At 12 noon on Friday 20 May 2022 a lively throng of Old Bradfieldians met at the Lansdowne Club on London's Fitzmaurice Place for the Annual Bradfieldian London Lunch. This year sees a return to the event after 2 years on hold and with a new venue, certainly proved popular. Over 110 alumni and Bradfield staff gathered in the Lansdowne's Grade II listed 18th century Ballroom for the event, which saw attendees join the lunch who had been at Bradfield for the full duration of the Queen's 70-year Platinum Jubilee reign.

The oldest guest in attendance this time was Christopher Lee (G 45-50) alongside Geoffrey Beccle (G 47-50) and the youngest was Marshall Scott (G 17-19), all from G House. It was fabulous to have many female Bradfieldians with us again this year. Two guests who were in the first intake of former Palmer House residents, Abbie Davies (now de Bunsen and a current parent) and Antonia Lester both (I 89-91) who is a prospective parent for 2024 caught up for the first time since leaving Bradfield in 1991.

Micky Denehy (E 73-78) who is the Chair of the Bradfield Society Advisory Board, welcomed everyone to the Ballroom before the meal. He has been a firm supporter of the Bradfield Society concept – the inclusive idea of an umbrella group of friends of the College, alumni, parents and staff all under one banner - enabling all those groups to maintain their relationship. Al thanked him for his support later when he said of Micky ‘he bleeds Bradfield, as many of you do, he is an alumni, a parent and most importantly a real friend.’

Guests enjoyed a delicious 3-course lunch of Sous-vide Salmon and Barbary Duck followed by Classic Bakewell Tart and Raspberry Cream for dessert.

We were thrilled a have several Bradfield College staff with us as well for the lunch, some of whom are Bradfieldians themselves. Sarah Thompson (M 12-14) brought along a large group of her friends including Merle Gibson (M 09-14), Lara Hubbard (M 07-12), Emma Cole (M 07-12), Emma Mercer (M 08-13), Annie Berry (K 12-14), Laura King (K 12-14), Gabby Houseman (K 12-14) and Lucy Black (I 11-13).

Shelvin Gumbs (G 07-09) who now works at Bradfield in the IT/Wellbeing team had reached out to many of his OB friends from 2009 who came along too. Former Faulkner’s Housemaster Roger and Fiona Wall were also present hosting many of the hockey players who had been on the overseas tours who joined the OB lunch as a team reunion. Hockey Tours have taken place at Bradfield since 1996 and Will Barrett (F 95-2000) and Marc Sydenham (G 98-03) went on the tour in 1999 which visited both Singapore and Malaysia.

During dessert, Al MacEwen, Director of Bradfield Society at Development, celebrating his 21st year at Bradfield addressed guests with an overview of College from 1950 comparing with the present day. Back in 1950 there were 372 boys at Bradfield and as a co-educational school there are now 817 pupils of which 500 are boys and 317 are girls. He talked about the importance of the “Be Involved” campaign and shared some interesting and humorous facts about the Bradfieldian lunch guests in attendance:

• 22 guests were current or former parents
• 19 guests have been in the past or currently on one of the College and/or Club Committees who do so much to keep both the College and Bradfield Society moving forward and operating
• 25 guests have been involved with the College Horizons team with work experience or interview practice for pupils
• 41 guests have helped the Bradfield Foundation either through bursary support or for capital projects such as the Science Centre of current St Andrew’s Church project
• 1 guest carried the Olympic torch in the local torch procession in 2012 whilst at College and
• 1 guest is the first female Bradfieldian to send both her son and daughter to the College.

Finally, in preparation for the lunch next year, Al gave everyone a challenge to write down on postcards on the tables the names of 3 Bradfieldians who they would like to see at the lunch in future. Those names will be collated and used to reach out to everyone mentioned in the hope that we can reconnect with them in time for next year’s lunch in May 2023.