Old Arnoldians London Committee
The Old Arnoldians Association London Committee is the London branch of the Old Arnoldians Association, and held its inaugural meeting in 1955 in the Bull and Anchor on High Holborn.
The purpose of the Old Arnoldians Association London Committee is to encourage Old Arnoldians living in London and the South East to maintain contact with the School and to enable networking and social engagement between Old Arnoldians and their peers.
With this in mind, the London Committee arranges a number of events each year, both formal and informal, which all Old Arnoldians are welcome to attend.
Forthcoming events : tba
For further information regarding the committee and its members, including contact details, click here.
If you would like to get involved with the London Committee or to be informed of events organised by the committee, please click here.
The Old Arnoldians' London Dinner 2010
The 2010 Old Arnoldians' Association London Dinner was held on Saturday 9th October at the Cabinet War Rooms in Westminster. It was an inspiring setting for a most enjoyable evening amongst friends, and a convivial time was had by all. Jim Keefe, the Acting Headmaster, introduced the evening and, during his speech, commented on how privileged he felt to speak in such historic and splendid surroundings. John Ashcroft, who of course retired from Arnold in July, also entertained everyone with a delightful speech. Grateful thanks go to Bill Gillen, and to the rest of the OA London Committee, for organising yet another marvellous event in an incredible setting.
Full details are contained in the document which can be downloaded here.
invitation_to_oa_london_dinner_2010.pdf
The Old Arnoldians' London Dinner 2009
The Peers' Dining Room of the House of Lords was the superb setting for the 2009 Old Arnoldian London Dinner.
Organised by the London Committee of the former pupils association and hosted by Lord Laird of Artigarvan, this annual event attracted almost a hundred former pupils, staff and friends of the school. Guests were treated to a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament before enjoying a drinks reception and a three course meal with wine and coffee in splendid and historic surroundings. The meal was followed by speeches, the highlight of which was George Hogg's reminiscences of Arnold life over a career that spanned more than thirty five years at the school.
Particular thanks and congratulations must go to former Headmaster, Bill Gillen, and the London Committee for their very hard work in staging such a superb event.
The Old Arnoldians' London Dinner 2008
The Old Arnoldians London Committee have a tradition of taking their guests to interesting venues for their annual London Dinner. In previous years they have dined at the House of Commons and the Reform Club. This year on a mercifully, balmy Autumn evening they were afloat on the river Thames, on board the Headquarters Ship of The Honourable Company of Master Mariners, HQS Wellington.
Moored on the Embankment not far from Cleopatra's needle and across from the London Eye, guests enjoyed a splendid dinner with only the slightest hint that the tide was rising underneath them.
The venue was secured by Mr Paul Butterworth RN, OA who explained the history of the vessel and speeches were made by the Chairman of Governors, Mr Jerry Wooding, and the Headmaster.
The Old Arnoldians' London Dinner 2007
The Library of the Reform Club, Pall Mall was the splendid setting for the London Dinner. Our host was Mr Jerry Wooding, Chairman of Governors, who in addition to securing the venue opened the evening with some interesting stories from its illustrious history.
The evening was attended by nearly 100 OAs and guests and attracted a number of more recent past pupils, though the school's own illustrious history was well represented by OAs spanning a significant number of years. Table talk of school life through the generations was punctuated by speeches from the Principal, Mr Barry Hughes and the Guest Speaker Major General David Burden, CB CBE, the latter drawing upon his military experience, and that of being the Receiver General of Westminster Abbey. As one would hope both gentlemen informed and amused their well-feed audience in equal measure in a room once frequented by Gladstone, Palmerston, and Guy Burgess, in the club from which Phileas Fogg departed in his attempt to travel round the World in 80 days.
Special thanks must go to Bill Gillen and the London Committee for making the evening so enjoyable; and to Mr Phil Alexander, Miss Lucy Coutinho, Mr Jamie Cartmell and Mr Ross Cloney for their contributions to an excellent evening.
The Old Arnoldians' London Dinner 2005
Over 120 guests dined in the splendid Great Hall at the Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, London on the evening of Saturday, 15th October. Our host was Sir John Gillen, a Bencher at Gray's Inn and a High Court Judge in Northern Ireland.
Guests included the OA President, Mr Andrew Grime, OA Chairman, Mr Frank Roberts, the Chairman of Governors, Mr Jerry Wooding and the Principal, Mr Barry Hughes.
Sir John provided a most interesting tour of the buildings and a history of the Society before dinner and concluded with a very amusing speech touching upon his experiences of life in the courtroom. The evening was a great success and the London OA Committee are to be congratulated on attracting such a wide ranging group of Old Arnoldians and friends of the school.
