorpe to establish the Priory. She gave an engaging presentation to provide context and personal details, and our VSOPs took great delight in browsing through the collection.

Before we tucked into a delicious buffet lunch, we hosted a Zoom call to allow more distant VSOPs to join in the reunion. This included Sr Monica Lewis who continues to serve as a member of a Benedictine community in Germany.

We were overwhelmed by the warmth and regard the VSOPs showed the College, and it was lovely to spend time with the ‘old girls’, hearing of their school days here. They even spoke with fond nostalgia about the high standards of discipline they had to maintain. One former pupil recalled that she was instructed to spend her evenings for two weeks cleaning the gymnasium, as punishment for talking in the corridor!

After lunch we took our guests on a tour of the College, enhanced by the presence of Foundation Principal Ed Hester and former Foundation Assistant Head Alex Darkes, whose vast experience and love of the College showed through their helpful commentaries. The tour concluded in the Chapel for the short service given by Father Teddy O’Brien MSC. To wrap up the day, our guests were treated to a homemade Victoria Sponge, and a final chance to look at the archives, speak with current members of staff and exchange farewells. Guests and staff alike departed with a renewed sense of community, shared history and friendship, with discussions about the date for next year's reunion already taking place.